Excerpt from Book One “Balancing The Rider
Canter Series # 1
Analyzing the Canter
The Three beats of the canter.
First beat: The horse strikes off on the outside hind.
Second beat: The horse lands on the diagonal pair.
Third beat: The horse lands on the inside fore.
Moment of Suspension: Between the third and first beat there is a moment of suspension when all four legs are off the ground.
Sandra Beaulieu on Vanidor demonstrating the canter. This picture caught the moment of suspension.
How Does the Horse Effect Your Body during the Three Beats of the Canter?
First Beat: The horse pulls your seat forward, as he strikes off on his outside hind.
Second Beat: The horse sits you down, as he lands on the diagonal pair.
Third Beat: The horse drops your leg, as he lands on the inside foreleg.
What Should You do with Your Body during the Three Beats of the Canter?
First Beat: Do not push with your seat on the first beat of the canter, just allow the horse to pull you in the early stages of his canter work. Later when your horse is more advanced doing collected canter work you will block your seat when he goes to pull you on the first beat of the canter, thus shortening and collecting the canter stride.
Second Beat: Allow him to sit you down on the second beat. Be sure you don’t pinch with your knees, if you do he will sit you down too far back in the saddle and be out of balance. Then you will be out of balance for the last beat and the first beat of the next canter stride. Being left behind, you will resort to pushing in order to get back in the saddle where you should be, and the process will begin again.
Third Beat: Be sure that you haven’t landed on the back of the saddle on the second beat of the canter putting you out of balance. The horse is ready to drop your leg on the third beat. You must allow him to drop your leg.
You may ask a question, make a comment or just look forward to the next canter post.
Excellent post! My horse has an unconventional canter (she is a Standardbred) and I tend to slightly “bounce” my seat off the saddle at times during the canter. Any tips on how to balance myself to help balance my horse? (I do ride with an instructor but I appreciate other points of view as well!) 🙂 Thanks!
What makes a rider bounce off the saddle in the canter is griping with the knee’s, thighs, or lower leg. In order to stay in the saddle in the canter you must be in free balance off your seat. Next time you ride check and see if you are holding on to the saddle in one of these places. If you are holding on, take sometime to ride holding on to the pommel with only your fingers pulling you forward. This will help you to let go with your legs and hold your seat forward in the saddle until you find your balance there. This will help your horse balance himself in the canter as well.
Perhaps the series on the canter I am currently writing will help you.
I have written a book on balancing the rider Book one that might help you.
Thank you for your comment
isaacroyalfarm.com for more information
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