Keeping legs still in canter

[Always_A_Moody_Mare]

Hi,
Could I have some tips, I can't have lessons at the moment and haven't done in a while so my riding seems to have slipped! My legs are ok in walk and trot but during my canter transitions they seem to be all over the place, my heel is up and I cant get a good transition

Im fine if I do it without stirrups but I obviously can't always canter without stirrups. Any tips? Once im in canter they are better but still not fantastic but the transition is just awful. Please help!

 

[JFTDWS]

Are you having you kick kick kick into canter? Or do your heels go up in sitting trot? Either way, I'd try to target the cause (get pony off your leg / improve sitting trot practice w/o stirrups etc). I'd also try to do some cantering in a half seat / standing up xc style to try and transfer your weight through your heel a bit.

 

[Always_A_Moody_Mare]

I ride lots of different horses and it is much more noticeable in horses that are younger/not as well schooled as they are not off the leg and I have to work much harder to get the transition. Sitting trot isn't too bad, not great but again it depends on the horse.

I will give that a go, thanks

 

[Kittykins]

I have this problem. It tends to be that, in a frantic attempt to get the horse to canter, I lean forward and bring my heels up, and my seat goes kaput. I suppose the trick is to think about sitting up and working through the seat to remain in balance and get the horse to move forward under you.

How about cantering a semi circle from one side of the school to the other, anywhere along the long side. That way you get to practice lots of transitions, and the horse doesn't anticipate being asked in corners and rushing into one of those awful bouncy fast trots that they do when they don't want to canter! You could also try walk to canter transitions, if your horse will understand what you're after.

 

[Always_A_Moody_Mare]

I have this problem. It tends to be that, in a frantic attempt to get the horse to canter, I lean forward and bring my heels up, and my seat goes kaput. .

That is exactly what I do, except you explained it loads better than I did!

I will give that a go. One of the horses i ride will do walk to canter which I find much easier however another is only a baby so I will give the cantering semi circles a go.

Thanks! Any other suggestions anyone?