Riding Downhill - Help Please?

[Leaveittothediva]

Hi everyone, I take regular riding lessons and we all go out in a group and have a canter up a long speep laneway. I love cantering up the laneway, but my problem is walking back down, the others always have to wait for me. The horse I ride is a total gem, but I tend to be over cautious coming down hills, I am not comfortable trotting downhill as there is mud and large stones. I suppose what I am trying to ask, is on my body position in the saddle. What way to I need to sit to keep up with the others as I must be hindering the horses movement in some way because after the ride my legs are still and ache. Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[Bug2007]

You just need to sit up straight and relax, it'll feel like you are leaning back but only because of the angle of the slope.

It is more wobbly but just breathe and chill.

The horse might be slower down hill as he/she doesn't like going fast down them, either confidence, some pain in the front legs as the weight is dirrected more forward.
Might not be you so much.

Don't trot down hills. This should only be done on a well balanced horse, and even then we only do it in prep for xc, and then it is generally canter.

 

[La Fiaba]

Have you asked your riding instructor what the horse is like with other riders? As could just be his way of getting downhill.

Otherwise sitting up tall in the saddle and holding your own weight will help him stay balanced. But better to make it down the hill slowly and safely, sounds like your horse is a sensible lad, wish a few of mine were more like him

 

[Chavhorse]

Sit up straight, breath and relax.

Don't hold onto the reins tightly, your horse will need to use his neck to balance himself and can't if you are clutching them, you need to be able to pick them up should there be a stumble to assist.

I lived in Cyprus and rode my horse there up and down very steep mountain tracks, it was a case of letting him get on with it, sitting as still as possible but being ready to pick up the reins if I needed to pick him up at any time.

Sounds like this horse has a great sense of self preservation....trust him.

 

[Leaveittothediva]

Thanks everyone, some great tips, I love the bones of this horse even though he is not mine, I suppose we just mind each other if you know what I mean. We will be out again thursday and I will let you know how we got on.