Sitting canter weirdly...

[Remi]

Well, when I ride canter, I naturally absorb it through my stomach not my hips and it looks really strange. I don't really know how to describe it but I move my stomach in and out, flexing my back. It feels comfy but looks really weird and my instucter says that I'm damaging my back.

Does anyone else do this or used to? How did you teach yourself to ride it properly? I've tried sitting up straight and no letting my body move but I either bounce or I end up standing in my stirrups...

[Jen_e_Jen]

Ahem..., err.. how old are you? I ask because I was 22 when I started riding, and it was described to me in a way that I can't say to a minor.lol

[rhsw]

lol, , , totally agree

[Remi]

urm, I don't really want to say. But old enough to not be affended if that's what you are getting at!

[rhsw]

here goes, you ride the seat when you canter, you go with the horses movement, and softy flex your lower back, sit more on your back pockets, but ride the seat, if you get my meaning . Another girl on here put it lovely too, she did it like this,

, now look at the smiles, and with each smile as you move with the horse, you scope the smiles up. Cant rememeber which thread it was on, sorry. Very nice way to put it.

[stephanie bay]

when my daughter was learning to canter she used to bounce about or rock excessivly. After taking away her irons and telling to sit on her butt and lean back, then lean back further, it just clicked.

Try kicking you feet out your irons for a few strides and relax and see how you go. Or get someone to put you on the lunge so you have nothing else to think about orther than sitting nicely.