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Some horses have been
hurt so many times in the
canter departure by the
rider hitting them in the
mouth and slamming down
on their backs that they become
emotional train wrecks
when asked to canter.
These horses throw their
heads up in the air and run
off, running in fear of the
pain they’re sure is coming.
It’s a self-defeating behavior
that soon becomes a selffulfilling
prophesy for the
horse, because it causes the
rider to stiffen and hold the
reins tighter, which in turn causes the rider to
hit the horse in the mouth and back.
However, before starting on a training
Top Training�
By Julie Goodnight Photos by heidi nyland
Cue the Canter
Teach your fearful horse a canter cue with these
steps from top trainer/clinician Julie Goodnight.
Troubleshooting tip: If the problem
outlined above is an ingrained pattern in
both horse and rider, it can be difficult to
overcome. It’ll help if your horse can learn
the correct response from a skilled rider.
If you have solid riding skills and confidence
riding at speed, continue working
with your horse. Otherwise, consult the
Certified Horsemanship Association for a
qualified instructor in your area.
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If your horse is scared and
reactive during the canter
departure — and you’ve
ruled out any physical cause
— retrain him with Julie
Goodnight’s three-step fix.
solution, rule out any physical
cause for the problem.
Check for any saddle, chiropractic,
and/or lameness issues.
Have your veterinarian
or another qualified professional
examine your horse
for any lameness, chiropractic,
or saddle-fit issues.
When you’ve ruled out any physical cause,
you can look to a training solution. Here’s my
three-step fix to cue a horse that’s scared and
reactive during the canter departure.
Step 1: Perform trot exercises. Work
your horse at the trot until you can trot on
a totally loose rein with his head down at a
slow, steady speed. (If this is a problem, go
back to basics using the slow-down exercises
in my Training Library).
Step 2: Give the canter cue. Next, give
the canter cue softly and in slow motion. To
give the cue, apply your outside leg, lift your
inside hand slightly, then push with your seat,
leaving the reins loose.
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