Canter

The canter is by far my favorite gait when horseback riding. It is smooth, it is fast and it is relaxing. If you haven’t cantered before, think of the motion of a rocking horse, they really are quite similar. But it can also be a bit scary when you try to canter for the first …

Canter transitions can sometimes be tricky for even skilled riders. When we talk about picking up the correct lead, we tend to think of it much as we think of a “trick” or simple trained behavior, rather than a complex interplay of training, balance, and timing. Actually, getting your horse to pick up the correct …

Learning to ride a horse at a canter is a major milestone for beginner riders as they advance in their riding education. For many, a horse’s canter can be a hard gait to ride. There’s a lurching transition, an increase in speed, and (for some horses more than others) a canter can feel more like …