help needed with canter

[janelaura]

hello, I've been riding for 13 months now and take private lessons 3 times a month. I've just changed to a different horse as my riding and confidence has impoved, the first horse i was riding was a bit slow (more like a donkey) and was very lazy. The latest one (Jude) is slightly sleeker and slightly faster. My main problem is I am yet to canter. My tutor has been trying to get me to canter for the last four months. My position is fine, i can trot 9rising and sitting) I am fine over the poles, and have started to practive my jumping position. I am soo scared of the speed and when Jude starts to quicken her trotting pace I bring her back to a slow trot. I feel such a fool and am frightened of falling off. Can anyone give me any tips on how to stay on, and how to basically feel safe when cantering. By the way I'm 25...please help.

[LindaAd]

Jane, I think I would try trotting as fast as you can and then slower, several times, until you're not afraid of a fast trot. Or would your horse canter as she lands over a jump? Lots of horses do, and it's an easy way to get into canter without a frightening lurch. Or could you have a lunge lesson, so you could concentrate on your balance without worrying about controlling the horse? Or just hold onto the mane. Sometimes it's easier if you're out on a ride with other horses, and then your horse will just canter when the others do and all you have to do is sit there and steer.

It is frightening going from trot to canter, especially if the horse is not very well balanced and trots faster first, but once you're there it's much easier than trot.What does your instructor say?

I'm sure you'll get there when you're ready, and then you'll wonder what you were worried about!

[Maci]

Like LindaAd said, once you can canter it's much more relaxing, comfortable and easier than in a trot, because all you have to do is just 'slide' in the saddle with the horse's movement.

To also add something, when you start cantering, pick a horse to learn on that you trust and feel safe on, which should take away some of your tension. Once you get more experienced with the canter on that horse, you should be able to canter worry free on other horse's, because you already have experienced, and know what to exect from the canter.

Take It Slow!
You Will Get It!
Maci :)

PS- Don't feel like bad when you think about falling off, all horse riders think about it one time or another! But if you do fall off, it's alright, everyone's fallen off at least once! Get back on and try again!

[Silvia]

How about having somebody lunge you (just for the canter) until you get the feel of the movement. Don't bother about the reins at first, when you feel you are losing balance hold onto the saddle. A well trained horse will move into canter without trotting very fast first. I started to canter
that way and was scared to death at first - it took me about three years till I was able to enjoy the canter. It's my favourite pace now, but it just takes time.
Keep trying! :)
Silvia

[Shelly_D]

Well I think I had it easy because I first learned to ride in a western saddle. I am just now learning english at age 26. But cantering in a western saddle is much easier for a beginner because there is a lot more to hold on to and the stirrups tend to not fly all over the place. I don't know if you could "cheat" and switch to a western saddle just so you can feel what it is like so you won't be so afraid of the unknown.

[Sonia]

If you can get a really well schooled horse, they can go from walk to canter and miss out the horrible fast bouncey canter. Also canter on the lunge will take the worry out of steering etc yourself
Sonia

[Flo]

Hi JaneLaura

When it comes down to it, at some point, if you choose, you will need to get the first cantering moment out of the way. All the tips that everyone has given you are great - in the end it sounds like it needs to be mind over matter. Try setting a date, deciding who you would like to ride and saying to the instructor that you would like to spend the lesson trying to get into canter. Basically set your mind on it and go - you may need to be quite tough with yourself. Grab the mane or pommel if you need to and be assured that any pretence at a good riding style will go out of the window. The second time will be amazingly easier and even two steps of canter will tell you that it is far nicer than a fast trot. I find cantering in a straight line (on a hack) far easier than in circles since you don't have to worry so much about balance.

I don't know if this will work for you, I hope it does, but it has worked for me many times. Good luck.

[Nancy]

This is a method that my friend uses when teaching new people to canter. He puts them on a very steady horse and he rides in front of them. He tells them that the horse will never run out of control because if it speeds up he will weave back and forth in front of them to slow down their horse. This is usually enough to get them to relax and not worry about bolting or galluping. Most people love it after the first time. We ride western on open trails. The horses are all calm quarter horses.
Happy trails.

[Miriam]

Hi Jane,

It has taken me many years to pluck up the courage to canter. It is only now that Ihave a rider who rides out with me that I have cantered more than I have ever done. I trust her a lot and even when I do not feel like cantering she always gives me words of encouragement. Like you she thought my fear stemmed from the thought of going fast and falling off. She assures me that it is hard to fall off a cantering horse (have to admit I never have) but never enjoyed it until yesterday. We tried four times before eventually I cantered (it was as if my pony said we can do this and she just went off with me). It is definite that one needs to relax more which I did feel for the first time. I agree with Nancy try getting a steady horse in front of you who will slow down so you feel more in control. Good luck.

[Heather]

If only schools would train their horses to go walk to canter easily, as mine do, then riders would not have this sort of trauma associated with learning to canter.

I have to disagree that the rider should slide the seat in the saddle though. The seatbones should never actually slide. If so, you are depressing the horse back by scooping down against the back which in canter is trying to rise in an arc under you. This is so often the cause of a sensitive horse scooting out from under you and rushing off, or in the case of a less sensitive one, dropping back to trot because the back is being depressed.

The seatbones should rotate under you, as the back is being flexed and straightened in order to absorb the movement. Look up the canter section in the Kinder Way to Ride pages here, for fuller explanation.



Heather