Really basic question I've been scared to ask...

[Raych]

Well yeah this is gonna be a little embaressing.

I have been riding for 7 years so i do know how to ride but...
One question about cantering.

You know when you put your outside leg back to ask for canter? What do people mean by back. I always manage to get the horse into canter but never know if i'm asking correctly.

So when they say back, what position does your leg actually have to be in?
I mean i can get canter each time, and i've been too scared to ask my instructor if its right or not

 

[teapot]

Well yeah this is gonna be a little embaressing.

I have been riding for 7 years so i do know how to ride but...
One question about cantering.

You know when you put your outside leg back to ask for canter? What do people mean by back. I always manage to get the horse into canter but never know if i'm asking correctly.

So when they say back, what position does your leg actually have to be in?
I mean i can get canter each time, and i've been too scared to ask my instructor if its right or not

Behind the girth for outside leg, on the girth for inside leg (working on the principle that you legs on the girth usually. I only say that as mine rarely are, they're both slightly further back)

 

[Kokopelli]

When your in the school though your outside leg should be back when you are going around the corner to push your horses hind quarters around, so if you are asking in a corner your leg should be in that position anyway.

Your leg should go back through your hip though and not through your knee as your leg may pivot and go up causing your body to tense up and in turn your horse tensing up! It sounds like noting to important but the movement of your legs are very important.

Have you ever had a lesson on a lunge? I have them all the time and find they really help my position as you don't need to focus on the horse just yourself. By having a lesson on the lunge you could see what I mean by putting your leg back through your hip and not your knee.