Pitching forward at the canter

[ZoeEnglish]

I've had a great deal of help from Heather's book and video (which I just rewatched now; it's fantastic), and while I have no trouble now sitting to the trot, I am still having some difficulty with the canter.

I just watched a video of myself cantering and noticed that on the downward beat I am able to flex my back inwards to stay with the horse's movement, but as the horse comes up under me (as her inside back leg pushes off), I pitch forward and my lower leg swings back, thereby throwing me forward out of the saddle. I end up thumping back onto her back as her back comes up under me once again. This problem becomes more pronounced the more I continue the canter.

Any ideas anyone what might be causing me to pitch forward and my leg to swing back? thanks!

[angel advocate]

Im new rider also so maybe i shouldnt be putting my two cents in but what the heck maybe i will....IM still trying to perfect my canter but i know exactly what you are describing i find if i lean slightly back with my heels downward and sink my butt into the saddle I do ok.. but if i tensen up than i move too far forward and my legs go back..SO my humble advice would be to relax and sit deep down and try not to try so hard just let your lower body relax and go with the flow of the horse.Perhaps you lean forward on the up motion and that is why you fall forward more.Once you go to far forward your legs will automatically move back as your weight in the forward position is moving your legs back.Just sit back and take the tension out of your lower back.oh also my legs move forward if they are tight too.Dont squeeze onto the horses body too much either, then you will tend to fall forward also on the up motion of the canter...Relax your body sit back (not too far) and go with the flow..bet your problems will go away when you loosen up.....anyways im not an expert but it has been working for me so far and i am constantly progressing......Happy riding and good luck...;)
oh also you mentioned it gets more pronounced the longer you canter could be once you lose the rythmn yuor finding it hard to find it again so you would get more flustered and yes it would get more pronounced.......just a thought.

[Edited by angleadvocate on 20th Aug 2000 at 08:05 AM]

[Heather]

HI Zoe,

It is probably most likely that your mare is still on the forehand in canter, which means that her bum comes up higher than her front, which will pitch you out of the saddle unles you are very supple in the lower back. I am particularly aware of this as we are just perfecting the cnater movement in the new simulator, and we are having to build this 'flip' into it a bit so that riders feel the sort of movement that they are likely to experience on most school horses rather than my rather more educated schoolmasters!

Work on lots of transitions, don't canter on for too many strides at a time. You will lose the quality of the canter and this will pitch her onto her forehand. The transitiosn will help to push the canter more uphill, and will make it so much easier to sit to.

Heather