How to Teach a Walking Horse to Canter

Walking Horses, more formally known as Tennessee Walking Horses, are famous for their three unique gaits: Flat Walk, Running Walk and Canter. The best-known of these is the "running walk," a smooth high-stepping gait that can reach up to 20 miles an hour. A Walking Horse canters in much the same way as other horses, but the gait is slower and smoother. It's so comfortable for the rider that it's often called the "rocking-chair gait." Young Walking Horses may be reluctant to canter at first, responding instead with a faster and faster running walk. Such horses are best started on the longe before being taught the gait under saddle.

Things You'll Need

  • Longe line
  • Longe whip
  • Safe enclosed work area
  • Helmet
  • Gloves
  • Assistant (optional)
  • Bridle and saddle
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Instructions

  1. Teaching Canter on the Ground

    • 1

      Bridle your horse. Attach the longe line by passing it through the near-side bit ring, over the horse's head, and then clipping it to the outside bit ring. Ask the horse to move away from you by pointing the whip at its shoulder. If the horse has never worked on the longe before, have an assistant lead it round until it gets the idea of staying out on a circle. Work the horse round at a walk for a few minutes to warm up.

    • 2

      Ask the horse to move into the running walk by pointing the whip at its hocks and giving it a firm voice command. If the horse doesn't respond, flick the lash of the whip at the ground by its back legs. Allow the horse to move around you for a few minutes at the faster pace until it settles on the circle.

    • 3

      Ask the horse to move up a pace to a canter. Again, point the whip and give a firm voice command. If the horse responds by performing the running walk faster and faster, continue to give the command. Eventually, the horse should become uncomfortable in the running walk on a circle, and break into a canter. Lower the whip immediately and praise the horse, even if it only gives you one or two steps. Continue to practice until the horse can sustain a canter comfortably on a large circle.

    Cantering Under Saddle

    • 4

      Warm the horse up at the walk and running walk until it's calm and settled. Ride a 20-yard circle at the running walk, continuing to circle until the horse is responsive and listening to you.

    • 5

      Shorten your reins a little, and squeeze the fingers of your inside hand, lifting your hand slightly up and away from the neck. At the same time, press your inside leg into your horse's side at the girth. Slide your outside leg back and use it to apply pressure behind the girth. The inside leg asks for impulsion (energy) and the outside leg asks the horse to step forward into a canter. You can also give the voice command at the same time to remind the horse what's required.

    • 6

      Praise the horse if it achieves a transition into a canter. Allow it to drop back down to a slower pace for a break, then repeat the exercise until you can maintain the canter round the circle. If the horse strikes off on the wrong leg (pushes with the inside hind leg rather than the outside one, which produces an unbalanced and uncomfortable result), bring it down a pace immediately. Try the exercise again, but roll your weight onto your inside seat bone to encourage the horse to step under from the outside.