Why can't I slide my leg back!

[dizzydollee]

For ages I've been riding quite easy horses who get into canter quite easily, I myself have no problem in the canter position, maintaining the canter, etc, etc. Recently the horse who I usually ride went on horse holiday so I've been given another, however he is incredibly stubborn and hard to get into canter.

I think the main reason is my fault because I cannot for the life of me get my leg high/back enough to give him a good signal! Is there any 'easy' way of doing it? I really do try but often I tend to lean forwards and that makes him turn off the track, plus he loves starting and stopping quite suddenly which throws me off balance and hurts my bum because it's bouncy D=

 

[Cliqmo]

I don't really understand your question really

Are you asking how to balance yourself so you can get your leg behind the girth? or how to get the horse going forward? Sorry I think I need some coffee- the brain is on a go-slow

 

[bushbaby28]

So are you saying your struggling getting your leg back? If so, I think you need to losen your hips up a bit so you can move your leg more, this may then help you release your thigh which might be whats restricting your movement in your lower leg (?).

have you ever tried legs away? great at just opening up your hips a bit. You need to first pull your knees up into jockey position, then hold your legs out to the side (think frog position lol) and then relax your legs down and long. (only on a horse forum could you get away with saying things like this!!)

Sorry not sure what you mean when you say you can't get your leg high enough though?

hope that helps a bit, not sure if i got right idea or not

 

[dizzydollee]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't really understand your question really

Are you asking how to balance yourself so you can get your leg behind the girth? or how to get the horse going forward? Sorry I think I need some coffee- the brain is on a go-slow

[/ QUOTE ]

aah, sorry about that. what i mean is, i struggle to get my leg behind the girth to give the canter signal (usually because i'm bouncing about!), is there a technique that will make it easier for me to get my leg back?

[ QUOTE ]
So are you saying your struggling getting your leg back? If so, I think you need to losen your hips up a bit so you can move your leg more, this may then help you release your thigh which might be whats restricting your movement in your lower leg (?).

[/ QUOTE ]

oh no, i don't think my movement is restricted because it's fine when he is in a slow trot or walk, it's just that he has to go at 60mph in trot first before he goes into canter and that makes him even more bumpier than he is already; the bumpy-ness makes it hard for me to get my leg back ^^