Canter
Thought to be short for "Canterbury gallop".
The western word for canter is the "lope".
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The canter is a controlled, three-beat gait that usually is a bit faster than the average, working trot, but slower than the gallop. The average speed of a canter is between 10–17 mph, depending on the length of the stride of the horse. Listening to a horse canter, one can usually hear the three beats very clearly, as if a drum was beat three times is succession. After the three beats, there is a moment of suspension. The faster the horse is going, the longer the moment of suspension.
In the canter, one of the horse's hind legs – the right hind, for example – propels the horse forward. During this first beat, the horse is supported only on that single leg while the remaining three legs are moving forward. On the next beat the horse catches itself on the left hind and right fore while the other hind leg is still momentarily on the ground. On the third beat, the horse shifts itself onto the left fore leg while the diagonal pair is momentarily still in contact with the ground, then, the horse rolls forward off the left fore, and is suspended briefly in the air while the right hind comes up behind to touch down again, repeating the cycle.
The foreleg that ends the cycle is called the "lead". In the case I just stated above, the horse was moving on the left lead. If you reversed all the legs, and instead began on the left hind, followed by the right hind and left fore, ending with the right fore, you'd be on the right lead.
Except in certain cases, such as the counter-canter (which isn't normally used for anything beside show), it is desirable for a horse to lead with its inside foreleg when on a circle, or turning. This way, they reach around the turn, which helps their gait remain smooth and balanced. This is especially important when a rider accompanies the horse, because a rider can hinder the reaching movement, putting the horse off balance and causing him to stumble.
This is an example of the left lead, which I talked about above:
Stage One. Stand-still.
(The canter is usually cued from the walk, or the standstill, because it's an easier transition, rather than speeding up from a trot.)
3O O2
/
2O O1
3O O2
/
2O
O1 First Beat
3O
O2
/Second Beat
2O
O1
3O Third Beat
O2
/
2O
O1
....Then a moment of suspension, and the right hind touches down again. As you can see, the canter is a rumbling short of gait, and is probably the nicest gait out there---in my opinion. Just something about it just feels right.
It's relatively easy to ride, as well.
To the ride the canter, you sit it out---which is easier to do than it is on the trot. It takes a little practice to find a position that feels right, and allows the horse to move while you stay in control. That's the tricky bit. It's easy to accidentally bounce in the saddle, or drop your reins. I've done it a multitude of times.
When sitting the canter, you must sit back in the saddle (not super noticeably, you just have to keep a "firm seat",) and let your hips, abdomen and tail-bone roll with the movement of the horse. Keep your heels down, and off the horse---you must have a light leg! It's a little hard to stay in the saddle. Your legs may wiggle around. To help this, envision bracing yourself down in the seat, but be careful not to swing the stirrups out in front of you and knuckle down. You don't use your legs much during the canter---in fact, you're really not supposed to except for the minor things that you'll always do during riding. You'll use your seat, and shoulders to stay in the saddle.
Clarification, the "seat" roughly means your bottom. Your weight. Your position in the saddle.
So that's why it helps to picture what you want to do, because subconsciously, you'll generally move your weight just slightly to match that. Sitting back---without slouching---helps too.
Sometimes, I sit up out of the saddle, which can be helpful if you're going uphill, or getting particularly fast and I need to adjust.
Just don't fall out unless you intend to! Beware of sudden turns or stops.
What about your reins? You must keep contact (not tight enough to pull the bit, but not hanging around his shoulders), and keep your arms off the horse, moving them with the horse. You want to retain the same pressure, so follow the horse's head with your arms, stay with him, like you do on the trot. You can't be hanging around in the background, watching him as you bounce about; you must stay "one" with the horse. And the force.
I absolutely love the canter, and though I haven't ridden in a while, I was teaching Jonesy to canter on cue, and he was doing pretty good then, (we'll see how he does on the 14th when I go riding with my Mom!)
It's very fun, and like I said, just feels right. If you're not scared of horses, and even if you are a little, it's one of the most enjoyable gaits, especially if you learn to do it correctly.
I'm still practicing, and often have to hang on to the saddle horn while cantering (NEVER hang onto the reins to steady yourself, instead, grab the saddle, or the horse's mane, but don't drop the reins.)
When cantering I usually end up holding the reins with one hand, pretty suave, and hanging onto the saddle horn with the other. I'm still using my upper body and seat to stay in the saddle, even if I have to support myself with the saddle horn often.
Tip: If you get unsteady, remain calm, and in your seat. Try not the fly forward, because depending on the horse, this can be different things---even "giddy-up". Slowly increase pressure on the reins to slow the horse. You have to give him the change to respond to a light pressure first, before you demand a response from him with a hard pressure.
Also, remember that if he doesn't slow down or stop right away, it doesn't always mean he's being disobedient. You could be sending him mixed signals, or he could be trying to get his balance.
(Left lead.)
