keeping balanced??

[xRach21x]

hi
jus wondered if anyone has any pointers they could share with me

i finding it difficult to get a bit of a lazy rs horse into canter and keeping it going. how can i stay balanced while giving aids with my leg and concentrate on what im doing all at the same time??? or will it all hopefully just fall into place one day???:confused:

thanks,rach xxx

[Gruntfuttock]

Not sure i am the right person to answer this, because i am probably missing a really important point, but I'll have a go. I only ride at a RS as well, and while my horse is happy to canter, he does lose impulsion if you don't keep plenty of leg on. I'm weaker on my left side, and find myself losing my left stirrup a fair bit, so what I do now is really focus on sitting deep into the saddle, putting what feels like a disproportionate amount of weight into my left stirrup and using my right leg to keep the impulsion going.

As for balance, all I can say is that it comes with practice. Focus on sitting really deep into the saddle, letting your weight fall right down into your boots. Maybe a lunge lesson would help a bit, then you could work on your balance in canter without having to bother too much about impulsion, and then once you have got that sorted out, you'll find it easier to maintain the impulsion because you won't be thinking about your balance so much, you'll just be doing it.

I hope this helps a bit! Best of luck.

[rhsw]

Hi, I have only recently managed to keep the canter going and going. It does help if you keep pushing with your pelvis, abit like polishing the saddle, I had some no stirrups lessons doing the sitting trot which helped my find my deeper seat and balance better, that in turn helped me with my canter problems.:D Hope this helps, but it does come in time as it did with me.:D

[rhsw]

Not sure i am the right person to answer this, because i am probably missing a really important point, but I'll have a go. I only ride at a RS as well, and while my horse is happy to canter, he does lose impulsion if you don't keep plenty of leg on. I'm weaker on my left side, and find myself losing my left stirrup a fair bit, so what I do now is really focus on sitting deep into the saddle, putting what feels like a disproportionate amount of weight into my left stirrup and using my right leg to keep the impulsion going.

As for balance, all I can say is that it comes with practice. Focus on sitting really deep into the saddle, letting your weight fall right down into your boots. Maybe a lunge lesson would help a bit, then you could work on your balance in canter without having to bother too much about impulsion, and then once you have got that sorted out, you'll find it easier to maintain the impulsion because you won't be thinking about your balance so much, you'll just be doing it.

I hope this helps a bit! Best of luck.

Well done you, I am so glad you are enjoying this, horseriding can be hard work, but so rewarding, when you get it right and all clips clops in place:D

[Marmite]

Sit up tall, shoulders back and try to keep a balanced upper body, whis should help with keeping your leg long and in the right position.

As for keeping the horse going easier, I know the RS i go to tells you to tap rather than keep using your legs to sharpen the horse up a little bit, would your RS let you do this? I know some round here are a bit funny about letting you use whips, but itll save your legs and make for an easier ride for both you and the horse.

[Berry]

Don't be afraid to talk to the horse - often a bit of vocal encouragement ie. some vigorous clucking noises :D can get RS horses going and it stops you losing your balance.

I've found a good cluck and some appropriately timed 'come on!' phrases are especially useful when you can feel the horse slowing and thinking of trotting.

Obviously it's better if the horse goes from your leg etc as if you eventually do dressage voice aids are banned (unless you do them quietly :D ) but I always talk to horses when schooling and find it especially useful on RS horses - don't forget to praise loads when the horse does canter!