How to sit Canter up hill?

[Skib]

I need revision advice please on cantering up hills. In sitting canter, not in light seat.

This problem is odd as I learned to canter out hacking and the places where I was taught to canter were almost always up hill.
Then I became a "proper" rider and went long canters on the flat and did dressage test canters in the school.

I am now hacking a new share who knows exactly where she usually canters and these canters too are up hill.

Trouble is I have forgotten how to sit smoothly in an uphill canter. RI tells me this is nonsense. That one never forgets how to canter. Indeed I am still fine on the flat. But after 13 months not riding in Covid lock down I seem to have forgotten uphill canter and felt myself slithering sideways in the saddle. I am told she has a bumpy canter but when I did my initial proficiency tests on her (before Covid) I rode a long uphill sitting canter on her and it wasnt a problem.

 

[Mule]

Lean slightly forward and keep your weight in your heels.

 

[sbloom]

Which side do you slide to? The fact that it's making you slide will reveal clues about your asymmetry, good chance to work on it, perhaps with a specialist biomech coach. If it's to the "outside" on both leads it may not be asymmetry but do check where each leg, knee, hip is sitting, then move up to the ribcage, often correcting the ribcage laterally is a really effective fix.

Otherwise agree with Mule, but also, is it a different saddle to the one you rode in before? Can make a big difference.

 

[Kat]

Why do you need to sit? If I was cantering up a hill I would take a light seat.

 

[Lipglosspukka]

I don't know that I have ever cantered uphill without being in a light seat. Not unless horse is p***ing off with me and I'm trying to pull up anyway!

I can't imagine sitting a canter while going uphill to be hugely comfortable for yourself or indeed for the horse?

 

[VioletStripe]

Personally I would never sit to a canter uphill? (unless we were unintentionally cantering..)

 

[AmyMay]

Not sure I’ve ever cantered uphill in anything but a light seat. Asides from the fact that physics makes it almost impossible ??‍

 

[stormox]

Im not sure what you mean- surely you have to be a bit forward not to unbalance the horse? Like you have to be sitting a bit back cantering downhill?

 

[sbloom]

Skib I wonder if you mean you don't want to sit in two point, I think by definition it has to be light seat going uphill as you can't be 100% in neutral pelvis sitting on your seat bones.

 

[Skib]

Thank you everyone. This is very helpful. And makes perfect sense. Explains why I much prefer to canter on the flat.
(My crookedness is a different problem due to age. Incurable but at least I know how to sort it. )

As for the saddle, as a sharer and RS rider, I ride in whatever I am given. Current share has a plastic GP. It is big enough for my fat seat and hasnt been a problem.
Though I could in theory have my favourite saddler come and fit her with my favourite (expensive) saddle which is very open and has a low cantle, it wouldnt be worth the worry. When one is old, it is a blessing to have the tack looked after by someone else.

 

[sbloom]

Thank you everyone. This is very helpful. And makes perfect sense. Explains why I much prefer to canter on the flat.
(My crookedness is a different problem due to age. Incurable but at least I know how to sort it. )

As for the saddle, as a sharer and RS rider, I ride in whatever I am given. Current share has a plastic GP. It is big enough for my fat seat and hasnt been a problem.
Though I could in theory have my favourite saddler come and fit her with my favourite (expensive) saddle which is very open and has a low cantle, it wouldnt be worth the worry. When one is old, it is a blessing to have the tack looked after by someone else.

There's so much more to saddle fit forthe rider, we can adapt/compromise more than the horse can but so often subtle issues are about the pelvis not being able to be in neutral, effortlessly, or the hips hang how they should. We're learning more all the time. And trust me, even young riders, or riders at the peak of their careers (perhaps more so!) have asymmetries that do affect their riding.

 

[Mule]

There's so much more to saddle fit forthe rider, we can adapt/compromise more than the horse can but so often subtle issues are about the pelvis not being able to be in neutral, effortlessly, or the hips hang how they should. We're learning more all the time. And trust me, even young riders, or riders at the peak of their careers (perhaps more so!) have asymmetries that do affect their riding.

The change to my seat has been incredible since I was told to change the position of my pelvis. It took the arch out of my back and my legs now hang straight down. I have the shoulder, hip, heel alignment that eluded me for years.

 

[Lois Lame]

That sounds interesting, Mule. I have too much arch in my back I think and I am sure my pelvis could do with a correction (tail more under). I suffer from (look away, folks) rubbing against the seam of my knickers which is most uncomfortable. (Crutch seam not leg seams.)

 

[Mule]

That sounds interesting, Mule. I have too much arch in my back I think and I am sure my pelvis could do with a correction (tail more under). I suffer from (look away, folks) rubbing against the seam of my knickers which is most uncomfortable. (Crutch seam not leg seams.)

Yes, tail more under is the adjustment I made.