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Step 1
Trot with your horse for awhile and get comfortable. Once you are comfortable with trotting, then sit for a few moments after trotting. The canter is the fastest move of the three gaits. It is known as a three-beat gait in which the horse's hooves will hit the ground three times in one stride.
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Step 2
Make sure you slide your leg on the outside just behind the girth. Apply some pressure on this area with both of your inner legs and keep 40 percent of your weight on the seat and 60 percent of your weight in the stirrups. Let the horse walk to create a forward stride.
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Step 3
Watch as the horse will drive with his hindquarters and lift its shoulders up straight. Keep applying pressure on the girth so that the horse knows the straight forward motion. Now cluck (click your heels on both sides of the horse) until the horse canters.
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Step 4
Try to shorten the reins and watch as the horse lifts its head. Let your hands follow the motions of the neck and horses head, but only touch the reins gently so you not disturb the horses motion. Practice the cluck movement again until the horse canters in a three-beat motion.
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Step 5
Make sure you sit deeply into the saddle and keep you hips somewhat loose, and go with the movements of the horse. Usually this movement feels like a rocking motion. Keep your posture in tact, and go with the flow of your horse.
