How do You ... ?

[BigStarLover]

Like I've ALWAYS wanted to canter. At one of the camps i went to (Misty Mountain) They said that we might at the end, ad we never did :[ So how do you ? do you just start at a trot kick the horse and say canter? or is it something else...

[BigStarLover]

how do you?!!!!?!?!

[DixieGirl]

I just sqeeze my horse and if she doesn't go I just get a little crop out. Why?

[BigStarLover]

because i want to canter

[DixieGirl]

I would just use a crop if the horse doesn't respond very well.

[BigStarLover]

yeah i use a crop for Satori every time so thats good. But i'm the only one out of all heather's (My lessons teacher) students that can get Satori at a trot without using a crop!!! I think im going to work on coming out of the jump before i start cantering

[silverleprichuan]

cantering should not be attempted without help from an instructory. Cantering is very fun but you need to learn how to do it on a willingly but steady horse to help make the experience a safe and pleasant one

[alliekk]

I agree with silver about cantering. Once you are comfortable and ready to canter, find a willing horse that knows his cues. Warm him up thoroughly, and then ask someone (preferably your trainer) to hop on and have him pick up the canter both ways to make sure his freshness is down to a minimum. Then jump on, trot for a little bit, squeeze with your outside heel and kiss your lips. If the horse knows what it is doing then it SHOULD pick up the correct lead. hope this helps!

[horse_lover]

in an english saddle, sit the trot instead of posting a few stridess before the place you want to canter as a warning to your horse as to what you want to do, then use youe outside leg and kick until your horse canters, don't just kick him all around the ring until you finally canter, if things get messy or sloppy, retry and be more forceful.

[cursivenight]

Most times, you shouldn't need a crop to hit your horse just to canter. You need to ask properly, and THEN if they don't do it (like in dixies case im guessing) you can tap them.

I wouldn't canter unless you have instruction from your trainer because it seems you aren't ready for it yet.

To canter on the left lead you put your right leg behind the girth a touch, and squeeze with both legs - there should be no 'kicking'. Reverse that for the right lead.

[Casper2002]

Try cantering on a trail ride on a controlled horse first. It is a lot less scary actually then cantering in a small circle. All my students liked loping on the trails better. Although if you have a problem with being scared out of a confined space, stick with a smaller arena like a round pen the horse even at the lope can't go very fast.

[TVF Maggie]

you could ask your trainer...

[BigStarLover]

yeah.. i'm doing bareback to get more balance first..then illl start

[Haley]

Since it isn't your horse and you ride in lessons, shouldn't your trainer teach you?

[fowlerk]

On my hores all I do is squeeze with my outside leg. ( That is the proper que) :)

[fowlerk]

Also when you first canter you bounce around in the saddle a lot. (Well...at least I did)