HELP! Beginner - cantering problems

[Lizard King]

Please Help I cantered for the first time a few weeks ago and was hoping some other more experienced riders could lend a few tips on how to stop bouncing up and down on the pony when cantering .

All help greatly appreciated. Thanks:)

[Horseyheaven]

what you need is......... loads and loads and loads of practice:D

[Echo64]

LOL, excellent advice. I know it does't sound like it'll help you much, but the only way to get better at the canter is to ride and ride and ride, even if it means your bouncing. Eventually you'll find a nice soft RELAXED (hint hint) way of doing it ;)

[kyanya]

Try and remember to sit, absorbing the up and down moevment, and following the forward and back movement

[horsefreak]

Originally posted by Horseyheaven
what you need is......... loads and loads and loads of practice:D

Totally agree!! After many years of riding, I did my first proper sitting trot last weekend (no bumping!!) - and the other day I was amazed at how I didn't at all bounce in the canter - its just practice practice practice!!

Just keep at it - it may be better if you can canter out on a hack slightly up-hill at first, to find your balance, and also you don't have to worry about directing around the school :)

Good luck!!

Ax

[helenc]

Agree with the others, there's no quick fix & some people pick it up quicker than others, all I can say is RELAX & don't worry, you are new to riding & everyone has trouble with something to begin with, just keep doing it & you will get used to the bounciness.

Good Luck

[kitkatt456]

I agree. The first time I cantered in an english saddle on a horse with a rough canter it was soo hard and I just bounced around. It is important to be balanced in sitting trot before you try cantering. I still have a hard time with sitting trot and I have been taking lessons regularly for over a year.

[taylor]

the best advise i ever had was sit deep into the saddle and flow with the horse, really relax it's a amazing pace and you should enjoy it, sometimes I like to hold the front of the saddle to help me balance when schooling, sort of pelvic thrust with the movement of the horse!

[kedwards]

When first learning, some people find it easier to learn to sit the movement if they lean back a bit.

[Scarlett 001]

See the thread I started on October 13 titled "I'm moving up and down too much in canter". Lots of detailed advice can be found there. Hope this helps.

[gail_rose]

Try doing lots of work without stirrups as this helps you to develop a deeper seat. Just relax and imagine all your weight going down into your heels and you should be ok!
Stick with it - it's totally worth it when you get it right!!

[doris]

As already said, the art is all in the relaxing of lower back and pelvis, easier said than done! Also, remember that some horses are much more bouncy than others. My little cob is like an armchair, my bigger cob throws you up in the air, and is much more difficult to sit into at both the canter and sitting trot. But you will get the hang of it, it just takes time.

[dadbuythemare]

i know this sounds odd, but get in a ring on an EXPERIENCED horse and .................... canter the pony around the ring bare back.dont hang on the reins, grap mane if you have to. feel the horse, like what it is thinking ,where it is going ,what motions its taking,etc. dont forget everything,but relax,and mold yourself into the horse.become one with him/her.follow his/her motions.forget about your friends,family,everything but God and the horse/pony.
i promise u wont bounce if u do that just like i told you 2.this bible verse might help:
In your strength i can crush any army:with my God I can scale any wall.He makes me as surefooted as a deer,leadingme safely along the mountain heights.
-2 Samuel 22:30,34

with god anything is possible;trust in him:D

[jUmPingIsLifE]

the best advice i think is to...

1) relax
2) have fun
3) PRACTICE practice practice.
:D

[GingerLily]

I agree, you have got to practice till your saddle wears thin!
I have hardly ever sat to the canter in 10 years of riding, because I've always been on teeny riding school ponies at cheap, cheerful and dreadful riding schools. Now I have a pony who can't balance herself in canter very well, but I borrow a friend's pony for dressage lessons and I manage to canter in the saddle quite well after about 100 circles and the 20th lesson! And it helps that my instructor knows how I have to be taught ('SIT damn you, SIT GIRL!!!') lol!
Persevere!
And I really do admire anyone who can canter bareback, I'd just fall off!
RachelB

[Scarlett 001]

Just curious about this cantering with no stirrups or bareback. I realize that in due course these would be very good and very useful exercises! So my response is not meant to question their usefulness or the advice. I just wonder at what point in a rider's training these exercises should be attempted. I am quite willing to admit that maybe it is just me and my lack of ability/confidence and that other beginners can and do master these exercises, but the thought of me doing them sends shivers up my spine! :eek: :D

I consider myself still learning to canter and I just can't imagine at this point going without stirrups and/or a saddle. Wouldn't it be kind of dangerous for someone who feels they are kind of out of control on the horse and who is still learning to canter to attempt a canter without the full gear? I suppose in the end it is up to the instructor in charge of the lesson to make the decision, but whenever I read responses to people struggling to learn to canter to try these exercises, it sends butterflies through the stomach of this beginner rider (or whatever level I am!) and makes me feel glad I have not yet been asked to do this!!!

Thoughts???

[kelsey]

Scarlett - my trainer agrees with you! She says that cantering (or even trotting) without stirrups is very good for you as long as you stay relaxed and do not start gripping/leaning forward instinctively. If you aren't relaxed, it is actually counterproductive as your legs creep up (affecting your center of gravity) and you bounce more.

I found it easier to start on a lunge line, with a bucking strap to hold on to. That allowed me to pull myself into the saddle properly and overcome that "I need to lean forward" feeling.

Bareback cantering is probably easier than no stirrups (especially on a furry horse and especially if you wear fullseat breeches....then it is like velcro on your rear end.)

[my chunky chap]

I used to have the same promblem. I think it was mainly because i was relying on the stirrups being there even though i didn't realise it, don't kow if it is the same with you? But the best thing i can recommend for you is that you try without your stirrups. I had a lesson where my stirrups and reins were taken away and i was put on a lunge line, i just had to hold the saddle. I was then given back my stirring, and a bit later i was given my stirrups. I must admitt i was still a bit bouncey (relying on the stirrups again) but that gradually wore off with practise. Honestly, it isn't as scary as you think cantering with out stirrups, that was the first time i had ever done it and i was fine.
Good luck with it!

[Lovecat]

At my riding school we were not allowed to go out on a hack unless we had trotted and cantered 'successfully' in the school without stirrups - just in case you lost them while out.

I was terrified but when it actually happened it was SO much easier to sit to the movement than with stirrups that I really enjoy it now! The first few times I went out on a hack I bounced horribly and did lose the odd stirrup, but after a while (and lots of practice!) it just all fell into place. Keep plugging away and it'll come right for you!:D

[gail_rose]

I started doing work without stirrups when I had been riding for about 3 or 4 months. The first few time we had someone to lead us and held onto the front of the saddle to keep our balance and pull ourselves into a deeper seat.
I suppose I was quite lucky as my instructors were always really nice & never asked you to do anything they didn't think you were capable of. Also, you didn't have to do something if you weren't comfortable with it.
I think if the instructor has confidence in you you should at least try it and if you don't like it try again in the future when you feel more confident.
I personally prefer cantering without stirrups or bareback as i feel closer to the horse and not as if my legs are pushing me out of the saddle.