help

[cobbie2001]

i find when i canter i raise my hands up vey high and i go jab jab in my horses mouth is there any way to stop this??

[LadyLimerik]

One thing you can try is when you go to canter grab a bit of mane in with the reins. This way if you go to pull your hands up the mane will kind of anchor them down.Eventually you'll get used to it and not have to hold it anymore.

[Lancashire Lass]

A Dressage balancing strap. Or failing that a piece of leather fastened through either side of the pommel of the saddle throught the D rings and secured, but not too long mind. Use this as a balance for your hands. Concentrate on keeping your hands as a pair and loops your little fingers through this strap when your schooling. It should stop you from raising your hands, keep them as a pair and also prevent you from giving your horse an unwanted jab in the mouth!! Hope this helps. Jx

[Dizzy]

It sounds as if you need to work on your position, balance and learn to absorb the horses movement. When your hands go up this suggests you're tense and unbalanced, which will stop your body absorbing the horses stride.

Your hands are going up in an attempt to balance yourself and unfortunately jabbing the horse in the mouth usually on each stride as your rein contact/balance comes and goes.

Lots of riding without stirrups, riding in cross country position (stood up in your stirrups with your weight falling through your heels) in walk and trot, and sitting trot will help you to develop an independant and balanced seat. If someone will help and lunge you all the better, then you can concentrate on your position (ear, hip, heel) and work on relaxing, and dropping your weight down through your heels. A kneck strap is a good idea, though with the cross country position I think a handfull of mane is best as you'll probably need support higher up to begin with. The key to it all is concentrate on the horses stride, get the feel of when the back legs are stepping underneath you, have a relaxed lower back/bum and nice steady deep breathes.

I hope this helps a little, you'll find once your relaxed and absorbing the movement, your hands will stay down. There is more I could say, but I'm tired and need an early night. I'm sure someone else will give more advise.

Good luck

Lesley

[cobbie2001]

well i mostly ride on the longe and also i had a bad fall at the start of the year as i was bucked of a horse and kicked in the head (i had a hard hat on ) and i think that maby why i lift my hand up becouse i think im unsafe i will try all of myour ideas thank-you for all your help and it was also my first canter on the horse and it was at pony club i was sooo embarassed i bet everone thought ohh she cant ride! even that i can becouse i have been around horse sence i was 3 yrs old and have been riding for 7 yrs
trhank-you again
g2g and ride bye :) :) ;0)

[Dizzy]

No wonder you feel insafe, what a nasty fall. Pay no attention to what other people think. Work on relaxing, nice deep even breathing and concentrate on the horses stride, this will keep your mind occupied.

After having such a nasty fall I would say you're doing really well, but don't rush yourself. Because you were bucked off you're maybe, aswell as tensing, subconciously lifting your hands in preparation of keeping the horses head up in case it happens again.

lots of luck

Lesley

[Yvonne M]

I have the same problem. I curl up into the feotal position when I canter so I hold onto a neck strap or grab some mane to stop myself from jabbing the horse in the mouth.