Confident Rider Challenge Day 29
Are YOU Ready To Canter?

Before You Canter

Ready, Set, Canter
How is your mindset? Are you wanting to do more? Do you find yourself ready? If you are comfortable and starting to get bored with walk and trot I think you are ready to canter. And when you do it for the first time, don’t worry about how long you go. Just ask for the canter and see what happens.
You want to set your horse up for success though, and cue him for a canter. This means tip his nose in a little bit and add a little outside leg to encourage him to pick up the correct canter lead. By applying the outside leg, and having his nose tipped in it makes it easier for him to pick up the correct lead. (The inside leg is the leading leg) And it also helps to have him canter down the long side of the arena. It’s easier to canter on the long straight side. But I also find it easiest to ask for the canter when we are going around the turn. I don’t know why, it just seems easier when he is already beginning his bend to go around the corner of the arena.
And you will find that the more you canter, the better you and your horse will be at it. And the more you practice, the more confident you will be!
Daily Challenge
All right, today is the day, if you are ready, today is when you will ask your horse for a canter. And I know it might not be your favorite thing to have someone watching you while you pick up the canter, but it is safer if you have someone with you in the arena for your first canter. It can be a friend, spouse or trainer. They don’t really need to be experienced to watch you but it’s safer to have someone out there with you.
If you feel up to it, then go for it!
If not, keep working your way up to it. Work on your trot and two point position. Eventually you will want to canter. And continuing to work on your strength and confidence will get you there! So put on your helmet, have your significant other grab your video recorder, and go spend some time riding your horse.
And be sure to come back tomorrow for out final day of the confident rider challenge!
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