Did you know that the canter is the only naturally bent gait? The canter is a three beat gait that has a left lead and a right lead. The walk and the trot do not have a left or a right lead.
The simple fact that there is a left and a right lead makes the canter transition difficult. Not only does the horse have to coordinate to go from a 2 beat trot into a 3 beat canter, but the rider must also indicate to the horse which lead to pick up!
The rider’s position must reflect the bend in the gait. In left lead canter, the rider keeps the outside leg behind the girth and the inside leg at the girth, and slightly more weight on the inside seat bone. Leg position tells the horse which lead to pick up and also helps the rider to stay properly balanced in the canter.
Keeping the correct leg position is very important especially for teaching the flying changes and the tempi changes. Unlike the walk and the trot, in the canter the rider should keep the outside leg back behind the girth even when cantering straight down the long-side or up the centerline!
Be sure to check out today’s video on “The Canter Transition” for more tips on how to improve your canter transition!
Happy Riding!
Amelia
