what is the definition of “canter”?
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Do you mean then pace of a horse quicker than a trot and slower than a gallop? It has a slightly different pattern of good beats. Supposedly it derives from “Canterbury Pace” from the UK city in Kent. Pilgrims going to the cathedral shrine of Thomas Beckett.
By extension, it applies to a jogging pace in running and more abstract uses like cantering through a subject.
Horse owner here. Most people don’t think of it this way, because they define the canter as “a slow gallop with 3 beats” or some such. But what’s actually happening is: The horse is skipping.
She will strike off (start the canter) by throwing her neck and torso—what would be your upper body if you were down on all 4’s) into the air just enough to set her weight all on one hind leg or the other. For now let’s imagine it is her left one.
So she’s up on left hind leg for a moment. Then she lets her weight fall forward until she lands on her right hind leg— and this is crucial— the left front one *at the same time*. It is this pairing of the diagonal legs that creates the “rocking chair” movement of the canter. If the legs didnt hit at the same time, you would have either a shit-quality disconnected canter (if done clumsily, maybe even with a front foot hittjng first—oof), a Western 4-beat lope (if done slowly, with deliberate style, and hind foot first), or a gallop (if done hind foot first and fast AF. But I digress)
Anyhow, after the diagonal pair, the horse rocks further forward and catches all her weight on the right front leg. This is the “lead” leg. Then for a second, after she pushes off the ground with it, all her legs are bunched together and swing forward so the left hind can start the process again.
So far, so good, a conventional explanation. So where’s the skipping?
Easy. Imagine a view of this cycle happening from directly overhead. Left hind, diagonal, right front. What will you see? That the horse’s entire right side is operating a bit further ahead in space than the left. At the canter, she is in effect using her left and right sides the same wsy you would use your legs when skipping Gangnam Style.
A correct canter feels soft, smooth, gliding and comfortable. A bad canter feels like you’re careening out of control on a mentally challenged autonomous bike with square wheels.
In vehicle terms… canter is 3rd gear! 😏
The technical example above is a good in depth explanation. 🙂
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