How were you taught to canter?

Same as most of the above: sitting trot, outside leg back at the corner.

When I first got H he couldn't even really canter on the left rein (and not much better on the right!) doing it as above. We persevered and now, I'm glad to say he'll go with just the seat asking and from trot, walk or standing.

He has come such a long way in a year :D

I have got into the habit of saying 'go on' and he reacts to that instruction too. :rolleyes:
 
Enfys said:
"Pick up the inside rein fractionally, inside leg on, outside leg just behind the girth and push with your seat" I heard that in my head as soon as I read the question.

That's how I was taught to do it some 40 odd years ago, if it is wrong then I've been doing it wrongly, and so have my horses, for a very long time :(
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This^^^^^^.

I do think I adapt the basics to different horses, though. We used to have one who would only go up a gear if you shook the reins - he'd been used more for driving than riding!

OP, when I was first taught to canter, we were taught to ask on a corner, because it made it easier for the rider. As I progressed, I was expected to be able to canter anywhere.
 
Enfys said:
"Pick up the inside rein fractionally, inside leg on, outside leg just behind the girth and push with your seat" I heard that in my head as soon as I read the question.

That's how I was taught to do it some 40 odd years ago, if it is wrong then I've been doing it wrongly, and so have my horses, for a very long time :(

Nowadays I ask with my seat, and make a kissy sound (my horses are trained on the ground to canter, they canter at the cue regardless of any physical cues actually) legs in the same position but minimal contact, very un-BHS
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Balance the horse and a good inside leg, if horse is not prepared you can do what you like, but result will be ugly.
 
whisp&willow said:
ha ha! it was a long time ago now but i can still her it.... "sitting trot.... (get to the corner) INSIDE LEG ON THE GIRTH, OUTSIDE LEG BEHIND, AAAAAAAND CANTER!"

:p
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Ha ha! I can still hear my first instructor shouting the EXACT same thing! :D
That and "LEG ON!" Ha ha! :D
 
This has been quite interesting, I was curious to know if people had been taught the same way that I was.
I was taught at a BHS approved and regulated school and looks like a lot of you had the same teaching methods given to you too. I'm assuming those who were taught like I was learned at a BHS school/ qualified instructor too?

Loving the stories about you crazy kids just going off out in the field and going for it :D You were braver than I was! :D
 
I was taught to just kick from rising trot! I cringe now ... never had to ask for anything more than a trot on hacks for the 1st 3 years I was riding, because the second the horses got to an open grassy space they were off like bullets! It was at a riding school that was brilliant even though it failed every attempt to get BHS approved. Might explain a lot! ;)
 
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When I first cantered as a child it was with my dad running as fast as he could with me on the lead rein holding on to the pommel! I then progressed to kicking until we got canter. When I was about twelve I started having lessons on well schooled ex-show ponies and was taught sit, inside leg on the girth and outside leg behind. Older agian and I was taught about seat and weight aids.

A lot of my horses have been quite forward going (I am useless on those that need lots of leg, probably cos at only 5' I don't have a lot!) and usually canter if I just sit and touch with the outside leg.

My daughter now loves cantering, she holds on tight and I'm the one running along as fast as I can!
 
"Hold on, we're going to try a canter...why didn't you hold on?! Right, get back on, we'll try again"

Needless to say, I held on next time!
Note, this was on a hack :P
 
Taken out for a little hack - on a lead rope, I went when my instructor did. She just said hold the neck strap and say if you want to stop. We only did a little distance as I had a total phobia for such a long time having fallen off whilst on the lunge from a green horse - my friends horse before I opted to go to a riding school.. Can't believe I had such an issue with it now - I love it and also galloping :D
 
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