I'm moving up and down too much in canter

[Scarlett 001]

Another canter question. Seems to be one of the more popular riding concerns people have on here...sorry to have to start yet another thread on this topic!:D

Okay, I really feel as if I have come such a long way in the canter in a short time. I feel completely balanced in the saddle (amazing feeling!) and overall quite happy. The horse has a nice, easy canter. But...my instructor says my behind is still going up and down in the saddle too much. He says it should barely leave the saddle...it should sort of rock forwards and back as the horse moves under me (I apologize to him if I am not conveying very well what he was saying to me but I think this is what he meant). :rolleyes:

To help sort things out, he told me to momentarily go up in 2-point and sit back down - it did help - I had a better position in the saddle and was more relaxed and less bouncy - but soon enough I was going up and down again!!! :p What kinds of things should I be focusing on to improve this? I am very aware that I am doing it, just can't seem to stop. I try to keep thinking about this consciously and to just stop bouncing and am trying to really put weight in the heels - but this did not help! Is it just a matter of time or can I do something?!

[ponytude]

Well ok this may seem funny but I toatlly believe it helps. When I am at home I canter around the house. I et the motion and and do this around the house wheni go to get a book or something. And hey if your up for a challenge try to jump the Vacum as you canter around.

PONYTUDE

I am serious.

[galadriel]

Rather than just sitting still, you need to move your back to absorb the motion of the canter. The horse's back moves like a rocking horse (lift the rump, the rump starts down and back goes up, then rump is down all the way and front end rises).

You have to find the way to compensate for this movement with your own body; if you just try to sit still, you will tense up and bounce. Instead, try to move *with* the horse.

In order to develop a feel for what you are doing without going quite so fast ;) you can concentrate on the horse at walk. Feel how the horse's back moves at walk (it's much closer to the canter movement than trot is--it's not the same, but it's close). The horse's back will dip a little bit with each stride. Try to follow it with your hips, but don't move your legs or upper body; it is sort of like a bellydance.

Once you're comfortable following the motion at the walk, you can try to apply the same idea at the canter. You must be loose and relaxed; if you tense up, you'll bounce. Try to let your back move as the horse's back goes up and down; follow it with your hips, but don't move your upper body or legs.

It can help to be on a lunge line when you're learning this, so you don't have to worry about controlling the horse's speed and direction; you just worry about what *you* are doing.

[makebelieve]

I learned the hunter way, always leaning forward and moving with the horse, then I learned the normal canter. It took me a lesson, but I feel fine doing either now. I find it so much more comfortable than the normal one, but thats my preference, as some people say that they have fallen trying to do the hunter canter.

Its just what you're used to. Good luck!

[showjumperchick]

if you have a lunge lesson then you could try sum of my worst nightmare -work without stirrups!!!!!seriously tho, it will allow you to feel the movement easier as you cant brace yourself against the stirrups and will help develop a deep seat. just a thought.

[FreedomStar]

i've learned the hunter way and find myself in the half seat position when cantering, but I can sit. Try not to roll your back, and make sure you're not pushing yourself up involuntarily with your legs if you're putting on more leg to keep the horse going. try a half seat position, and try to feel how the horse feels beneath you, and the sit down lightly in the saddle and try to keep that rhythm going constant.

[virtuallyhorses]

Galadriel's description of a bellydance is a very good one !

In fact I feel it more in my belly\torso than my lower back which is where you are traditionally told to 'be supple' and I think this is where I originally went wrong with my first attempts to sit the canter nicely. The problem with most instruction is that you get told to do too much - 'polish the saddle' is common. Once you get the feel you may be amazed at how little you do and how easy it is (don't worry I didn't believe anyone when they said that about canter either ;) )

You have to allow (not force) your hips\pelvis\lower belly rise up a little in front of you (not literally but that's how it may feel at first) and simply let your legs hang while your upper body sits tall. If you try to grip or do too much with your thighs or pelvis you can end up off the saddle\bouncing and esp if you lean forward.

[Scarlett 001]

Hello everyone,

I want to report back that I had a great lesson yesterday - it ended with what was my best canter ever! I was literally smiling ear-to-ear for at least an hour or more. :D

When I first started to canter in the lesson, I forgot initially to pay attention to the great advice you all (and my instructor) had given and I was bouncing away. But after a minute of that bouncing thing, I thought to myself...oh yeah, gotta follow the motion of the horse etc. and all the advice I had been given was at the front of my mind. Well, once I focused, the improvement was remarkable! Instantly I was not lifting off the saddle, sort of felt it moving underneath me a bit as I rocked in sync with the horse's body. Wow! And it felt so stable and much more relaxed! (as you can tell, I am still excited today!). I also paid attention to the movement of the horse at the walk as Galadriel had suggested and worked on following the horse's motion.

I am not claiming perfection in the canter (far from!), but am thrilled as I think I am well on the way to feeling very in control and truly enjoying the canter!

Thanks for the great tips.

[NZhorserider]

Yay :D

[galadriel]

Wonderful to hear :)

[kelsey]

I just came back from an intensive week with an FEI dressage instructor and she gave me the exact same advice as Ponytude!

It works too! And when you stop the cantering motion with your hips you will get a downwards transition to walk or trot (depending on how much you stop it).

[ponytude]

Yay!!! Good one you(I always thought that saying was alittle umm weird but always wanted to use it!!!) Congrats!!!

Thanx! I never really thought an instructor would say that but I think its fun!!! The jumping really is!!! It scares the daylights out of my pets but I love it!!! Its like cantering without a horse and it really helps me with my hand movements!!! My instroctor told me I look really good now when I canter!


PONYTUDE