How to Canter With Your Horse

Take time to get to know your horse as you learn to ride. Talk to him, brush him, let him know you how you feel when you're on his back. First you walk. Get comfortable walking and then you trot. Soon you are ready to canter.

Instructions

    • 1

      Keep your eyes pointed toward the direction you want to go. Your body has a tendency to lean towards the direction you are looking. So to keep your horse balanced as you speed up for a canter, don't look into the lean when you turn, look toward the next leg of the route.

    • 2

      Lean up with the leg that is on the inside of a turn. Raise your shoulder and your inside leg about four or five inches, without actually leaning over to confuse the horse. Just lift to counteract your weight as you make a turn.

    • 3

      Start your horse off slowly with the canter gait if she is not used to riding that fast around corners with a rider on her back. Get her to ride the track walking and trotting. When you first get her to canter, do it in short sports of five minutes or so and then back off to a trot. Resume the canter and stop again.

    • 4

      Hold the reins with a light steady grip so that your horse knows you are there and you can guide her, but let her set the pace for the cantor. Don't confuse your horse with too many cues at the same time.