help - done it again!!

[brandy's mum]

can't believe I've done it again, fallen off today trying to canter. I was doing rising trot ok, must have given a wrong aid so he cantered, I stayed on for a few strides but then fell off. I felt pretty stupid but got back on and did a couple of circuits in walk. It's rpretty sore but I'm not badly hurt as I was wearing my body protector. most of all I feel disappointed and frustrated, will I ever get it right and am I the only person this happens to?? Is it more likely to happen from rising trot?? Any advice would be much appreciated

[kirstie]

you honestly won't be the first rider this has happened it probably happened to me but i can't really remember, remember you got back on the horseat least you havn't lost your confidence on horses. All it needs is time, you got used to walk, and trotting next you'll be fine in canter. Will i ever get it right??? Yes you will like i said it takes time but once its clicked you'll think back to how easy it was, if you knew you were going to canter you might have stayed on it could have just been the surprisewhen you went into canter you fell of by accident :(, if your definately used to sitting and rising trot and have the swing of doing these gaits, then would it be possible to have a half an hour private lesson, that way you could ask to go on the lunge, this will mean the person in centre has control of the horse so when it comes to cantering, you can just hold on the front of the saddle to make sure you stay on and practise this way. Then when your used to this speed ask to go off the lunge. Hope it all makes sense good luck and keep us updated. :)

[Unbridled]

Hi there. Sorry you fell off but I'm glad you're okay. You're not the only one who falls off at canter, so don't feel bad! I've been riding for over a year and a half and have owned a horse for a year, and I *still* have issues with canter. In my riding career I've fallen off three times--and all three times were in canter. The first time was because the horse cantered and I wasn't expecting it and I lost my balance. The second time was after a 3 hour hack and I was 50 feet from the barn; I'm still not sure what happened, I just came off. The last time happened a few weeks ago when I was out on a hack and the horse ahead of me went from walk to canter. Sugar of course followed, but she was unfamiliar with the area and when some birds flew up from the grass she spooked and started bucking.

I've always been told to go into canter from sitting trot, so being in a rising trot may have been what did you in. But there could be other factors too. My big problem at canter is tensing up. I have some lower back problems and sometimes canter is uncomfortable for me, so I tense up. And when I tense up I stop moving with the rhythm of the horse. This can cause bouncing in the saddle which makes it much easier to fall.

[ajhainey]

More seat work needed :) Maybe put of cantering until you are a bit more stable in sitting trot? In comparison to sitting trot canter is a breeze! aj xx

[Morganna]

Have you tried some flat work without stirrups? This may help with your balance. I know it did wonders for mine when I came back to riding and was very unbalanced in canter. We did rising and sitting trot without stirrups on lunge lessons for a few lessons and next time I tried canter my balance and seat were greatly improved. I find sitting trot without stirrups much more intimidating these days :D

[vince42]

Well done for getting back on. If he's gone into canter unexpectedly you'll be out of balance from the start so coming off is so much easier (been there - eaten the dirt :o ) Wouldn't expect a school horse to canter willingly from a rising trot they take part of the cue from your bum in the saddle.

Persevere, do more sitting trot and no stirrup work if you can, and do go for a private lesson when you try for canter. Maybe also see if there's a more suitable horse? First horse I cantered - deliberately - on has a really easy, steady canter and doesn't need much encouragement to go. He's also sensible enough that you can drop the reins, grab the mane and let him go round the school without worrying what he'll do:) Just the ticket for learning on...

It'll come in time then like me you'll probably discover all sorts of new ways to fall off a horse :o Just ordered my new body protector...;)

Vince

[domane]

You need some sticky-bum jodhpurs, my girl!!! :D

[stormy's mum]

you have to go into the canter from the sitting trot if you ost you will fall because your bum is not in the sdaddle so when the horse canters lean abck just a bit sqezze those knees against the sadlle and and relax go with the motion

[brandy's mum]

the thing about sitting trot being better than rising trot seems to make sense, and so does being on the lunge cos then it's more under control and I suppose I also don't need to worry so much about direction and stopping do I?? Unfortunately at my RS they don't like working without stirrups at all whereas I can see how much it could improve my depth of seat/security. Stupid question but at what point do you start to hold onto the neckstrap? I have to keep telling myself that I have learned to do lots already but after a fall I guess it feels like I've not learned anything. Possibly not helped by the fact my RI says she's only had 6 people fall in 2 years and 2 of them are me!!!!

[stormy's mum]

the longe line is harder because the horse has to lean in to balance itself and this can be hard to adjust to when you ask for the canter hold on to the neck strap because the horse will have to rock their hind end back abit to strike off with the stirrups try to strech your legs down long think long and loose or as my ri calls it wet flexible noodle

[Dummer&Drummer]

arrr poor you - keep with it, it will get easier, and you will get there :) i had many a fall in the begining

[Skib]

Vile riding instructor. Blaming you. It is her fault. She's on the defensive.
Lots of horses break into canter when asked to trot faster - in fact you'll see from other threads that it is one way of teaching new riders to canter - accidental canter sometimes works well.
But it has to be used at the right moment and with the right rider.
I have forgotten vital stuff like how old you are?
How long you've been learning? Where you live? and
Are you in a class or a private lesson?
Personally I dont think grabbing the neck strap is a good idea. Never helped me. It made me lean forward and stiffen up.
The most important questions are
1. Can you find lessons from someone with higher care of your safety. Regardless of whether you are on the lunge or cantering or not, you need to be helped to sit comfortably on a horse, with and without sitirrups and in walk and trot.
2. Will you ever do it? Given time yes. Lots of it has to do with the way one is taught and the method being the right one for you. But all it really takes is time in the saddle.
3. Enjoy the riding you do. learning to canter is a bit like learning to swim. At some point you need to take your foot off the bottom and do it. But at the moment when you are well prepared. In the meantime, get some happiness out of it. Opt for low risk, intelligent horsemanship. Children who enjoy paddling are the one's who will learn to swim well.

[brandy's mum]

Thanks lots for all the encouragement, I'm mid 5o's, live near Birmingham and have been riding for nearly a year. I have a private lesson about once every 2 weeks on average (try to avoid all school holidays as sooo many children!!)

On the whole I get on well with my RI, but it's a bit like with anyone who's really good at something, she tends to forget that what's obvious to her aint so to me!! I'll keep building up my confidence and then try again with canter. It seems to be the thing that can be a problem for lots of people!! Maybe third time lucky?