Keeping the outline in canter - instruction tips

[Wagtail]

Does anyone know an effective way to teach someone to keep the horse engaged and working in correct outline in canter? When I have students that struggle with this, I find it almost impossible to teach them how. I have ridden the horses concerned and they have no issues when I ride them and stay in a correct outline. The students seem to have no problems maintaining it in walk and trot after receiving lessons from me. So what am I doing wrong when it comes to canter? It just seems so effortless when I ride the horses myself but I must be a bad teacher if I cannot teach others to do this. Though two of them also have another instructor more senior than myself. (Out of the five people I regularly teach, three struggle with canter). Any tips?

 

[PonyIAmNotFood]

Not an instructor (though aspiring!) but is it possible they move more in the canter, and so make it hard for the horse to come through his back? Does the lack of outline still happen in a light seat? They could also take leg off in canter as a lot of horses feel faster than they are so the rider backs off them. Or they could accidentally be clamping their thigh and restricting the back? Trying to think what I stop myself from doing in canter!

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Maybe they're not using their seat enough? I find experienced people use it without thinking but more novice riders can really struggle. It's a lot easier to hold a horse in a frame in walk and trot than it is canter. I would get them to do no stirrup work, laterals, transitions etc. They probably don't set up for the movement as well as you would. Maybe they restrict the horse too much and need to ride it forwards more? Could be lots of reasons. I feel your pain as I sometimes aslo struggle to explain what I mean! Experienced riders get used to riding by feel and sometimes it is hard to explain how you got there!

 

[annunziata]

have you checked her hands and following on the beat???? I found i locked my hands (not knowing) and did not follow there for stuffing my horse and not getting a true canter?!

 

[Wagtail]

Not an instructor (though aspiring!) but is it possible they move more in the canter, and so make it hard for the horse to come through his back? Does the lack of outline still happen in a light seat? They could also take leg off in canter as a lot of horses feel faster than they are so the rider backs off them. Or they could accidentally be clamping their thigh and restricting the back? Trying to think what I stop myself from doing in canter!

One of them is certainly blocking the movement with her body. It happens even when she rides forward going horses. I think her issues are general stiffness in her own body. One of the others tends to grip up with her knees, but the third is a total mystery as to what she is doing wrong as she is the most correct and elegant rider I have taught.

Maybe they're not using their seat enough? I find experienced people use it without thinking but more novice riders can really struggle. It's a lot easier to hold a horse in a frame in walk and trot than it is canter. I would get them to do no stirrup work, laterals, transitions etc. They probably don't set up for the movement as well as you would. Maybe they restrict the horse too much and need to ride it forwards more? Could be lots of reasons. I feel your pain as I sometimes aslo struggle to explain what I mean! Experienced riders get used to riding by feel and sometimes it is hard to explain how you got there!

That is a good point. I will check that next time I teach. I know that even though I look and feel as though I am doing nothing in canter, there is a lot actually going on and the seat is a very important part of that. Also, any corrections, half halts etc need to be done at the time of suspension, and that can take some mastering. I often find when teaching and we hit a brick wall that actually getting on myself can teach them more than me trying to correct them verbally. But I obviously don't want to be getting on all the time.

have you checked her hands and following on the beat???? I found i locked my hands (not knowing) and did not follow there for stuffing my horse and not getting a true canter?!

That is certainly a problem with the stiff rider, but the other two are very giving and follow through well with their hands. Maybe they are actually being too light?

Some good suggestions so far, thanks.

 

[Solo1]

As a rider I used to have this - she said she couldn't see what I was doing wrong but it turns out I'd dig my knees in and tense through my thighs and hands, thus blocking what had been a lovely soft contact.

What she did was stuck me on the lunge with no reins and then eventually no strirrups to get me to relax down through my hips, thighs and calves, then I got to pick my reins back up and go again and what an improvement!

Do you have a good lunging horse they could sit on to see if that might help?

 

[Wagtail]

As a rider I used to have this - she said she couldn't see what I was doing wrong but it turns out I'd dig my knees in and tense through my thighs and hands, thus blocking what had been a lovely soft contact.

What she did was stuck me on the lunge with no reins and then eventually no strirrups to get me to relax down through my hips, thighs and calves, then I got to pick my reins back up and go again and what an improvement!

Do you have a good lunging horse they could sit on to see if that might help?

Interesting. Thanks. I think lunge lessons are excellent for addressing problems. Will definitely try it and see.

 

[Batgirl]

As a rider I used to have this - she said she couldn't see what I was doing wrong but it turns out I'd dig my knees in and tense through my thighs and hands, thus blocking what had been a lovely soft contact.

This was me too, along with being too light in my hands, as I felt a little less balanced I was a bit paranoid about hanging on his mouth so didn't hold the contact well and squeezed my knees which actually prevented me getting a good seat.

For me it took my instructor talking through how it all felt with me to work out what I was doing and instructor to work out how to help (not saying you don't talk to your pupils but we actually stopped in the lesson and stood while I figured out where everything went and she walked around helping leg placement etc really helped the muscle memory)

I also forgot to ask for engagement with the leg while cantering (though on an older stiffer horse I had to squeeze every other stride or so)