How to relax in canter?

[SecretAgentBilly]

I have an issue with canter, I always seem to tense up in it! My feet often slide through the stirrups, unless I really try to keep my heels down and that makes me even less un-relaxed, because I don't relax with my legs and seem to grip to much with my knees. I don't even know why I get so tensed up, I'm not nervous so I don't know Does anyone else find they do this? Or have any advice in helping me relax better? Thanks

 

[Tash88]

Are you having regular lessons? I think that having someone on the ground would really help you, even better a lunge lesson on a schoolmaster so that you could really focus on your position without having to worry so much about how the horse is going. Try to sit deeply, with your weight in your seat and heels rather than your knees; when I was working on this my instructor always told me to "open my knees" and although that sounded a bit odd it really helped me to relax and use my seat more.

Also, don't canter for too long at a time, just one 20 metre circle at a time, in a relaxed position that you are happy with (you will know more what this is after a lesson in which you feel more relaxed), then come back to trot and repeat a few times on both reins. Finishing a schooling session on a good note sometimes applies just as much to the rider as the horse, so once you feel comfortable and confident, give yourself a pat on the back and do something else!

Good luck!

 

[TrasaM]

Do you ever ride without stirrups? I found that this was the best way for me to learn to sit correctly and relax into the canter. It will also encourage you to keep your legs long and around the horse correctly. Once you relax and get more confidence in your ability to balance, your legs should stop tensing and interfering with your seat. Like you, I would tense my legs which would then destabilise my bum and I'd end up bouncing or my legs would swing.
If you don't feel confident enough to do it alone perhaps you could have some lessons on the lunge? And don't worry. First time my stirrups were taken off me, please note I didn't volunteer I was very worried. But RI knew best and I loved it.

 

[Mongoose11]

This used to be me. I was trying to hard, the minute I get so peed off with myself in a lesson that I actually give up my instructor shouts 'yes, yes that's it beautiful.. Beautiful'.

Relax, let pone do the work....

To try and get to this stage before getting peed off we found that if I did some work with my eyes closed I instantly relaxed. The change in me is mark able, particularly my seat. Suddenly your senses are heightened and you can feel everything so you realise how minute your adjustments need to be.

 

[SecretAgentBilly]

I don't have really regular lessons, but I have started having some on my instructors horses until I find a new part loan horse. she always says I need to relax more but never tells me how I think I will try riding with no stirrups, I haven't done it for ages, but I see how it could really help! I definitly need to sort it out as I can't apply leg aids properly because I get too tense. Thanks for all the replies

 

[TrasaM]

This used to be me. I was trying to hard, the minute I get so peed off with myself in a lesson that I actually give up my instructor shouts 'yes, yes that's it beautiful.. Beautiful'.

Relax, let pone do the work....

.

Yes the harder I tried the worse I got. Didn't help that I was learning on a lazy ass whose default pace was stationary. Plus he had a galumping great stride

 

[TrasaM]

I don't have really regular lessons, but I have started having some on my instructors horses until I find a new part loan horse. she always says I need to relax more but never tells me how I think I will try riding with no stirrups, I haven't done it for ages, but I see how it could really help! I definitly need to sort it out as I can't apply leg aids properly because I get too tense. Thanks for all the replies

Think of it as your legs and hips belong to the horse so they must move with him. You are in charge of everything from the hips so all you have to do is absorb the movement with your upper body stay relaxed but don't collapse in the middle.

 

[pogface]

Lots of sitting trot without stirrups. Or work in general without stirrups. Good luck!

 

[becky_bongoose]

I have this issue too, I tense up, grip with my knees and no bend in elbow either which results in me coming off the side!! but for no reason at all as I am not nervous and trust my horse 100 %. I have to keep up with lessons, and started doing work with no stirrups in trot (aiming for canter eventually), ensuring legs stretching down and not gripping, feet facing forward and heels down, and look where your going, and it does work eventually, try and do a bit of non stirrup work every time you ride good luck

 

[mandwhy]

I find work without stirrups somewhat terrifying (I just really think I'm going to fall off and therefore tense up and make it more likely haha). I especially hate it when not in a straight line, so I like to just have really long stirrups like I do anyway, so I can't really rise to the trot or very slightly shorter if you keep losing them, but so they support my feet in walk just fine. Just gives me that safety blanket and you have to not bounce up too much or you'll have your stirrups hanging off your feet, but at the same time nothing bad will happen if you do it wrong and come back down to walk or trot.

 

[ShadowFlame]

It's usually a bit of a "lightbulb" moment, I find. You'll try something a little differently, it instantly feels better, you take it from there. What I find useful: plenty of trotting beforehand (get both of you working, I find it makes me breathe better, therefore relax more), and get someone to video you riding every now and then. Watch it back, critique yourself, it's pretty easy to spot the glaring faults. Once you SEE the faults, you tend to make more of a conscious effort to rectify them.

 

[Tilda]

I have this problem too although through regularish lessons I am improving. The best piece of advice my instructor gave me, as I tend to go into the foetal (sp) position when I tense up which makes everything tense and forward, is to sit back in the saddle leaning back and when you think you are in the right position lean back even further! It probably sounds a bit mad like you would end up laying down but for me it really seems to have worked (apart from when I get scared and then it goes pear shaped- a work in progress!) and I don't get anywhere near laying down

 

[Eventinggirl3827]

I have an issue with canter, I always seem to tense up in it! My feet often slide through the stirrups, unless I really try to keep my heels down and that makes me even less un-relaxed, because I don't relax with my legs and seem to grip to much with my knees. I don't even know why I get so tensed up, I'm not nervous so I don't know Does anyone else find they do this? Or have any advice in helping me relax better? Thanks

.lunge lessons
. Pilates to strengthen your core
.work w/o stirrups

 

[Nari]

If the horse is capable then try going into canter from walk. It tends to produce a more uphill & balanced transition that is easier to sit to so you're less likely to tense up in the first place.

 

[showpony]

I actually had this problem until recently!!
Really worked on getting horse working off my leg - & one day bingo, I relaxed my shoulders and took loads of deep breaths & let her do the work & we havent looked back~! We actually nailed walk to canter last night in a lovely relaxed rhythm but forward going & it felt great.
Also try not to grip with your thighs - keep them nice & loose.

 

[Littlelegs]

No stirrups. If you can get access to a horse with a really slow comfortable canter, I'd say bareback too.

 

[cyberhorse]

Find access to a horse with a really comfy canter and sing. Sounds stupid but if you put some music on and sing along to it and take your mind off what you are doing then you'll stop "trying" to sit the canter at which point you "will" sit the canter. Worked for my husband who was about to give up riding as it took him 6 months to canter comfortably.

If I ever have trouble with my legs drawing in canter I go to my physio and she relaxes my pelvis which solves it. Not everyone is built ideally at the pevis and hip for riding and tension in this area really shows up when cantering and jumping. Might be worth a shot if you have tried everything else.

 

[katherine1975]

You could try having a lesson on a horse simulator. Me and my OH did this and found it really improved our riding as you can completely relax and just concentrate on yourself and your position.

 

[SecretAgentBilly]

Thanks guys, lots of ideas for me to try there. I always tip forwards when the horse isn't off the leg and needs more then a squeeze to get into canter which I don't think helps either. I might try and find a pilates class around my area and see whether I improve when I do this

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Friend on the lunge, neck strap and practice cantering with and wthout the stirrups. I regularly take my feet out the stirrups and also drop reins when im cantering in the school, not at same time I hve one or the other. I also go for looooong canters where horse can go fats to start with then as it settles into a rhythm you can just sit and deep breathing until it comes

 

[sandi_84]

Breathe! Seriously it sounds silly but a lot of people get so tense before and during the canter that they forget to breathe
Try thinking of something else, sing a song or list the points of the horse in your head if you fear for other peoples ears like me
Imagine your legs are growing longer and longer, I find it helps me relax my heels back down and wrap my legs around without that "oh my god must hold on for dear life" type of tensing.
Also if you are finding you are tipping forward do try the lean back slightly method. Hold together your stomach muscles and just lean slightly back it does help! Once you've relaxed and are getting the canter the way you want you can (or will probably find you've already done it) sit more upright again
I agree that finding a horse with a lovely comfy canter stride is the way forward, mine is like an armchair during canter and for the begginers at my last yard they found it so much easier to relax on him than some of the others who took bigger faster strides as they felt safer on him with his effortless strides
Don't worry too much because it will come with time I promise you!