Tipping forward at upward transitions - why do I do this?

[Scarlett 001]

I have noticed I have a tendency to tip forward at walk/trot or trot/canter transitions. I know I do this for trot/canter, but I have only just noticed that I do this same thing for walk/trot transition.

I don't get why my body naturally does this? What is going on? Am I trying to compensate for something, or am I just unbalanced, or falling behind the motion? I think that if I understand *why* I might be doing this, then it might make it easier to correct it. On that note, any suggestions on how to help correct this?

p.s. Hee hee! I am starting a thread in "training of the rider" section - I can't believe it! Yes, this does mean I am actually riding Skeeter these days (I rode 4 days in a row from Thurs-Sun) as he is ready to go at long last! :D

[kedwards]

I've often wondered this myself, since it is so common (and was a habit that took me a long time to correct as well, if indeed it is fully gone).

My best guess is that it is mimicking what we'd do if we were moving forward ourselves (we lean forward a little bit to get our center of weight ahead before we walk or run).

[CityGirl]

Oh - Lean Queen here. Kim, interesting theory about why we lean forward - makes sense. I also think sometimes we anticpate the forward motion & our body actively moves forward as well.

For me - the first time it really clicked for me was when my trainer told me to start thinking about going "up" into canter, not "out". What was happening is that as I leaned forward, I also threw away contact. So when Ni would go into canter, it would be on the forehand & strung out. And the more on the forehand he was, the more he would pull me forward - it was a viscious cycle.

So I actively focused on channeling UP in my transitions. I would concentrate on being straight in the saddle and feeling the energy go through my hands but keeping the front "wall" closed. Make sense at all?

[Trewsers]

I agree with Kedwards - I think its because we're asking for a faster pace we try subconsciously (spelt wrong) to help the horse move on by leaning forwards - well I do anyways!!! Thus, mimicking what we'd do if we were to go faster (hope this makes sense - it does to me). I have to really make myself not do it - when I ask for canter on Storm - I am so keen to let her get on with it I lean forward thinking I'm helping her out - when in fact, I'm hindering her :p The other day when schooling her I made a real big effort to sit tall and ask and the transition was (almost) seamless.

[coverblown]

I have to tell myself to lean back - although I don't actually lean back, the thought just stops me tipping forward, but it does feel completely alien - asking horse to go more forward and leaning back at the same time.
Oh and another one, I have to look at the ceiling, so I don't look down when I tip forward.
Things only seem to work for me if they're over-exaggerated.

And I hear my instructors mantra - dont compromise your position for a transition.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

trot-canter i want to do it sometimes (and do succed at doing it at times :o .)

i always think of leaning back and having think of having someone pull my hair back and that allways helped me

[BackintheSaddle]

I blame my tip forwardd on two things 0 nerves and leg position. I think that when i ask for the canter especially, I put my outside leg too far back, which pops me forward. I like the idea of thinking of UP in my transition, to help remind me to be light andbring my shoulders back. Sort of like "aaanndd, UUPP into the canter." I'll try it tomorrow.

[LMS]

For some riders, leaning forward is a confidence issue.
They instinctively go into a foetal position (various degrees) and often start gripping (again various degrees). As they become more confident, comfortable with the transition and can manage the gazillion things they have to remember, their position does become correct.

Here's a tip: imagine that the back of your helmet has a cord attached from it to the horse's tail. If you lean forward it'll snap off.

LMS

[andreaB]

if you are up to riding with one hand try puuting the reins in your outside hand , sit tall ,stretch inside arm up high above your head & imagine someone is pulling you up by the top of your head but not enough to lift you from the saddle , then ask for the canter , maintaining this postion throughout

hopefully this will stop the collapse forward of the body

[rache]

i have been told to try put reins in one hand and put the other under the saddle behind your leg also gets you in rhythem i believe, works better with a cloth than a numnah