How do you ask for the canter?

[@xoxohomes]

Excellent demonstration! The BEST video I have seen-I can see what you’re doing with each leg and you explain it sooooo well! Thank you!!

[@TroyReinholdt]

Good job young lady, clear, calm and coherent. Both horses and riders learn best that way. Thanks for your video

[@viralhorseditzz]

I’ve not cantered for months beacuse when I last cantered got bucked of and kicked I want to canter again so bad tho ty for the tips!!

[@Tom-bm2kt]

Thank you for the video. My feet sometimes fall out of the stirrups during the "ask", but that's my fault since I'm still working on the whole "heels down! toes up!" situation.

[@magnifinity]

You're Welcome! Your feet might be falling out because you are squeezing too hard. I always want a very light cue to work for canter. Mear ounces should do the trick or ounces should be my goal if my horse isn't quite comprehending that light of a cue yet. Always start with a very subtle cue so you can condition your horse to be light off the leg. It helps keep your body quiet and balanced.

[@SavannahHudson]

absolutely love your riding explanation and video !! i’m an older rider with a young new horse that isn’t responding well to my cues to canter and i’m feeling frustrated with myself .. i’ve never had a problem picking up a canter until now and would love to be able to grow together with my horse.

[@eduport-bebetter2268]

Thank you. Really helpful

[@Alex-horsman]

How did you teach horse that nice trott??? Piafe??

[@magnifinity]

@@Alex-horsman loooooots of transitions. He is working towards piaffe. Time and strength make a more powerful and elevated trot possible

[@GemmaPayan]

what about asking a greener horse who will start troting faster than cantering?

[@magnifinity]

Usually, they don't understand the leg cue well enough. It depends a lot on the rider's experience as well as the horse. I would likely go back to the round pen and see if I could teach a better understanding of the leg cues in a place where I didn't feel the need to hold the horse back (ie a safe round pen). I would also experiment with a light seat rather than a full seat. I would want to make the canter very easy and rewarding when we finally got it. Another thing to check is how well your horse responds to a canter cue from the ground for longeing. If they are having trouble there, you can start with improving that and then take that cue to the saddle to help with understanding.

[@javaidali7199]

Why horse her neck up or down

[@tracyblack1509]

You lost me when you said you didn’t use your voice. Sad.

[@magnifinity]

The voice is fine unless it distracts the rider from being aware of their body or the viewer from seeing the beauty of the horse. It’s also illegal in dressage competition so best not to rely on it if you want to compete.

[@equine2020]

Why use your voice ? I've ridden for years.taught by professionals. All I need to do is squeeze my legs I jump & foxhunt. I don't know any experience rider using their voice to change gaits.

[@irisz2963]

In dressage for example it's forbidden. Why would you use your voice if you can't do it in competition? It's much better if you learn to communicate effectively with your horse without using it ...

[@eduport-bebetter2268]

Thank you. Your explanation on pressure and timing of giving it (leg aids) is really helpful. I would like to use it in my next session.

[@gatosandwichera]

I ride a school horse that knows perfectly fine the words for walk, trot and gallop, and those are all the cues he needs, bot to go up a gait and to go down. He’s worse at stopping 😂 point being it’s difficult to practice the leg cues on him because whenever he hears the instructor say “start cantering in A” he starts cantering wherever he is, even if it’s C. It’s actually difficult to keep him from rushing😂😂 but I so love how much he enjoys going forward!