hellpp - It's cantering next lesson!

[brandy's mum]

Hi, just had a great lesson, lovely sunny day, able to go outside after 3 weeks of the indoor school BUT near the end my R.I. said "How would you like to try cantering?" I'm such a wuss I just bleated "no, not today". She went on to say my basic position's so much better in trot , specially my seat and my downward transitions that she feels I'm ready. So, I've promised her, and myself that I'll try next lesson.

So, please, how do you do it? I expect I'll be able to go into canter but is there a secret to staying on and not lurching around too much. I've got exactly 7 days to go. I seem to remember reading something about belly dancing but I can't do that either!

[nicolaj]

My first canter was totally unexpected, but managed to stay on!

First proper canter in a lesson, I just remember it being extremely bumpy, because I was obviously so tense through my body!

If you're unsure just do a couple of strides at first to get used to the feeling.

Staying on will be the same skills you already know trying to remain balanced in the saddle, keeping your legs wrapping or hugging horses sides, trying not to tense up, try to keep supple. A lot also depends upon the canter of the horse, some have a really nice smooth canter you can easily 'sit' into, whilst others are really choppy.

I know it's hard, but just worry about how it feels and do little bits at first.

[Crazyhorse]

My first canter was smooth as I was on a horse who moved like a rocking horse. I remember being so pleased with myself:D I think the best advice would be not to think anything at all. All you can do is go with the movement of the particular horse you are riding. The more you think and fret the more tense you will be, which could make you bounce. In a way it's a shame you didn't go for it in your last lesson as there wouldn't have been too much time to think about it;) Had I know my first canter was coming I think I would have been a tad apprehensive. I know I was when I was told I was going on my first hack :eek:

[nutkin]

The secret to cantering is that yes it is a faster pace than trot but it is actually alot smoother and more comfortable than trot is to learn. You just have to relax and go with the horse rather than tense up which as you will remember when you learnt to trot just bounces you around.

[brandy's mum]

"In a way it's a shame you didn't go for it in your last lesson as there wouldn't have been too much time to think about it"

Crazyhorse, I think you're probably so right and I'm kicking myself now for not going for it there and then this afternoon!

[ANN H]

Try not to think about it before your next lesson. I'm sure your RI will look after you and you'll wonder what all the fuss was about. My first canter on Misty was like the Wall of Death in our small paddock as she likes SPEED!!

[nutterinnewquay]

hi youre first canter will seem like its a mountain to climb, but cantering is alot more comfy and smoother than a trot just remember to relax and enjoy the canter if u have to hold the front of youre saddle just to help you get used to it then when youre happy let go and enjoy the wind blowing through youre hair lol

[riverrock6]

my first canter on my pony cherry was scary but great! i have been rider now for 6 years and i'll give you some tips
i found books really helpful
sit really tight and hold on to a martingle or the saddle
dont worry about being on the right leg yeild on your first canter ask your teacher about the right leg
hold on to your reins tight but dont pull to hard on the bit
sit in you saddle and try and not to bonce to much or you'll hurt your horses back
dont kick to much squezze really tight
and talk to your horses it helps to say "canter"in a sweet vocie and remeber always leave in a good note toboth horse and rider but most of all enjoy yourself

[Lora]

So, please, how do you do it? I expect I'll be able to go into canter but is there a secret to staying on and not lurching around too much. I've got exactly 7 days to go. I seem to remember reading something about belly dancing but I can't do that either!

It's an elusive thing BM :) One day I'm riding fabulously, like someone above my training level and the next I look like a sack of crap up there on a nice horse. hahha Next time you're riding that way and she mentions, take her up on it. SHe sees opportunity and it sure can't be scheduled. (at least with my riding, maybe you're better..hehhe)

I have cantored many times and found some horses are easy and some I just never got a good one. SHe'll guide you and probably do it on a lunge line at first.

For mine, I need to revisit the trotting without stirrups and all the basics allllllllllllll over again because my trot went south on me. hehehe

[Skib]

All such good advice - but let's face it. In ones first canter one is not in a state to do real riding. You're not steering or braking or choosing leads. None of that fancy stuff. Because you may well be bouncing.
Why? because the first step of canter by the horse will first drop your outside seat bone down and then lift it up again with considerable force.
Your body doesnt recognise that lurch the first time it comes, ( it will soon )and so the next thing you do instinctively to keep yourself safe is to grip with your knees. Which stiffens you up.

My cantering was transformed when I heard a teacher say to someone else (though with me in mind) that if you stiffened up cantering you would bounce about like a sack of coal. But if you relaxed, you rode smoothly.

Dont know if you have ever done breathing and relaxing like those of us who went to natural childbirth classes years and years ago? Or yoga? But breathing slow and deep and being relaxed, letting your arms and legs go soft, sitting softly on the horse is all you need do. You can practise it in walk and sitting trot too.
You will quickly get the knack of canter like this - and enjoy.

[Peace]

Yep, if you're like me, all the good advice you've heard will fly right out of your head the second you start cantering.:D But as Skib says, just hang in there and breathe, and after awhile you'll feel calm enough to see if you can do something about all that bouncing.;) The "belly dancing" comes from galadriel's article on the subject - I'll see if I can link it here for you. My teacher calls the same concept "bending at the waist," but the idea is to allow your lower back to move with the horse. Good luck!:)

Here's the canter article:
http://lorienstable.com/articles/riding/500-learning_to_canter/

[happy highlande]

Make sure your RI puts a neck strap on. When you canter hold onto it with your outside hand and pull your bottom into the saddle. Your inside hand can hang there for now!!!
Sing a song as you canter - Skye boat song (speed bonny boat...) is good!!
Smile, breath , enjoy ----- and tell us how it went!!

[vince42]

Once you start you'll not want to stop! First time don't do too much a few strides at a time is fine - it's a completely different movement and takes some getting used to. My first canter was in April and I'm only really getting the idea now.... I managed 20m nearly circular circles today!

First canter I was a complete passenger but was privileged to be on a superb school horse that loves to canter and needs no encouragement, hopefully you'll be as lucky. Trust your horse, don't worry about the right leg or anything else just enjoy the ride, you'll soon be hooked.

Enjoy it,
Vince

[brandy's mum]

thanks everyone for all the help. Happy Highlande - I can do "speed bonny boat" cos I used to hum it to my daughter when she was a baby to get her to sleep! I'll let you all know how it goes on Thursday

[wanabe]

If you just sit on the horse, it will still be smoother than a trot. As a male, it may be different for me, but sitting the canter seems as if I go up, down, and then thrust my hips forward, then repeat. As a beginner, I'm not aware of my seat bones going up or down on one side or the other.

[Cheeky]

Yeah .. if you just sit with the horse.. and relax those legs ;) everything will be fine :) try and let your seat become one with the horse .. like in walk, you just want to melt your lower body to be part of the horse . . er .. so to speak.

I hope all goes well :) Might be in for a bumpy ride .. but relax :p I bet your a natural :)

[domane]

Well Brandy's Mum? How was it? Did you survive???? :D

[brandy's mum]

Hi everyone, I'm feeling a bit of a fraud cos I didn't do it after all! There were other lessons going on in the school and my RI also said she thought I'd be absolutely fine but she couldn't bear to think of me trying to cook Christmas dinner with one arm in plaster! SO I'll try it after Christmas. I'm quite disappointed but I'll save up all the great advice for then. Did lots of circles in trot, well rather more like egg shapes than circles but she said it was really coming together well. It did make me decide to get long boots tho' as the bottom of my legs( inside of my calves) started to rub a lot.
Now for my next question. After the proper lesson she let me go out of the outdoor arena on to the open area of land. (it's great cos the RS own loads of land.) It's an ancient iron age fort so it's got steep hilly bits and open bits and ditches and a river etc etc. well, I could trot up the steep track up the hill perfectly happily and circle round at the top but, when it came to going down again I found it scary. My current RS horse is brilliant, very calm and forgiving but he's a very big horse, 16 hh ++ and at a couple of points he put his head down. It felt like looking over the great abyss and that I might fall over it at any minute, plus it was very muddy and a bit slippy. Please can anyone advise how to keep feeling more safe?

[Peace]

my RI also said she thought I'd be absolutely fine but she couldn't bear to think of me trying to cook Christmas dinner with one arm in plaster!

:eek: I understand why that statement didn't exactly make you want to insist on cantering that lesson!:rolleyes: :D Anyway, there's no rush - don't tell anybody, but it took me six years to get ready to canter. Not that it will take you anywhere near that long:eek: Gosh, I'm a great motivator as well, aren't I:rolleyes:. My point is there's no harm in waiting.

About going downhill - lean back and look at the horizon. You want to keep your body straight up and down even though the horse is tilting under you. Think of it as keeping your body in line with the trunks of the trees growing on the hill - you'll need to lean back a little to manage it when the horse goes downhill, and forward a little when the horse goes uphill.:)

[BeachRiding]

It took me a year and a half to dare and try canter,I was a very nervous rider. At first it feels akward and then once you are used to it,its the most wonderful feeling,it makes riding worthwhile! I now canter all the time!

[Laetitia]

I'm a wuss going downhill. Best advice I've ever had and do is - sit up, look up - fix on something on the horizon. weight slightly back and hold the back of the saddle with one hand and relax. Your head is the heaviest part of your body - where your head goes your body follows and can unbalance your steed, so always keep it up and don't look down. Trust your horse. You'll feel better once you've done downhill a few times. L
P.S. much easier in the carriage, just have to keep nag collected and focused and keep the brake on!. Not very helpful, just thought you'd like to know. L

[Trewsers]

Hehe, you'll be fine, try not to think about it too much and build it up in your head otherwise, you'll be worse than ever!!!!:p From one who 6 months ago used to get jelly legs and weak arms at the thoughts of cantering I can offer the following advice:
Don't do anything you don't feel ready for
Take it slowly - tell your instructor how you feel - don't be scared of "bleating" either!!! There's no shame in not being confident!!!
Try not to think too hard about it when you're actually doing it - just breath and relax (don't be like me - I used to tense up and sit there thinking OMG this is way too fast - this is not normal, humans weren't meant to travel at this speed with no seatbelt:D :p !)
If you do wobble around and feel unsecure, grab a handful of mane! No shame in it - unfortunately for me my mare is now trained in the art of going into canter if you touch her mane (my fault for clinging on in the early days!!!!)
Seriously, you'll be fine - let us know how you get on!!!! I've only just begun to enjoy it - last night I did a full lap and I felt as though I'd found my "seat" at last - after months of jelly legs and arse bumping around like billio in the saddle!!!!!! :D :D