How to stay on whilst cantering

[Cat_08]

Hello,

I am now learning how to canter - in my last lesson I only managed a few strides before pulling on the reigns (not intentionally but more shock at the speed). Does anyone have any tips on how to sit the canter as a beginner please? It feels so much faster than the trot and although I am determined it does seem a bit daunting. I have bought some riding tights with sticky bits on the bum and inside knees, not sure if they will do anything but might help psychologically.

Many thanks

 

[meleeka]

Remember to sit up and don’t lean forward. It’s about relaxing and going with with movement, rather than being tense and bouncing. If you find the transition from trot to canter hard, try holding the front of the saddle to help until you feel ok.

 

[Keith_Beef]

I'm still quite a novice rider, and find the canter usually quite easy.

When I was a real raw beginner (14 years old, no lessons, just a couple of beach rides each year on holiday), I found the trot very difficult and the canter much easier.

I agree that the canter can feel like it is much faster that the trot, and that can make you feel a bit nervous, but when you watch other riders cantering you can see that it's a bit faster but not enormously so. The Wikipedia article gives average speeds of 13 kph for trot and 16–27 kph for canter (I really doubt that a horse will do 13 for one and double for the other).

To get over that impression of speed, try trotting over a measured distance, like 15 or 20 metres between cones, and counting the number of seconds it takes, then do the same at a canter. I think you'll be surprised at how little difference there is.

After that, you could ask your instructor how to regulate the canter; like for trot, you can canter quickly or slowly. Being able to do this will give you a feeling of control that should make any feeling of nerves or panic disappear.

 

[ycbm]

Will your trainer allow you to learn to canter standing up? Is much easier to stand slightly in the stirrups at first and absorb the movement with your knees. Then you can get used to the speed and the movement and start to sit. In the old, old days we learnt to ride out on hacks and it was really good for learning to canter.
.

 

[Widgeon]

Will your trainer allow you to learn to canter standing up? Is much easier to stand slightly in the stirrups at first and absorb the movement with your knees. Then you can get used to the speed and the movement and start to sit. In the old, old days we learnt to ride out on hacks and it was really good for learning to canter.
.

Yes this does make it much easier! And cantering on hacks is easier as well because you don't have to turn corners all the time. Could you ask for a few lunge lessons? Then at least you don't have to worry about reins or whacking your horse in the mouth at all (or kicking them on if they are the lazy type), all you have to focus on is getting used to the new gait and getting comfortable. I think learning to canter in an arena in a proper "sat down" position is probably the hardest way to learn it so I wouldn't feel bad that you're finding it tricky.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Before saying this...my horse is endlessly sensible but when 'happy' has a ridiculously big rolling canter.

In a school I find it easier to ride with the reins in one hand and my other hand down by my side. I can work harder with my core because I'm now sat more upright. This might be better done on a lunge lesson as suggested above.

Out on a hack then a light seat suggested above is a good idea.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I have always found cantering without stirrups easier than with. In a RS, I would ask for a neck strap but the tip of riding with one hand down by your side is also a good one.

 

[Skib]

I agree about learning canter out hacking, but unfortunately that is often not allowed. BHS schools often require one to canter before one is allowed to hack. You may been to search for a hacking centre. It is OK to hack from one RS and to have lessons at another.
Lunge lessons are great. But to be honest I didnt ever like canter on the lunge. If the lunge line is long, the horse may go too fast and if the line is shortened, the bend makes balance harder. Many adults do not feel safe on a horse being controlled by someone else. At my last proficiency test, the YO waved her whip at my horse to ask for canter and I barely went 10 yards.

You will stop bouncing if you relax in canter and breath deep and slow.
On riding forums one is often told to relax. This is not just psychological; it means physical relaxation. But you dont need to relax every part of your body. You need still to sit up in canter and to keep your elbows to your sides. And you dont want your legs to flap on the side of the horse.
In natural childbirth classes years ago women were taught to relax one part of their body in isolation from other parts. It is really interesting to lie down on the floor and relax just one leg or just one arm. If you do this at home, you will get some idea of what it feels like to relax different parts of your body when you are sitting on a horse.
If you want to canter, your hands must be relaxed, to allow forward movement. But you need to keep a hold on the outside rein to control the angle of the head, otherwise your horse will veer into the middle of the school.
And it helps if you understand the leg movements of the horse when it starts to canter at the corner of a school. You need to know that your outside hip is going to drop down and then be pushed up in an almighty shove.
The more you understand this, the less unexpected and scarey the movements are.

By the way, sticky jods do not actually fix you to the horse. That would be unsafe. And I avoid them, as I need to be able to re-centre myself in the saddle.

 

[Cat_08]

Thank you everyone for your great advice!

Meleeka, good idea about holding the front of the saddle, hopefully it will stop me accidnetly tugging the reigns. Now you mention it I do think I am tensing up in anticipation to try and hold on, so I will try to keep relaxed and grip with my legs.

Keith_Beef, thank you for that info regarding speed, I am sure it just feels a lot faster than it actually is!

Ycbm, I am sure my instructor will let me have a go at the 'light seat', so I will talk to him about it next week, thank you!

Widgeon, thank you that makes me feel much better! I am only allowed in the school at the moment, so I trot around and try to power down the long side to get into canter. The horse I ride is rather lazy and she is hard work to get going, so the lunge might help as that is how I started with learning trot.

Orangeandlemons, thank you for your reply, do you mean putting your hand down on the saddle or where abouts please?

Pearlsasinger, thank you for your reply also, I will see if they have a neckstrap.

Skib, thank you also for your reply, I will try to relax and practice your tips in-between lessons! I suspect that my legs to flap a bit and I need to work on keep them tight but everything else relaxed.

Thank you again everyone, I really appreciate all your advice and help. I am having two 30 minute lessons a week, so hopefully I will get there!

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

I let my hand just hang down naturally, usually next to my hip. It's about helping up sit up straight with shoulders back and not be pulled into sitting forward to hold onto the reins.

Have you considered a session on a mechanical horse. My friend has opened a clinic at Kelsall with one and I gave it a go at a taster weekend and it was quite useful.