How to Canter from the Walk
Before you canter from the walk, you should be able to canter from the trot., Pick up a sitting trot around the arena, or in the field, if that's what you're more comfortable with, and trot for at least 5 paces. , Move your outside leg back behind...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Before you canter from the walk
This is vital in understanding how your horse moves in the canter as well as what pace you can expect. -
Step 2: you should be able to canter from the trot.
, If you're out in the field, start on either lead but remember to do the exercise on both leads so your horse doesn't become one-sided. , Your seat should make an almost rocking motion, from back to front, but subtly as you want to push your seat into the saddle.
Ideally your seat would never leave the saddle, but it's okay if you rise up to, at most, an inch or two.
This is the "canter position". , Your seat should become natural, as you are just moving with the horse. ,, If you are in a field, you can change directions or, if it's a long field, just keep going. , Note that this is important for flexibility and to ensure your horse isn't one sided, so DO NOT forget this step. , Make sure your horse's head is bobbing and they have as much energy as at the trot. ,, Remember that in traditional riding, Western or English, the seat is the first aid used, not your voice, hands, or legs.
In riding, you shouldn't need vocal commands.
They're a crutch.
An occasional kissing noise or clucking for encouragement, but saying "canter" and letting your horse canter is teaching them that that word means go, regardless who it's from, and is encouraging you, the rider, to form habits of not going through the steps of speeding up or slowing down.
That'll impact you if you get on a non-vocally trained horse or step into a show ring.
Don't just kick your horse to make them go and pull the reins to make them stop and expect s/he to know what you want, either. , If you're unbalanced, there's a chance you could fall. , For many school horses or inexperienced horses, they may not understand you're asking for a canter, not a trot.
If this is the case, work on sideways movement (pushing your horse sideways with no forward movement away from the track, then back) then ask.
This may help them understand what you're asking for better. -
Step 3: Pick up a sitting trot around the arena
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Step 4: or in the field
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Step 5: if that's what you're more comfortable with
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Step 6: and trot for at least 5 paces.
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Step 7: Move your outside leg back behind the girth
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Step 8: but only far back enough that you feel your hip kind of "drop" and shift your inside leg like you're pushing your hip up to your elbow.
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Step 9: Squeeze your inside leg while pushing with your outside leg (a squeeze but with a SLIGHT forward motion) and encouraging with your seat.
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Step 10: Keep your reins tight
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Step 11: don't pull
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Step 12: though
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Step 13: and keep moving your seat in time to the horse's hooves.
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Step 14: Focus on the tempo and pace of your horse's canter
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Step 15: so you know what to expect from the walk.
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Step 16: Bring your horse down to a trot
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Step 17: then change directions.
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Step 18: Repeat the canter on the opposite lead.
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Step 19: Bring your horse down to a working walk.
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Step 20: Move your legs into "canter position".
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Step 21: Begin moving your seat as you do in the canter.
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Step 22: Repeat "canter position" with your legs in place
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Step 23: and be prepared for the canter.
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Step 24: It's okay if you don't canter on the first try.
Detailed Guide
This is vital in understanding how your horse moves in the canter as well as what pace you can expect.
, If you're out in the field, start on either lead but remember to do the exercise on both leads so your horse doesn't become one-sided. , Your seat should make an almost rocking motion, from back to front, but subtly as you want to push your seat into the saddle.
Ideally your seat would never leave the saddle, but it's okay if you rise up to, at most, an inch or two.
This is the "canter position". , Your seat should become natural, as you are just moving with the horse. ,, If you are in a field, you can change directions or, if it's a long field, just keep going. , Note that this is important for flexibility and to ensure your horse isn't one sided, so DO NOT forget this step. , Make sure your horse's head is bobbing and they have as much energy as at the trot. ,, Remember that in traditional riding, Western or English, the seat is the first aid used, not your voice, hands, or legs.
In riding, you shouldn't need vocal commands.
They're a crutch.
An occasional kissing noise or clucking for encouragement, but saying "canter" and letting your horse canter is teaching them that that word means go, regardless who it's from, and is encouraging you, the rider, to form habits of not going through the steps of speeding up or slowing down.
That'll impact you if you get on a non-vocally trained horse or step into a show ring.
Don't just kick your horse to make them go and pull the reins to make them stop and expect s/he to know what you want, either. , If you're unbalanced, there's a chance you could fall. , For many school horses or inexperienced horses, they may not understand you're asking for a canter, not a trot.
If this is the case, work on sideways movement (pushing your horse sideways with no forward movement away from the track, then back) then ask.
This may help them understand what you're asking for better.
About the Author
Doris Richardson
Writer and educator with a focus on practical lifestyle knowledge.
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