Help!! Figure Of 8 Canter

[ANN H]

Been working on Misty's wall of death canter for ages, and RI (having not given me a lesson for a month), said she saw a noticeable difference in speed (much slower), and balance last week so this week we're doing the figure of 8 thing where you canter the loops and trot the cross-over bit of the 8. I'm dreading it. Any advice for keeping her speed down without her going into trot, or any advice in general. I think its going to be a complete disaster but we can only try!! Haven't even been able to practise 'cos of the heatwave.

[cvb]

Ann

you're going to think I'm mad, but find a quiet corner somewhere and "canter" the figure 8 yourself. Try it "fast" and "slow" and see what different body position YOU adopt in each.

I'll bet you find your weight is forward in "fast", and more over your centre and almost slightly held back in the slow ?

Well this is a good clue as to the riding position you need to slow the canter.

Remember to breathe.

Your leg needs to be asking for the hind leg to be under and active for the horse to balance at the slower pace - if she takes "leg" is "go faster", you'll need to half-halt a million or two times ;)

But this may be what has been covered before ?

In Pilates, Yoga etc you tend to breathe out when you do something (on exertion). You may find that helps with your downward transition in the simple change through the centre ....

[ANN H]

Ann you're going to think I'm mad, but find a quiet corner somewhere and "canter" the figure 8 yourself. Try it "fast" and "slow" and see what different body position YOU adopt in each.....

Thanks CVB. I'll try that but will probably get laughed off the yard! I ALWAYS forget to breathe. RI said she can tell by my face that I'm holding my breath as soon as we go into canter. Its a very small paddock, and she has a very fast canter. Thanks for the advice.