How do i canter?

P0ny Lover

P0ny Lover

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To sum it up, I'm a very nervous young rider. My RI keeps asking if I want to, and I really want to but I am to scared to. I have a leason today and I'm going to try make myself canter, But how do I? It's a group leason and everyone lines up in the middle and then you go on the track and canter. The question is how do I sit the canter?
 
I think you would be pleasantly surprised at how much easier it is to sit to a canter stride. You may find the transitions a bit harder, I think lots have trouble when first going from canter to trot for instance. A neckstrap would help there I think. But if you do what Pearlsasinger says, you will not have any bother at all.
 
I’m by no means an expert… I think the first thing to do is try to get a nice forward trot. It’s going to be harder to make the transition if you trot is sluggish. Aim to canter at a corner.Then you half halt (think of this as steadying the horse - so like you are going to halt with your seat and hand but keeping leg on). Then some people sit a couple of strides and some go straight from the rising trot… Then signal with your leg - inside leg on first outside leg behind girth. And off you go.

Correct me if I’m wrong.
 
If I am a bit apprehensive about cantering my newly backed horses for the first time, I start by asking for a couple of strides of canter whilst trotting uphill in a field rather than in the school. I feel like a couple of strides uphill is easier for me to work out what the stride is going to feel like, and because I am leaning a little more forward when going uphill, I am less likely to get left behind and accidentally interfere with their mouths if they give me something unexpected when they launch into canter.

I always make sure I have a neck strap too, so I can balance myself if needed.
 
You can hold onto a chunk of mane if you have no neck strap, it can help you keep your balance as your pony moves forward into canter. Then just sit up and relax, as said above. It’s a bit like riding a gentle wave, thats moving uphill!
 
Much more comfortable than sitting trot, you’ll probably find it’s easier than you think.
I think I possible learnt in a light seat holding the neck strap when I was a kid…but I can’t quite remember.

Another option is to ask for a lunge lesson on a good horse, and then you can let the instructor be in control of the horse.

You will love it, makes your heart race!
 
When we had the riding school we found the best way to teach younger riders was to have them take a light seat - they would have previously learnt this and been secure doing it - once they got used to the canter movement they would then learn to sit into the canter. TBH this was partly to protect our ponies as many riders hands would become unsteady when doing sitting trotting and applying the canter aids, plus it helped with following the horses head movement in canter.
 
P0ny Lover said:
To sum it up, I'm a very nervous young rider. My RI keeps asking if I want to, and I really want to but I am to scared to. I have a leason today and I'm going to try make myself canter, But how do I? It's a group leason and everyone lines up in the middle and then you go on the track and canter. The question is how do I sit the canter?
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How did it go?

Generally the best way with any new thing is to throw yourself at it & do it really badly & then ask advice about what you did wrong. The worst possible thing is to avoid doing it at all in case you're not perfect - that really holds people back.

For cantering. The ponies will know the routine in your lessons, so learning aids can come later. For the first few canters I'd put the reins in one hand and the other hand on the neck strap or front of the saddle. Push your heels downwards and don't lean too far forwards.
 
The more you tip forward and the more rigid you hold yourself the more you will bounce and be uncomfortable. So lean back a little and think about sinking your bum into an armchair letting your upper body soften to absorb the movement.
 
I think the best way is when you are on a hack, follow a steady horse, find a nice straight bridlepath slightly uphill and just let the horse fall into canter from a lively trot.
That way you don't have to contend with trying to balance round corners and the horse will be easier to get into canter.
 
Hopefully you will have practiced sitting trot. Go into sitting trot for a few strides just before a corner from a good working forward trot. The riding school horses will be expecting to go into canter on a corner. It helps them go onto the right leg and you will feel more balanced then if your in the school on a circle. Your instructor will explain the aids. Once you have done it you will be very pleased with yourself.
 
Could you swap to a lunge lesson one time and do your first canter on the lunge? Less for you to worry about.
If I were you,, in your lesson I'd just go out and ask for canter if you feel like having a go. If you're tense and worried about it, it won't go so well.
 
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