How to Ride a Horse at the Canter & Lope : How to Steer a Horse at a Canter

[BJATube1]

The horse in this video is not collected at all. If you notice the horse is all front heavy, a few times he/she would drive with the back legs but not often enough. All in all though a good video for beginners to get started on reining and keeping your horse a steady pace.

[RidintotheSunset]

The horse's head is wayyyy behind the vertical...

[LittleMissILuvSocks]

Seruously? ... Ok guys I.d just like to say that no.. It is most defenonitley NOT a canter ... But it is a lope so the horse isnt ill... I know though.. She isn't the best rider.. But it doesnt matter ...

[tars13]

thats not canter deary, so dont call it canter in the title 

[terry11905]

Its not limping its called a lope

[Khafya]

Expert? more like a begginer

[Jessiiebabe1]

your horse is limping,and your reins are too long for a canter

[11and15productions]

Its like i fox-trot!

[starzzz9987]

there is something wrong with that horse!!!!! he looks in pain !!!!!

[MTaqi007]

i think your horse might be ill.

[TeaRoseish]

And most of that is probably because the horses mouth is practically between it's front legs.

someone please teach this woman how to ride.

[TeaRoseish]

That's a four beat canter... she even said in one of the other videos how bad the 4 beat is and that you SHOULDN'T do it. just sayin'. The hind legs are still in a trot like gait while the front are trying (key word here) to keep up a canter.

[XxRiderXpollyXx]

Not really a canter... More like a fast trot... And yes I know what I'm talking about so don't go saying how would you know, cause for your information I actually ride... And I've cantered, cantering is much faster than this!

[barrelhorserider7]

cmon guys.... if ANY of you show in western pleasure or horsemanship ( Im guessing most not), this is the desired speed for the lope. i have seen many horses with a SLOWER lope than this!! yes,, i agree she may not be the best rider, my complements go to the horse. these classes are not about going fast or seeing who can get their "pattern" done fastest, its not gaming. so please, dont comment on things that you are ignorant about. Thanks:)

[VioletPurple121]

ughhh..... people! stop responding to my comment! its filling my inbox! annoying!

[24aberry]

I just started and i can go faster than that

[horsesLcool]

@24aberry you think thats slow? try looking up the AQHA WP lope. A horse's walk is faster than the speed of those horse's lope.

[AwesomeSauceRock]

ya know what guys you can stop talkin because every rider rides differently and is comphortable doing different things. I can judge you as fast as you judge her.

[LongLiveCowboys18]

@AgilityLover14 Its a good example. Just not yours. There is absoulutley nothing wrong with this canter.

[Cycatify]

Really slow canter

[MegaHorsesaremylife]

@Cycatify The horse is simply lopeing:D If she was in a shoe, that horse would kick some butt with its canter. But it oviously has the western gaits. So its lopeing;) But to get the canter you use the same leg aids.

[nubianqa817]

your horse is a male not a female. :)x

[hockeychick4eva]

@nubianqa817 i think she would what gender her own horse is!

[ChloeRosie14]

@nubianqa817 its defenetly a mare haha x

[Mystykat]

@robg123100 It's actually the same thing...Though a lope is typically slower...but this is extremely slow, not even natural. ick.

[TikTokxoxo]

That horse has a really slow canter....

[popzrox123]

@dragonflyinhaven you are so right

[theyatemahlaser]

@robg123100 LOL. I know right? It's kind of annoying how people get that mixed up!

[animalwisperer]

A lot of you sound like english riders. Look at the title. Canter and LOPE!! This horse is loping. She was keeping her collected, the reason the horse wasn't going faster was because she wanted it like that. Her outside heel wasn't down because she was bumping the horse to go!

[animalwisperer]

@VioletPurple121 If people choose not to wear a helmet its up to them. That is a lope. Cantering correctly and cantering faster are 2 different things.

[animalwisperer]

@GingerChipmunkElf Its a lope..

[amyawilson16]

I'm a beginner and just learning to ride myself, but if you're riding western, your reigns are much too tight. He needs to bob his head and you're pulling on his mouth. And from what I can see, that horse has a limp on his hind left leg.

[VioletPurple121]

is the horse limping?

[ChloeRosie14]

@VioletPurple121 no haha its called a 'lope'

[powerinknowing]

According to Kelly herself, four beat is incorrect. Much of this lope (she called it canter though for some reason) is four-beat.

I can't stand it when someone calls reining or guiding "steering". How rudimentary. You never call it steering". Also use applying mouth, bit or rein pressure too.

I would like to see her attempt this exercise without the help of ginourmous spurs and she could do without the severe rollkurr or hyperflexion (heavy hands too. Abusing aides=hard grumpy horse.

[dragonflyinhaven]

@powerinknowing I agree. horses are not cars.

[Horsepower116]

ok everyone who says this isn't a canter... hence the point its called a LOPE. the lope is the western pleasure version of cantering. it is supposed to be in small, shot movements to make the horse look more of a pleasure to ride. so please, if you are going to comment stuff like that, do some research first.

[ilovesugarandspice96]

you need to shorten your reins

[andtrrrot]

A counter canter means that when you are circling to the left, you would land on the outside right leg and vice versa, This horse is on the correct lead in both directions but the canter is 4 beat.

[emilytattersallxox]

i dont want to add to the list of criticisms already... but im gonna; i used to ride when i was younger and have started again now, that may be your own technique, but the horses head is so low, your reins have too much slack, and that is barely a canter?

[gezzurhh]

that isnt canter. the horse should really have a nose band. you should have a hat. your reins should be shorter, and her head should be lifted up.

[Bubbascotch100]

Okay, I think she should have the reins a bit shorter, I've been taught to have the reins shorter the faster you go :L

[alicorenee]

the canter is fine, its obviously a pleasure horse. but when u have to slow down to a trot to change leads its not a good lead change.

[QueensNewStar]

that's a good pleasure horse.

[SydneyEnyeart]

ps... It's western pleasure. Not jumping, not huntseat, not dressage.

[SydneyEnyeart]

...actually the lope isn't bad... that's kinda how AQHA higher level horses move... check out an actual World class. It's not limping. It's slower.

[zofiachloez]

thats shuch a slow canter that the horse is on the verge of trotting ! thats as slow as one of my retired jumpers can go

[Nejjidragon]

That is the most un-canter like canter I have ever seen. Looks like the horse is a second away from tossing the rider.

[ishukisu123]

thats is not a canter trust me im a champion in dressage

[RachelAW101]

thats not a canter. thats a slow trot

[kaitlin7983]

wow you people are mean. the first thing she did was lope thats what is expected in western shows they dont want the leg extending causing a real canter. canter and loping are different and i think she was doing a great job bring her horse around in the lope. so you all know lope is the form of canter in western showing

[breyergals12]

@strikeliger7 Ohh! haha, I understnd and yes. You're welcome. I used to just ride trails and train a few horses.. But other than that it's pretty fun! I know, a pretty good amount about both English and Western.. :)

[breyergals12]

@strikeliger7 Hey. I saw your comment. It is not very acceptable for her hands to be that high. or her heels to be so far up, her feet to be so far in the stirrup. It is a lope. it's a mild and slow tranistion, it's just like the canter. but slower, This gait is used in Western Pleasure riding. I used to ride western.. I am now a show jumper. I have experianced alot of differences between the two. But in most way's they are all the same! :) They are to have fun. :) I realy hope this help you! :)

[19697522]

oh amazing, kentucky derby contender

[MangoRoX87]

@Laodeciea Nope. Books won't teach you about a horse, what you learn from a horse cannot be taught through reading. It's a hands on experience. And I don't know a single person who has ever heard of that book.

[runningXfree]

@MangoRoX87 Conditioned as in trained? yes. i will give you that 100%.

[MangoRoX87]

@runningXfree Yes trained, but also physically able.

[Horsedreamer206]

One heel is up, one is down. Should you really be teaching people how to ride? You tell me. :\

[GhodiGirl]

This horse is EXTREMELY behind the bit.

[Kancelledu]

Someone please help...this may sound stupid but im 14 and when i get older i would like to move to a rural area were i can raise my horses and things...like that so how exactly will i start off ?

[amirbhti1]

dont mind but thats my horses trot

[carusoblue1]

Well, it my horse was WP trained then it would be as easy as this looks, but she is not, I would love to see you ride my horse and try to get her as collected as this one, as it stands, this canter or TROPE looks extremely uncomfortable and if you didn't go back and look at the video, you should have noticed your horse's mouth was gaping alot of the time, you need less hands and more leg/body cues. Otherwise, this is similar to what my instructor tells me too.

[DoubleRainbowLover]

@PocketRocket2010 ya i ride and i didnt mean barrel racing ik thats hard i just meant the kinds of things in is video

[PocketRocket2010]

@HayleyT22 not every one has to wear a helmet... not that im backing her up because i hate expert vilge i think they're terrible at giving advise but you never saw the cowboys wear helmets and they way more drastic stuff than loping in a circle!!

[4evadressage]

first of all try get the canterinng moving a little bit it looks unnatural and uncomfortable and second riders dont just yank the right reign to turn their horses! thumbs up if you agree!!!

[wearefarmers]

even though "western people don't wear helmets" it's a lot safer to wear them than have permanent brain damage. why wouldn't you wear a helmet? Even when you have 100% trust with your horse, they are still horses and could spook at any time. if you are a western rider and don't like the look of the regular helmet, consider the newer western cowboy hat with a built in helmet

[lauracharlottemoore]

@HayleyT22 western people don't wear helmet's

[1JonasLoveForever1]

@HayleyT22 Why? I don't barrel race with a helmet on, you never 'show' pleasure with helmet...they take points off in some shows.

[1JonasLoveForever1]

@THismydream12 Not really, 1. It's saposed to move like that. 2. Her reins are saposed to be that loose. 3 she's riding it correctly 4. That is a GOOD sized Quarter horse, I am 5'8 and ride a 14.3hh paint/appy cross. I'm big on him, but he barrel races and does pleasure awesome for me.

[cowgirl123455]

Y'all seriously I know many people have already said this but I ride western and all pleasure horses lope Lope Like that soo all y'all that say it's animal abuse need to go and quit commenting cause it ain't if the horse didnt like it the horse would show it!!!!

[blackdragoness91]

@1jonasloveforever1 there is a big difference between the "lope/canter" and the gallop. The gallop is not just a "faster" lope, its a four beat rhythm while the lope/canter at any speed is three beat.

[jazminestryder]

thats a lope? it honestly looks more like a trot thingy

[1JonasLoveForever1]

@MrPedruska Nope, that horse actually doesn't look like it has a problem with it, guess what, On my pleasure horse, I have a 4X harsher bit and I hold him tighter, it actually keeps him calmer, mainly cause I have loose reins when I barrel race him.

[1JonasLoveForever1]

@Andrea9514 No way is that horse limping, that is what a awesome pleasure horse looks like. I know, I've ridden 1 and it actually has been bred to move like that so its actually easier for that horse to do that then it is to go faster

[1JonasLoveForever1]

@lucy5280 Well, it's a pleasure lope, but no it isn't a trot. That is what a good pleasure horse looks like.

[wildathearthorseluv]

@lucy5280 agreed :p

[ANGELDIVA22]

@xcarriethompson Yes you are right i dont know why all of them are saying the horse is lame its not if you know anything about western pleasure horses most of them are bred to move that way!!!

[ANGELDIVA22]

I was wondering you are rinding western and in western you lope not canter so why is it in the video you say canter if you are teaching some one who is trying to learn off of you they will now learn canter and not lope witch is wrong. English it would be a canter and no it is not the same as a lope is slower and shorter where a canter is faster and more extended! Lope: is Western / Canter: is English

[1JonasLoveForever1]

@ANGELDIVA22 Actually, a lope is a slower gait as well, a gallop is the faster lope (I barrel race I know)

[ANGELDIVA22]

@1JonasLoveForever1 yes gallop is faster but when you ride english you are to canter wich is faster then a lope and barrel racing hasd nothing to do with english/western showing you run around some barrels but to tech western you teach w/j/L you know walk/Jog/LOPE i should i show western and english and do very well Im not saying a gallop is not faster but a canter is faster then a lope and a gallop is faster then both!!! I have barrel raced to by the way!!

[ANGELDIVA22]

@1JonasLoveForever1 All i was trying to say is if you are posting a video on a how to people try to watch and learn off of it so if you are in western tack you teach how to lope not canter so then if someone is watch and has no idea they learn the right way. I not saying that this persons way is wrong just the word that was used that is all i think her horse rides nice for her!!

[1JonasLoveForever1]

@ANGELDIVA22 By the way, I do pleasure on my barrel horse, we usually take 1st or second, so I know what I'm talking about too, my horse 'lopes' fairly fast, but gallops faster, I also used to ride a english horse, his 'canter' wasn't any different then his 'lope'

[oceansprinter]

@dragonlight3476 hmm I wonder what riding bareback and bridless is and why people have survived doing that for thousands of years before tack was invented...hmm i must be mistaken

[BarrelRacer955]

@TheDancingFruit He might not actually b lame, western horses have a weird looking lope. Some of them do anyway. And please to other people dont get mad at me for dissing western riders, i ride wester and love it.

[abwick]

@TheDancingFruit Ya you can really see that!!!! Cause that is not a gaited horse at all!!

[hawaiianpony]

This is show lope.....how do I get my horse to do that?

[1JonasLoveForever1]

@hawaiianpony Well, its hard to do if your horse isn't trained, but to start them at a show lope, ask them to lope then slow them down to the slower pace, then let them go, keep doing it till they keep the slow rypthum.

[SelmerLibertyOwner]

@TheDancingFruit How is the horse lame? She's loping perfectly. You can see shes completely at ease with that slow of a lope. This is how WESTERN riders lope. The ENGLISH canter is a much faster pace.

[rabbitboy56]

Great Lope. All you people saying her horse is slow . She is cantering she is Loping!!!!!!! Just some tips for you Kelly. keep your heels down and keep your spurs off of her if you can.

[Cheesekake343]

Ok for all of you:

This is a PLEASURE horse. That is not a four beat lope, she is not too big, the horse is fine. Have you EVER seen a pleasure horse lope? or jog/trot for that matter? This horse has one of the best lopes I have seen, it is not lame, pleasure gaits are pretty much steps in the beats of the gaits. The horse barely comes off the ground. It is quite gracefull if you look at just the horse's feet, because yes, from the body it may look weird.

[noodle0912]

That horse was going awefully slow. I've only been riding for two years, so perhaps I'm incorrrect, but that doesn't seem right to me.

[lineman7200]

@noodle0912 show horses, and people who prefer slower canters are taught to slow down like that.

[crazyforsaddleclub]

oh right ok :D

[Mrcheyboy]

whats your horses breeding ? (who she by ...)

[wilbur51488]

The horse is not lame. If you know anything about the western riding discipline, you would know that this is the "westernized" version of the canter. While still a three beat canter, it's just slower and more "downhill." The horses butt is supposed to be higher than it's head. And that goes with all of the gaits. Which is probably why most people think the horse is lame. And it's actually even more comfortable to ride a lope than a canter. You don't get the feeling that you're on a pogo stick.

[diddlemice55]

how do you train the horse to canter trot walk and stop when you first get them? aswell gallop

[Horsedreamer206]

it takes a long time, or unless it has been trained by it's previous owner

[danceforeternity112]

a canter is english and a lope is western. that was a three beat gate. not a trot. a trot is two beat gate. a canter is a canter no matter how fast. It doesn't matter if it's fast or slow. if it's a three beat gate then it's a canter. that was terrible riding I agree on that. But get your facts straight if you've been living on a horse farm your whole life.

[sisu212121]

don't judge her if you don't know the horse, maybe the horse has to lope like that or likes doing that seems to listen to her well..

lol i love how she said the horse was doing a flying lead change, that wasn't even a regular lead change

and actually its good to use your inside leg through turns it helps push the horses back end through the turn

[GoatBlaat]

I think I'll stay with the dressage/small jumps and not to ride like THIS. It makes it look like western is enormusly lame and everything, but I'm glad that Youtube also has some more risky and exciting western to offer..

[Thoroughbred17]

It Just keeps the bridle on their head. It's like the browband and throatlatch on other bridles.

[sisu212121]

Ohhh wow amazing how the horse is doing what she is asking for, wow shes doing it so wronggg! thats exactly why the horse is doing exactly what she asks of it. Btw at the beginning she said "tips and techniques for cantering AND LOPING" and the horse is not limping the horse is loping.... I don't see anything wrong with what she is doing, the horse looks very happy and is doing exactly what shes asking of it

[bubbleXhead57]

this is what i hate about the horse world...everyone thinks they know everything there is to know about horses. and everyone else knows absolutely nothing. also may i add that not one of you out there is a PERFECT rider. honestly... there are so many different methods/terms used that differ btw western and eng. People are saying that this lady is a know it all. Well then who are all these ppl correcting her... oh my this whole comment board is a complete mess... :(

[shinyp0nyta]

Shorten your reins!

also thats not a canter, its a lope.

[indianola594]

That's a really slow canter......do u have an english saddle because u were in a western saddle.... I'm NOT trying 2 be mean...just saying....

[WindWolfProductions]

that's still a lope, not a canter. the canter is extended.

[Equinelover12]

shorten your reins and btw thats a lope not a canter

[hairyrules123]

well yes but an english canter is 3peats and a western lope is 4 beats. also a lope is slower than a canter.

[Puppylove76123]

then yes im right on part of it at least

[rrrrddddjjjj]

i dont know anything about western but in traditional english that isn't a canter as its disunited. but this is western and i'm english so what do i know :0)

[EmilyLovesTWH]

Steering wasnt TERRIBLE, but the horses head was way beind the bit. If she'd loosen up on its head the horse would be able to carry itself better. The bit may also be too harsh, because the horse is clearly under control and doesnt need anything more than a simple grazer or tom thumb. I think a lighter hand and a loose rein would do this mare some good. Couldnt even win a western pleasure class with that lope, really.

[fergafreshh]

a canter is a canter no matter how slow. Its a 3 beat gait

[hoofprintzzzz]

why do you have the horse so behind the vertical and heavy on the forehand/ whats that alla about?

[hblackburn959]

I've been competing in/training western pleasure for almost 15 years and what she is doing is a very slow, collected lope. And yes, lope is western, canter is english but it really does not matter as they are pretty much the same thing. And for those of you saying she's trotting, if you look at the horse, he's doing a three beat gait which, for anyone who knows anything about gaits, is clearly a canter/lope (whichever discipline you ride in.)

[educanine9]

Your right, She's in a canter/lope regardless it's a 3 beat. I used to get confused about it until my trainer said: "The Canter doesn't have to be faster then a trot it's not a speed change but a gait change only."

[EquetrianStyleJumpin]

outside leg goes back inside leg goes front :)

left leg: OUTSIDE

right leg: INSIDE

she wont cange her lead if you shorten your rains,

[TrueTexanCowgirl]

i dont think she knows what shes talking about and its a LOPE not CANTER canter is ENGISH your riding western

[barnbums123]

thant wasnt a CANTER. i think you meant to say LOPE.

[takemeupthebotty]

Ive never ridden a horse but this woman look awful, loads of money doesnt buy skill love!

[AshleenaBallerina]

"keep the impulstion" i'm sorry but i think i missed the part where there was any and i'm fairly sure you ask for the canter with the inside leg

[martamalinamm]

you definitely do NOT ask for the canter with the inside leg...not if you want the correct lead...

[AshleenaBallerina]

outside leg back inside leg on thats how it goes

[missponygirl456378]

you can use either leg actually to get the right lead you have to bend horse's head to the inside but the outside leg things is the best why to teach a beginner rider.

[lexxwolfen]

Canter - Outside leg back to prevent haunches from swinging out, inside leg on the girth, bend the horse. It isnt so much the leg that gets the lead, rather the bend but a lot of horses are programmed to get the lead from the outside aid

[jeanarrrYO]

that isnt how you steer i horse at canter!

you need to use your hip, leg, where you look AND reins.

put your inside hip forward, apply you inside leg to the rib side for your horse to bend around your leg, you need to look at there you are going and also use your reains to turn him/her!

golly gosh, and you dont even look right when you ride!

[cruelgirl1117]

? u dont always have to use the inside leg. i use the outside leg to push their hipin well for western for english i still use my outside leg. u really should not use your inside b/c this could confuse the horse if they have a lead change unless you use both feet to slow them down but if you ONLY use the inside leg that will screw them up

[jeanarrrYO]

i use the inside leg to turn the horse i am riding around my leg, and it was how my teacher taught me...

[cruelgirl1117]

well that wasnt how i was taught and myhorse steers gr8 also my horse has a flying lead change and you change usingyour inside leg. u r not really supposed to use the inside

[mariechantal15]

Some horses are trained to respond to the outside leg behind the girth, and some horses are trained to respond to the inside leg on the girth. The outside leg behind and the inside leg on remains the same, but with which one you ask can change per horse. You're right with the outside leg though ,once you're in the canter you're supposed to only use the outside leg adn keep the inside leg on to prevent the horse from falling in.

[xXHairFanaticXx]

Firstly when cantering sit deep in your saddle, relax and what this lady is doing is trying to sit straight. this can be VERy uncomfortable for a horse and in 2:02 see how her heels are level they should be facing down its much more comfortable and she is holdign her reins way to loose you should have a tight grip on your reins, I should know Im a proffesional ridder.

[HorsesRforMe]

this probably should have just been "how to LOPE a horse." becuz I ride english, and this is a lope. yes...please drop the spurs and curb....and RELAX.. your horse and you dont look very relaxed...not trying to be mean or anything, just something I observed

[horseyhannah92]

i complained to expert village and if any one wants to read it just leave a comment on my page and i will send it to you

[Treestompa1986]

hi. if you know a good way of rideing let me know plz. thank you.

[horseyhannah92]

it is not dificult to do betta than her i know a little girl that i used to lead who can shift a stubbon pony faster than that!

[2hearts1dance]

I ride English and Western. I have two different horses for each.

HAHA!

[pleatec13]

Hello, if you were a true western rider, you would know that your suppose to have looser reins.

[pleatec13]

I think his head way too behind the verticle, i know over here, if she road like that at one of our western shows, the judge wouldn't be happy

[CassiePictures]

lope is like a slower canter, and we dont do it ussauly in england

[XSpinDriftedX]

yes, it is a western pleasure lope, i competed in western pleasure,now i'm training for 3day event, but anywyas, first off IF you are going to use two hands, they need to be much lower and softer on the horses mouth, also much, much looser. western pleaure is about useing legs and staying quiet in the hands, with lots of slack in the reins. on the plus, the horse had a nice rounded back, but it would be easier to get the slow gait desired, if you went in a straight line or a wider circle.

[PoptartanWaffleSauce]

No, its not a bad canter. Its a western pleasure lope.

[NobleAffaire]

In the midwest it is very popular. At least in the past it has been. I haven't been in the WP ring (stock-type anyway) in years, but hear things are changing.

[razrbladefaerie]

it has never been popular. four beating has never been desired by judges, because it is not the true movement. you are probably mistaking the fact that judges have to place what is in front of them, even if it is from consistent troper to inconsistent troper. they cant just dq all of them.

[NobleAffaire]

Perhaps not popular by all judges, but it WAS popular with people. Why would people keep using impure gaits to win? I have seen classes where a horse did wonderfully and had lovely gaits, yet was placed lower than others that had a four-beat lope.

However, I am glad that judges and other people are speaking out against it now. Things are changing slowly, but at least there is change for the better.

[razrbladefaerie]

like i said before judges have never like the four beat movement. perhaps the horse with 'lovely gaits' wasnt really all that lovely. as i can see you ride saddle seat type horses and not western pleasure. maybe you just dont know the technicality of it. the horse you say had a four beat lope might not have, it could have been slower and more consistent which was probably the case.

[razrbladefaerie]

when you turn a horse at a lope, you use your legs and not the inside rein. lifting and pulling inward with the inside rein puts a horse on its inside shoulder. that is not right. when turning you pull back on the outside rein and use your outside leg. or you just put the reins over to where you want to go.

[razrbladefaerie]

the bit is not harsh. she was obviously holding the horse up in hopes of lifting its shoulders, which didnt work too well seeing as how the horse is heavy on the forehand.

[ViraTehFreak]

It's called the lope. It's a canter practically at the spead of walk when done correctly.

She is going a bit faster than a regular lope and it deosn't hurt the horse at all.

Me and my Appaloosa practise loping all the time and it's a very slow sort of trot/canter with a skip in the front legs.

I don't udnerstand you English riders at all. You say this hurts the horse when you guys use 'rolkur' to completely shove your horses head down to it's chest. Put your head on your chest, it hurts.

[NobleAffaire]

Not all English riders use Rollkur. Personally, I'm against it. Rollkur only focuses on the head/neck, not the whole body. It does nothing to raise the back, which many people believe it does.

[ViraTehFreak]

I agree. It doesn't even encourage more 'impulsion' in the hindquarters. It's just a 'fancy neck position'.