HELP 2 riding questions

[friesianmad]

The first question is about cantering. I rise to much and i can't seem to sit to it. I've had loads of practise, but i still can't do it.:( Any tips would be helpful.


The second is about dismounting. I always seem to swing towards the horses neck.:( Can anyone help?

[palmerlover52]

cantering====Try putting your reins and crop in outside hand and with your inside hand push firmly against your lower back while cantering. Tgis is meant to help you sit. Or i sing Nellie the Elephant. The three beat helps you sit to the canter easier

dismounting===Can't really help, i don't see the problem! lol

[friesianmad]

Whats the words to Nellie The Elephant. LOL Im willing to try anything that helps.

[domane]

The words to Nellie are in this link....scroll down...

http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76460

[vimto92]

Posted on the other thread exactly the same.

You only need to post it in one forum you know to get a response.

[ConfettiPony]

Cantering - I used to have problems with leaning too far forward/not sitting deep enough in the canter so I'd bounce around too much. My instructor eventually had me put the reins in one hand and grab the back of the saddle with the other hand. I had to actually sort of pull myself into the saddle and hold myself into it. It really helped because it made me really feel the difference between what it should feel like and what it normally felt like when I was bouncing.

Dismounting - I'm not too sure what you're asking either. Do you take both feet out of your stirrups before you dismount (that would be assuming you're riding English)? Sorry, could you give more of a description of the problem?

[friesianmad]

I think i lean to far forward in the saddle too. I might try that, thankyou.

When i dismount, as i drop down, my body goes towards the horses neck. Ive watched others dismount and they dont do it.

[Tink!]

Hello!
When cantering, try putting both reins in one hand, and your other hand on the pommel of the saddle (the front bit) and using that to pull yourself down into the asddle, and stop you bouncing around...try it on the lunge if your a bit unsteady.
When dismounting, make sure both feet are out of the stirrups, lean forward a little bit, swing your leg over, and just slowly slide down the saddle... as long as you mkae i down to the ground without hurting you or your pony, or putting either of you in any danger...i wouldn't worry chick

[Baileigh]

Cantering - try holding the pommel to help hold your seat, then once you are happy, remove one hand, then both.

Dismounting - like others, I can't see the problem, but I think I understand what you are getting that.. kinda. When you dismount try twisting slightly so you are parallel to the horses body and facing the saddle when you actually slide off, you start off leaning over the neck, and end up facing the saddle. I can't explain it very well... but that's how I dismount.

[friesianmad]

I get what you mean about dismounting. I cant wait wait till i go riding again to try all this out. Thanks.

[friesianmad]

I went to the RS yesterday, excited about trying out all your tips and guess what? the horse just would not canter not matter what me or anyone else did. It was a real dissapointment.

[de_Stille_een]

As for the cantering... there's nothing better for perfecting your position than a lunge lesson! (This is especially good if you can't ride bareback at your RS). Ask your RI if you can do one sometime-- ask her/him to lunge your horse (preferably a good, quiet horse who isn't bothered by an off-balanced rider plopping about on his back). Take off the stirrups fron your saddle (most people cross them over their horse's withers, but I find that my irons and leathers always migrate under my thighs-- ouch! It's hard to concentrate on your position if you're distracted by the discomfort), and get the reins secured up by the horse's head (or just take them off the bridle, if possible). Yes, I'm telling you to ride without sirrups and reins. Most beginning riders tend to search for their balance by dragging on the reins or relying too much on the stirrup, instead of simply moving with the horse's motion.

Also... I highly recommend going to the playground :D No, really-- I'm quite serious. Find a swing set, and have a go! Notice the motion of your pelvis while you swing-- especially when you're at the furthest back point, and you're using your momentum to push the swing forward again, faster and higher. This motion is similar to how your pelvis should rock while you're cantering. Just a mental image to hang onto!

[de_Stille_een]

And on dismounting... I know exactly what you mean! Whenever I dismount in "the english way", I always end up either way up by my horse's head, or five feet from him!

I was taught to dismount in a very different way--
1) Take your reins and a little mane in your left hand.
2) Place your right hand on the pommel, with your fingers pointing to the right.
3) Remove your right foot from the stirrup, and leave your left foot in the iron.
4) Put your weight on your left foot, lean forward, and swing your right foot over your horse's hindquarters.
5) Lean your belly on the seat, (your hands should still be in the same relative positions, holding yourself up a bit-- the rest of your weight should be on your stomach-- absolutely no weight on your left foot)
6) Remove your left foot from the stirrup.
7) Slide/jump down.

This is easier for me than blindly leaping off my horse :p And, I always land in the same spot, right next to my horse's withers. It sounds complicated, but it's really not. Let us know how your next ride goes!!

--Stille:rolleyes:

[friesianmad]

Thanks for your help.:) :) I go to the RS saturday so i'll let you know when i come back, hopefully i will have a successful canter and a good dismount (im just dreamin' now).

[fimonkey]

De Still Eeen, do you dismount that way for English riding?

I was told the reason you should take both feet out of your stirrups before dismounting is to ensure safety should you slip on the way down, or on landing. MUCH easier to catch your balance on two feet rather than with one foot still in the stirrup.

I know you're saying remove your foot from the stirrup before you land, but if the horse was to shy/bolt or any other crazy action which they sometimes like to do when we don't expect it, I wouldn't like to be caught with a foot in the stirrup.

I've tried both ways of dismounting (in Spain they taught me 'your' way). I found the way you describe to be 'slower' and preferred it at first, but now I have good control in dismount I prefer the 'traditional' way. Much faster and requires more 'core stability' (ie using my abdominals and buttocks) so I feel overall 'lighter' on the horse as I dismount.

(Might not have explained that too well).

[de_Stille_een]

De Still Eeen, do you dismount that way for English riding?
I most certainly do :)

I was told the reason you should take both feet out of your stirrups before dismounting is to ensure safety should you slip on the way down, or on landing. MUCH easier to catch your balance on two feet rather than with one foot still in the stirrup. I know you're saying remove your foot from the stirrup before you land, but if the horse was to shy/bolt or any other crazy action which they sometimes like to do when we don't expect it, I wouldn't like to be caught with a foot in the stirrup
It's difficult for me to explain it, but your left foot is only in the stirrup while you're swinging your right leg over. When you're first learning it, it's slower, but once you've got that muscle memory, it's really just one single, swift movement. Actually, as soon as my right leg is on the left side of the horse, I'm leaning over the saddle, weight off left foot, and out of then stirrup.


I found the way you describe to be 'slower' and preferred it at first, but now I have good control in dismount I prefer the 'traditional' way. Much faster and requires more 'core stability' (ie using my abdominals and buttocks) so I feel overall 'lighter' on the horse as I dismount.
I actually don't like the 'traditional' way, because first of all, some of my horses are very tall, and the landing following the leaping doesn't always bode well with my ankles-- (yes... I'm a pansy-- and I'm okay with that :D) And I mostly ride younger, green horses-- some of them are startled by my quick dismount if I use the traditional way. My dressage saddle and western saddles have very very high cantles, as well, and if I don't have my left foot to stand on, I usually get my right thigh caught on the cantle-- definitely not pretty. :p