keeping stirrups in canter

[soaring_eagle]

Hey there!

I'm having a few problems keeping my stirrups in canter in my lessons, it's no real problem to me because i can ride fine without them, but it's safer and i really should do something about it. The horse i ride loves cantering and is usually quite fresh so we do tend to go quite fast the first time around at least.

Also how do you collect a horse? I know you need short more bouncy steps but how do you signal for this?

Thanx a lot.

[Caitlin]

The first thing to do is probably check your stirrup length -- even if it's a /little/ too long, then you'll have trouble keeping your feet on them, especially in canter.

Keep your heels down and rest some of your weight on the stirrup. If you find this hard, then I suggest you put your stirrups up maybe one hole from where they are normally are, until you can do this unconsciously. Just remember to not /always/ ride with the shorter stirrup, because otherwise you get used to it *grins*

As for collecting the horse, all I do is while in canter, put your leg on /gently/ (unless it's a forward-going horse, in which case you don't need to *grins*) and tug /gently/ on the reins -- not enough that it slows your horse, just so he can feel it in his mouth.

Hope that helps :D

[FreedomStar]

First thing is to check your stirrup length. If your stirrups are too short, then you bounce up in the saddle and your feet come out. If they're too long, you can't keep them on the balls of your feet. Also, if you are gripping with your knees you bounce up and lose your stirrups. since you ride the canter fine without stirrups, try longer stirrups first, then shorten them up one as you go.
As for collection, a lot of people mistake collection as slowing the horse down. no. In collection, a horse shortens its stride but goes as the same speed. For collection, you need the horse to take smaller steps at the same speed.

[soaring_eagle]

thanx a lot! :)

[soaring_eagle]

shortening stirrups seems to have helped :)