Everything You Need To Know About Horses

Canter Leads

Canter leads

Getting the right one is important. But what is a canter lead and how do you get the right one? What if your horse has difficulty getting the right one?

What is a Canter Lead?

The canter is a three beat gait, and the horse can canter with either the left or right foreleg leading. The footfalls, or way the horse places his foreleg on the ground go in this order………………

Left Foreleg Leading

Right hind, left hind and right fore togther, left foreleg.There are three beats because the diagonal leg hits the ground at the same time. When the left foreleg is the last one to touch the ground, the horse is on the correct leg on the left rein.

Right Foreleg Leading

Left hind, right hind and left fore togther, right foreleg. When the right foreleg is the last one to touch the ground, the horse is on the correct leg on the right rein.

Canter Leads

When you’re cantering on a horse, it can be difficult to tell which leg you’re on. If you look down towards the horse’s shoulders, you should see the horse’s inside fore leg striding out further than the outside fore leg. If you’re on the wrong leg, your horse may find it difficult to canter around corners or in circles.

Cantering on the wrong rein is called a counter canter and it’s something that can be done by dressage horses who have a lot of strength, flexibility and balance. Until you’re a very experienced rider, you need to always aim for the correct lead. If you horse strikes off on the incorrect lead, bring him back to a sitting trot and try again. Cantering on the wrong lead will make things much harder for your horse.

How Do You Get The Correct Canter Lead?

The aids for canter are simple. Put your inside leg on the girth, and outside leg behind the girth and squeeze. Some horses aren’t very well educated, and some will not pick up the correct lead on the first try. Some tips to help you get the correct lead include asking for the canter in a corner of an arena, and simple looking in the direction you’re going. Remember to maintain a gentle, firm contact on your inside rein and always sit to the trot before you ask for a canter.