Correct canter position??

[kirstinbell]

Hi,

I wonder if you could give me your views on what is the correct rider position when asking for canter.

I'm currently riding 4 times a week receiving lessons from 3 different riding schools. Unfortunately 2 of them seem to be giving conflicting instructions for the canter transition.

One of my instructors encourages me to really tuck my bum under and lean back slightly while my other instructor says I should be forward on my from seatbone as though riding up a slight incline.

I'm now totally confused. With the first instructor I'm riding a schoolmaster and getting him into canter is sooo easy - even from walk however when I ride at the other school I'm on your typical schoolie and what works for the schoolmaster does not work for them and I often find that I can't get a canter - only a very rushed trot.

I know its based on how the horse is schooled but does anyone have any insight into the correct position?

I also seem to have problems with my leg position in canter - I can get my legs in the right place but I do tend to grip up so any tips for keeping my legs down would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Kirstin

[muley890]

I would recommend the same as the first instructors instructions- as long as you don't lean back too much! the reason for this is that i have always being taught that leaning forwards a bit into the canter can encourage the horse to go onto their forehand. Obviously you shouldn't lean so far back that you get left behind or end up too heavy to balance yourself.
as the for the lower leg thing, i should say that it sounds like it is to do with you being slightly tense in your lower leg. Maybe you could try to fid out about any private lunge lessons where you can safely canter with no stirrups, concentration on your lower legs.
Good luck and i hope you crack it soon!

[Skyhuntress]

The problem with leaning forward in a canter transition is that it enables the horse to drop his back and sort of throw himself into the canter. When you're working with a really young horse, this works because at that point, they don't need the extra weight. But for a "normal" horse, you should be sitting back and encouraging them to lift their back up through the transition

[ajhainey]

I've used both - the first is the 'correct' but coming forward can help with not so schooled/not so enthusiastic horses, especially those used to hacking out a lot where you take forward seat to canter. I'm not adverse to trying both and seeing what works.. aj xx

[vicky31]

Yep agree with the others, lean back slightly get all your weight in your saddle and relax your shoulders, this should help.

[Skib]

I don't know how long you have been riding?
I am one of those who advocate going to more than one teacher, and riding more than one horse. feeling free to choose what is personally right for you.

But I do wonder why you are using three different schools all at the same time? And four different teachers. One reason I stopped going to normal riding schools was the number of staff changes. One needs some consistency and continuity. And particularly so when starting out.

There is not a correct answer to your question. Almost everything we do when we ride can be approached in more than one way. Gradually one finds out what suits oneself and one's body. Hopefully one can also explain the advantages and disadvantages of the alternatives, and explain why one has chosen the one that one has.

My advice would be to learn to canter with one teacher - possibly the first one you describe. That's a classic way of asking for canter, and used going into canter from both walk and trot.

I have found it works well when transferred to standard RS horses, provided the trot is active and you have good contact. One has to go by what the RI says each horse is used to.
If the horse is running into trot, that suggests you don't have a nice flexible contact through the reins. You need an active trot, rather than a fast trot?
But it isnt as serious as all that. Most RS horses will offer canter if the trot gets too fast PROVIDED they are in a position to do so. That means provided they can bring their outside hind leg under. That is harder to do if they are stretched out, running.

The leaning forward (pubic bone to balance one's position) is an entirely different school of thought. Some riders advocate riding that way.

The teacher may fear that you will be thrown back as the horse transitions into canter, or she may want you ready to go forward into forward seat? In any case the position aspired to will be different.

By asking on NR, and receiving the answers you have, it might seem that what the less advanced riding school is "wrong". That isnt necessarily so. Riding school that teach lots of standard beginners and children, don't want horses that will go from walk to canter at a slight squeeze of the calves.
Nor do they want their horses to become over-excited by going from walk to canter either in the school or out hacking.
So the normal procedure is for them to ask learners to give quite definite aids for canter and to have ponies that will only respond if the rider is well balanced, relaxed and happy to canter too. It is a safety thing.

ajhainey is right, to encourage you to try everything. But if the present situation is confusing you, it might be better to go to just one teacher for a time? Then once you can canter you can widen your repertoire.

[kirstinbell]

Thanks everyone - I've been riding for about 2 years now and although I do get very confused riding at different schools I keep doing it because I seem to get something different from everyone of them. The instructor who tells me to sight slightly forward teaches classical dressage so that may be the main cause of the variation.

From my POV I prefer to sit slightly back in the saddle as I seem to sit much deeper but it was explained to my by my classical instructor that this makes it harder for the horse to canter as I'm putting all of my weight on the part of the horse that I want to engage. I know that I do sometimes exaggerate my backwards tilt but that because I'm still adjusting to the position and I always seem to correct my self after a couple of strides.

Can I also ask everyone - should I have sore hips after riding?? It's only happened recently since I've been doing a lot of work on my position but I really notice it and I'm hoping its a sign that I'm opening up at the hip but sometimes worry that I'm doing something wrong.

kx

[Joyscarer]

Can I also ask everyone - should I have sore hips after riding?? It's only happened recently since I've been doing a lot of work on my position but I really notice it and I'm hoping its a sign that I'm opening up at the hip but sometimes worry that I'm doing something wrong.

kx


When I worked a lot on my position lately I found that my hips were aching a bit too and since then the aches have been reduced and my hips have been a lot more open so it worked :D