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Canter Series # 1 Analyzing the Canter
Excerpt from Book One "Balancing The Rider"
What Should You do with Your Body during the Three Beats of the Canter?
First Beat: Do not push with your seat on the first beat of the canter, just allow the horse to pull you in the early stages of his canter work. Later when your horse is more advanced doing collected canter work you will block your seat when he goes to pull you on the first beat of the canter, thus shortening and collecting the canter stride.
Second Beat: Allow him to sit you down on the second beat. Be sure you don't pinch with your knees, if you do he will sit you down too far back in the saddle and be out of balance. Then you will be out of balance for the last beat and the
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| Canter Series # 2
Excerpts From Book Four "Training the Young Horse After Backing"
Aids for the Canter Depart
- Stretch your spine tall and imagine yourself light as a feather. This creates a space for the horse to come up into; but do not step on your stirrups thinking that will lighten you. Lighten without lifting off the saddle, keeping your seat in front.
- Bring the outside leg back and if the horse doesn't take the canter right away, add a soft kick with the outside leg.
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Canter Series # 3
Excerpt from Book One "Balancing the Rider"
Learning or relearning the Canter
Learning to ride the canter on a lunge line is the safest way to begin. You need a quiet horse that has had experience with riders on the lunge line. Make sure that the horse has a balanced canter and stops easily so as not to scare the rider. When beginning the canter, riders should stabilize themselves by putting only their fingers under the pommel of the saddle and holding themselves forward in the saddle, as shown in the photo below. This will help the rider keep her legs relaxed and her seat deep in the saddle. Usually when riders get nervous or lose their balance they will pinch with the knees and lean forward into a fetal position. Allow the rider to hold on tightly with the fingers but not with the legs!
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Canter Work Series # 4
Excerpts from Book Four "Training the Young Horse after Backing through Training Level"
More on Canter Aids
The aids described in the canter series # 1 and #2 from book one, make learning the canter easy for the horse. He learns quickly and the aids needed become less and less as time goes on. All you will have to do is think canter (and simply stretch the spine tall) then begin to slide your outside leg back and your horse will rise up to you and canter. As long as your position is correct and your aids are clear, the canter should be slow and not strung out with the horse racing to catch his balance. You have already completed so much foundation work in book one and book three, that approaching the canter shouldn't be a difficult task.
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