How do you get a horse to canter?

How do you make the horse canter. Like step-by-step diretions.

LUNGEING AT A TROT NOT RIDING STARTS WITH MOST BUT GO TO SOME OF THE SITES ON THE WEB-- HORSE TRAINING JUST BE PATIENT

Best to start in trot and in a sand school/menage so you can make use of corners, lets say we are on the right rein going clockwise round the school! Ok so off we go in trot (start off rising) So up down up down in rising trot we go! As you approach the corner of the school, engage in a sitting trot and give a little more contact on the reins (Shorten them a tiny bit but not so that you stop the horse trotting!) So we are approaching the corner now in sitting trot, just as you are on the corner, gently squeeze your inside leg (on the right rein this will be your right leg) gently behind the girth and your horse should begin to canter (and hopefully on the right leg too-hence the use of corners!) so now you should be cantering off nicely round the school-but if you're taking riding lessons your instructor will tell you all this when they think you are ready to canter! Good Luck

Either inside leg/ outside rein, or vice versa depending upon the lead you want.HOW TO Ride the Canter, Right LeadExcerpt from:http://www.horsekeeping.com/Horse_Newsletter/June_2005.htmIt is not enough that your horse is on the correct lead. You must ride every step of the way to keep him in balance and in the correct position.Right seat bone forward, left seat bone in normal positionUpper body erectOutside shoulder forward, inside shoulder backRight leg on girth, active, creating right bend and keeping horse up on left reinLeft leg behind the girth, active, keeping hindquarters from swinging to the left, maintaining impulsion.Right direct rein to create appropriate amount of bend and flexionLeft supporting rein or neck rein if appropriateUSE All western performances and Training Level dressage.NOTE The trot-canter transition develops a good forward working canter.RELATED TERMSDisunited is when a horse is on one lead in front and another behind. Also called cross-leaded. This is very rough to ride.Counter-cantering is cantering on the "outside" lead on purpose as a means of developing obedience, strength, balance, and suppleness. If counter-cantering on a circle to the right, the horse would be on the left lead and he would be flexed left.CAUTION Don't force a horse to carry his head too low or he will be unable to round his topline and bring his hind legs underneath himself and will subsequently travel downhill, heavy on the forehand.Don't slow a horse down too much at the canter or the diagonal pair of legs can "break" (front landing before its diagonal hind) giving rise to a four beat gait where the horse appears to be loping in front and jogging behind.Be sure the horse is moving straight ahead, not doing the crab-like canter.To read more about cantering/loping on the correct lead, read this article from the Horse Information RoundupCorrect Leadshttp://www.horsekeeping.com/horse_riding_and_mounted_training/correct_leads.htm

At a working trot, stop posting if your posting and SIT. Take your OUTSIDE LEG and move it back. Squeeze your legs. If your horse needs a stronger aid, squeeze harder and give a little kick with your heals. Also, along with squeezing/kicking, make a "kissing" sound. If those don't work, give him/her a "tap" with a crop on its bum.I would HIGHLY suggest taking a lesson or two from a trainer in addition. Baring that, read books (the US Pony Club books cover the basics and beyond VERY well).