My dad told me to ask my horse to canter and I literally asked the horse “can you canter?”

My trainer described the motion of a canter when I was first learning as “a rocking chair that has wheels on it.”

"that really wasn't a good transition" Oh honey, you should see mine😂😂

once my horse started canter and i didn’t even notice. i thought he was doing a fast trot. afterwards my trainers congratulated me and i was confused until my sister told me i went canter lok

Thank you! ❤️ My instructor didn't ever show me how to ask the horse to canter, he just said to squeeze my thights and start cantering. I couldn't.... I felt so embarrassed. This helped soooo much ❤️❤️

Besides being an excellent rider and trainer, you are kind....Making an instructive canter video like this for a "green" rider. You are really quite thoughtful, too.

Your specific technical instructions appeal to all of the dressage riders out here - that’s why we ride dressage! It’s amazing how many trainers don’t understand the need for specifics such as “sit on your inside seatbone” and “ask for the transition when the horse’s outside foreleg hits the ground”. I appreciate your videos and thank you so much for doing them!

I'd like to thank you!!! I'm a begginer and I wasn't able to ask for canter. You were the one who really helped me understand how to ask for it. No one could explain it to me but you!!!! ❤

This is great Amelia! So clear and simple. Sometimes I just need a recap of the basics 😄

Great verbal explanation and visual explanation of trot to canter! Sometimes dressage individuals speak to beginners as if you should understand the lingo and shrug their shoulders as if it's quite simple. You are the first individual I"ve watched with both a very easy to understand instruction, showing that instruction and explaining why! Thank you!

Clearly explained and well ridden, thank you!

After watching many videos I’m happy I found this one which showed me (not just told me, or showed in a way whereby I couldn’t actually see what was being done) exactly how I needed to position my outside leg and also to use the opposite seat bone first. Thank you ❤

I have stagnated at my canter training - i cannot TELL you how helpful all your canter info gas been to get 'organized' in the saddle to attempt this...it is SO difficult when training by ones self (no fenced area, no arena etc...lol ...non-traditional dressage breed - many strikes against me...🤣😂) Having to teach my better half what the correct lead LOOKS like. .😳 so i could have some instantaneous feed back.... Wish i could afford a higher level of membership, but the Patreon is still helping me TONS at my basic level of riding. THANK you so much for your efforts in this❣ it gives a person without access to training centers hope and much needed direction....Dressage has a lot if 'backyard' fans - people that seriously just want better 'dialogue' with our equine partners... Sincerest thanks Lady...... Upstate NY backyard rider

Wow, it’s such a delicate relationship between you and your horse. Such small movements or changes and they respond so well. It’s magical❤❤ I am just learning to ride English. Thank you for your instruction❤❤

Thank you, I didn't watch but the title reminded me of my horse who died last year and made me smile. I would hear my coach say when you get to (C for example) ask for canter. Then she would say, lovely transition but a bit early. My reply would be that I hadn't asked for it and he heard you say canter and just popped in. The amount of times he did that.

Thanks for the videos, it's very helpful. I'm from China and learning riding now. I always had difficulty in starting canter. However, I found some horses in the riding school can understand Chinese. Sometimes when my coach said "get ready for canter", the horse just begin to canter itself.

Thanks you so much. I got my horse to canter for the first time on my own today. This helped so much and I am so happy. Thank you!

my trainer taught me to have my leg all the way back to call for canter which is totally wrong because it makes it easier for me to fall off. after seeing this video i truly understand how to do the canter properly. thank you .

I'm here for the hell of it and it's so relaxing to just listen to her. Good tips!

This is really really helpful, both in starting canter from trot and in transitioning from canter to trot. Thank you❤️

thank you for the video - i am learning on a green horse and i cant get the canter (had it on lesson horse though) - with this video i realized i am putting my one leg too far back then losing balance and gripping at knee so he is stays trotting -fastest trot i ever rode too! lol will try a more subtle leg movement now

This is very useful for me as I’m only just getting comfortable with trotting so now I know what to do next

Amelia, ! 🤔👌😎⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ must be doing something correct.Because it’s working! Thank you, for caring enough to teach us who truly want to learn and grow in horsemanship! 💕🐴⭐️😎 We who are serious about learning, are grateful for the time you put into teaching us! 💕💕💕

Thank you so very much for this. I am blessed to ha e a large, grey warmblood. We have started dressage lessons. So very "green " He is very stiff on the right and swings his qtrs out. He was always taking the left lead until I listened to THIS !Yesterday he went correctly first time!!!! I am truly grateful Amelia - I loved your title of it " takes a village"... this is so true in all aspects of life. Im certain you have helped SO many horse riders/lovers become BETTER and continue improving for their horse/s sake. God Bless you! Michelle West. S.A.

I love the way you explain and film things.

Lovely clear explanation and demonstration Amelia, thankyou.

Such a beautiful horse! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 thanks for the video, I’m training a green ex-racer so all he knows is from standing to gallop. He was never taught how to do this and it really helped so thanks!

Very clear and instructive. Lovely video

The timing is important. The ask should be given as the outside front foot is grounded and moving back in relation to the horse. This is the correct timing from walk and trot. One way to encourage the transition is to tap the horse on the inside shoulder with the whip. This can be dispensed with as he gets more sensitive to your seat, only a slight nudge is required.

What really helped me was thinking there was no other way. While it is important to stay connected to the horse, and know you’re on a living thing, it is also important to let them know what they are going to do. Don’t try to do it, when you ask for a canter have the intention to canter, don’t wonder if you will, know you are going to canter and be determined. Just be confident is what I mean.

You're videos are amazing and so helpful thank you

Absolutely excellent detail and explanation..Absolutely love your teaching style . Thank you so much..

Loved this! Helped me visualize how my body were to cue as if I was on the horse

I took a riding lesson in Budapest, Hungary last spring and the trainer there said you don't cue your horse to canter with your legs per se, but instead you squeeze your horse together like an accordion and then just release the horse to spring into the canter. I couldn't get it. It was very confusing and a bit frustrating. This is soooo much easier for me! Thank you!

When I canter ( I’m a beginner) I lean way to far back , I really want to improve my riding but I only get to ride once a week maximum! Anyone got any advice ?

Loved this video!! Beautiful horse too stunning paces x

Im watching this, not to learn to canter, but to learn what im doing that causes the horse i train on to canter when im just trying to trot. This actually helped! I definitely accidentally go too far on my out side leg and make him canter.

That was beautifully done and explained actually! Thank you so much . I really love your videos. Brilliant horse”wo”manship hehe. 💖💖

This is very informative and helpful video. Thank you so much.

With the horses and people I ride with, we ask for canter with mind, body and heart (and an occasional slight squeeze or tap with a foot) and that does the trick. I only recently realized how different dressage is.

This is a great video thank you. My mare I have been riding for 9 years is so over reactive that I now have a lot of bad habits riding. She has back issues which I have always suspected but just been confirmed. This has made it very hard to learn how to do a proper transition, if my legs moves at all she goes into canter and once we have cantered she will go down to a fast hollow trot and then straight back to canter. Anyway, after all this I have just bought a TB who is very green and unbalanced. He has a lovely canter but the transition up is not too good, one side I can't get the right lead but the canter is lovely. The other side his shoulder heads out and he gets over bent. I have a lot to work on and didn't know about putting my weight on the inside seatbone. I'm going to try this tomorrow. I like seeing you on a greener horse as it shows you what to do when things aren't perfect. Of course my horse isn't used to sitting trot yet either and a bit hollow sometimes.

Moved to Houston I promise we will fill your barn and lesson classes ❤️🙏🏼🐎

Whoops, meant 5 Stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Thank you for your non selfish desires to teach those that appreciate your hard work in horsemanship! 💕🐴✝️

Thank you so much for wonderful explanation!

Wow no wonder I was so off balance when going into canter, my leg was too far back asking. Thank you!

I love your videos! I have learned so much from you! I can’t wait to apply what I have learned!

awesome, im a green rider and learn so much from your videos. thamk you...

That was very helpful. Thanks!

These videos are so helpful thank you so much !!!

My first trainer told me (when I was 7 y.o.) that to change from trot to canter we should just beat the horse (with wip and spurs). He told me I should do the same before a jump and when the horse didn't want to walk faster (he just knew fast and slow, he didn't even knew about collected canter and etc). Some months later I started training with another person and... wow... The evolution we go through when we have a really nice and technical trainer is on another level. My tip: if you have a trainer that relies only on whips and beating the horse, just go train with someone else.

i did my first canter today !!

Very very helpful

Excellent explanation thank you

Just what I needed. Thank you!

I love this!!!

Thank you for the very nice video. I am trying to theorize how the inside seat promotes the correct lead. I would have thought the opposite. Putting more weight on the outside would take some weight off the inside shoulder. Is there something I’m not seeing?

Great Video. Beautiful Horse too!

Well explained thank you appreciate

thank you I’m learning to canter soon :)

Wow! This helps so much!!!!!!

Thank you so much ima starter so it's very helpful

Thank you!

Awesome, thank you.

Amelia, thank you for this. You mentioned half-halt? Do you have a video explaining this?

Dearly thanks. My instructor either wanted me to keep paying, or dint teach me. Tried for months before giving up. Will try again!

Great video! Thank you.

Tysm, this actually really helped!!

Thanks lady... I'm doing a "virtual test" Jul 13th . Intro C 2019 and there's canter. am a working on my depart into canter and into trot. so this is good coz they're a work in progress. Ta.

This helps me a LOT thank u

Love the instruction....easy terms ! why, at the trot, does it look like you are constantly kicking the horse with both heels ?

Thank you!!

Needed this. Excellent. Ty.💙🐎😎

Great !! Thanks.

Dear Amelia, video on older horses and exercise at the walk. Amazing! Thank you! Little different story with my Registered Morab. Knock on wood. 26 years young, this week Long story short. He still is very athletic in his older age. As you have recommended, I do long walk/ exercises! But still include small sessions of the jog and small sessions of the lope. He willingly offers this. My question is , could he be an exception to the rule,? When I groom him, he has such good muscular mass. Tight,. Not flab so to speak. Thank you for your input on different horse situations ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕🐴

Thank you very much for all your great videos. They are always super helpful! Would you be adding slow motion on some of your video please? It would be very useful 😊🐎

Nice

Thank you for this! Also your horse is beautiful ❤❤❤❤

Thank You This really helped a lot!!! :D

Thank you so muchh💕

Amazing video thanks u so muchA

Love this! So, I've recently changed from one style of riding (saddleseat) to another (hunter). The Canter signals are different, along with the saddle, balance, etc. This has caused me to start leaning forward in the canter (something I never did before). How on earth do I get back to sitting straight??

Thank you for sharing! I have huge problems with one horse. Apparently i put my leg too behind from the girth. ”Wrong canter”

That was bunch of good informations..Appreciate that

Her horse is beautiful

Amelia - can you break down “inside leg to outside rein” and package it in that awesome way you do?

So nice

Before I never had a problem at cantering but suddenly after 2 days of rest, I forgot everything and my canter transition wasn't working at all had to use my whip (which I hate to use). BTW, I'm a beginner and I don't do drassage,I just what ur videos bc u really explain well and drassage is so elegant I tried my best to follow😅

I'm gonna learn to canter tomorrow and tho I know my instructor will show me, I wanna know what she means when she says something and I'm gonna csnter on Thunder he is super lazy and I'm gonna struggle. A while ago while I was trotting Jimmy randomly started cantering he's my fav horse but yeah anyway thanks so much for this video

Thank you very much for your explanations. As I am french, I searched in the dictionary the translation for canter : we say : "petit galop". So, there no specific word for it. We just say : it's like "gallopping", but slow... As for me, I am 72 years old, and I am still trying to improve my ride (I am not a very good rider, but I progress, even at my age, "grâce à vous" also... 🙂

When I canter I bend my back with it, would you have any tips as I find it hard to sit my loan horses canter

How I will ask to collect the canter ? What the aid ( I am a beginner) ?

Your horse is beautiful

I like your voice

In my second riding lesson, I was trotting and the horse started cantering. I don’t know if it was me accidentally doing like, a sign or an indication to go faster or if she just got a little exited but my instructor said I did really well and most of her other students my age would’ve let go and fallen off but I (tried) to stay calm and keep ahold of her and control her and I didn’t die! So I call that a success haha

Great video! I’m not a native speaker so maybe that’s the reason I didn’t understand the reign position in canter. Do you loosen the outside reign and tighten the inside one?

I have a Tennessee walking horse, he does not trot at all, only gaits(running walk/saddle gait), he is occasionally a pacey horse. Do I ask him to canter from the walk, flat walk or gait or either? He can canter, I have seen him do it in the field but I don't know how to ask him to do this under saddle. When I try to get him to go faster, he just speeds up his gaiting.

I'd love to live at your house! Even if all I did was to clean out stalls. :)))

I hope more equestrians find your Chanel 💜 10/10 👌🏻

Thanks Amelia. Several questions. One, it seems like at times (not all the time) you are tapping your horse with your spurs repeatedly, in time with his steps at the trot. Is that to establish the speed or rhythm you want? Or is that not really happening, it just looks like it? Two, like someone else here, I'm wondering why the inside seat bone, not the outside? Third, do you teach your horses to come back down when you squeeze your thighs? Doesn't seem like that would be intuitive to the horse. As an unsophisticated rider, to me squeeze means go haha. Lastly, you don't mention timing your cue with the horse's footfall at the trot. That's something I'm not skilled at, but I should at least know what to aim for. Thanks so much for your videos :)

As a beginning rider it is difficult to do sitting trot to ask for canter. Is there a technique to ask from a rising trot?