Ask the Instructor

Q & A

ask The Instructor

Julie Kidrowski is a graduate of William Woods University, with nearly a decade of QI’ve been riding for two years and am just starting to canter. I have a really wards or to dig your tailbone into his back. of course, when you are going second way of the ring, which experience teaching beginner through advanced lessons. This month she answers questions about leads and how to canter. To submit your question please email her at Julie@horseandacademy.com hard time trying to sit, and I have no is to the right, the correct lead idea what a lead is. Help! After you’ve collected your horse would be the right lead. and found a balanced seat, its a. Congratulations! Cantering time for our last step. Canter cues When you don’t have an arena can be one of the easiest gaits to require you to slightly bend your wall to follow, it becomes harder ride when done correctly. Let’s horse towards the rail, forcing the to visualize leads. To know which go through your canter departure horse to tip his hips to his center. lead is correct, imagine cantering from the walk first. When you feel his hips change, a circle. Which hand is doing the apply solid outside leg pressure majority of the turning? This is I like to break the departure slightly behind the girth. If your the lead you should be on! Typidown into three steps: horse has a hard time taking cally horses are trained so you 1. Collection the canter, feel free to make a use the opposite leg to cue them 2. Impulsion and Seat “kissing” noise to him and as the name of the lead. If you 3. Canter Cue say, “canter”. want your left lead, you cue with your right leg. First, you will need to let your Once you’ve correctly cued your horse know a change in gait horse, he will need a smooth One more tip about cantering: if is coming. Let’s call this part departure to help you sit your you find you are “pounding” the Collection. You will need to ask canter. As you ride, imagine saddle during the canter, simply your horse to walk faster by keeping your balance centered on remove your weight off your pushing him on with leg pres- your horse by tipping your rib- irons by relaxing your toes inside sure. At the same time, try not cage forward a few degrees, with your boot, and make sure you to let his head move any further your lower body slightly behind still have a bend in your knees. away from your body. You want you, and your pelvic bones not We all know the foundation of to shorten his stride and create a rocking but ”still.” This will a great rider starts in their foot! marching walk. protect the small of your back When you relax your leg and from rounding, one of the most allow your seat to absorb your Now for the second step: what common mistakes. weight, the canter will be much I call Impulsion and Seat. Keep easier to ride. You can also start your marching walk going with Now to answer the question to get a “feel” for the canter by your horse while you sit straight about leads: leads are really quite cantering short distances at a down, pushing into your saddle. easy to understand. When you time. By forcing yourself repetiThis places your weight, and are going first way of the ring, tively to find your balance, you your balance, centered on the which is to the left, the correct will soon be able to sit the canter horse. Be careful not to lean back- lead would be the left lead. And with no problem! n