The canter

[dcp]

You'd think having a horse and cantering on most hacks I'd know how to do it but I don't really. :o

I usually lean a little forward and put my weight in the stirrups and away from the saddle. His canter is comfortable enough to sit to but I just read that having someone bouncing around on his back isn't much fun for him. Any tips please?

Duh should be in training of the rider

[teabiscuit]

there's good advice in the thread "to scared to canter" in mature riders-davidH gives some good advice on cantering position. I adopt the "off the back" position on hack canters, for exactly the reason you said.:)
oops the thread is "scared to canter my horse"

[wanabe]

My RI will get on me if I lean forward in canter. Especially to start it. She says "Lift into it.". :)

[teabiscuit]

you can have a deep seat in canter or a more forward one.
i suspect that in lessons your RI wants you to develop a nice deep "schooling" seat, but out hacking and having fun, generally its easier on horse and rider for the rider to adopt a lighter more forward seat. i'm not that good at explaining it, but David H is :) and his reply to that thread was very informative.

[DavidH]

My RI will get on me if I lean forward in canter. Especially to start it. She says "Lift into it.". :)
So would I if any of my current pupils leant forward during the canter transition. I also play hell if they drive their seat deep in the transition.
What must be understood from lessons is the instructor is teaching you what to do with the particular horse you are on. Exactly what you do with your body in any gait depends on the level of strenght, balance and schooling of the horse being ridden. Ultimate aim is to remain in a true vertical position, lighten the seat slightly and transfer weight to the inside stirrup as you ask.
However, this will not help a horse that is weak in the back, unbalanced and hollows in the canter. The explanation I gave in 'scared to canter' refered to what is needed for that particular horse / rider combination.

Unfortunately whilst boards like this are extremely useful it must be remembered that answers are generally to very specific questions and the advice is not always transferable. Each pairing of horse and rider is unique and need to be treated as such.

[*Sez*]

I always try to keep a light seat in canter, but have to carefully balance it - if I lean forward, even slightly my horse (OTTB) takes that as a request for a flat out gallop :rolleyes: . I sit deeper when asking for a downward transition to trot again.

[wanabe]

I reread DavidH's post in that other thread. It's a bit beyond me, still. But I have one question -- how you do tell if a horse is hollowing its back or rounding it?