Help Needed

[moli]

I wonder if anyone can give me some riding advice. I am having a few problems when hacking out with my new mare who is a 13 year old TBX. When we hit a grass area and I ask for canter she is tanking off a bit too fast for my liking. I seem to be bouncing in the saddle and this is obviously encouraging her to go forward. When I lean forward she is slowing down - I can't understand this as I had thought that would make her go faster.

I can stop her so I'm not scared but I would like to know how to progress. Also - should you let your horse go when you are on your way back to the field or is this a bit silly? She quickens up and I am really having to hold her back.

Thanks
moli

[Garnett]

For your balance you could ask a trainer or a friend to put you on the longe for a while to help secure you seat a bit more, so you wont bounce around as much. There are a few reasons your mare could me taking off faster.... DOes she need...more turnout?....more exercise? Do you restrict her head alot with a tight rein? As for letting her pick-up the pace in the way home, you could let her walk and trot faster than normal but I wouln't let her canter because it usually becomes a habit, and a hard one to stop as she could be excited on the way home.

Best of luck with her, Christina

[Showjumper]

There's an old saying Always walk the last mile home however, a mile is a long way, so I always walk the last ten minutes home. This accomplishes several things: 1) allows the horse to cool off. 2) discourages napping and bolting.

If you're bouncing about, the horse will speed up to try and escape the "predator", whereas if you're in balance she'll be more relaxed and less inclined to run off. So yeah, like Garnett said, book yourself some lunge lessons to work on your balance and position.

Hope I helped!!!

Good Luck and Happy Landings! :D

[floppy]

i would go for the lunge lesssn too! when you canter you shouldnt be bouncing.. you should be riding with the flow of your horses movement...so in the mean time you can continue to lean slightly forwards whne you canter seeing as you can control your horse.
As for galloping/cantering on the field ont he way back..i would recommend not really to do it....you horse may start getting int he habbit of bucking/napping...I would sugegst though that you alternate between walking, trotting and occasionally cantrin gont he field ont he way back..but more inclined to gallop nt he field on the way out...just dont go getting your horse into a regular routine of cantering in the same place all the the time!
leaning forward doenst necessarily encourage a horse to go faster! its something you do when the horse is galloping to make it easier for you to ehm..stay in the saddle.

before i have a jumping lesson i usually warm up the horse and then canter leaning forward out of the saddle for a few rounds and the horse maintains its steady canter.
maybe, i dont know, but maybe when you lean forrwards you are pulling her back in the mouth and that is slowin gher down? does she have a sensitive mouth? or is she very responsive ?

[Bebe]

I agree that you really need an instructor to help with this but in the meantime, a couple of ideas spring to mind.

1) check your saddle fit. Some saddle problems become more pronounced in the canter and could contribute to your horse taking off at speed. May also be why she slows down when you lean forwards (causes pinching).

2) If you absolutely have to canter, try asking for canter from walk. I wouldn't normally recommend this but out on hacks most horses are capable of offering it (requires less strength and balance than to do it in an arena, although that doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't ask the horse for these in the first place). Going from the walk to canter is harder, requires your horse to use it's hindquarters more and usually gives a more balanced canter. Don't do this if your not sure how to though.

3) Don't canter in the same place all the time (this has already been said but so many people do it). This will lead to anticipation and its hard to hold back a horse that is hankering after a good run. If this is what's happening, I wouldn't even trot at these places, just walk them for a while.

Hope this helps
Amanda