Intermediate Equestrian 101: (i) The Canter, Revisited

Let's take cantering to the next level (for my novice guide see here). It can be hard to influence the canter if the rider is still awed by the speed of it, as it does require quicker thinking and action. However, the same basic principles apply as in walk and trot. To slow down the canter, the pace should be checked when the horse's shoulders are lifted, as this is the moment when the rider has the most control.

A common problem with less forward horses is to find that as soon as you get into canter you are back in trot. This is often caused by the rider freezing as they go into the canter. Therefore do not forget to ride actively in canter and keep applying the leg aids. As soon as you feel that lift of shoulders, which means the horse is about to canter, use your legs again to encourage the horse forward into the canter.

There is often a lot of confusion about the canter aid as it differs from that of walk and trot. The leg aids for canter are: inside leg on the girth, and outside leg slightly behind the girth. The uneven leg aids for canter tells the horse which leg you want him to lead on. If you do not get a transition when you want one it does not help to move your leg even further back - simply apply stronger aids.

Australian model Rachael Finch and black stallion Ammo, in a shoot for the Melbourne cup

Personally I feel the canter is the most comfortable and enjoyable gait when riding your horse - the feeling of rolling along, the sound of the three beat rhythm, wind whistling past. But many riders never get to appreciate how enjoyable the canter can be, either through fear or trying too hard.

When your horse canters, it is almost like a dance. He will lead, and you will follow. As anyone who dances knows, if the follower tries to lead, the dance loses its flow and grace. The same applies if the follower won't allow the leader to lead. These two scenarios are so often the case when people experience a choppy, uncomfortable, rhythm-less canter; they just won't allow their horse to lead them.

The truth is that horse riding is one of those things in life where you really do get out what you are willing and prepared to put in. So often, people want to have wonderful paces and an enjoyable ride, without doing the downright hard slog that it takes to really understand how your body works with your horse as you ride. So if you are willing to put the work in, here are a few different points you can begin to do today that will allow you to experience the canter in all its glory.

• Practise the sitting trot, without your stirrups

The sitting trot is a wonderful way of improving the canter because in order to really ride it correctly, you need to allow your hips to move with your horse and not against him, just like in canter. To do this, you must let your legs stretch down, no drawing them up! The sitting trot also, over time, gives you a more secure seat and betters your balance, as you learn to sit deep and central; both essential for a good canter. Spend 10 to 15 minutes every time you ride without your stirrups. Begin only riding straight lines at trot if you are initially skeptical about your abilities to stay on your horse! Just make sure you are slowly building it up, both time and energy.

• Prepare and ride the trot to canter transition correctly

Preparation is key to most, if not all, success. A vast majority of riders, especially nervous ones, literally throw their horse into canter and then hang on, faces turning purple with exertion, knuckles white from clinging on to the reins or saddle for dear life...Rather, take the time to understand what your horse does in the canter transition, so that you can prepare your body for the shift in momentum that you will inevitably feel as the gear change happens. Remember that your horse must canter...not you! So sit up through your body and allow your horse to canter by being ready to follow with your hips and hands - not your upper body though! Throwing yourself towards or onto your horse's neck during the transition is a surefire way of unbalancing you both and maybe even leading to a fall...sit up!

• Sit up through your upper body

So I mentioned it in the above point, but it is so important that I have dedicated a whole point to it alone. You must make a conscious effort to sit up through your diaphragm and upper body. Why? Well, if your are slouched and heavy through your torso, firstly you become very heavy on your horse's back (imagine a child that does not want to be lifted up) and secondly, this heaviness creates a jarring for you and your horse because your pelvis cannot properly move and allow the energy created in your horse's back end to efficiently and correctly connect through your front end. Your pelvic area must follow your horse in the canter, and it is a whole lot easier to do this if you carry your upper body yourself. You need a strong core in order to do this.

• Be 'the jelly'

Hmm, this may initially sound confusing but bear with me while I explain. Imagine you have a dinner plate in your hand and you slowly begin to move your arm up and down, bouncing the plate. Now imagine that on the plate there were two items, a stone and a lump of jelly...which do you think will bounce off your plate first, the rigid, hard stone or the soft, flexible piece of jelly? Of course you are going to lose the stone first! Your job when cantering is to be the jelly! Allow your body to relax and to be taken by the horse in the canter. Remember the dance - you must follow. In order to follow, you must be pliable enough for your partner, which in this case is your horse, to lead you. However, very important, don't collapse your upper body. Being the jelly basically means being flexible through your body, not collapsing on top of yourself and your horse and just being carried around. 

Riding requires your horse to carry you, yes, but it also requires you to carry yourself. Remember that always, but allow your body to be led, especially in the beginning when learning.