Seat in Canter

[FREESTYLER]

Just a quicky really, when you ride the canter do you feel that you are pushing up and forward and up and back?? Basically I got told to imagine my seat bones were ducks feet, dont laugh...and I must move my pelvis forward to allow the hind to come up rather than moving my pelvis back ... does that make sense anyone??!!! So basically you move up and forward then back with your pelvis???I am a little confused now myself??!!!

 

[franki]

I try not to move myself in canter but to remain quiet in my seat and relaxed. Because of the horses' movement my seat and pelvis will move as the hind comes under but I don't move my pelvis myself. I try to maintain a correct position, sitting tall shoulders back, seat bones forward, inside seat bone weighted, outside seat bone slightly back to support, legs snug to horses side, outside leg slightly back, inside on the girth etc etc. Do you see what I'm getting at? Perhaps you are stopping the horses' movement with your pelvis and not allowing the movement to move you? Are you tense thru your lower back and hips?

 

[dianchi]

When u sit its a rocking motion, you naturally move forward and back within the gait.

 

[FREESTYLER]

Thanks Franki, nope, I do not appear to be tense but I could be!!!! but it was more the technical side that I was trying to get to grips with!!! The movement of the horse and how it affects your seatbone/pelvis ie. when the horse comes "up" and shoulders come up I have always thought that my seat bones tended to rotate backwards then as the horse strikes with the leading leg they rotate forward....I think I may be getting too technical with myself and need this person to explain it a bit more???!!!

 

[FREESTYLER]

But when do you rock forward and when backward?? This person said I was peddling backwards but should be peddling forwards!!! LOL!!! Does this make sense to you??? I hate it when I do not understand!!!

 

[Tempi]

i make sure my hips are relaxed and follow the horses movement, and that my elbows are relaxed and giving aswel.

 

[FREESTYLER]

but if you were to explain to someone about the movement of your pelvis/seatbones in the canter gait ie. the moment the hind leg strikes, then the leading leg where would you pelvis/seat bone be at each particular point??!!!

 

[Tempi]

let me think about it when im riding tonight, and il get back to you on that one!!!!

 

[not_with_it]

Ive always been told it should feel like im hula hooping.

I dont phisically move my body I just let the horse move my hips.

 

[dianchi]

Yes you are getting too technical!!!!!
Right when the hind leg come under you "move" forward with your hips otherwise you are blocking the movement.
the "move" is literally just the moving with the stride. If you sit and watch someone maybe this will help??

Why the sudden need to exact details?

 

[FREESTYLER]

I think I need exact details because I hate not understanding!!!!

I have been watching my vid now in slow mo and I think if I am aware of the opening and closing of the angle of the hip joint it may help me as I was tending to move upper body too much!!! Just this morning someone said this to me and it has bugged me all morning that I did not understand when they said jump forward with your seat in the stride!!!

Agghhh!!!! Now I think I understand.... sorry rambling on now!!!

 

[Partoow]

Freestyler think of it as sitting on a 'space hopper' that jumps along the floor, imagine the hips opening out as the hind leg steps under and then closing 'around the horse and follow the movement up. DO NOT push with the seat this is will not help the horse but hinder the hind leg as you will end up driving down into the horses back and the hind leg will be stopped.
Think of the saddle like it is glass and too much pressure sharply will break it. it is the opening of the hips out and the stretch of the spine upwards whilst keeping the shoulders and elbows down that keeps the hindleg active and light. You should be fluid, part of the horse and if you imagine a swan there should be no obvious movement in the body, its the hips that do the work. a common problem i frequently seeis the lack of space between the ribs and the pelvis as the riders seem to 'squash'the movement here, that is why i mensioned the spine with the head on top staying up and tall.
Hope that helps.
Px

 

[Rosiefan]

Not being a rider (but I watch a lot of them), I've been following this thread with some fascination and a huge amount of 'non-understanding'. As always, partoow has turned the light-bulb on for me - thanks

 

[FREESTYLER]

Partoow, thanks... funny you should say spacehopper as she referred to that too!!!

LOL!!! Did you do Mary Wanless too!!!

This is a friend who taught me years ago and she has just come to help me "iron out rider issues"... She also talks about "hosepipe", using calf to lift up the back etc... etc...!!!

Who said riding was not aerobic!!! ... I think I need to get my spacehopper/balll out again and bounce round the liviing room!!!

 

[Partoow]

No have never 'done ' mary Wanless it is just the best thing i can think of ... probably because we were children of the '70's and we all had one to play with!! it was something that made sense it sort of explains the expansion and contraction of the rib cage during the phases of canter strides.
I meant also to say that any kind of 'swinging' ends up hinging in the back. You need to keep the pelvis upright , ie the tail bones down so the whole spine and pelvis are as one. The key being in the hips , the thigh needs to stay open and lond and relaxed down with the calf in contact and any ask with the leg indeed being to lift the ribs of the horse in a light way.

 

[FREESTYLER]

Thanks Partoow for confirming this! ..

.riding can be very confusing at times if it is not explained...and I do so like to understand as I feel biomechanics of both horse and rider are very very important... I shall try this morn to see if I can ride my spacehopper!!

 

[Tempi]

i think i need some lessons with you!!!!

 

[kerilli]

i just try to relax totally and follow the horses back's movement. until the back is soft and lets you sit, sometime a floating half-seat is better, for a little while.
a friend of mine said the best advice she was given (by a top trainer!) was to **** the saddle!

 

[Halfstep]

Ditto for me, P_G!!! Partoow, you are brilliant. I would adore to have a lesson with you.

 

[BBs]

Then I can have a lesson from you MM and you can pass it on lol

 

[FREESTYLER]

I think I have cracked it!!!

Thanks!!!! I rode my "spacehopper" this morning and he went like a dream, albeit I did not get it right all the time

... but at least now I understand the biomechanics... just now a matter of practise!! Ta very much Partoow!

 

[HBII]

[ QUOTE ]
Then I can have a lesson from you MM and you can pass it on lol

[/ QUOTE ]

Then BBs can you pass it onto me.

Hb

 

[Partoow]

You can all come and play space hoppers at my house!!!
Really pleased Freestyler that it made some difference for so long canter was one of the things that i found difficult to develope but it is the art of stillness without stiffness.....very ZEN!!!