Sometimes the mere mention of the “C” word is enough to send riding students into a panic.
Yet, there is a great attraction to cantering. Even if it mortifies a rider, it is the stuff of his or her dreams, cantering off into the sunset or on a white sandy beach.
Canter can be a huge step for a nervous rider, but lots of preparation can help build their confidence. Riders should not be allowed to canter if they do not have a good, secure, and independent seat. In this post, I’m going to include some of the general guidelines to look for when letting your child to canter.
Heels
A heel that is well down indicates that the weight of the rider is down in the saddle and through the leg. If the instructor repeatedly tells a rider to keep their heels down, they shouldn’t be cantering until the learn to properly distribute their weight on the horse.
Hands
Hands that fly up at the first sign of stress or when the rider uses their legs are an indicator that a rider is not ready to canter. When the hands go up, the center of balance goes up and the rider is more likely to fall off.
Body
The rider must be able to make circles without leaning. They must walk and trot (posting) alone in the arena with hands and heels down, maintaining their balance and keeping the horse or pony under control. You also want to see that the rider does not tense up and lean forward in stressful situations. Leaning forward and grabbing the reins is a recipe for disaster at the canter.
Legs
The rider should have strong legs that can help keep them centered when they canter. Legs that wobble at the trot demonstrate weakness or that the rider posts off of the stirrups. Since riders can lose their stirrups quickly at the canter, it is usually helpful to teach them to post at a trot without stirrups before they canter.
Control
If the rider cannot gently control and direct the horse at a trot, they won’t be able to do it at a canter. The best way to improve the canter is to improve the trot. Only when the rider can trot posting, sitting, and standing, while circling and going straight, and making effortless transitions up and down, it is time to introduce the canter.
The canter is a lovely, enjoyable pace, and should not be feared. Don’t expect it to be perfect overnight, and don’t be disheartened if it doesn’t go as planned. This is completely normal. Riding takes many hours of practice and repetition. Take your time and enjoy the journey!
