So, I’m a former music major, and I’m finding the best way for me to make sure I maintain my rhythm riding to jumps is to have a song in my head, so I can make sure I’m riding the correct pace. I found a song for my trot, but really struggling to find one for the canter.
Any ideas out there? Not really sure “Row your boat” is what I’m looking for. What would be a good canter song at the right pace?
TIA!
Zippidy Doo Dah!
I don’t know about cantering, but when I’ve been on the trails, I’ll sing “Not While I’m Around”. 
And when trotting, will sing an old grade school song/round, “Horsey, horsey, on your way, we’ve been together for many a day, etc., etc.” May work for the canter. 
There’s a very nice girl in my barn who rides this enormous WB. Just looking at him, you’d think he was a lumberjack over fences but he is actually very catty. He’s got a big slow canter but can turn on a dime. If he was a human, you would think he was one of those big, buff jock guys in high school who let himself go to pot as an adult. I heard her telling someone the other day that her song is “Sexy Back” by Justin Timberlake. It made me chuckle.
I listen to the MKTO station on iheartradio app. It has some really nice upbeat riding songs… just a warning that it’s actually pretty poppy. I’m more of a county music person myself, but no one I knows likes it. I think the pop/EDM mix is a good thing for riding because it keeps a nice beat, not to mention when there’s a drop it’s pretty sweet to transition into. I ride by myself so I am never without my music.
I don’t actually think many of them will keep you on pace if you’re really looking for that kind of thing, some sort of metronome app would work best for you, but these are definitely on par to keep you in the right groove.
Favorites would probably be:
I would think finding a song in 3/4 time would help. Not much on pop radio that fits that bill, so perhaps some kind of waltz? LOL.
Horse gal, you should look into Morgan Paige on pandora. Great edm with vocals!
I always try to find a song that matches my horses rythm, not the other way around. Big WB horse I was riding went best to the song Apologize by Timbaland ft One Republic. To this day, when I hear that song, I can feel myself jumping a course on him.
“Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)” by Arcade Fire
“La Isla Bonita” by Madonna*
*Madonna fan I am not, but the song is undeniably canter-able.
I usually find myself singing the Ants go Marching, if the radio isn’t playing.
Simon and Garfunkle: “Parsley, sage rosemary and thyme”
Don’t say I’m crazy until you’ve tried it: Oh, Susanna. Canter and sing away.
Another trick I had a trainer show me once, but probably not the best to do jumping. Also have a trustworthy horse. Pick up the canter and take the reins into one hand and hold the free hand over your head and move it like you’re swinging a lasso. You’ll find that it helps you find a rhythm.
Right, so I’m trying to find something that matches the rhythm I should be cantering at - the best I could come up with was Survivor by Destiny’s Child, or for something funkier, Chicken Noodle Soup
Imagine cantering your course going:
Chicken noodle soup with a soda on the side…
Which is why I was looking for other suggestions that might be less silly.
Thanks!
Haven’t found (or needed one) for my new horse, but one I showed a few years ago jumped around great to East Bound & Down (didn’t hurt that it made me think of Smokey & the Bandit). It’s going to depend on the horse, but you might as well try it!
Ix-nay on the 3/4 time.
A horse has three footfall-beats and a pause-of-suspension beat in a canter…which makes for FOUR beats in time (three sounded, one unsounded ‘rest’ beat), so you will have to have an up-tempo piece in 4/4 time, though a 6/8 can also work.
A waltz will get out of time.
When I rode Dressage I would listen to my ipod and the black eyed peas were great. Even when this song came on my horse would canter… He liked it too.
Pump it -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaI2IlHwmgQ
and
Let’s get it started
Always wanted to do a freestyle reining to “Onion Skin” by Boom Crash Opera:
The wheels on the bus.
But only the wheels on the bus because my horse doesn’t like when the wipers go swish, swish, swish.
So there you go.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fDuNuFNG38
Inner Ninja is my recent favorite. But I also like Mariah Carey’s Beautiful if I am on one that makes me rush, it slows me down/chills me out a little. That said, I can NOT listen to music while I ride so it’s just in my head
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