Canter/position/jumping CC? (pics) *long!*

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Thelwell_Girl

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Afternoon all!

In my lessons, I find it quite difficult to make the trot-canter transition :o Either I can't sit to the trot properly before we make the transition, or when we are cantering I tense up and can't really keep the canter going very long.

I feel really embarrassed about it, as I want to hold on to the saddle as I just can't seem to get the final push to canter, yet I, my parents and my instructor all KNOW I can canter without holding on! On some of the RS horse its easier than others, and I'm off to the tack shop soon to buy myself a schooling whip as when I borrowed one it did make life easier. If anyone has any tips on actually getting into canter, and on staying soft and relaxed when you've achieved this, I would be so grateful!

Jump-wise, I've only started to learn how to, but any tips you could offer would be really helpful, as you can see from my pics (please excuse my awful jumping face :D) I feel terrified when I jump, and hold on to the saddle for dear life :o

My position always needs refining, I find it hard keeping the stirrups on the ball of my foot, any CC on that would be really helpful :)

I've included some pics for CC, any comments welcome, I know I need them!

Thank you lovely HHO-ers :D

T_G xx

Jumping
DSC_0408.jpg
DSC_0430.jpg
DSC_0438.jpg
DSC_0421.jpg

Cantering
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4987347&l=9644c3dc0e&id=736594761
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4987348&l=6e158731bf&id=736594761
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5394327&id=736594761
Position
DSC_0183.jpg
DSC_0203.jpg
DSC_1040.jpg

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5394324&l=b2715645ba&id=736594761
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5394326&id=736594761

Any tips or suggestions will be greatly received, I know I still have a lot to learn!

P.S. Here's a few pics just for laughs :D
Numero Uno
Numero Dos
 
Your position is actually very nice so i wouldnt worry about that.

When jumping think about folding at your hips over the jump...ive seen people on here decribing it as squatting over a toilet seat in a public toilet, i tried thinking about like that when jumping my horse and it really helped! So give it a go!

As for the cantering i think putting your stirrups down a hole would help and also think about really relaxing your legs down, almost feel the gravity pulling down through your hips and heel. This also really helps me.


Good luck with it all!!
 
Hi Ginger_Nut,
Thank you for the tips! Last lesson we practiced riding round in jumping position, I felt it really helped. My instructor is also making me ride with longer stirrups all the time, so I'm getting used to it (slowly! :o).

Hehe, I'll try the toilet-squat next time I jump :D

T_G xx
 
When im doing jumping and i haven't in a long time i prractice the position when just walking around and really focus on where my legs and arms are. Then just go for it, if my positions wrong the pony lets me know in some lovely ways which involve my butt getting jolted or landing on her neck. Your seat looks nice though so well done, i have thought about doing a post like this before but the women on the yard reassured me i have a nice seat and its an easier thing to judge in person.
 
Thanks Denise :) I've been thinking of doing this post for a while, just thought I'd get it over with! I'm definitely going to practise my jumping position more too.
 
Hi,

I also find canter transitions difficult. One thing i have found helps is decide i am going to canter and then count down, 5-4-3-2-1-canter. It makes sure i actually *do* canter and don't faff, helps to stop me tensing up and make me sharper and more precise with my aids (i hope!).

Like some of the other posters say riding around in light seat/stood fully up (or ideally swapping between the two) will help your balance and your suppleness so when you jump you are more likely to fold correctly. Also sometimes riding into the fence saying "can-ter -can-ter -can-ter" helps because it helps you to keep the rythm and keeps you breathing! I recently tried a variation of this singing the Dr Peppers what's the worse that can happen song which made me chuckle. I also read in a magazine recently that if you shout yes after every jump (even if you think it wasn't great) helps to improve your confidence.
 
daydreamer said:
Hi,

I also find canter transitions difficult. One thing i have found helps is decide i am going to canter and then count down, 5-4-3-2-1-canter. It makes sure i actually *do* canter and don't faff, helps to stop me tensing up and make me sharper and more precise with my aids (i hope!).

Like some of the other posters say riding around in light seat/stood fully up (or ideally swapping between the two) will help your balance and your suppleness so when you jump you are more likely to fold correctly. Also sometimes riding into the fence saying "can-ter -can-ter -can-ter" helps because it helps you to keep the rythm and keeps you breathing! I recently tried a variation of this singing the Dr Peppers what's the worse that can happen song which made me chuckle. I also read in a magazine recently that if you shout yes after every jump (even if you think it wasn't great) helps to improve your confidence.
Click to expand...

I'll try counting down, I think that might really work for me! I love the idea of shouting 'Yes', as much as it will confuse my instructor, I'm definitely going to do this! As well as singing Dr Pepper :D
 
I think that one thing that might help you is doing lots of trot /canter /trot transitions close together. This has a 2 fold effect. firstly it gets the pony jumping off your leg a bit so when you ask for canter you GET canter in a nice sharp transition and also it gets you to practice sitting into the transition time after time after time and thus gets you more confident about the whole thing.

Or ask for a lunge lesson and let the instructor take control of the horse so you can concentrate on your position and aids without having to worry about what the horse is doing so much.

Blitz
 
You look quite tense in all of the pictures. The photos aren't the best angle to really see your position. How much work without stirrups do you do? Can you walk trot and canter? I think if you could relax and stretch you legs down it would help. You also look like you use your hands for balance sometime.... So, no stirrup work would help you get a more independant seat too. I wouldn't actually put your stirrups down a hole until your leg is more relaxed as you'll tense more stretching for it and ultimately you'll loose your stirrups and be more tense!

Jumping wise, again not the best angle to see your position but you look to be standing up rather than folding. Think about pushing your bottom towards the back of the saddle.

Could you get some private lunge lessons? There did look to be a huge number of people in your lesson (is it a BHS approved centre?)
 
must say am loving the pony & your platts!

i didnt look at the canter pics but for your jumping ones i agree with the others about folding at the hips but you look pretty secure which is good. the other thing is to give with your hands (move them towards the pony's mouth). not so important over fences that size but you may as well start practicing for when the jumps get bigger!

also an IT note: if you press enter between your photos it will stop the post being wide as the pics will be one under the other. im not having a dig just in case you didnt know!
 
annaellie said:
Does the RS do lunge lessons if they do they a couple will really help :)
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blitznbobs said:
I think that one thing that might help you is doing lots of trot /canter /trot transitions close together. This has a 2 fold effect. firstly it gets the pony jumping off your leg a bit so when you ask for canter you GET canter in a nice sharp transition and also it gets you to practice sitting into the transition time after time after time and thus gets you more confident about the whole thing.

Or ask for a lunge lesson and let the instructor take control of the horse so you can concentrate on your position and aids without having to worry about what the horse is doing so much.

Blitz
Click to expand...

I definitely think a lunge lesson is on the cards for me, I find it so much easier than a normal private lesson! I love the idea of the trot-canter-trot-canter transitions, too, and will definitely practice those next ride :)
 
galaxy23 said:
You look quite tense in all of the pictures. The photos aren't the best angle to really see your position. How much work without stirrups do you do? Can you walk trot and canter? I think if you could relax and stretch you legs down it would help. You also look like you use your hands for balance sometime.... So, no stirrup work would help you get a more independant seat too. I wouldn't actually put your stirrups down a hole until your leg is more relaxed as you'll tense more stretching for it and ultimately you'll loose your stirrups and be more tense!

I have been finding I'm losing my stirrup, still trying to find the 'right' length for me

Jumping wise, again not the best angle to see your position but you look to be standing up rather than folding. Think about pushing your bottom towards the back of the saddle.

I'll try this, those pics were from my first ever jumping lesson though, I hope I've improved a bit since then :o

Could you get some private lunge lessons? There did look to be a huge number of people in your lesson (is it a BHS approved centre?)
I'm definitely going to book myself a lunge lesson in the next few weeks.
Did it look like there were a lot of people? We have a maximum of 8, but at the moment its more like 4 people regularly, and we are BHS approved :)
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sally87 said:
must say am loving the pony & your platts!

Hehe, I'm famous at the yard for my flying plaits! The pony in the jumpin pics is the gorgeous Evil Bonnie Coblet, who is VERY naughty, but teaching me a lot!

i didnt look at the canter pics but for your jumping ones i agree with the others about folding at the hips but you look pretty secure which is good. the other thing is to give with your hands (move them towards the pony's mouth). not so important over fences that size but you may as well start practicing for when the jumps get bigger!

Thats my next thing to work on, I need to LET GO of the saddle! I also don't want to jab the ponies mouth :o

also an IT note: if you press enter between your photos it will stop the post being wide as the pics will be one under the other. im not having a dig just in case you didnt know!

Ooh, sorry about that! I didn't think they were next to each other :o
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the help, keep it coming! xx
 
Your position in the pics looks OK, so I'm guessing that it could be your hips are a little stiff
and if you can work on strengthening your core muscles, this will help you to achieve a
deeper and more relaxed seat.

I am older than you, but I have a dodgy canter transition too! I have a bad back and have
very weak core strength. I struggle with sitting trot as well these days :(. With me I find
it helps if I have warmed up before I ride to try to relax my back and hips. I find that I
tense up subconciously now because I anticipate the pain. I'm not so bad in warmer
weather.
 
shark1 said:
exhale as you do the canter transition, works a treat
Click to expand...

Thankyou, I'll try this :)

Misinterpreted said:
Your position in the pics looks OK, so I'm guessing that it could be your hips are a little stiff
and if you can work on strengthening your core muscles, this will help you to achieve a
deeper and more relaxed seat.

I am older than you, but I have a dodgy canter transition too! I have a bad back and have very weak core strength. I struggle with sitting trot as well these days :(. With me I find it helps if I have warmed up before I ride to try to relax my back and hips. I find that I tense up subconciously now because I anticipate the pain. I'm not so bad in warmer weather.
Click to expand...

I've been thinking recently that warming up would be a good idea, as my leg muscles (and my back as well?!) were protesting :o Have you got any good riding-related warm up exercises?
 
One of my friends told me she practises folding at her hips every time she goes over a speed bump in a car :P
Whether it works or not I don't know, but it's worth a try???? (And very very amusing if you can get a full car of people to do it at the same time haha)
K x
 
KellysHeroes said:
One of my friends told me she practises folding at her hips every time she goes over a speed bump in a car :P
Whether it works or not I don't know, but it's worth a try???? (And very very amusing if you can get a full car of people to do it at the same time haha)
K x
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Ooh, I'm going to try that! I'll see if I can persuade the 'rents to do the same :D:D

(P.S. I love your siggie :D)
 
Re: letting go of the saddle can you try a neck strap (a spare stirrup leather around the neck will do) or holding the mane instead? just allows you to have a bit more movement in your hands than holding the saddle does but you've still got something to hold on to. i still hold the mane when jumping. i dont need it for balance, its just a confidence thing
 
I'm thinking similar to what most people have said really! I think no stirrups would help a lot with balance/position, but if you don't feel ready for that yet then a few lunge lessons might be a good idea. Like others have also said, transitions, and lots of them, to really get you relaxed in your seat, and should also improve horses responsivness (not even sure if that is a word!) as well.
With the stirrups, maybe they are a little long if you find it hard to keep them? Although you don't want to end up jockey-like! I find it hard to keep 'dressage length' stirrups as I like ridng with short stirrups. If I ride with no stirrups for 5-10 mins, then get my stirrups back, it seems to help me keep them better. Also thinking about really stretching the legs down helps me. And another thing I just remembered to help with seat, especially with no stirrups, thinking 'sack of potatoes' belly (an instructor used to say this when we rode no stirrups and I have remembered it ever since as it helped me so much!) haha! :D
Also, just out of interest, is there a reason you have no hat silk? Your hat would look much nicer with one! Sorry not trying to be mean (at all, promise!), I just would never ride without one! ;)
 
sally87 said:
Re: letting go of the saddle can you try a neck strap (a spare stirrup leather around the neck will do) or holding the mane instead? just allows you to have a bit more movement in your hands than holding the saddle does but you've still got something to hold on to. i still hold the mane when jumping. i dont need it for balance, its just a confidence thing
Click to expand...

I've never tried a neckstrap before, I'll see if the tack shop have any single stirrup leathers I can buy :D

I'll try holding a bit of mane, it always makes me feel a bit safer :)
 
ditto the neck strap, I use one as I tense as well during canter transitions. My instructor got me singing 3 Blind Mice last week to get the rythym and to make sure I breathed!! hacking out I can canter all day long, in the school its a different matter :rolleyes: make sure you sit up and don't lean forward. Singing during canter will relax you and I've found cantering with no stirrups has helped a lot. My transitions are still not great but they are slowly improving. Good luck :D
 
tricksy said:
ditto the neck strap, I use one as I tense as well during canter transitions. My instructor got me singing 3 Blind Mice last week to get the rythym and to make sure I breathed!! hacking out I can canter all day long, in the school its a different matter :rolleyes: make sure you sit up and don't lean forward. Singing during canter will relax you and I've found cantering with no stirrups has helped a lot. My transitions are still not great but they are slowly improving. Good luck :D
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Hehe, thanks tricksy :D

I'll try some more stirrupless work, but I'm worried I'll just slip off! When I trot without stirrups I kind if slip to one side... Back to the middle... Off to the other side... Its hilarious for the rider behind me!

The only stirrup-less canters I've ever had were on a Racewood simulator (I did a post on that, its a good laugh :D) but maybe a neck strap will help that.

I'm due a lunge lesson soon anyway... :o

ETA: I'm gonna sing right through my lesson on sunday! :p
 
TBH I'm surprised the RS doesn't stick a neckstrap on their ponies when teaching people to jump, holding the saddle means that your hands restrict the horse and doesn't allow you to follow the movement properly. I'd prefer to see you grabbing hold of the mane halfway up the horse's neck because that will give you a better idea of the position/feeling you should be working towards.

Lunge lessons are definitely the answer to helping you relax and learn to go with the horse, that and lots of stuff with no stirrups off the lunge. Jumping lane practice is also good on a reliable horse so you can just sit there and let the jumps come to you.
 
Wobblywibble said:
TBH I'm surprised the RS doesn't stick a neckstrap on their ponies when teaching people to jump, holding the saddle means that your hands restrict the horse and doesn't allow you to follow the movement properly. I'd prefer to see you grabbing hold of the mane halfway up the horse's neck because that will give you a better idea of the position/feeling you should be working towards.

Lunge lessons are definitely the answer to helping you relax and learn to go with the horse, that and lots of stuff with no stirrups off the lunge. Jumping lane practice is also good on a reliable horse so you can just sit there and let the jumps come to you.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking I'll buy one for myself just to use when I need it... I need to work on steadying my hands :o

We don't have a jumping lane, but have a good sizedboutdoor school we jump in, on a sunny day its lovely :)

*runs off to book a lunge lesson*
 
If you can't easily trot without stirrups I think this may be the centre of your problems. Work, work and then work some more at this and I really think the rest of it will fall into place!

:)

Good luck!
 
galaxy23 said:
If you can't easily trot without stirrups I think this may be the centre of your problems. Work, work and then work some more at this and I really think the rest of it will fall into place!

:)

Good luck!
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I do need to work on it! :o

It wasn't terrible, but I'm phoning up to book a lunge lesson for myself tomorrow :D

x
 
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