The canter, why is it such an important gait?

When I evaluate a sale horse for a client that is looking to buy, there are several things I key on.  I ask myself, “is this horse suitable for my clients needs”. The clients riding ability and goals must be taken into consideration. It has to be a good fit in order for a the horse / rider partnership to take place. If it looks like a good fit, then I look at the quality of gaits. Do I see a good walk?,  a good trot?,  a good canter? The horses jumping ability is very important, of course, but the quality of gait will contribute.  If the horse does not have good gaits, he is apt to not jump well and not be a suitable mount for my client.

So which gait is most important? My horse training experience tells me that it’s the canter, for the horse uses this gait to jump. Everybody loves a nice trot but the canter must be the most balanced for a good jump to occur. The canter is the one gait that changes the least with riding and training. When looking at a horse for sale, its always good to key in on the canter and remember the saying, “you get what you see”. This is so true and a good rule to abide by when evaluating a sale horse.

When you turn your horse out, watch which gait your horse naturally goes into. Its not the trot, they choose to canter. The trot is man made and can change with training. Good training can make a good trot, but the canter is the best indicator of the horses jumping ability.

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