loose my stirrup when asking for canter!

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darkhorse123

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Im 45 and just started to canter - Im loving it!
But - my cob needs "nudging" throughout or else he goes into trot - and I cannot do it without loosing my stirrup.
My instructor says i should move my hip back rather than my from the knee - I cant do it!

Ive tried in walk- cant do it! My hip will not go back!

Hes a big chunky cob, I ride in a treeless. Im not as bendy as once upon a time lol.

Any tips, suggestions - exercises to loosen my hip - are hips really meant to go back ? :D
 
I have the same problem with my cob - and I'm also 45 and with bad hips/ back. I was told it was because I was gripping up with my legs. I look forward to some replies that may help us both!
 
Stirrup-less work? :D

Helps me to remember the feeling of relaxing the legs/hips/lower back if I'm feeling stiff or tense :)
 
Haha darkhhorse, maybe it is to do with our age and riding chunky cob's!!

Mister-merlin, yes I have tried to work without stirrups but can usually not walk for several days after. My cob is very bouncy!!
 
oooo im not sure im ready to canter stirrupless- maybe when ive done canter a few more times - lordy thats a scarey thought, cantering stirrupless lol:eek:
 
I have a very bouncy cob too! He has lots of ''Welsh movement'' in him :o

I don't often canter without stirrups, but trotting without can help your legs get long and relaxed ready to ask when you take the stirrups back. I find it good before starting two-point/jumping work too.

My instructor always told me if it (muscles) hurts - it's working! Do it more! :D

Are your stirrups too long!? Is your weight down in your heel?

May have totally misunderstood - sorry - but it reads like your foot slips out of the stirrup as you give the aid, because you pivot in your knee. You could try practicing wrapping your leg down and around the barrel and keeping your knee relaxed, hence dropping your weight into your heel, keeping the stirrup stable :)
 
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If you think about wrapping your lower calf round your horse's tummy, your knee will automatically come away from the saddle, and your hip will open. Maybe pop your stirrups up a hole as well, and if you don't already, try using a neck strap. Little tickle with a schooling whip and you'll be well away :)
 
Sit more on your bum bones and leg long and dont be scared to give your cob a smack with your whip if he dosent listen to your leg aid just behind your leg. why should you work harder than them. I have to use my seat a lot more with my cob but i refuse to use my legs all the time.He knows better than to break into a trot unless i ask Im your age and my cob is hard work to keep in a outline. I think i work harder on him than i do all the other three put together
 
ty both- i will try those tips. I have just lengthened my stirrups because my instructor says they were too short - lol im goign to sound ancient now but lengthening has stopped my ankle hurting out hacking :(

I will try what you said and keep practising - must say I do love cantering though, was scared to try it for far too long - I will get there!!!
 
traceyann said:
Sit more on your bum bones and leg long and dont be scared to give your cob a smack with your whip if he dosent listen to your leg aid just behind your leg. why should you work harder than them. I have to use my seat a lot more with my cob but i refuse to use my legs all the time.He knows better than to break into a trot unless i ask Im your age and my cob is hard work to keep in a outline. I think i work harder on him than i do all the other three put together
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Your cob sounds very much like mine - he is lazy.I have sometimes to use my whip in trot as he will go into walk. Ty - i need lots more practice. I have only cantered him once before - today we did a lot more cantering and i was so focussed on staying on and keeping my rhythm with hands down etc, especially loosing my stirrup!


Excellent tips ty all :D
 
Good luck, sounds like you're having a ball (my knees and ankles hurt hacking, some people swear by those flexi stirrups but I hate the feel of them). Have your stirrups at whatever length you feel comfortable and secure :)
 
I've had this problem for years (30+ years); it's always my right stirrup that I'm prone to loose and I think it's because I slightly twist my pelvis. I've slight curvature of the spine (very slight) and a dropped left shoulder - dunno if these contribute to my problem - but it's always been a pain in the bum. Over the years when I've had lessons to help cure the problem I end up getting terrible cramp in my hips and have to stop :(
 
Bubbles said:
Good luck, sounds like you're having a ball (my knees and ankles hurt hacking, some people swear by those flexi stirrups but I hate the feel of them). Have your stirrups at whatever length you feel comfortable and secure :)
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ty i am having a total blast and ill be dammed if my not so flexi body is going to stop me - Spyda its my right stirrup too!
 
Weirdly, I used to lose my right stirrup too.

It was because I was gripping with my knees, tensing up and therefore bringing my leg up without realising it.

Lots of balance work, no stirrups I'm afraid (in trot), also standing in your stirrups in all of the gaits will help develop an independent seat.
 
i always used to lose my right stirrup in canter and twist when i rose in trot - until i had my back surgery and now i dont!(i dont recommend you having back surgery but i wasnt aware my back was affecting my riding so much) i also have a painful hips and ankles and i use wedge stirrup treads (widest end to the outside)which hold my thigh on to the horse, just for info if you have the widest part of the treads on the inside it holds your calf on the horse :):):)
 
seems more stirrupless work is needed - i probably do grip with my knees :) I have safety stirrups so can only use them one way and no i dont fancy back surgery lol ty all x
 
What suppling and stretching work do you do on yourself? Sounds like you need to work on your muscles. The looser you are the easier it will get.
It may also be worth your while getting yourself checked out by an osteopath or equivalent.
Would also agree with lunge lessons to help your position
 
also i asked my riding instructor for lunging lessons to help me with cantering but she wasnt keen at all, said it wasnt a good idea? - maybe our school is too small? Its not a huge one
 
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