How to Canter on Horseback

Series Summary

Man enjoys a unique relationship with the horses. Horses have carried individuals into battle, brave and without fear. They’ve helped people travel over long stretches of terrain. In some parts of the world, they still pull farmer’s plows and carry loads. They’ve been indispensable in herding and driving cattle. Police use mounted horse patrols for crowd control situations in urban environments. There is no question: horses are well-suited for human life, expressing qualities of loyalty and bravery, responding to commands and usually having a calm, docile demeanor. In this free video series, an equestrian coach provides advice on buying horses and taking care of them as well. Discover how to buy your first horse, how to buy a thoroughbred racehorse and how to choose a quarter horse. Once a horse is purchased, learn how to groom the horse, determine if the horse is sick and how to trailer the horse safely. No matter how old a horse is or how sensitive their temperament is, these tips and techniques will prepare any horse enthusiast to take care of these beautiful animals.

Video Transcript

"Cantering on horseback should only be done once the rider's comfortable with posting and sitting the trot and is easily in control of the horse. To pick up the canter, you're going to use your outside leg. You're going to shift it back behind the girth. You're going to make sure your horse stays bent a little bit to the inside, and you can support with your inside leg at the girth. The easiest way is to start by going to a sitting trot. Once you're...you've established a good sitting trot, you can ask for the canter. And you just want to sit and let the horse's rhythm rock your seat back and forth."