Cantering

[Amelia-Jane]

Please tell me how to let go of saddle !!! I am learning to canter in my weekly lesson up to now i have been encouraged to hold on to the saddle but my instructor now wants me to let go and im too scared any advice?

[ajhainey]

It's actually easier not holding on to be honest - holding the saddle blocks your movement in funny ways - with luck you'll find it much smoother when you let go :-)

If you do start to lose your balance don't grab on the reins, grab mane, and otherwise just remeber to sit back/up and enjoy!

aj xx

[vimto92]

Aww!:(
Don't be scared.....its not like what you think.....but maybe thats because I never held on to the pommel and stuff.

[I.Haven't.Cantered.For.2.Months.By.The.Way]

Right...basically just go out there and do it and keep your heels down and flow.:)

Its really not that scary - I've cantered one handed - I was petrified before I had to do it....but when I started to do it, it was fine and fun.:)

[greeneyes13]

Hi!!
Dont get stressed out! I know its easy to say but stressing out will make you and the horse nervous and more likely to act as you wouldnt wish.

Dont let go if you arnt comfortable yet.

Have you done any sitting trot? I found this useful in getting me used to the movement of the horse moving under me and letting my body react to that. If you can sit to a trot and stay on-even without any style you should be good for a canter its a much easier pace to sit to

What about compromising with your instructor and holding on with one hand at a time?/Holding onto the mane instead? Ask for a nice sized horse if you are the right size for one-I think they have less bouncier canters than ponies

I like it when my instructor pushed me along gently even when I thought I wasnt ready. If you have a good instructor they'll know your ready for a new step before you do.
Whens you next lesson?

[Amelia-Jane]

Thursday thanks for all your advice i will try and let go ! My friend told that she held the mane to learn to canter but my instructor says thats the wrong way to do it does anyone no why this might be, my friend tell me it helped her with the canter.

[greeneyes13]

I have no idea-i was told to hang onto the mane with one hand if I wasnt feeling balanced. Its not ideal because it gives you less control over the reins and where the horse is going but a school horse is likely to be a nbice reliable animal that will canter a nice slow circuit of the school and stop when he reaches the back of the ride. I assume your lessons are in a closed arena?
Let us know how you get on anyway:) Good luck!

[ajhainey]

Because hanging onto the mane brings your body forward. Really you need something like a loop attached to the front of the saddle (like rodeo riders have I think :) ) to keep your body in the right place while providing a bit of stability I think - I've never had anything though and in fact I think sitting trot would be the one I'd need it at - canter is quite comfy!

aj xx

[SA rider]

If it's a real problem, you could maybe ask for a lunge lesson in canter. Then you wouldn't have to think about where the horse was going or using the reins and could concentrate on slowly lifting your hands away from the saddle and relaxing your body into the horses movement.
Either that or just take your hands away for a few seconds, telling yourself you can always put them back... hey maybe you won't want to.

[sophie33]

I had your problem for ages. Then one day I just decided not to hold on - and it was actually much easier, not least because it was one less thing to think about during the transition! So I suggest you just grit your teeth and try it - it will be easier than you think

[Boudicca23]

Hiya, I had a similar problem with cantering. I only canter while hacking out (tip - it's easier to canter when going uphill) and had been told by my RI to hold onto the pommel with one hand, sit up, but also not to shorten the reins (which you kind of automatically do if you have to hold them in one hand) because this will restrict the forward movement of the horse's head and neck which they need to canter (esp. uphill) successfully. So, you can imagine, I'm holding on with one hand, stretching the other hand with the reins forward, trying to sit still in the saddle and breathe. Absolutely none of it worked! We'd go into canter, my right foot would consistently come out of the stirrup, I was getting bumped out of the saddle with a hell of a jerk (my RI said that was okay as long as I always landed back down in the saddle!), the horse would sometimes start to turn because I wasn't holding the reins in one hand evenly, my balance was gone to pot - frankly, it was terrifying. Needless to say, I'd make any excuse possible not to go into canter. So, I got talking to some of the other girls who ride out at the yard and they told me - sit with a light seat (i.e., come up out of the saddle just a tiny bit, perhaps not even as much as you would when rising to the trot, just take your weight off the saddle a touch) and lean forward very slightly from the waist.

I tried this for the first time (without telling my RI who was riding in front and not looking at me) on Monday this week and, blimey! What a revelation! I couldn't believe the difference - it was so smooth and not jerky or bouncy. I found that because of a light seat, my weight was, instead, focused down into the stirrups which meant I didn't lose either of them, being up out of the saddle meant I wasn't getting smacked up the backside as the hindquarters came up, leaning forward placed my weight more over the withers (which would help the horse going uphill in any case) and I found I automatically lowered my hands down to either side of the horse's neck which I've since found out is where they're supposed to be when cantering. And I was breathing normally without having to think about it. Fabulous! Suddenly it all made sense and was massively enjoyable! When we got to the flat and slowed down, I told my RI what I'd done and her reaction was, "I suppose you want to gallop now!" but let's leave that for another lifetime, eh?

[cvb]

Thursday thanks for all your advice i will try and let go ! My friend told that she held the mane to learn to canter but my instructor says thats the wrong way to do it does anyone no why this might be, my friend tell me it helped her with the canter.

Amelia-Jane - do me a favour. Find a friend, one that is up for doing silly things ;) Now - you can either do this standing or on all fours - depends how real you want to make it. Get her to take a firm grip on the hair at its lowest point on your neck, and pull....

What does it make you do ?

I'll bet you move your head and neck towards the pressure.

So - on the horse you grab a bit of mane, and pull - what will the horse do ? Yep - there WILL be a response. And it will be one that makes the horse more hollow and less balanced - it may be only small, but it WILL be there. Add in that to grab the mane you have to be slightly forward (as already mentioned) and its not going to help either of you ;)

That doesn't mean never hold the mane - its the upward pull that has an effect.

[prettybluepony]

Boudicca23- Galloping is fun! Even when you lose control. ;)


On the advice front. Sit up, smile, relax, heels down, look up, and have fun, just chill and practice. I learnt the hard way, via bolt. Yes hacking out a horse bolted with me, there was nothing I could do but sit up, be confident, and stop them. Not a good way to learn, very scary. I've found by helping other people learn canter it's best to "follow" a more experienced rider, on a horse yours gets along with, so even if your horse knows your nervous you still get a full canter, and you don't have to work so hard to keep it going as your learning.

And remember just chill and have fun, once you learn this a whole world opens to you. and no matter what keep your heel down, it will keep you safe by keeping your leg largely in the right position, & your bum in the saddle. ;)

[Amelia-Jane]

Thanks for all the advice and encouragment. As it turned out, on Thursday, my instructor decided i would be better holding on to the saddle for now - so my scary moment has been delayed for a bit longer, although she is now mentioning cantering without stirrups!!! At least i now understand why holding the mane may not be such a good idea, although i find the lack of steering that comes with holding on to the saddle terrifying - as we head down the long side of the school (it is an indoor arena) i am convinced pony and i are about to be reduced to a mangled heap when we hit the wall at the end!!! AND however hard i try i am still bouncing around - "sit deep in the saddle" is a lot easier said than done. Not giving up - the riding bug has got me - looking forward to being able to look back at this time and smile.:)

[Horsesaddle]

Have you been riding for long ? what is ponies name ?

[Amelia-Jane]

Hi I have been riding since mid january not very long, I ride different ponies but Bert is my favourite: he's white,sometimes dirty, hes grumpy- not always but he's loveable and 17years old, I wish he was mine!:D

[prettybluepony]

For the bum in saddle thing just push your heel down and look ahead, I really suggest with out stirrups, and hands off, you will find it so much easier without holding onto the reins.

[Amelia-Jane]

I did it!
I let go of the saddle to canter stopped breathing and flew. Holding on to the rein,was sooo much better than holding the saddle. My legs were like jelly and my heart pounded but, I had a big cheesey grin all the way round the school. I jumped off Bert (Pony) and kissed him and my legs nearly gave way
I was so pleased with myself, I cant wait for next lesson :D :D

[stormchaser]

Well done! Glad you had fun. The legs will sort themselves out in due time. ;)

[sophie33]

well done - that is fantastic

[Trewsers]

Oh, I remember holding onto the front of the saddle when learning rising trot - my instructor encouraged me to stroke the horses neck with one hand and the replace it and then stroke it with the other - then eventually I realised I wasn't going to fall off and let go altogether:D

[Trewsers]

Well done ameliajane - bet you are soooo pleased. :D