September 2025 - Canter Assessment Tool

Canter Assessment Tool

September 2025 - Discover your starting point for developing power, balance & freedom

Welcome to your canter assessment! This tool will help you understand where you and your equine partner currently stand with canter work. Remember, this isn't about getting a perfect score—it's about finding your honest starting point so you can set meaningful goals for the month.

Rate each statement based on your current ability: Excellent (you can do this consistently and with confidence), Good (you can do this most of the time), Some (you can do this sometimes or partially), and Not Yet (this is new territory for you).

Ground Work - Working With Your Horse Online

1. In a circle or straight line I can ask my horse to transition from walk to trot easily and with relaxation.
2. In a circle or straight line I can ask my horse to transition from trot to canter easily and with relaxation.
3. I can tell which lead my horse is on at the canter within just a few strides.
4. I notice when and if the canter is not balanced or not in 3 beats.
5. I can ask for the canter and maintain it without having to nag for more than a full circle.
6. I can do 2 to 4 'leaves' of the 4 leaf clover maintaining the canter on both leads.
7. I can ask my equine to take a bigger, bolder canter for a circle and then come back to a slow, nice canter all with relaxation.
8. I can walk to canter and canter to walk on a circle.

Mounted Work - Riding the Canter

1. I can tell where my equine's rib cage is and I know when it is to the outside so that we are positioned for the canter on the inside lead.
2. I can trot the 4 leaf clover and feel the moments when I could ask for a canter.
3. I am relaxed and calm and my equine is relaxed and calm as I ask for the canter.
4. I can breathe out as I ask for the canter and relax into the rocking rhythm.
5. I can feel my inside hip move with the canter.
6. I can move my inside hip forward to prepare for the canter and move it back to go back to the trot.
7. I can move my inside hip back and add a bit of weight to my outside stirrup to get a walk from the canter.
8. I can start in shoulders-in to canter at the trot and walk.
9. I can bend my horse or mule to the outside and inside of a circle while maintaining my canter and I can feel the balance of the shoulders change.
10. I can canter a shallow loop maintaining the same canter lead.

Your Canter Assessment Results

Ground Work Assessment
0/32
Mounted Work Assessment
0/40
Overall Canter Development
0/72

Your September Focus Recommendations