A question about canter...

[PollyP]

Before I start I apologise if this is a really silly question!!!

When cantering I have always been taught to stick tightly to the sadle and move with the horse. So effectively moving my pelvis along with the horse and at no point should my bum leave the saddle... I've always been proud of the fact that I am literally stuck...

Watching other people however (eg jockeys, show jumpers etc etc) they seem to rise from the saddle in canter (appreciate jockeys are at a gallop!) and was wondering which is correct or if it just depends on the person?

Hope this all makes sense! Thanks!

 

[be positive]

If you are schooling or doing dressage you want to be sitting deep into the saddle, if going faster ie XC or racing the rider will ride with shorter stirrups and allow their weight to come off the horses back.

The horse will find it easier to move freely if ridden in this way, out hacking it is also good to just lift the seat and let the horse be less restricted. I often start a schooling session in forward seat to enable the horse to loosen up its back.

A jockey has very short stirrups and does not really sit so the horse can go faster.

 

[rlhnlk]

It depends on the person and what they're doing, show jumpers, jockeys and cross country riders will tend to stand more, it's more comfortable when your stirrups are shorter and it can be helpful to take your weight off their back.

Dressage riders tend to 'stick' to the saddle more.

 

[dumpling]

You can also do rising canter .

 

[*Spider*]

Depends what discipline and what you want to achieve from the horse.
If jumping, xc, hacking I want to get off the horse's back, letting it stretch over it, being able to move freely.
If dressage, you want to sit deep. My horse really struggles when I do this, being so young and weak.

 

[tasteofchristmaschaos]

I'm an out of the seater-er. But me and my boy don't do 'stressage'!

 

[PollyP]

Thanks all for your replies! I haven't trained in anything specific eg dressage, or XC/SJ.
I'm wanting to get lessons to improve my riding anyway so next time I do will definitely try the 'rising canter' as would love to go to some hunt meets when my confidence and jumping practise comes into play and obviously anything to make it easier on the horse! Thanks again! Polly x