Nothing is more uncomfortable for horse and rider than a jarring transition from trot to canter. One of the most common problems for the beginning rider is a horse who, when asked to canter from a trot, just trots faster. What is the rider doing wrong?

Well, there are a few common possibilities. A horse who just picks up his speed at the trot truly doesn’t understand what you are asking him. After all, the canter aid shouldn’t tell your horse to go faster, it should tell him to change to a different gait.

So when your horse speeds up instead he’s telling you one of two things. (1) He isn’t balanced enough to make the transition; or (2) He thought you asked him to speed up.

A horse who is off balance—one who is on the forehand with his topline dropped instead of lifted, and his legs not coming underneath his body—will find it darn near impossible to canter, even if he completely understands what you are asking of him. Oh, he’ll eventually fall into a canter—after trotting faster and faster and faster. But the transition will be terrible, and chances are you’ll be in for a bumpy ride. You won’t exactly get the smooth, cadenced canter your had in mind, will you?

So, your first order of business is to get your horse balanced during the trot. And the best way to do this is to do lots of transitions from walk to trot. Once he’s got this down and is attentive and balanced, asking him to move into the canter should work much better.

Does your horse have an easier time going from the walk to the canter? This tells you something too. When you are in the walk, your riding position doesn’t have to change when you ask for the canter. Your walk and canter positions are very similar. When you are doing the posting trot, your position does have to change. Try sitting a few beats before you ask for the canter, being sure to sit deep in the saddle, keep your shoulders straight, lengthen your legs, and half-halt as needed. You’ll know your horse is more balanced when you feel him step underneath himself. Half-halt again, then move your outside leg back to ask for the canter. Be sure to keep your eyes forward, and give with the inside rein when your horse complies.

Never lean forward when asking your horse to canter! Doing so just makes it more difficult for him to stay balanced. If a green horse doesn’t jump into the canter right away repeat your half-halts, get him so you feel him coming up underneath himself, and ask again. A novice horse may hit the wrong lead, but that’s okay. Let him go 10 or 20 strides before stopping him. You want to make sure he understands that you asked him to canter, and if you stop him too soon you’ll just confuse him.

With a little work and patience, your horse will be smoothly transitioning from trot to canter in no time!