Why does a horse that can't canter , seem to canter beautifully up a hill ?

 Engagement, pure and simple. When a horse changes its weight distribution to the haunches, it engages the rear end and the canter happens. So this tells me that I have to work on engagement tools to gain a shift in balance towards the haunches. If we use the tools that we have talked about in previous blogs, we should be able to get the canter on flat ground.

I have found that the bend in a horse is critical to the canter. If they are bending correctly, they will put their weight back on the rear leg that they are using for balance. It is more under their belly and it is able to carry more .

All of the tools of engagement help the balance change that we need to canter or even walk with purpose. That is why I am writing these blogs. Engagement is one of the most important tools needed in training a horse correctly and one that is most overlooked.

 I see so many horses that are on their forehand and they would be so much more elegant if their training was more complete.

 More next time, happy gaiting!