Canter

[jenmac_85]

Hi,

I have recently started back riding after a 10 year break (I am 21 years old). My instructor has started me on the rising trot and I got my first canter in today.

I felt however that I ended up leaning backwards. Is this normal or do I have a really bad seat position. Should I be leaning forwards more than trying to sit straight up?

Thanks in advance.

Jen x

[Skyhuntress]

Alot of people end up leaning far back. Honestly, I think its an easier problem to fix then leaning too far forward :)

When you canter, there's a difference between following through with your seat and really driving downwards with your seat, usually making you almost BEHIND the motion instead of WITH the motion...when you're really leaning back, you're putting more weight on his hind, making it a bit trickier for some horses to keep their back lifted (in some cases you DO want to lean back, but we won't get into that now. No point in confusing anyone!), but not only that, your pelvis closes. (think about it, if you sit up straight in a chair, you can open and close your pelvis. If you lean back in the chair, your pelvis is harder to move with ease. Likewise, if you lean too far forward, your pelvis is also closed)

If you're on a lunge line, sometimes the easiest thing to do is just to reach down and hold the pommel of the saddle with one hand. 9/10 it'll keep you in a good position and you can get a feel for where your upper body should be :)

[Joyscarer]

Hi,

I felt however that I ended up leaning backwards.

Until your core muscles strengthen up it may well feel like you are leaning back when in actual fact you were sitting upright (I say this because this is how it feels to me) :)

If you feel like this on your next lesson then ask the instructor what you position is like and explain why you are asking.

[horseygeorge]

Get yourself videoed. I used to feel the same and i proved myself wrong

However far back you think you are leaning, you aren't.

Also if you feel you are leaning too far backwards - or forwards - imagine a hook in the top of your head is pulling you up to the ceiling and you won't feel so far back