Cantering Success

[Alle]

Like many people have been posting, I have had canter troubles too. My main trouble was getting the horse into canter, especially if the horse was feeling lazy. Well, I have been working on it hard the past few weeks, and I think I am getting it! Yesterday, I had a private on Sevi, and she was pretty lazy. But I got her to canter fairly easily (for me) and was able to keep her in canter. This is a major breakthrough for me, as I was beginning to have a canter complex. I am finally using my hip, which was just soemthing I didn't 'get' before. Anyway, I just thought I would share. Small steps are good!

Also Sevi went over trotting poles and a crossrail at her Thursday training session...I was so proud! :p

[Sofie]

Brilliant! Well done! :D

[notpoodle]

i had a canter thing today, too :D we could use the HUGE school and angel was feeling rather speedy ... so i thought id give it a go! we managed an almost well-controlled canter on the right rein *without* her dirfting off into the middle :D

the left didnt go as well, but hey, cant have everything :D

julia
x

[Ashleigh]

Yay!! Well done!!
Still haven't sorted my problems out. Got to keep trying!

[Alle]

Thanks, and yes...keep on trying. My trainer/instructer was surprised to see me out with the other instructer so often the past few weeks. She is very happy that I am serious about improving. Going again after work today!

[Ruffiane]

I had the ride of my life the other night. My canter just "clicked" for me and it was truly fun for the first time. It was a thrill without being (too) scary, I had to steer around some other riders and my trainer was just ecstatic with me (this is VERY rare!). I was high on that for about two days. But I've been trying it now for weeks. Sometimes I wish I could just have two hours by myself to keep at it, but that's not possible, so every time, it's gotten a little better.

I'm finding my successes come in very small steps, but it's kind of cool that it seems everyone else is exactly the same about it.

What's made the canter better? Well, I've gotten used to the speed. I'm not as nervous when my horse speeds up because she wants to canter when everyone else is. I've learned to keep my heels way down - WAY down. I've learned to keep my lower leg on her, not tight, but snugged in. I've learned to get used to the bouncing and learned to sit a little better so I don't feel like I'm bounding out of the saddle with every stride. I've learned to keep my hands in better position and quieter.

And I just flew :)

[Alle]

Ruffiane, isn't that the greatest feeling? Good for you, and keep it up! My improvement comes slowly and then, like you experienced, something just 'clicks' and its wonderful.

[Drummers mum]

Tell me about the using the hip thing. I'm getting better at getting Drummer into canter but I can't keep him there!

[Alle]

Well, the horse listens to your seat aids, so when asking for canter. give a little 'bump' with the hip while squeezing with the outside leg. After the horse starts cantering, you keep moving the hip. Now, I don't mean that you're sliding across the saddle, as it's a more subtle motion. What I was doing wrong was tightening the hip, which sent the message to my horse to stop. Which she did, heh. So, I have worked at keeping the hip open, and pushing a bit with it to let her know I want her to stay in canter, and it's been working.

It's really hard to explain, so I don't know if any of my blather helped at all. :)