To canter or not to canter, that is the question we’ve found many riders asking. Some don’t want to canter because it’s completely terrifying to them, while others swear by it. If you’re learning to canter and not quite sure how you feel about it, here are some benefits that will put you at ease.
What Is Cantering?
A horse’s three natural gaits are: walk, trot, and canter. Each of these gaits are performed at a different pace, with canter being the fastest. Along with a faster pace, the rider’s legs are also in a different position during a canter. Cantering is a beautiful dance between a horse and rider when done properly. It is a smooth gait done to a three-pace rhythm, like the waltz. But much like the waltz, mastering a dance like this takes some serious time and hard work! Now that you have an idea of this movement, let’s take a look at how it can benefit your horse!
1. Breath Development
It may come as no surprise that this fast-paced gait comes with physical benefits! Long-term cantering can actually help develop lungs due to the rhythmic breathing they must achieve to canter. Cantering requires a horse to regulate breaths during their strides. Once achieved, this allows for the horse to canter for a longer duration without becoming completely exhausted. Horses aren’t the only ones who benefit from this, your breathing will most likely improve too! Even though it may take some time to achieve, your horse’s lungs (and your own) will thank you for it!
2. Improved Balance
Cantering might not be so smooth at first, as you may not be able to keep balance with your horse. For starters, try cantering for only one minute or less. Once you and your horse get cantering for one minute down, move on to cantering for two. Always be mindful of your horse’s fitness level when trying a new exercise. Allow your horse to catch his breath, and gradually build to cantering for longer periods of time. Be sure to take him on a slow walk afterward to allow the heart rate to slow back down.
Moving to the beat of your horse’s canter can take some time to fully get the hang of. But once you do, you’ll both have a stronger sense of coordination and balance!
3. Muscle Development
In the process of becoming more balanced, you may feel a little sore after a canter. You’re using a lot of core muscles to achieve this movement and stay balanced, which is great news for you and your horse! As your horse canters, your body will become better attuned to the surges and drops of energy. This will then force your body to contract and release in a way that allows you to stay on the horse. As your horse continues to canter, his topline and abdominal muscles will strengthen over time.
All-in-all, cantering definitely has some attractive advantages for the rider and the horse. If you aren’t confident in your ability to canter your horse, don’t be afraid to ask someone else to step in! Once you feel comfortable enough to step in and get the basics down, you’ll become a cantering pro in no time.