Told my canter is appalling

[*toHorse&Away*]

I have felt for some time that things are getting worse and worse (see my desperate threads) but I got a fresh pair of eyes to look at me and it was like :eek:
I am not riding the horse, I am out of position and not riding the rhythm.
some of the things I was told seem so blindingly obvious I could kick myself but suddently its like a door opened and the light is shining through it. The trusty cob that I was riding who normally feels so heavy and on the forehand was flying!
No wonder I can't blooming well jump if I cant even get the flat right.

Problem is I am feeling so :o that I don't know if I can face it again..

[MrDCBags]

there is a good article about cantering on this site

http://murdochmethod.com/articles.php

things do improve. I have just looked at photos of myself taken on Weds and finally I can see the improvement in my legs. Now have to work on shoulders.

If you can get soemone to video you over a period of time not only will you see your areas for improvement you will also see how much you HAVE improved!

[*toHorse&Away*]

Oh thank you that looks great fun (and I might give it a go in the office a bit later!!!;) )

[MrDCBags]

There are also some good articles on this site

http://colleenkelly.net/

[coverblown]

dcbags, many thanks.

Those articles look great, haven't got time or oppo to read them right now, but have stuck them both in my favourites for later.

[*toHorse&Away*]

I gave the exercises a go on the first link. My office sent me home on box rest!!!:p

[Frances]

Don't worry, I get told I look like a sack of tatties when I ride (thank you Wally!), but at least I am an effective sack of tatties!!!

Keep going.

Fx

[Wally]

A sack of tatties with a lazy seat. :D

[*toHorse&Away*]

Lol!
harsh enough ;)

[Frances]

Is this a face that looks bovvered!?

F

[Wally]

Which one?

See, on the internet nobody knows you are a dog! :D :D :D

BTW it was not me who said she had a lazy seat, I know through bitter experience if you have a busy seat on some Icelandics you have signed your own death warrant.

Frances' lazy seat comes through neccessity.

[MrDCBags]

some more links for you to check out and add to favs!!!

http://www.horsemagazine.com/CLINIC/Fitness/part2/lisa_part2.html

http://www.juliegoodnight.com/articles/index.html

http://www.meredithmanor.com/features/articles/default.asp

[*toHorse&Away*]

Oh thank you. I have a whole new secion in my favourites now!
I will crck this but I tell you what after that lightbulb moment Wednesday night, I was completely pants again.
I was a bit bovvered and though I can blame everything from the weather to the uncoperative nature of my steed this day...well at the end of the day you do haveto actually ride!
Oh for a mount where I have the problem of stopping not starting....sigh!! ;)

[*toHorse&Away*]

Oh, and BTW Frances and Wally - you make a great double act :D

[VickiGG]

the last few months the Horse and Rider Mag has had some great articles on position etc by Sylvia Loch - with some lovely pictures (and ground exercises) for you not the horse ;)

[Bay Mare]

There's also a section on NR that talks about absorbing the movement in canter.

http://www.newrider.com/Kinder_Way/The_Paces/canter.html

[Skib]

If you ask someone for comments and suggestions, you are asking for the faults to be picked out.
So, no need to feel fed up with yourself.
remember that whoever comments is giving just you a personal view.
And there are many different ways of cantering?

Think of it a bit like going to choose clothes and picking out the style that suits you (physically and mentally) and suits the horse you are riding.

There is no harm in reading articles and trying suggestions. But I am of the Frances school. The less I do the better. Words and pictures of position get in the way.
Breathe deep and slow and feel the horse move under you, allowing the horse to canter rather than dictating the movement to the horse.
And remember that even doing nothing on a horse that is cantering takes practice.

You say you cant face it again? Sorry, but you have to face it again.
As the girl I used to ride out with sooften would say to me, on days when i felt ancient and not up to cantering.
One doesnt learn to canter by not cantering.
You felt the horse was happier? Get a hundred miles of soft canter clocked up and you will learn (your body and brain will learn from the horse) when a crticism is something worth adding to your repertoire.
But stop feeling you were rubbish before. Most of us human beings go through life remedying our last big mistake?

[eml]

Slightly OT but thanks mrdcbags for the link...made all the stable club skip round the school last night, really does reflect their cantering position and made it so easy to point out and correct while having fun :D Tried it myself in private, I favour same leading leg on foot as on horse :o

[Hallmarked]

A little tip which might help, especially if you tend loose position by looking down and/or collapsing your shoulders. I find it helps sitting trot, canter and transitions especially, but it is useful at any moment it is needed. I think of it as a half-halt for the rider. It allows me to use my seat to absorb the movement and stay in balance with the horse.

Practice off horse at first, you can do it now in front of your computer, although you may find a mirror helpful to start with to check your chin.

Using your finger push your chin back, it is important to keep the chin raised so it remains parallel to the ground, do not allow it to drop down or tilt upwards, until your ears are above your shoulders. Hold this position for 10 seconds.

Repeat several times a day until you have ingrained the feeling of doing this. When you feel you are loosing your position in the saddle recall the feeling and your alignment will automatically improve, which in turn will allow the horse to re-balance itself.

You will also look a more confident rider, which in turn will help you feel like one.

PS - *toHorse&Away* you are not a rubbish rider - you are at a particular point in your learning process. As Mary Wanless said "Is the rosebud worse than the rose?"

[*toHorse&Away*]

the last few months the Horse and Rider Mag has had some great articles on position etc by Sylvia Loch - with some lovely pictures (and ground exercises) for you not the horse ;)

I did get this mag and read these. Its the frustration of translating this into real movement and feel. Thankyou

There's also a section on NR that talks about absorbing the movement in canter.

http://www.newrider.com/Kinder_Way/The_Paces/canter.html
Thaks Bay Mare _ read this when I first jonied and completely forgot. I will re read


Breathe deep and slow and feel the horse move under you, allowing the horse to canter rather than dictating the movement to the horse.
And remember that even doing nothing on a horse that is cantering takes practice.

You say you cant face it again? Sorry, but you have to face it again.
....
One doesnt learn to canter by not cantering.


First bit - yes this is where I want to be. I think I just got a glimpse of it the other night.
I didn't mean I couldnt face cantering again - love it but its the humiliation of the way think I must look :o thats the irony - fine on hacks, its the schooling, all the leg knocks me off balance. Hacking is a different game :D

Using your finger push your chin back, it is important to keep the chin raised so it remains parallel to the ground, do not allow it to drop down or tilt upwards, until your ears are above your shoulders. Hold this position for 10 seconds.

.....
PS - *toHorse&Away* you are not a rubbish rider - you are at a particular point in your learning process. As Mary Wanless said "Is the rosebud worse than the rose?"

Thanks for that Hallmarked. I am at a plateau I think....
And re: your Mary Wanless quote I think the horse should answer that one ;)