I'm having difficulty with canter! Advice please...

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bex1984

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The last few times I've ridden I seem to be having probelms with canter. I'm almost certain it's me and not the ponio.

He'll go into canter fairly easily, but after about two strides I seem to crumple into a heap and we come back down to (a very fast and bouncy) trot. I'm really struggling to keep my leg on and maintain canter, and I think I must be tensing up and somehow giving him a signal to slow down.

My feet don't feel secure in my stirrups, and basically I end up in a big crumply mess, not sitting up straight, weight not down in heels, bouncing about all over the place. He nearly always slows down in he thinks you've lost a stirrup and/or might come off so maybe he doesn't want to risk cantering and me falling off!!

Some days I'm absolutely fine, can canter round and round with me grinning and Murphy having a great time (he LOVES cantering round the school), but other times I just can't do it.

I try to do plenty of trotting without stirrups to improve me balance. Is there anything else I can do? Any tips for improving things? It's really frustrating me at the moment.

Thanksies!
 
Hello there, you are right that working without stirrups will help to establish your seat at canter, also working on the lunge can be really beneficial. It sounds as if you are tensing and gripping up with your legs (which is why they won't feel secure) and it is a bit of a catch 22 - until you can relax and stretch the legs down instead of up, you will be pushing yourself out of the saddle.

A good exercise is to pop your reins into your outside hand and place the fingers of the inside hand under the pommel and gently pull upwards, thes should help to deepen your seat and make sure your seat is following the movement and not blocking it.

Following another horse in canter round the school should help to keep your Murphy going forwards, and practice on the straight first of all before asking for corners which might be unbalancing you and Murphy - the transitions from trot to canter should help to keep him listening and active too.

Above all - enjoy - good luck!
 
Following on from trot without stirrups, have you tried canter without stirrups? When you feel secure in trot, just pop into canter. The trot will put you in the right place in the saddle and then it is easier to relax into the canter (well, I find it is). One thing though, make sure you are prepared to grab the mane when he drops into trot, as it is quite bumpy the first few times!
 
No stirrups in canter not just trot, and even go one step further and go bare back...!

It will do your position and balance the world of good.

If you tense, crumple, bounce and try to grip your soon be visiting the floor with a thud.
 
Try & relax a bit bex, I bet you go all tense & stiff which tends to make you bobble up & down even more until your balance goes completely & you have to make a grab for something to save yourself! lol
Try leaning back a little more than you think you ought to be & letting yourself move with the rocking horse feel of the canter - should be more 'forward & back' than 'up & down'!
Think 'long legs' but don't try & force them down too much though, keep it nice & relaxed! I imagine you're tending to grip with your knees against the saddle & as you start to lose your balance a little, are forcing your knees up even further as you try to grip even harder, which is causing you to lose your stirrups?
Riding without stirrups would definitely help if your pony is trustworthy enough to stay on the outside track & not swerve in & dump you at the first opportunity! (Get a friend to help if you can, even if it is only to encourage him to stay on course!)
Good luck! xx
 
I think I am probably gripping with my knees, you're right.

If I try cantering without stirrups we may be OK, I'll have to make sure he's not in a tanking mood but it should be fine! I'll give it a try!
 
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