Why do i lose balance on corners

[Debby Riley]

I am novice, and i am having trouble when the horse turns corners, i lose balance and feel that i am going to fall off. this happens both in trot either rising but more so in sitting and i am terrible in canter this is destroying my confidence

can anyone help ???:(

[kedwards]

There are probably a number of things it could be, but are you leaning in on the turns the way you might on a bicycle? If so, that might be the cause of your losing balance. I know when I started, it took me awhile to get out of that habit.

[Wally]

Are you being told to twist your hips and shoulders to follow the horse's hips and shoulders?

If so don't!

Sit on the saddle square, without stirrups maybe.

Feel the bones in your backside which you sit on riding a horse. One either side of your bum.
Imagine growing taller and taller and get the horse to walk. You will rock back and forth on your seat bones like they are the rockers on a rocking chair.
As you go round a corner, don't twist the same way as the horse. If you are going round a left turn roll your weight onto the fromt edge of your left seatbone. it will feel like you are twisting in the opposite direction to the horse. But it will centre your weight over the horse's left side and you will both be in balance. This will help you keep your balance. Don't over do it, some horses will take it as a signal to circle.

[Em 1]

Sorry but can't help but say been there, still doing that! b Sometimes I still overbalance in trot and canter, particularly when I'm tired. The only positive thing I can say is that it gets much easier with experience. Practice gives you balance like nothing else. Don't rush through the paces. Get comfortable, probably without stirrups and eventually you'll know where your centre of gravity is. You might not always hit it but when you lose your balance you will be faster to get back to the position you're aiming for. Sorry not to be of use but really, practice has helped me more than anything else so don't be downhearted . Good luck anyway!

[* Groomette *]

Don't lean! Sit square, and dont move your body around the turn any different than you would going down the long side. Could be your horse may be partly to blame, if he is leaning your probably just going with him. If need be put more weight into your outside sturrip. Just dont lean. May I suggest some lunge lessons? Pure circles, so its basically one never ending turn. Keep your balance, don't lean. If ya can, drop your sturrips at a walk and trot. Hopefully it may do you some good. After that..well I guess you're going to have to encounter circles very soon! It's a practice thing...it comes with time and understanding..and ends up being a subconsional (sp?)thing in the end!

-Groomie

[Lancashire Lass]

Can I just add that it will also take time to build up YOUR tone and muscles in the abdomen, lower back, upper thighs and your seatbones musles!!

Once your a little more toned in this department (unless of course you are already!)..you will find it alot easier to maintain your own balance in tune with that of the horse's.

J;)

[Kerry's Partner]

It's all been said so there's little else to add.

However, like others have said it does take time. Getting to enjoy the bits inbetween what you want to do and how you get there is the key, imo, to relieving all of the unnecessary pressure -because it is a journey which we should all be able to enjoy.

[FreedomStar]

well, when you turn, you're probably leaning in, so don't, or you're stepping into your inside stirrup too much, and the inside stirrup is too long. Ask your instructor how you can correct this problem.

[snailspace]

Yep, it just takes time. I've been cantering for two years in lessons and I'm JUST NOW getting to the point where I feel balanced even when the horse is unbalanced or acting up. It took a long time, partly because I only take lessons once every 2 weeks.

You have to remember that riding, especially dressage, is something that will never be mastered - there will always be that next thing that makes you uncomfortable or that you don't quite have "down" yet. That's part of what makes it so interesting! If you lose confidence with every little step, it will just hurt your overall progress. If I remember correctly, you just recently started cantering (correct me if I'm wrong). You can't possibly expect yourself to be totally balanced in it immediately.

Also, when you're just learning to canter or trot or whatever, you can't keep the horse as collected as he would be with a really experienced rider, so he's probably leaning around the corners and throwing you off balance in the process. Don't worry, you'll get it sorted out. Just give it time. Remember, we've all been in your shoes at one time or another!:)

[Debby Riley]

Hi everyone :)

Many thanks for all the advice, sometimes when someone explains why these things can happen, i am half way there to understanding it and then being able to work on it, You are right i have just started riding again after a very long break, been having lessons since Sept but had a break for 7 weeks after fracturing my coxic (tailbone) and as i understand since joing NR that every day is a learning curve, so i have a long way to go yet but i will enjoy it lal the way ( with help from all you guys ) thanks

[Wally]

Owwie, owwie, I broke my coccyx, the only time I wore a back protector for X country. It is THE most painful thing.

Oh err missus, you must still be in some pain, I remember it took ages before the pain went.

If you can get Heather Moffetts book, sit down and read it, you will have a whole new world opened up to you which you will understand and will be able to have a shot at in your lessons.

Going round corners will be so much easier for you and the horse.

[davhelyyc]

If in trot, you are on the wrong diagonal or in Canter, the wrong lead leg, it can cause you to be off balance.

However, since your instructor is watching, that may not be the case.

[Tootsie4U]

Mostly, everyones been there. Have faith that with the more ride time you acquire, the less it will happen. Its just a matter of experience ;)

WHat helped me most is a lunge line lesson WITHOUT stirrups. IT helps you concentrate solely on your seat. You dont have to worry about steering or keeping the horse going. Very beneficial. Request one at your next lesson.

[amylou_84]

just have to say the first time i fell off was cus i was trotting without stirrups and going round a corner and i just bounced out the side door :D
not much help to u though!

amy :D

[Debby Riley]

amylou_84 thanks at least i know i am not the only one to be off balance, you do feel such a fool and it is nice that others admit that it has/can happen to them

you made me not worry so much about it, made me laugh too.

I should stop taking myself so seriously !! and enjoy the experiences

thanks

[MyStIc139]

lolz i can sympathize amylou i fell of at a walk, well it was a walk from a canter (my 1st or 2nd) it was at a corner and i just sliped straight off almost got my foot hooked as well. Fell of and laughed at myself for bout half an hour........lolz that dont help ne body but just thought id tell u my life story :D


U no i wonder if ne body was ever a perfect rider when they started......probly not since us humans are such clutzes ( well i am neways) :)

[amylou_84]

debbie riley - glad i helped :D the funny thing was it was my first fall and i landed on my hip and i walked like a farmer all day :D my dad ripped the p*** out of me :D i did feel a bit stupid....i musta looked really stupid cus i was in a group of young kids and they were excellent riders. anywayz...i did laugh it off. which is a good thing. if u keep going over it itl play on ** mind until u do become afraid of riding. iv never liked sittin trot without stirrups anywayz :D

happy riding

amy :D

[Princess Filly]

You probably feel lost in the corners because the horse sometimes speeds up. Also, as mentioned, do not lean into your turns. This cause both you and the horse to become unbalanced. Sit up tall and straight, make sure you are squeezing with your legs, and you should be fine.

[mikka]

Re: Wally's first post to you. She's absolutely right. Keep yourself square. If you lean you'll disturb your balance. I still have this problem when I ride a quick horse without stirrups. If I sit tall, it helps.

[Debby Riley]

with all your helpful advice i am slowly getting a proper seat but would not have been able to do it without your advice, so big thanks !!

Am slowly getting better with riding without stirrups still don't like it but practice will help with that too.

I have booked a private lesson for next week so that i can work on this and my canter too, looking forward to that.

practice makes perfect so they say :D

[Cathy Reynolds]

Debby - remember what you (and I) are aiming for is that the stirrup treads are just somewhere to stash your feet away tidily. Rely on the stirrups to keep you secure about as much as you rely on the reins ie not at all! It's keeping your seat secure that is the key. Keep going, be patient IT WILL COME.

[Debby Riley]

Private lesson going well, balance has improved too, i kept thinking of all the advice you guys gave me, i am getting there

many thanks to you all !!

[mojo]

Hi debby
So glad your private lesson went well.Private lessons are so much better than group lessons for getting your position and balance.Dont worry about the time factor. Dont forget you had a fall that set you back considerably, if not in time, in mental capacity. Those kind of setbacks do take time to get over. I should know! Still struggling with my mental block!
It is only in the last couple of months that my riding has finally started coming together. It took me ages to master sitting trott without stirrups but now that I have it has made a world of difference to my riding. Spent my lesson on Tuesday cantering,cantering, and then more cantering, I felt in complete harmony with the horse, this has only just started to happen and it feels fabulous!! Stick with it, its definately worth it.