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Amelia executing a canter transition, an arrow points out the hind limb when the horse transitions to canter.

When do you ask for the Canter?!

Are you clear on when to ask for the canter??? The canter transition is something that MANY horses and riders struggle with! A lot has to happen for the horse to coordinate all 4…
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A person rides a dark horse in an outdoor arena performing flying changes during dressage, with the text “Flying Changes!!” in bold white letters at the top. The image shows two side-by-side action shots of the horse and rider.

Flying Changes

Flying changes are a lot of fun to ride, but can be very hard and frustrating to train.  A lot has to happen in a very short period of time: the horse must go…
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A rider on a brown horse turns in an arena. Next to them, a diagram shows a blue circle labeled ‘10 Meter Canter Circles’ with arena letters and measurements around it.

10 Meter Canter Circles

10 meter circles at the canter are a big challenge for both horse and rider. In order to do them well, they require bend, collection, impulsion, and engagement! A couple for weeks ago, I…
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A person riding a chestnut horse at a canter in an outdoor arena, both in riding gear. The text reads The Canter Seat!!!, highlighting the difference between a tight seat and a loose seat. Trees and greenery fill the background.

The Canter Seat!!! Too loose, too tight, or just right.

The 2 most common mistakes that riders make when trying to figure out how to sit the canter is that they are either way too loose and floppy or too tense. Too loose – in…
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A person wearing a helmet and riding gear is performing a counter canter on a chestnut horse in an outdoor arena. The words “Counter Canter!!” appear across the top of the image in white, playful letters.

Counter Canter

Counter canter is a great exercise to improve your horse’s canter as it is a test of balance, suppleness, straightness, and collection. The counter canter is introduced at  first level and ALL of the…
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A rider in formal attire canters on a chestnut horse in a dressage arena. Text reads: The Canter Seat! with labeled blue ovals: Medium Canter, Working Canter, and Collected Canter—essential forms in equestrian horse riding.

The Canter Seat

Many riders struggle with the canter seat and following the motion of the horses’ back in the canter. I find it helpful to think of circles and ovals to find the correct seat in…
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A person wearing a helmet rides a black horse with a red saddle pad in a foggy outdoor arena. Large text on the right reads, Hands, Elbows, and Arms in Canter, highlighting the importance of elbows in canter.

Hands, Elbows, and Arms In Canter

Many riders (including myself) struggle to find a steady contact in the canter.  In the canter, the horses’ head follows a nodding motion as the horse goes through the 3 beat footfall of the…
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Amelia Newcomb executing a collected canter.

Collection: Canter Walk Canter Transitions

Canter-walk-canter transitions are one of the best exercises to introduce the concept of collection to your horse! In order to execute a walk-canter transition properly, the horse must lower and engage the hind end…
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A rider in equestrian gear is guiding a chestnut horse past a B marker in a dressage arena, demonstrating a smooth canter transition. The text The Canter Transition!!! appears in a blue box at the top left.

The Canter Transition

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…
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