
				An editor has suggested that this article be merged with: "How to Lope (Western Canter)" Per the merge policy, if these topics are determined to be similar but distinct, then the articles will remain separate. Please comment on the discussion page. Notice added on 2008-02-12.

Many riders want to learn to lope;And the untrained don't know how. The problem is not all horses know how to lope. It isn't always the riders fault, but more times than not, a good horse isn't doing what you want because you have no idea how to control him. Any good lope starts with a good horse and a good fast extended trot.This is only western of course,there is very little advice someone could give to an english rider on the lope. Keep in mind some horses are trained differently and just cannot do a lope, nor are they trained right to do it correctly.

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[edit] Steps

Climb onto your horse and let your reins be very loose, they should be split reins but they don't have to be. Give your horse plenty of slack but hold onto just enough to take control if you have too. If a horse can not be controlled without tight reins, he is NOT ready for a canter or lope, even some of my own can't be cantered yet because of control.
Give yourself a deep deep seat. Sit tall but tuck your rump under you body and sit deeply in it to give yourself a foward motion as the horse moves. Keep your heels down, not in an extremely difficult fashion but do not lift your heels up.
Get your horse lined up with the rial (wall or fence) and keep the outside leg close to your horses body and your inside leg as far off the horse as possible, you will not need to use it yet, do not even let it rub the horse as some horses are trained well enough to stop when they feel the slightest change of balance, when they are used to loping and you press another leg against them it confuses them. They only need one leg for now.
give a small kick with your outside foot to get your horse into a walk, press downward on you but if you have to, this gives a balance and foundation in which you will not fall off or bounce around once you hit the trot. If you do it right you WILL NOT bounce around.
When your horse starts walking lightly bump the reins/see saw them with the lightest tension back and forth still keeping them loose, this should lower the horses head to a nice carriage.
Cluck and tap with you outside foot again getting the horse into a trot. Sit deep in the side, balancing on your rump,leaning down on it but having your body and tosoe itself strsight. You WILL NOT bounce if riding correctly.
getting inot a good long trot, SQEEZE do NOT kick, but SQEEZE the horse with your outside leg. While doing this give a good long smooching soundkeep putting more leg pressure on untill the horse gets into a lope/caner. If he doesn't,it is either not trained well enoguh or is just being stubborrn. Whenever you get into a good lope ,give a small nudge and anothe smooch every other stride ,if you don't the horse will stop, it does have a short attention span.

[edit] Tips

EVERYTHING is in the legs, do no use the reins!
If a horse is not trained so you can only use your legs he is not good enoguh for a lope, always use your legs to keep from ruiing a good horses mouth.
Not all horses are trained this way, but the should be because this is the way the show horses are trained, if you want your horse well trained get him trained like this from a pro.
if you watch all western horse shows ,the big time ones,the reins are never pciked up at all...are they? it is all in the legs, using reins will never hlep you get foward.

[edit] Warnings

Be careful if you or your horse are not up to the challenge
all horses should have a controlled trot in which you do not bounce or have to use a bridle or reins, that is when they are safe enough to lope/canter...gallop.

[edit] Things You'll Need

a gentle bridle
a professional just to critisize your riding, you maybe great but you can't see how well you are donig yourself if you are riding,a pro can help.