Creating Sound, Symmetrical Equine Athletes with Ros Canter
- Ally Lowther
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
When World Champion eventer Ros Canter speaks about training horses, one theme emerges again and again: good habits matter, every single day.
During a recent conversation with Allison Lowther, Ros outlined some of the principles that underpin her training system and the importance of Soundness and Symmetry, the theme of the Horses Inside Out Conference taking place in February 2026, where Ros will appear as both a speaker and demonstrator.
Training Begins With the Basics
For Ros, soundness and symmetry are are built into every ride through consistency and discipline.
“Every time you get on a horse, you train a horse,” she explained. “For example, every time I finish a training session with any of my horses, before I get off I will finish with a square halt.”
This isn’t just about obedience. It’s about creating awareness and responsibility as a rider.
“I think the impact that we can have by creating good habits helps a horse to develop strength, straightness and balance. Hopefully, this helps them enjoy long and injury-free careers.”
A Fluid Program for Individual Horses
Ros doesn’t have lots and lots of horses, so she is able to very much tailor-make their training programs to each individual horse, and go on how they feel day to day.
There are no rigid rules in her system. She might jump a horse two days in a row if it feels right for that individual, or she might turn one out for two days to let it mentally or physically process training.
Regardless of the horse’s age or level, from a four-year-old to Burghley winner Lordships Graffalo, the expectation of good habits stays the same.
She likens it to school:
“A child in year one is expected to sit quietly and put their hand up, but their work isn’t as challenging as a child in year six. I take the same thought into training my horses, they must concentrate, we’re creating good habits all the time, but we also work within what they are physically and mentally capable of at that stage.”
Cavaletti: A Winter Essential
Cavaletti work plays a major role in Ros’s program, especially in the winter months when competitions are fewer.
She often rides in a jump saddle to give herself the option to incorporate cavaletti whenever it feels useful.
“I might do 10 minutes flat work then do some cavalettis,” she said. “The cavaletti work might highlight a slight issue with straightness that maybe I hadn’t quite realised was a big enough issue on the flat.”
Bounces, gymnastic lines and varied exercises help keep the horses thinking and strengthen their bodies without drilling dressage movements.
“The horses are going to the gym, and I’m learning more about them all the time.”
Why Soundness and Symmetry Matter
The conference theme is something Ros identifies with because the demands of eventing place enormous emphasis on accuracy and balance.
“Straightness for skinnies is obvious,” she said, “but we also need straightness for soundness in terms of equal loading.”
The terrain of the cross country adds another layer of complexity.
“A huge amount of our challenges cross-country relate to how a horse is balanced on the ground underneath them. The straighter and better balanced they are, the lighter they land and the less punishing the terrain is.”
Perfect symmetry may not always be achievable, but awareness is essential.
“There are times where a horse will be slightly asymmetrical. It’s about knowing that and working within the boundaries of what we can reasonably expect, because that has a direct impact on soundness.”
The Rider’s Role of Discipline and Self-Awareness
It’s not just the horse that needs to think about soundness and symmetry, it’s just as important for the rider.
“I see my job as a rider to keep trying to self-improve and to be very self-aware,” she said. “It’s a no-compromise thing.”
On dark winter evenings, it’s tempting to “just get it done.” However, Ros believes this mindset can undermine progress. She believes that it’s much better to ride for a short amount of time with a clear plan than ride longer just to tick the box.
If straightness or symmetry seems off, Ros encourages riders to consult their support network:
“It’s important to work with your vet, physio, saddle fitter and trainer to identify the issue and understand the cause.”
Once the cause is understood, the riding must reflect the horse’s needs. Ros often rides differently on one rein than the other, depending on a horse’s weaker side. Suppling exercises, targeted work, and asymmetrical approaches are all tools she uses. The one think she does emphasis is consistency, straightness matters during everything, not just when you’re riding in the arena.
“Just because I'm at the gallops doesn’t mean I stop thinking about what is happening underneath me. It’s discipline all the time.”
Even during fitness work, she insists the rider can (and should) take a moment to correct straightness rather than postponing it.
“It comes back to creating good habits. Just because we're doing gallop work doesn't mean we can’t take five minutes to rectify something.”
Ros at the Horses Inside Out Conference 2026
Ros will join us at the Horses Inside Out Conference (21-23 February) to share these principles in depth.
Saturday: Promoting Soundness and Symmetry in Elite Event Horses
In conversation with Gillian Higgins, Ros will give an insightful look into the daily management, training routines and rider discipline that underpin the performance and long-term soundness of elite event horses. Expect thoughtful discussion on turnout, downtime, and the behind-the-scenes systems that keep top horses performing happily for many seasons.
Monday: Ridden Lecture Demonstration
On the final day of the conference (Monday 23 February), Ros will present a ridden demonstration at our Soundness and Symmetry In Practice, focusing on promoting symmetry, managing and improving asymmetries, and understanding how conformation and balance influence training and soundness. This session will offer practical insight into how Ros puts her principles into practice with real horses.
Soundness and symmetry are everyday, ride-by-ride priorities for Ros that shape her horses into strong, balanced athletes. Through good habits, thoughtful training and constant rider awareness, she believes every horse can be helped to perform to the best of its natural ability.
In February 2026, attendees of the Horses Inside Out Conference will have the rare opportunity to learn directly from her.
Comments