Need cantering help

[Rebecca1969]

Whenever I canter I feel as though I'm moving against my horse instead of with him. Is this normal? I'm guessing I'm doing something wrong.:confused:

[sancho]

You're probably tensing up and going against the movement.

Are you newish to cantering and how many strides are you sitting before you give up?

If you are new to cantering you will be thinking that its much faster than trotting etc but in reality a normal gaited canter wont be that much faster and is actually much eaier to sit than the trot

Sit up, heels down & lean back slightly remembering to breathe! Once you 'get' the movement it feels great!!!!!

When I first leant to ride I was terrified of cantering!!!!

[Rebecca1969]

I'm just getting back into riding after an 8 year break. I can canter around the whole ring. But I do feel as if I'm going against the horses rhythm like you said. Maybe it is cause I'm sitting more forward:confused:. In my past lesson she had me in the 2 point so everything felt great since I was out of the saddle. It's just when I'm sitting and I'm sure it's uncomfortable for my wonderful RS horse as well.:o

[Suzanne2]

Riding -like skiing - means doing the total opposite of what your brain says is safe. So when cantering, sit up straight and relax shoulders. Temptation is to lean forwards (think it's brain telling you to fling arms round horse's neck and hang on) and to tense up. Both make it much harder to go with the flow.

Same with skiing, not that asked about it, but it kind of explains why we have to do opposite of what we think best. On steep slope, you have to lean away from mountain and relax. Gut instinct tells you to cling to terra firma - but that makes you fall over! It's tough doing this active stuff. Stick with it, though, it will feel great when you go with the flow.