I need help.. With my Canter

[TheLoveOfAHorse]

A couple weeks ago I switched to riding English (rode Western for maybe a bit over a month) and am having trouble cantering. My last lesson I almost fell off trying to canter. Some how my feet came out of the stirrups and I started to lean forward, but got back up before falling. Me and my cousin are having trouble with it.. It seems I can't stay on the saddle well when I have to lift up one of my back legs to ask for a canter ( instructor says you have to lift your outside back leg up and stay in the saddle to ask for a canter but I can't seem to stay in the saddle) Any help?

[galadriel]

Hm...you shouldn't have to lift your leg to ask for canter. Just slide the leg backwards along the horse's barrel, then squeeze.

Leaning forward and losing stirrups sounds like grabbing with the knees. I have an article on learning to canter :) that you may find a bit helpful:
http://lorienstable.com/articles/riding/500-learning_to_canter/

[TheLoveOfAHorse]

Oh ok thank-you! I will go read the article now! :)

[Nikita88]

What my instructor (english riding) always tells me at the canter, is sit back (i always lean to far forward), heals down, look strait ahead and steer the horse with your legs. To get the position right, next time you do it, get your horse at the trot, be sure your on the right posting diagnal, dont ask for the canter unless you have a good trot going. then of course ask for the canter (outside leg back)...i know you know how to canter, but im just goin from the top! lol...then when your at the canter, do all the stuff i said before. but so you dont feel like your falling off, pretend your sweeping your saddle with your bottom (back to front) move with the horse....make sure your always on the right lead to, that always helps ;)

hope that helped :) good luck!!

[TheLoveOfAHorse]

Thanks Nikita! :D

[Nikita88]

no problem. hope it helps, let me know if it does :D