The Canter/Lope
The canter/lope stride is a three beat Gait. The canter/lope is a natural pace of a horse when just riding. It is an active pac with the horse maintaining a round outline, while in forward-rhythm (same as the Trot). This pace is relaxed but active.

Riding a horse at a canter/lope is different then riding at a Walk or trot. The canter/lope will be easier to ride when you are sure of yourself at a trot. The front end and hindquarters rise and fall alternately. This affects where you sit, how you sit and the amount of shock your lower body must absorb.

At a canter/lope you will feel more movement from the horse. To start, use the basic position for the sitting trot. Give your horse the leg and voice aids for the canter/lope. When the horse strides forward with it's leading leg you will be sitting in the deepest part of the Saddle. You will feel your seat bones slide slightly forward with the movement of the horse. Depending ont he stride of your horse this may have a rolling affect. The movement of the horse is absorbed by your hips. When you start to ride this gait you may catch yourself "pumping" (your Shoulder move in rhythm to the horse). Your shoulder should stay still. ANother problem beginners have is losing the correct lower leg position. Once your seat improves you will be able to correct this.

At the canter/lope horse's travel in leads. It's body is turned at an angle or diagonal to the direction of travel. It is moving one foreleg and one rear leg, both on the same side of the body, ahead of the two other legs. In order for the horse to make smooth turns, it is important that the inside legs lead in front of the outside legs. This is called leading and is very important for smooth turns. You must learn to feel which shoulder of the horse is slightly advanced of the other and which hind leg comes to the ground first. Do not bend over and look to see which lead you are on. This will unbalance you and the horse.

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