Keeping my bottom in the saddle in canter!

[peanut]

My horse is so bouncy/elevated in her "almost-collected" canter that I find it really hard to keep my bottom in the saddle and have a tendency to bounce.

I know it probably sounds daft, but where should I be concentrating on putting my weight? If I think of sitting deep, I end up slouching and then I can't hold her with my back (she's very forward).

Does anyone have any tips please?

 

[ThePony]

mmm, will be watching this thread with interest as it is something I struggle with too. I know I struggle to relax through my hips enough. Prob not helped that I do get a bit nervous in canter. I find that practising more on a hack and for shorter times in the school helps as I can get it right for a short time, so trying to build up! Even being aware of it seems to help.

 

[spike123]

i'm no expert but to me it sounds a bit of a catch 22.You are saying she has a very forward going canter so collect her by bracing your back but in collecting her she is too bouncy. I guess you either need to learn to go forward with the movement and relax or else have some lessons to work on deepening your seat. I would think by bracing your back it will probably make you bounce even more. You need to try to think lengthening your body and staying relaxed while keeping your leg wrapped around your horse. Easier said than done though!

 

[peanut]

I know I struggle to relax through my hips enough. QUOTE]

That's interesting. Maybe I should be concentrating on relaxing more than where my weight is.

 

[Benji1]

I used to struggle horrifically keeping my bum in the saddle in canter, but i did find that having a secure lower leg position and 'fluid' hips helped, also did a few lessons on the lunge so i could work on my position without worrying about interferring with the horse

 

[ester]

relax relax relax

the more I don't the worse it gets as pone then stiffens (he is bouncy as rather short backed)

I really have to think legs long and hang (otherwise I grip which doesnt work!)

 

[alainax]

Its really hard to put into words, but almost try to think of your hips doing a foward circle motion, moving directly with the canter. Visualise the motion and follow it - dont fight it.

er... it would be easier to describe in person

em... imagine you are drunk or asleep and you have no choice but to follow the motion, just let your hips relax and the fluidness will come - dont over think it, just feel the motion.... now ive confused myself

 

[Saxon_Jasmine]

Just a thought.. is your horse's canter over collected for a reason or has it always been that way? My mare's canter was very collected and bouncy when we first bought her. When we had her back and saddle done it was realised that the saddle didn't fit, which was causing her to collect because of the pain. She has really lengthened her stride now and her canter is much easier to sit to. (Probs not the same in your case, just thought I'd mention )

 

[peanut]

Thank you everyone - relax is obviously the key word so perhaps I just need to stop trying so hard!

 

[Nickles1973]

My last riding instructor told me to imagine I was making love to my saddle when cantering!! :-o This just made me giggle and go pretty red! However I think what she was trying to say was to relax and allow my hips to move in a rhythm>

 

[peanut]

My last riding instructor told me to imagine I was making love to my saddle when cantering!! :-o This just made me giggle and go pretty red! However I think what she was trying to say was to relax and allow my hips to move in a rhythm>

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind!

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

RELAX and move your hips to the rhythm

I have a bad back, and can no longer bear to do sitting trot, but I'm still OK to canter.

 

[alainax]

Here's a thought... every tried bareback? obivously safety first but bareback is a great way to learn natural rythm. n bareback canter is easier than bareback trot

failing that even cross your stirrups?

 

[happyhack]

QR

Do you have someon who can lunge your horse with you riding her without stirrups. Worked wonders for me.

 

[peanut]

happyhack, I could get my instructor to lunge me - will give it a try. Thank you.

alainax, I don't think anyone in their right mind would ride my little lady bareback but I'll give it a go without stirrups!

 

[Quartz]

QR

Do you have someon who can lunge your horse with you riding her without stirrups. Worked wonders for me.

Exactly what I was going to suggest, I spent an hour cantering around with no stirrups and def found my seat and was not bouncy at all. Now realise what I was doing before was a. being to tense and b. pressing into my stirrups too much, thinking this was lengthening my body, where in fact it was pushing me out of my seat.

Definately best to do this on a lunge as mentioned above. I did this with no lunge and by the end of the hour my thighs were so tired they gripped round my horse like a vice and we went full belt for about 5 complete rounds of the arena!!! Luckily stayed on and circled him in to slow down (eventually). Legs like jelly by the end LOL!!!!!

 

[aimeejay]

My RI tells me to pretend there is £100 note beneath my bum. It works The best way to get a good seat(in my opinion) get on the lunge, take deep breath in then a deep breath out and remain in the position when you breath out but dont slouch! Keep relaxed, maybe letting you horse go forwards rather than collecting would help whilst you got your seat as you will not tense up, then once you have your seat collect your horse? Also, without stirrups!
Good luck

 

[ruth83]

You can try briefly holding the middle of the cantle of the saddle for a few strides in canter (if your horse is quiet enough to allow you to do this - maybe on the lunge if thats possible?). This will help you to sit to the canter and give you an idea of which areas you need to change your feel/movement in. (e.g. you may realise you are tight in the lower back)

 

[Pedantic]

My last riding instructor told me to imagine I was making love to my saddle when cantering!! :-o This just made me giggle and go pretty red! However I think what she was trying to say was to relax and allow my hips to move in a rhythm>

As above
Took me about 2 years to canter his lordship decently because of how bouncy he is, I could canter others so I knew it was him more than me, you will get better at it if you ride your horse enough, ride ride ride ride and some more is the best way until you become one unit

 

[henryhorn]

The more you try to sit deep the more you will bounce.
The secret is to relax, and how you do this is sit tall and imagine you are light as a feather or a marshmallow on the horse's back. If you think of a rope attached to your hat pulling you ever so slightly taller that's the feeling you need, don't try and follow the movement, just sit light and it will happen .
Another way is to get into canter, then stretch out one arm at shoulder level straight in front of you, this lifts your rib cage and allows your seat bones to take the weight, and you find your stomach muscles naturally following the horse's movement.
I used to practice on hacks along tracks cantering as slowly as the horse would go, and using the marshmallow image in my head. It works, once you can do it it's there forever, and takes no effort.
Just stop trying so hard..

 

[galaxy]

ditto HH, don't try too hard. If you are trying to sit deep you are going to be ramming yourself into the saddle which just creates tension.

All beginners I have ever taught to canter have all bounced! Usually because of one of these reasons

1. Gripping

2. Too much weight in stirrups, so they're slightly standing. Can you canter with no stirrups better?

3. Not moving their hips. I always tell people to imagine they are polishing the saddle with their bottom. does that make sense.

Hope that helps!

 

[fitzaud2]

My instructor asked me to close my eyes while i was cantering, so i could feel it, instead of seeing it. I thought she had completely lost her marbles, but in her defence, we were in an indoor, so i tried it, for short periods, and it worked. It's quite scary riding with your eyes closed though!!

 

[cider loving mare]

Sit on a 5 pound note - (or even better someone elses money) I used to get kids to sit on a piece of paper, and if they lost it they had to do around the world, or sometimes if I had anything I would give them a sweet if they didn't lose it.