30/ AUGUST 2021 THE RIDER


What Are The Leg Aids For Canter


By Kathy Farrokhzad. While the leg aids


change little between the walk and trot, the canter does require some change in function and coordination. Even when riders seem


to know what they’re doing, there may be some confu- sion about the fine tuning of the aids. Students often ask me to review especially the leg aids for the canter to make sure they are asking for the correct lead, and tim- ing the aid in a way that helps the horse the most.


Basic aids The basic aids are the


way you first learn to ask for the canter. This method helps the rider find and keep balance especially as the horse changes gait and takes that first step into the canter.


1. Inside leg at the girth The inside leg must


stay at the girth. This leg might not have to do much in terms of squeezing at the calf but it is important in case the horse falls in on the inside


shoulder. Many


horses will lean into a turn or come off the straight line when they move into the


canter, and the inside leg is the aid that helps keep the horse straight through the transition. Put pressure with the


lower leg and calf if your horse falls in. Wait for the horse to straighten up before you apply the outside leg, even if it takes a few strides before he’s ready. If he does- n’t fall in, you can apply both legs almost simultane- ously (inside leg should go first though).


2. Outside leg behind the girth


I call this the “wind-


shield wiper” leg. If you can free your leg at the knees, you can “swoosh” your lower leg back behind the girth, and basically teach the horse to take that first step with the outside hind leg as you swing your leg back. Please note that the leg does- n’t have to stay far back be- hind the girth, though it should be positioned a little further back than the inside leg to be effective in keeping the hip straight and asking for the correct lead. In general, you should-


n’t have to apply a lot of pressure with the outside leg.


3. Seat Well, I’d be remiss to


not mention the seat here, even though I know I’m fo- cusing on the leg aids. The seat really is THE


aid that indicates the gait change. In other words, your legs position the horse’s body so he doesn’t swing in with the shoulders, or swing out with the hips... but really, it’s the seat that indicates the canter. Just to keep it short -


you position yourself so you are sitting tall on the inside seat bone, and you switch your seat rhythm from the trot to the canter. You can sit the last few trot steps so you can be in the saddle for the transition.


Please Note: Notice that I didn’t


mention a kick in any of the aids.


Sometimes I get ques-


tions about why I don’t want to kick into the transition, and I realize it might be a lit- tle controversial for me to say this. However, in theory, the strike off for the canter does not need the rider to bang the horse on the sides and throw her weight for- ward (or fall behind back-


ward). In fact, the quieter you can be, the better it is for the horse (and invariably, for you as you negotiate the balance change into the can- ter).


If your horse absolutely


won’t canter without a kick, then yes, go to the kick. But I encourage riders to work toward first positioning the legs as above, second exag- gerating the windshield wiper outside leg, third changing the seat to a canter movement, and FOURTH -


kicking with both legs. Then work toward weaning your horse off that kick, and be- come quieter in your posi- tion.


forward


The Upper Body The idea is to not fall or


backward


through the transition. Many of us want to collapse for- ward in attempt to encour- age the horse to “go forward” - but changing from the trot (or walk) to canter is not really going


forward at all. In fact, it’s more about


changing the horse’s legs. It’s not about going faster, or getting longer in the body, or pulling on the horse to keep him shorter, or anything at all. There should really be no change (in our dreams!) other than the legs going from the two-beat trot, to the three-beat canter with an easily heard moment of sus- pension. Ideally, the first step in


the canter should be bold


and strong, but not runaway. The next steps should be the same. You should clearly hear the three-beat rhythm of the footfalls. The canter should be round (not flat), ground-covering (not fast) and consistent (not slow down-speed up - slow down - speed up).


The Hands This article is about the


legs, so I won’t go much into the hands except to say that they really shouldn’t do much. :-) Ideally, they’d main-


tain the horse’s flexion and bend. The rein might need to be shortened a little (an inch or so) if the reins were long- ish at the trot. Otherwise, there’s little to do other than not interfere.


Bio: Kathy Farrokhzad is an EC coach and author of the Horse Listening book col- lection, Goal Setting For The Equestrian: A Personal Workbook, and the creator of the Practice Sessions on- line program. If you liked what you read here, check out her blog at HorseListen- ing.com for many more arti- cles about horses, riding and life in general.


Three Directors Elected To Equestrian Canada Board betical order):


Ottawa, ON, Aug. 9, 2021 – The Equestrian Canada (EC) Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the results of the Board of Directors election and the three (3) Direc- tors who have been named to the Board. The three (3) candidates elected are (listed in alpha-


Name/ Hometown/ Result Melanie Biron, Montreal, QC, Elected for a three (3) year term Dr. Wayne Burwash, Calgary, AB, Elected for a three (3) year term Chris Lowe, Vancouver, BC, Elected for a three (3) year term


KING AND HIS COURT is a lovely 7-year-old gelding standing 16 hands and is a fairly straightforward ride. He is suitable for low level dressage, small jumps, hacking and trails. If you'd like to meet King, please contact LongRun!


time, while Burwash is a returning Director. They will join the following current Directors to round out the 2021-2022 EC Board: Charles Cue – Aylesford, NS Mark Goldman – La Minerve, QC Robert Mitchell – Vancouver, BC Doug Orr – Lethbridge, AB Lisa Robertson – Regina, SK Carla Robin – Langley, BC Chris Sorensen – Caledon, ON


tween July 26 and July 30, 2021.


applications were received by the close of the nomination period on May 19, 2021. Following an in-depth review of all candidates, the EC Nominating Committee put forward four (4) candidates to the ballot. The 26 EC Voting Members cast their ballots be-


During the call for candidates, a total of 10 qualified


trian.ca/about/governance/board. The Nominating Com- mittee will report on the election process and results, which will be presented during the 2021 EC Annual Gen- eral Meeting and then made available on the EC website. Biron and Lowe are joining the EC Board for the first


For further details on the election, visit www.eques-


unless changed in accordance with the By-laws and Act and subject to increase to fill any vacancies for the remain- der of a term, the number of Directors to be elected shall be the number of Directors whose terms expire in the same year as the election.


For more information on the EC Board of Directors, visit www.equestrian.ca/about/governance/board.


About the EC Nominating Committee The EC Nominating Committee members are as fol-


lows: Mark D. Goldman (Chair) – La Minerve, QC Lisa Robertson (Board Observer) – Regina, SK Jill Barton – Odessa, ON Iris Davies – Dewberry, AB Tegwyn Harper – Black Creek, BC Fran McAvity – Vancouver, BC Frederic Pierrestiger – St. Eustache, QC David Whitford – Milton, ON


The Committee members are responsible for: • Presenting a slate of candidates for the position of EC Board Directors in accordance with EC’s Bylaws. • Ensuring there is an election each year. • Ensuring EC has a rigorous nomination system. • Recruiting qualified individuals as Directors.


Questions, Comments? If you have any questions or comments concerning


the 2021 EC Board of Directors election, please contact: Meg Krueger Chief Executive Officer mkrueger@equestrian.ca


filled for 2021. As per Bylaw 4.2, d) Transition: Commencing in 2019 and for every year thereafter


There were up to three (3) Director positions to be


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