Excerpts from Book Four “Training the Young Horse after Backing through Training Level”
Canter Work Series # 4
More on Canter Aids
The aids described in the canter series # 1 and #2 from book one, make learning the canter easy for the horse. He learns quickly and the aids needed become less and less as time goes on. All you will have to do is think canter (and simply stretch the spine tall) then begin to slide your outside leg back and your horse will rise up to you and canter. As long as your position is correct and your aids are clear, the canter should be slow and not strung out with the horse racing to catch his balance. You have already completed so much foundation work in book one and book three, that approaching the canter shouldn’t be a difficult task. Do not scoop your seat because this will drive your weight down into his back, separating the front of the horse from the back. Do not take the motion up into your back or your hips. Simply shed the motion of the horse down your leg and out the knee, thus allowing the horse freedom in the canter. Remember not to let your horse push you to the back of the saddle, creating a space between you and the front of the saddle. That space will create stiffness in the jaw of the horse. If you follow the motion of the horse you will be left behind on the third beat of the canter. If you find yourself left behind just adjust your seat back to the front of the saddle and your horse will soften in the jaw. You may need a ground person that can see if you are being left behind, it is very subtle and often the rider can’t feel when it is happening. These simple details make all the difference in the progress of your canter work. Don’t fold up or draw the knees up. All the mistakes in the rider position open a door for the young horse to canter out of control, or misbehave in some other way. Once he has his legs under him, he will be able to canter whole school. Stretch your spine tall, lift the sternum up, but not enough to arch the lower back, push your seat slightly toward the reins, softly brush with your whip and your horse should gather himself and organize the canter.
You may ask a question, make a comment or just look forward to the next canter post.
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