01/09/2026
โพสต์นี้แชร์มาจากครู Lertpong Manwong อีกที จริงๆอยากแชร์คำพูดครูเลิศพงษ์มาก พูดได้ตรงใจที่สุด แต่แชร์ซ้อนไม่ได้
How do you know when a rider is actually ready to learn to canter?
Before I introduce the canter, I want to see that the rider has enough balance, control, and independence at the walk and trot that adding another gait isn’t going to make everything else fall apart.
Some of the things I look for include...
- They can maintain a steady posting trot without constantly losing balance.
- They can steer accurately without relying heavily on the reins.
- Their lower leg is reasonably secure and doesn’t swing dramatically every stride.
- They can sit the trot for at least short periods without gripping, bouncing excessively, or collapsing through their upper body.
- They can ride balanced upward and downward transitions.
- They understand how to use their leg without immediately tipping forward.
- They can keep the horse moving without needing the instructor to constantly remind them.
- They can recover their balance when something doesn’t go perfectly.
- They are mentally ready.
A rider who becomes extremely tense the moment the horse speeds up may need more confidence building first but that doesn’t mean every part of their position needs to be perfect before they ever canter. It means they should have enough of a foundation that the canter can become the next skill they learn instead of simply becoming something they survive.
Sometimes riders are eager to canter because it feels like the next milestone or parents may ask when their child is going to canter and instructors can sometimes feel pressure to keep riders progressing quickly. The issue is that introducing it too early can create habits that become much harder to fix later such as gripping, balancing on the reins, throwing the upper body forward, clamping with the knee, or fear of transitions.
There is nothing wrong with spending more time developing a really solid walk and trot foundation because when that foundation is there, learning to canter usually becomes much easier.
What do you personally want to see from a rider before you introduce the canter?
