| The canter is widely regarded as being the most | | | | lead off on. |
| difficult pace for a horse to perform correctly. Before | | | | (3) When cantering, first tighten your seat muscles and |
| attempting to canter it is strongly advised that one has | | | | hold the horse together with legs and hands. Control |
| already mastered walking and trotting, and for the | | | | the horse's direction through flexing with legs. ease |
| slower paces a smooth control needs to be | | | | your rein to provide freedom of movement. |
| maintained. | | | | (4) Maintain a straight, relaxed sitting posture and let |
| When one learns how to canter well whilst practicing a | | | | your hips go with the horse's movement to allow your |
| relaxed posture in the saddle and moving in sync with | | | | seat to remain in the saddle. Ensure that one hand |
| the slightly rocking motion, the exercise of cantering is | | | | holds a neck-strap or pommel to maximize a safe |
| a comfortable one. The main challenge is for one to | | | | riding technique. |
| learn how to adjust to the fast three-time beat | | | | (5) Continue the cantering by keeping your legs firmly |
| bounding pace where each stride is followed by a | | | | in place. The horse's balance is promoted by keeping |
| period of suspension when all four feet are in the air at | | | | his strides short and bouncy. |
| once. | | | | Effective cantering is best achieved when a smooth, |
| The following steps are a useful guide when learning | | | | fluid motion is mastered. Reins must never be too long |
| to canter: | | | | otherwise control of the mount and one's balance may |
| (1) It is important that your horse maintains a smooth | | | | be compromised. |
| trotting action to begin with in preparation to begin | | | | Don't lean too far forward or too far back and ensure |
| cantering; the better trotting technique maintained, the | | | | that your back remains relaxed and that the seating |
| smoother the transition to cantering will be. | | | | position is comfortable. |
| (2) It is also important to teach the horse being ridden | | | | Pace needs to be maintained; going too fast will cause |
| to strike off on the correct leg. When riding in a | | | | the horse to gallop, too slow and a trotting action will |
| straight-line either leg may lead yet when turning or | | | | ensue. |
| circling the inside pair (both fore and hind legs) must | | | | A good communication and attaining of the 'entente |
| lead in order for the horse to maintain its balance. Care | | | | cordiale' between horse and rider will lead to the |
| must be taken depending on whether one is cantering | | | | smoothest gait. |
| to the left or right when determining the best leg to | | | | Happy riding! |