Hands not independant of seat - Help :)

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Leaveittothediva

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Hi all, hands pulling back on canter circles . Instructors help is to stop doing canter circles. Great help. Please can I ask that before u answer, I am in a very fragile state at present, I actually feel like giving up riding altogether cause I find it so patronising to be told that other riders can do it why can't you. So if u can help, please do. Thanks. :(
 
If you are not finding your instructor helpful and has left you on the brink of feeling useless and wanting to give up... then get a new instructor! Sometimes you jut dont click with a particular type, but get on really well with another :)
 
I'm not going to offer much specific advice as I am not sure if I am qualified, but once you have found a sympathetic instructor, how about some lunge lessons so you don't have to worry about the reins. Also I find riding bareback makes me use my hands more independently - if your horse is safe and kind, give it a go - even in walk you can feel the difference.

Where in the country are you - so that people can suggest good instructors? Mine worked wonders for my confidence after a previous instructor pulled me apart and put me back together wrong...
 
Do you do any work without stirrups? Probably best on a lunge with an instructor (sympathetic and nice) at first so they can be in charge of the horse and you only have to think about what you are doing. Ride round with your arms folded! It is hard work, so don't try and go on too long.
 
Agree that you probably need someone who is more supportive and positive. Good trainers invariably have a number of different ways of explaining things and so helping you get over this small issue. Agree that nobody should be patronising to a client.
Why not go somewhere where you can have lessons on the lunge, so that you can develop your seat without having to hold onto the reins.
 
The instructor is not doing her job, being told you are unable to do something yet giving no solutions to help you achieve it is not instructing in any way, find someone that will teach you not make you feel like giving up.
Some lunge lessons would help with your balance and confidence, when you find the right instructor you should make progress.
 
Agree get rid of instructor. If we were all perfect why would we need instructors. There are loads of exercises to improve this but you need someone on the floor to help you. Find someone else...
 
Now hold on, before we go panning the instructor off, maybe theres a little sense in what she's said. She could have went about it better though.

If your pulling back on canter circles, its because you're unbalanced. And I don't think just working on canter circles will help. I think you have to go back to working large in the school, and learning how to ride corners- sit up, half halts, etc- so that if you do get a little unbalanced then you're not far off the straight. Work going large on an independent seat, and once this is established work on half circles across the school, so that, again, if you do get unbalanced you're not far of the edge. Lots of work on BIG circles on the lunge, working on sitting up and deep, and getting those hand arms / hands independent from your body. Then giving your reins back and working on your seat with them.

I really want to go into so much more detail but on phone and the battery is about to run out! x
 
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