First Canter today maybe!

[dogmaddebbie]

OK this afternoon I am going for my fifth hack/lesson and if I'm feeling brave we may have a canter. Can you please tell me the best position to sit it ie should I sit into it or lean forward?

Wish me luck, its over 20 years since I last cantered and I fell off then!

[raingodz]

I hope you do get your first canter today :)

I think it is best to keep upright and relaxed, and becareful not to grip with your knees or you might loose your stirrups.

I have only returned to cantering in the last couple of months so I am sure that there are others on NR who can give you better advice.

I hope you enjoy your lesson today :)

[lgourlay36]

Hi there,
I had my first canter on Wed night, first that is in 18 years too! It didnt go too well because as soon as the horse gave one stride in canter he went back to a very quick trot. My fault I think as I found it hard to give the leg aids to keep him going forward and was probably giving him mixed signals.:o

However, I just bought 'The Animated Riding Series' DVD No. 1 and it shows you how to sit the canter amongst other things and it seems to be saying to sit up straight and move your pelvis forward and up to match the movement.
Easier said than done I think tho.
Good luck!:D

[Trewsers]

Oooh, good luck and try to stay relaxed. Don't do what I used to do and spend too much mental energy whilst cantering thinking "must keep legs down, must relax arms, must relax stomach muscles, must keep leg on to ask for more, must try not to be too stiff" etc etc, I spent so much time worrying and trying to do all these things, I used to ache afterwards!!! Relax and as lots of people on here told me - don't forget to breathe!!! :D

[Maclynky]

The best advice I got was to lean back and keep heels down, in reality I was leaning forward so whilst my RI didn't want me to actually lean back she knew that if I leaned back I would actually be upright - if that makes sense.

[dogmaddebbie]

I did it and I'm still alive!

It didn't go to plan though. I was out on a hack with two others and the instructor asked if we wanted to canter, I said no but the other girl said yes, so she told me to trot at the back. AS IF!

So off the horse went keeping up with the others, me bouncing up and down on the back like a loon, thinking I'm gonna fall off! But I didn't so thats one good thing! I wanted to grab onto the pommel but i thought if i do that then i'm losing my brakes (the reins), I actually feel sorry for the horse cause he must have been getting so many mixed messages off me.

I will have another go next week though, hopefully I will be on my usual riding horse and have more confidence.

My heart is still racing now and I did have a really good rising trot.

[cazzarotti]

Aww well done for staying on! Did you enjoy it?

[raingodz]

Well done on you first canter and I'm sure the next will be easyer because you have now managed the first :)

[Purple Hugs]

Hi there,
I had my first canter on Wed night, first that is in 18 years too! It didnt go too well because as soon as the horse gave one stride in canter he went back to a very quick trot. My fault I think as I found it hard to give the leg aids to keep him going forward and was probably giving him mixed signals.:o

However, I just bought 'The Animated Riding Series' DVD No. 1 and it shows you how to sit the canter amongst other things and it seems to be saying to sit up straight and move your pelvis forward and up to match the movement.
Easier said than done I think tho.
Good luck!:D
this dvd sounds great! will be looking out for it! ;)

[Purple Hugs]

I did it and I'm still alive!

It didn't go to plan though. I was out on a hack with two others and the instructor asked if we wanted to canter, I said no but the other girl said yes, so she told me to trot at the back. AS IF!

So off the horse went keeping up with the others, me bouncing up and down on the back like a loon, thinking I'm gonna fall off! But I didn't so thats one good thing! I wanted to grab onto the pommel but i thought if i do that then i'm losing my brakes (the reins), I actually feel sorry for the horse cause he must have been getting so many mixed messages off me.

I will have another go next week though, hopefully I will be on my usual riding horse and have more confidence.

My heart is still racing now and I did have a really good rising trot.

That's great you've got past the first hurdle! ;)
At least you didn't have to worry about getting the horse into canter! hehe if he followed suit. :)
I ended up in an accidental canter earlier in the week and bounced around (I thought I was doing rising trot, but not sure I was...) I knew the pace had changed but hadn't the time to really register and sit to it.

Fingers x'd we get it soon! I have watched others ride canter and they just seem to sit there looking lovely!! can't imagine myself like that yet though! :rolleyes:

[dogmaddebbie]

In a strange way I did enjoy it, even though I clung on for dear life. I have waited over 20 years to overcome my fear of cantering (after falls when I was younger) and hopefully this will be a step closer to my dream of enjoying a good canter out on a hack.

My legs are aching now though, oh well a few more calories burnt off!

[Purple Hugs]

That's even better that you are overcoming a fear! :D Taking charge of your confidence and fears is a big thing, that we mostly shy away from. :o

good luck with your next one, glad you are looking forward to it and positive! :cool: