How do you make a horse canter http://www.ehow.com/how_16286_canter-horse.html

How to Canter Your Horse
The canter, or lope, is the fastest of the three gaits. It's a three-beat gait where in one stride the horse's hooves will strike the ground three times.


Step 1 Tack your horse with English or Western tack. You should be wearing a helmet.

Step 2 Mount your horse.

Step 3 Sit with your shoulders back, head up and looking forward.

Step 4 Keep 60 percent of your weight in the stirrups and 40 percent in the seat.

Step 5 Allow the horse to walk to get forward movement.

Step 6 Apply slight pressure with both your legs to keep the horse moving forward.

Step 7 Use your leg that's opposite the leg you want your horse to lead with (to get your horse to lead with its right leg, use your left leg, and vice versa). Maintain pressure with that leg while moving it back 6 inches and removing your other leg from the horse so it is no longer touching the horse. This will help it pick up the proper lead (leading with the correct leg).

Step 8 Cluck or kiss to the horse to get it to go forward.

Step 9 Continue the pressure with the outside leg and clucking until the horse canters.

Step 10 Maintain slight pressure with the outside leg while cantering to keep the horse moving forward and on the proper lead.

Step 11 Remember to breathe. Holding your breath creates tension in your body that the horse picks up on.

Step 12 Relax and get in the flow of the horse's movements.

Tips & Warnings

Cantering is the English name and loping is the Western name for this gait.In order to get your horse to move the proper lead leg it must be trained to move away from pressure.Give the horse enough rein to move its head. If you hold its head too tightly it won't be able to get moving.Allow a horse to warm up sufficiently by walking and trotting before cantering or loping.Keep your butt in contact with the saddle by allowing your pelvis to move forward and back in rhythm with the horse.Check the girth (cinch) to make sure it is sufficiently tight before mounting. You should be able to slip two fingers between the horse and the girth (cinch) without much difficulty. A girth (cinch) that is too loose will cause the saddle to slip.If your horse is confused and not responding to your leg cues, make sure the horse understands leg pressure and knows to move away from pressure created by one leg or the other.Do not attempt to canter (lope) a horse that hasn't learned to yield to pressure from the bit.If your horse runs away with you, relax, stay calm, and pull one (or one side) of the reins out to the side so your arm is extended out away from your hip. Hold the rein in that position. This should get the horse to turn in a circle, which will naturally force the horse to slow down. Practice this escape route at the walk and trot before attempting to canter.