Me, reins, balance and cantering.

[Secret Someone]

I have a problem. One that I think is pretty major because a) the horse I ride is certainly not happy with it at all (understandably) and b) I can't really progress until I've sorted it out.

Here's the deal:

In walk and trot (rising and sitting) I am fine. Not brilliant, but I have little or no problem with my reins. In canter, I have fallen off three times, which has made me nervous. I haven't fallen in a while, but I am more wary than with the previously mentioned paces. Basically, when I get nervous, my hands rise way too high above the horse's neck, and I tend to restrict her way too much. Sometimes it feels like I'm balancing myself with them, which obviously is not a good idea. At the riding school I'm at (which I absolutely love) they don't use balance straps, so that isn't an option. I tried cantering without my reins a week or so ago, and it was SO much easier. I actually felt much more balanced without them! Without them there, my natural balance took hold and I was fine.

The consequence (other than making it uncomfortable for the horse, which I feel dreadful about) is that when I do get into canter, it doesn't last very long. I haven't yet tried cantering on a hack, although I'm going to soon, but I think it would be much easier for me than in the school. The lessons I'm in are group lessons, so I only have one long side to canter up. I think this makes me feel almost more nervous simply because I don't get a good feel for it to find my balance. My hands are a little bit of a problem anyway... I do tend to have my hands up too high. I need to sort it out before I can move on to other things.

Some info if it helps: I've only been riding for a year and a half. I'm in intermediate classes and desperately want to start jumping in the future.

Any help appreciated, thanks for reading.

:)

[cvb]

thats a tough one without seeing you... but it is quite a common issue with people who feel insecure or unbalanced...

Sitting at my office chair, if I tense my upper body, shoulder, elbows, my arms lift... think about what is getting tense when this happens as that is what you need to work on.

The other thing that happens is that people new to riding often have less tring abdominal muscles. So when they are off balance, they have to use other bits of them to adjust. If you can work on core muscle strength, you should find that helps secure you a bit more ?

You also need to check that you have your feet correctly in the stirrup, and that you have as secure a leg position as you can get at this stage.

and finally you need to BREATHE :D

breathing dissispates tension and helps you balance. Sounds like goobledegook but works. Often when we are worried, we hold our breath...

the first step in improvement is always being aware of what you need to change - you have that. Sometimes just being aware is enough, but if not - try some of the above and see what helps :)

[laura jeanne]

I'll throw in my 2 cents worth of suggestion- can you try holding onto the pommel with one hand and holding the reins in the other? The hand holding the rein would then be able to follow the horse's head and the other hand, on the saddle, would prevent you from trying to use the reins for balance. Keep the middle of your body firm so your shoulders and arms can relax enough to follow the horse. Don't lean forward and look up!

[KateWooten]

Perhaps you could leave cantering for a while. I usually find I can fix problems at faster paces, by getting things super-perfect at slower ones. For example, your trot is good but not great ... let's get it great ! Let's have you sitting trot, with a hand on the saddle, pulling you down... release the saddle, and not tense up. Let's have you sitting trot without stirrups, rising trot without stirrups. Standing trot with... and then without stirrups ( I wonder if that's even possible !!) Then all the perfectly silly rhythm trots ... 3 up, 1 down ... 5 up, 2 down ... 7 up, 6 down ... :D No end of silly fun playing at control, balance, rhythm. It is all just down to relaxing and following the horse's movement, and it does take time. Perhaps you could take some private 1/2 hour lunge lessons .... or have a go on the equi-simulator - I bet that would sort you !

[vicky31]

I had a very similar problem. I use to hold my right rein higher than my left in canter.
I used a flash strap through the D-rings then looped one rein through and fastened the buckle. held my reins as normal but the loose rein is held in the flash so when your hands come up the buckle restricts on the flash, but you say that not a option at the yard.
The one I still use is riding round repeating Hands Hands Hands. ( not out loud lol, however I have before now lol)
Honestly it just makes you aware of your own problem but also reminds you of your posture.
It helps you to concentrate, when you are going to canter think it, I am going to canter, sit deep and relax your shoulders. If you relax your shoulders you weight will stay in the saddle and you wont come bounce out.I used to tense up someting rotten which in effect raised my hands put horse off balance made the canter uncomfortable and you have a catch 22 situation.
I have found its a very difficult habit to get out of. good luck.

[Secret Someone]

Thank you for your suggestions. They are appreciated. :)

I rode yesterday, and because I've properly acknowledged the problem, it was improved slightly. I think I've just got myself into really bad habits that need breaking. I don't think the answer for me personally is to cut out canter for now, because I am starting to get much more comfortable with it (I adore the speed and smoothness of it) and I think I will improve with practise.

I had two lessons yesterday. One was the riding lesson, and the other jumping! Jumping! I can't believe I actually tried it finally. Obviously it was a challenge because of the way I use my hands and being too restrictive, but I got round the beginners course several times and it was incredible. It felt so amazing cantering and then flying over a (very small, to be fair) fence. It also taught me a lot about my balance and how to use my reins effectively.

I have a lesson tomorrow that involves lots of cantering and that I found quite tough (I've only been to this class - with the same instructor - once before) last week, so that'll definitely be a test...

[smaggi]

I used to hang on the reins when I cantered. Wht fixed the problem for me was cantering with no reins. When you are in an arena by yourself just ask for the canter and lay the reins on his neck. Let him go wherever he wants as long as he is cantering. He may wiggle around at first, but he'll quickly realize it's easier to just canter around the edge of the arena. It will do wonders for your balance and let you concentrate on your seat and breathing.

[Berry]

I haven't yet tried cantering on a hack, although I'm going to soon, but I think it would be much easier for me than in the school. The lessons I'm in are group lessons, so I only have one long side to canter up. I think this makes me feel almost more nervous simply because I don't get a good feel for it to find my balance.

I think trying a canter on a hack would really help. I think you're probably right about the lessons, you really need to relax at the canter and I certainly found at my RS once you had got the canter going it was time to stop again as you were about to run into the back of the horse in front :D When I started cantering I went on a couple of hacks and we went on a narrow track so the horses just followed each other - no steering required - and you could put one hand on the front of the saddle and pull yourself in.

I think there probably isn't a problem with your hands as such, just that your balance isn't 100% yet and I think that will come with lots of practice and learning to really sit the movement. If you are keen to jump remember it's also fine to jump from trot.

[Joyscarer]

Perhaps you could leave cantering for a while. I usually find I can fix problems at faster paces, by getting things super-perfect at slower ones. For example, your trot is good but not great ... let's get it great ! Let's have you sitting trot, with a hand on the saddle, pulling you down... release the saddle, and not tense up. Let's have you sitting trot without stirrups, rising trot without stirrups. Standing trot with... and then without stirrups ( I wonder if that's even possible !!) Then all the perfectly silly rhythm trots ... 3 up, 1 down ... 5 up, 2 down ... 7 up, 6 down ... :D No end of silly fun playing at control, balance, rhythm. It is all just down to relaxing and following the horse's movement, and it does take time. Perhaps you could take some private 1/2 hour lunge lessons .... or have a go on the equi-simulator - I bet that would sort you !



I'm with Kate on this one.

I've been riding for over 25 years on and off and recently returned to the riding school to sort out my balance and seat which wasn't as good as I thought it ought to be.

I stuck with walk and trot and did those silly trot rhythms which let me tell you are a killer :eek:

Anyway the upshot is that I am sorted again :D

I do think that a lot of problems are because of a rush to go onto the next stage rather than getting the basic foundations just so. It may give a buzz to be seen as progressing but progression occurs much quicker if the basics are down pat first IMHO. Better to learn correctly than to have to retrain out your bad habbits like I did :)