Horseback Riding - Canter
Horse Back Flatwork

From: Equestrian and Horse | Horseback Riding

Flatwork - Riding The Canter

Canter
The next pace up from trot is the canter. Canter is a three time movement which has a moment of suspension in between each canter stride.

The Footfalls
The horse can be on one of two canter leads depending on which rein they are on.

Left Lead Canter
On the left rein the horse will pick up left lead canter, this is where the horses off hind strikes off first followed by the near hind and off fore together and the near fore being the last footfall to go down.

Right Lead Canter
On the right rein the horse strikes off with their near hind first followed by the off hind and near fore together and the off fore being the last leg to go down.

Types of canter

Working canter
Collected canter
Medium canter
Extended canter
Counter canter

Asking for canter

Depending which rein you are on will determine what your aids are for canter. If you are on the left rein then the aids are as follows:Rider first checks their position is correct, then goes into sitting trot ready to apply the correct canter aids.
Rider prepares the horse for canter by ensuring that they have an active and attentive trot. To begin with the best place to ask for canter is in a corner as you will already have the horse looking and bending around the corner.
Rider looking straight ahead places their left leg on the girth where it gently nudges to energise the forthcoming transition. Right leg moves back behind the girth where it will nudge gently to activate the horse to strike off with the off hind first. The outside right rein maintains the horses speed as well as preventing them from drifting when the transition occurs. The inside left rein asks for a small amount of bend to the inside, this bend also suggests to the horse that you would like left lead canter.
The rider must stay tall in the saddle and relaxed through their back, seat and shoulders during not only the upward and downward transition but also when in the canter itself.
Common faults when riding canter are tipping forward in the upward transition to canter, over holding through the rein contact therefore preventing the horse from riding up into the canter transition, this is often accompanied by tense shoulders and arms which prevent the rider from having a soft and elastic rein contact. Dropping the rein contact completely and therefore losing control of both horse, steering and balance. Tensing and tightening up of the seat and back which leads to the rider almost bracing themselves against the canter, this is often accompanied with a heavy "thump" to the seat of the saddle, this makes for a very uncomfortable canter for both rider and more importantly the horse.

Horseback Riding - Canter Horse Back Flatwork

Horseback Riding - Canter
Horse Back Flatwork