down hill

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TigerLilly

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ok i am having a lesson on how to jump and canter down hill tomorrow and i am very worried has any one else got any pointers on how to combat this fear i have and i would also like to here if any one else has this same problem or is this just me HELP!!!!
 
Look up and think about staying balanced, secure seat, secure lower leg. This will help your horse stay balanced too!

Do some work without stirrups before you canter downhill, then the stirrups will seem a great bonus when you take them back!
 
As you get older you will realise there is no fun in cantering down hill!!!! I much prefer to walk these days!

no pointers or tips I'm afraid - but let us know how the lesson goes!
 
ok i have lean back and look ahead i can still see me going plop
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The jump really won't be as bad as you think! Keep looking ahead, and think about sitting up again a little quicker after the jump than you would normally do. Don't over-fold at all!
 
Not super glue, but I always wear my grippy seat jods when tackling something new and a bit scarey.

Think positive and pretend to be William Fox-Pitt or whoever you admire cross country!
 
You don't have to lean back so much just try to sit up and keep your body perpenicular to what a flat serface would be, if you know what i mean. Just make sure you don't tip forward and you will be fine, don't worry about it, i can't ever remember learning to canter or jump down hill (i never got lessons just had to learn by falling off a lot!
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) and i think you'll find you naturally balance yourself.

have fun! xx
 
Sit up and look up to where you're going, not down the bottom of the hill!! Make sure your lower leg is secure under you and keep a contact on the reins to keep the horse balanced and off the forehand, and when you're jumping you don't have to lean as far forwards as you would on the flat. Start with trotting over some little jumps down hill to give you a feel before you canter. Enjoy, it's actually really good fun once you do it!!
 
Haha, if you find any good super glue send some my way!! I feel i need some for moments like this;

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I'm scared of some down hill jumps!
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Thats the thing though if i chicken out he wont so have to go with him so i think i will be a passenger tomorrow and hope i dont get to go plop on the way but my instructor will not let me be a passenger so how can i fake that i am riding him he he any ideas he he
 
Not sure about faking riding?! Guess you'll have to just ride him!! Start with small jumps down a slight hill and then you can be a passenger and get feel for it (put a neck strap or balance strap on or grab a chunk of mane!) so by the time you get to bigger jumps down a steeper hill you'll be flying!!
 
Firstly, is your horse used to hills? Some only have flat paddocks and have not had the chance to practice their own natural balance. This would be what I would be considering first. If this is the case, I would be hacking out and walking down hills, building up their confidence and mine and creating and allowing them to use their own natural balance, as you are most reliant on the horses skill for this exercise.

I have a horse, owned by myself from 2 years old and she has not reached the stage to be trusted (balance) to start the downhill canters. We are working on this, by taking her out and about to different places for hacking and she is picking it up really well.

As a rider you need to steady the horse, not allow it to pick up speed which could unbalance you, but at the same time put trust into the horse that it can cope with it. Its very rare for a horse to take a tumble, the most common fault is the rider going at too fast a speed, ending up leaning forward and ditching out through lack of control.

If you have good brakes and steering, you will be fine and a neck strap is helpful. Good luck, I am sure you will get through this and start to enjoy the experience.
 
I personally would choose cantering downhill to trotting downhill....any day of the week. These days I am more of a walker downhill though
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