Keeping going in canter

[^_^pEpPeRpOt^_^]

In my past two lessons i have rode a horse i have never ridden before and when i come to cantering i can get the transition really well but the i just cant keep the horse going, Hes a lot rounder and has a longer stride to anything else i have rode and tends to kind of do a little buck in to the canter, i thought that this might be the problem as whe he does this my legs swing and i cant keep them on him. Any help or suggestions would be much apreciated. =)

Ali

[clipclop]

Sit up tall and deep and give more of a urgent nudge with you legs rather than even pressure.

Good luck.

[laura jeanne]

The horse I rode today falls out of canter if you lose rein contact or lean too far forward. Both of which I did of course. Instructor said to keep my weight in my heels with my calves against the horse (toes turned out at little extra), stretch up, dont' tense up and don't let the reins get any slack in them! Hope this helps.

This horse is pretty big compared to me and it's hard for me to keep my calves on especially since I tend to hold on with my knees- very bad- must keep working on this.

[^_^pEpPeRpOt^_^]

Thanks guys will try your suggestions =)

[dancing-horse]

You'll find that there are alot of riders with this problem, and all of the time it's not the horses fualt, but the riders. The horse can keep going if he is healthy and fit, thats what he is made for, he's a speed animal. However, horses don't listen to instructions because they may sense hesitation from the rider or think that they can take advantage. I used to ride a horse that wouldn't canter sometimes because hse sensed I was unbalanced and perhaps this is what this horse is doing. If you said your legs wave all over the place in the canter, you can't be entirely balanced.

I would try using my voice to urge on the horse. You could kiss or cluck or use whatever signal he responds to to canter. You should also try using a crop.

Also try and think positevely while cantering. A horse can sometimes sense when you don't really want to canter, or your a bit frustrated. Try to clear your head of all thoughts, except for *cantering* and then see how you do then.

[imabrit_us]

I recently rode a much narrower horse than I'm used to for the first time and felt (uncharacteristically) unbalanced on him . . . the first couple of times I cantered him, he went just fine . . . but then I almost fell off (almost went out the side door on a corner) and after that, he became really reluctant to take up canter . . . undoubtedly a combination of lack of balance and a tendency of mine to either lean forwards (thus weighting the shoulder) or throw the reins up his neck (thus giving him no contact to go forwards into) when I can't get the canter right away.

I need to take responsibility for the rein contact and balance, but I suspect dear old Otis is also partially taking care of this horribly unbalanced creature on his back.

The good news is that I had this very same problem when I first cantered the other horses I ride . . . and now I can get all three of them into a canter w/ no trouble at all . . . even extremely lazy Stanley. So . . . practice, practice, practice. The bucking's unfortunate . . . Stan does it too . . . but as long as the bucks aren't unseating, you'll probably find (as I have) that you're able to sit them fine and not lose your balance (which will help your canter).

Good luck.

N

[^_^pEpPeRpOt^_^]

Thanks everyone. I did actually have a crop/stick but it was a long one which i found difficult to use. I do managed to sit him bucking very well as they are only small but i think that is what makes me not to be able to hold my legs on and make him unsure of what i want. Practise will help though as i did managed to get him about half way round the arena =) Thanks again to everyone =)

Ali

[shirley]

Glad somone posted this problem, as I think it is a problem lots of us have. I certainly do. I have only just managed to get my horse into canter, but now have to concentrate about keeping him there, so all the good advice I will be putting in practise as well.

[carrimclaren]

Just to mention that sometimes it's just a case of not wanting to. If a horse isn't well schooled or is bored or just being lazy they will drop back to trot or walk. My mare has a tendancy to do this - tries to be the boss and end the schooling when she wants to. It's taken me 5 long months to get to the point that when we walk into the school i am the one saying what pace we are going and not her. Now i don't worry when i have to ask her to go from trot to canter and believe me my legs can go tres rubbish sometimes but ive been taught that as long as you keep the horse going forward your balance and legs follow and i've found so far that it's true.

[kedwards]

Also, check that you are allowing fully with you hands. If the horse has a bigger stride than you are used to, he may also have a little more neck action. If you are accidentally restricting his head (or unconsciously holding him back to shorten him), he may think you are asking him to break into trot.

[horsehelp]

use impulsion

[^_^pEpPeRpOt^_^]

YAY i managed to canter him very nearly all the way round today =D My instructor said it was because i wasnt letting my hands follow so pulling back and that i had to be really strong with my legs and keep them on and i was confusing him poor thing. But yay i did it hopefully will get to try in my group lesson on saturday so will probly be even harder as he is so slow when in group lesons. Thanks everyone

Ali