Tips on Cantering?

[Jenks]

As an adult, I completed my 12th or so lesson yesterday. I had many lessons as a youth, but I can tell you I wasn't taught correctly or just wasn't listening. As a youth I never *got* cantering. As an adult, I am leaning too far back, and slapping the saddle with my seat. It was much better yesterday, and we are in a round, indoor arena (feels much safer?). If I lean as far forward as my instructor tells me, I feel off balance and often have to catch myself with the horse right in front of the cantle(?). Any tips?

[kedwards]

When you are trying to move your body more toward the vertical, think of moving it forward by tipping slightly forward on your seatbones, so your whole body is straigher relative to the horse, but your back remains flat and your shoulder are still "open". If you are just moving forward with your back and shoulders, you may be hunching your back which will throw your balance off.

[galadriel]

Kedwards' advice was excellent :)

I have a few additional tips that might come in handy. They're not quite as on-target, but they're useful general comments.
http://lorienstable.com/articles/riding/500-learning_to_canter/

[Jenks]

Thanks kedwards, I think I may see what your saying......for some reason, I just feel more in balance when I lean back a little. But obviously, it's difficult to move with the horse when doing so. My back is the opposite of hunched, but maybe when I try to tilt forward........I need to get a video camera to be sure. I will certainly be conscious of it next canter and ask my instructor if she sees it.

galadriel,
Thanks, I found a link to your site on anothoer post and read everything on you site yesterday. I loved the diagonals page-very informative! Thanks again!

edited for spelling!

[friedegund]

I had the opposite problem. I would hunch forward from the waist when asking for the transition, and when the horse struck out into canter I would loose balance and haul back on reins, essentially putting the horse back into trot.

After a few lessons and some marvellous coaching, I am able to sit upright and do better transitions. You know what helped me alot?

The link of Galadriel's, the Lorien Stables website is like a bible to me!!!!


I have it saved to favorites and am now studying the Jumping information.

[Jenks]

Fried,

I have read and re-read those articles! They are good.