little more confidence needed

[shakey rider]

When I am asking for trot and canter I am a bit unconfident which aids to use at which time. I think I have nearly mastered asking for canter but trying to get the horse into trot from walk is extremely hard.

I think that if I was a bit more confident at what I was asking for then I would know if it was me or the horse if trot didn't happen!!!

Can anybody help with clarifying things a little?

:) :o

[emm]

Hi, I have taught for many years and I have found that it is really common that when riders lack a bit of
confidence their aids are not positive enough, so therefore the horse
knows that you are not really sure, and so doesn't make any effort in
return.
From walk to trot, begin asking by nudging your lower leg firmly into
the horses sides in a quick, sharp style, on and off. The horse will
react to this better than a long squeeze. Keep asking with your legs quickly, if you leave a long gap in between nudges the horse has too much time
to think, and will ignore you. Quick nudges will mean he has no choice but to listen. At the same
time, give very slightly with the rein (don't throw them away) but it is like
you are inviting the horse to trot, by releaving some pressure in his mouth.
Once in trot, give a little stroke on horses withers as a reward, he will
know he has done it right.
You will never get a good canter transition until you have mastered a good
forward going trot, and can stay in balance.
Problems getting into canter are also very common, it will come in time.
Often when you ask for canter, you come out of balance and bounce about,
and then the horse has no clue what your asking for. The main problem seems to be when riders start to sit to the trot to ask for canter, then kick
behind the girth with their outside leg, they start to bounce and lose balance, and then you are not effective with what you are asking.
With a lot of my riders what helps is doing sitting trot work to establish a
better position, and also when asking for canter think of advancing your
inside hip slightly as you bring your outside leg back, as this will help the horse feel the shift in your seat. Canter transition should feel uphill, try not to tip forward, or it will be much harder for him to strike off.
The horse strikes off into canter using the outside hind first, which is why
you use your outside leg behind the girth, it directly talks to that leg.
I'm sure your bored by now, I could go on for days, so i'd better stop.

[shirley]

Not bored at all with the last post Emm.- helps me start understand a little more about my canter / my position. Will try putting inside hip a little forward and then strike off.

[Wally]

Trying canter from walk tranitions are an excellent way to learn feel and balance. It is not an advanced move as some folk will tell you. You are less likely to lose your balance.

[shakey rider]

Canter from walk seems a little scary if I can't even yet my horse to trot!!!:)
How do you go about that????


Thanks emm, what you wrote was really useful! - will try and practice next lesson.

I am beginning to think that 1/2 hour every week isn't enough to learn everything and practice as well!!!!

[Nimrod]

That was brilliant, I have the same problems though I am OK in trot and can do sitting trot without stirrups but I can't get into canter. That really helped. Thanks!

[emm]

I think its great to find out that so many people have exactly the same
problems, it doesnt make us feel so useless. If you ride at a riding school, ask if you can ride a well schooled
horse that is not dead to the aids, or knows to just trot faster to avoid
cantering.
Riding schools normally have a horse that will canter really easily so you
can concentrate more on you, than on the horse, but you do need to
ask, remember you are the paying customer, and you should feel you are
progressing and learning.

[jumper485]

I find that if I am confident I can do anythign and it sounds like its a bit more confidence you need. Ive just started using Pikups. They must be new as I havent seen them around before but they have helped me get my confidence back and then some. Maybe you should give soemthing like that a try and see if it helps. Theres loads of other tools out there but I have tried most and they havent helped really. Guess its horses for courses!:)

[shakey rider]

What are Pickups???

[jumper485]

They are products that help you gain confidence. I havent been using them too long but they seem to work. Theres 4 things and the main one is an activity card. It uses positive statements about your ability and then afterwards you write what went well. Its totally different than all the books and CD's Ive tried. Let me come back in a month or so and I can say if they have really worked then! Ive had a couple of lessons though since I started using them and I havent wanted to try to chicken out and cancel the lesson just before. Im actually starting to believe im not a bad rider!

You can see them at www.pikups.co.uk

I saw them advertised in a local magazine. I got loads of gumpf with them and theres loads of info on the web.

I think they must be new as I havent found anyone else to chat to about them.

If you have a try of them let me know what you think.

[mandagirl26]

hurrah! I was going to post questions about cantering.. been riding for a little while (about 7 mos sporadically) after a 10 yr no horse gap and had the opportunity to canter with Mister out in a field the other day on our trail ride, but chickened out! We just went in a really fast trot.

I'm still really bouncy in the trot and I'm nervous that once I let him go into a canter I'll get unbalanced and bounce around or even fall when I try to slow him down. I am going to try to have him canter from a walk, that may be the ticket. He is a good mover, but I'm not sure of my balance at faster speeds yet!

Thanks for the info!.. feel free to advise me, I'm all ears... :rolleyes:

[jumper-4-joy]

What I have learned to make the horse more alert and move up from walk to trot is "fluff the pillow". You do this by wrapping your legs around the horse as best you can, and squeeze up like you were fluffing a pillow, you know. I usually do 2 or 3 squeezes like this- i love this technique! i learned it from a dressage instructor.

[Tots N Dots]

I'm sure your bored by now, I could go on for days, so i'd better stop.
:D I'm not bored either, read it 3 times, wish you lived near me,:D