Help with canter!

[Gemma16]

Hi everyone. I'm having a problem with my welsh gelding. I am hoping to do some ridden showing with him this summer but my problem is his canter or should I say me on his canter! He goes in and out of canter great, but I find it difficult to maintain my position in canter and keep him going at the same time. I could do with some advice on how to create inpulsion into canter and keep it going? Any advice would be greatfully appreciated:)

[western]

try like a rocking postion like a rocking horse. my horse likes to go out of canter too soon then i want him to so i help him out buy keeping my feet going and in a rocking position.

[maverick927]

Go back to basics and hang onto the pommel. It worked for me, when I was being self taught and my instructor hasn't had to comment on my position in canter yet.

[cvb]

when you are in trot, do you get a feeling of riding leg into hand ? Because canter feels faster, a lot of us tend to back off a little. But if you continue to ride leg into hand, you should start to get a better canter, and one which maintains impulsion. i.e. putting leg on in canter should not mean you disappear off at high speed !

When you use your leg aids, you are asking the horse to step through with his hind legs a bit more. If you find he just tries to go faster, then use half halts to rebalance and ask him not to speed off. You want him to move his weight back a little.

Then it starts to become easier to sit and easier to keep going.

[ilovemisty]

Heels down... and don't flop ** arms... in western saying sit on ** pockets meaning sit ** bum down in the seat. it helped for me!

[FreedomStar]

what do you mean by position? What are you exactly having trouble with, like, are you bouncing, or are your heels coming up, etc?

[Gemma16]

Hi Freedomstar, By position I mean I tend to lead forward rather than sitting up straight. Any advice is always greatly appreciated.
*Thanks everyone I've been trying all of your methods and I seem to be getting a bit better:)

[Waikato Valuta]

Have you thought of haveing a lesson on the lunge so you can get your postion right and the instructor can keep him going. Then when you try again you may be able to start asking for the canter your self before taking back the reins and trying to stear.

It' just like Building blocks start simple and then get harder.

[cvb]

I think its is Sally Swift in Centered Riding who uses the idea of your seatbones being like an electric plug that you need to have 'plugged' into the socket of the saddle. Perhaps something like this would help you stay centered and balanced in canter ?

[Gemma16]

Hi thanks,
*Waikota Vaulta I think a lunge lesson would really benifit me and Taff, but how can I sa this, Taffy DOES NOT lunge. I have no probs on other horses.

I going to do some schooling with him tonight so I'll let you all know how things go.
when you are in trot, do you get a feeling of riding leg into hand ? Because canter feels faster, a lot of us tend to back off a little. But if you continue to ride leg into hand, you should start to get a better canter, and one which maintains impulsion. cvb, I have been working on our impulsion and we seem to be getting better, He strikes off alot easier and I have found it a little easier to keep a better (not great yet) position.
I'll keep you all up dated and thanks again.

[FreedomStar]

well, for leaning forward, do you only do it in canter or in other gaits too? Try thinking of sitting up straight, as if you're held up straight by a string suspending you in the saddle from head to your bottom down to your heels, keeping you upright more. Part of the problem of you leaning forward might be because your feet are not on the vertical but too far back, which will cause you to tip foward. Try to keep your legs under you, and don't let them come back or else you'll tip forward.

[Gemma16]

Hi freedomstar, the reason I think I lean forward is because I'm trying to push him on. I know this isn't correct but I seem to go into auto pilot. I will keep my legs in mine when I'm planning to canter this might be part of the problem. I going to ride tonight so I'll let you know hpw I do. Thanks Gemma:D

[Gemma16]

Hi all, AT LAST I had a break through! yey to me:D We had a really good schooling session today although taffy thought it nessisary to chuck in a couple of bucks, but only platful as he's had a rest for the first part of the week(quite a giddy boy). I had in mine whilst doing canter work all the things everyone has suggested. I found myself not tipping forward as much after I had lengthened my stirrups a little. I also worked on transitions to get Taff listening to my leg better, this seeme3d to help as he was more eager to go into canter and stay there. I also found he had more impulsion from doing more transitions and circle exercises. Thanks everyone and will keep practising.
*Still advice is always welcome!!:p

[Pollski]

http://www.galadriel.shaftnet.org/physics_of_the_horse/learning_to_canter.html