Grrr! Frustrating!!

[Retty]

Hello,
Am feeling a little frustrated and thought I might get some handy tips from you guys. As some of you know I have been attempting to canter on a lunge line with my horse, I am trying to regain my confidence after a nasty fall last year and am ok with the walk and trot but am having problems with the canter. Anyway, today we tacked up and warmed up (kinda hard in the howling icy wind and snow!) and got to the part where I was put on a lunge line for canter work. I seem to have a HUGE problem in sitting in the saddle, it feels like I am about 20 metres above my horses back and the more this happens the higher I bounce! I am nervous so hold onto the saddle with my left hand and hold the right rein in my hand, I don't feel confident enough yet to take both hands off, problem is I find it hard to relax and I think this is what is making me bounce out of the saddle. Does anyone have any handy hints for sitting in the saddle and not bouncing around!?! Any tips would be gratefully received!

[Tootsie4U]

I'd say the most important thing for you to focus on right now is BREATHING AND NOT GRIPPING WITH YOUR LEGS!!!! I know you may feel silly, but sing a song while doing this. Its calming for the horse and encourages you to breath (not be tense too). Gripping onto the horse with your legs stiffens your leg and doesnt let you go with the flow.

Since you are already on a lunge line, you have the advantage of being able to focus on these without compromising your safety. One other thing that REALLY helps is doing it without stirrups. When you dont have something to resist against (the stirrup) it helps to loosen and lengthen the leg. Dont do this striaght off the bat on your lesson, get the feel of the horse first.

[Laetitia]

Yes, I'd agree with that. Once you've warmed up and got into your rythm with the horse, stirrups away and off into canter. Relax and you'll find you're in a rocking chair. Stop worrying so much, you'll get there and will be cantering before you realise it. Cheers L

[LindaAd]

Here are some random thoughts: I don't know if any of them are any good to you.

One of the things I found helpful was to visualize a series of curves - like (s on their backs - and thats the way your bottom moves... like being on a rocking horse.

The other thing is to do walk-canter transitions if the horse will: one of the hardest things about canter is the transition from trot, a sort of scary lurch, isn't it.

I don't think there's anything wrong with holding onto the saddle with one hand if it gives you confidence and keeps you down in the saddle....

And have you done any sitting trot work on the lunge first? After sitting trot, canter is so lovely and smooth you can't help findin it relaxing.

[Jane Williams]

If you're on the lunge line, you could just let your reins go and concentrate on your breathing.

I agree with removing your stirrups. If this sounds a little scary for you, try lengthening them so that they are there for comfort.

Don't forget to flex your back in the rythym of the canter. If you don't know what I mean, have a look at Heathers page, 'A kinder way to ride'.

One thing I found (when I had a lesson) the lunge line was tooo short and it was hard for me to get my balance. It may help if you use a longer circle than small.

[Murphs]

agree woth no stirrups - has really helped me with my canter work. I also find that closing my eyes helps to relax my body - try it, you'll be surprised!

[Retty]

Thanks for your brilliant advice, I will lenghten my stirrups as I'm not confident enough to take them away at the moment and will definitely try closing my eyes then hopefully I won't be looking at the lunge line (which is what I have a tendancy to do and then imagine all sorts of accidents:rolleyes: ), will also try to hum or sing to myself aswell! Boy am I gonna be busy tommorrow! Hopefully doing all of the above will help me relax! Thanks for the advice and will let you know how it all goes tommorrow :)

[Retty]

Well what a fab day! I was mooching around at the stables, it was windy and raining and I sure didn't feel like riding, a friend had said she would help me with cantering but I really didn't want to ride, anyway as I was lunging my horse thinking that my friend was not going to turn up (and I was relieved!), she did, with a handy cam! Anyway she told me to get "ride the damn horse" and after much protesting I got on. At first I was nervous coz of the wind and rain but she kept me so busy I soon forgot and I was cantering without bouncing around so much and was resting my hand one hand on the saddle rather than gripping on with white knuckles! At one point Promise bucked which was my fault as I kicked her rather than squeezed her to keep her going, anyway I took a few deep breaths and then carried on. After we watched the video and I was very surprised and pleased to see that I was in the saddle most of the time and not all over the place like I thought I was. Sorry to ramble on but I am so chuffed! Soon I will be off the lunge!!!:)

[Murphs]

well done, great news, keep it going:D

[galadriel]

Oooh, nice :)