Hunter and Canter

makebelieve · #1 5th Oct 2003, 12:29 AM

I'm confused with cantering.

I have always been taught to lean forward and move with the body of the horse. 2 people I have talked to say that I am doing it wrong, yet my instructor says to lean forward as much as you can. I was also told that sitting gives you more control. Its really uncomfortable to canter sitting back and with the reins loose-I feel like I am flying in the air and falling in a hard, rigid way back down. I was told that this is the hunter type of canter, as leaning forward for 2pt is a lot easier getting ready for a jump. I think I have more control leaning forward than with leaning back. Only one of my old friends said (I got a bit upset as well) that I was doing a really bad job cantering and why I was leaning forward because thats "bad" for the horse's back). Just to say, she hasn't been invited back since. She also insulted the other riders, my dad said when their foor was 1mm too far forward.

You can tell me whats right/wrong, but I am staying with my way of cantering, as its the way I've been taught.

IrisSilverMoon · #2 5th Oct 2003, 01:30 AM

leaning forward is actually not a safe position for you to be in. It is hard on the horse as well, while it may not hurt the horse, it is hard to carry someone who feels like he/she is about to slip off at any moment. Try carrying some weight on your back like a horse might, shift it forward and see how easy it is to keep it from going over your head, it's actually hard, not very easy is it? It's also not a good position to be in shuld your horse decide to do anything but rear. You'll come off if he bucks, shy's takes off or does anything out of the ordinary.

Two point position is something different from leaning forward, be careful not to confuse the two. Two point is actually a shift in weight where you aren't leaning forward, but you have taken the wieght off the horses back, you should be absorbing everything into your feet and legs, personally i'm not a fan of learning to canter that way as you can put yourself in an odd position again if the horse takes off, but I do know for some people it's easier to learn that way. The way I would teach would be significantly different from most people on this board in any case...

You can stick with your way of cantering, but you'll soon get to a point in your riding where you won't be able to do that anymore and get away with it as even in the hunter ring you sit to the canter unless you are hand galloping or jumping. Does your instructor plan to keep you this way forever? or will she introduce sitting soon?

makebelieve · #3 5th Oct 2003, 03:25 AM

My instructor's' (I've been taught by about 3 or 4) have all taught me this way. I will try to get a picture next week of my canter. Today I was leaning back though, too far. Its so uncomfortable, I almost fly. In my second lesson, on a 13.3hh pony, I just about flew out of the saddle like this. The pony hated it as well, as she kept slowing down. I was told both are ok, but the hunter canter (As the name states) is more for hunters. Its the way you're taught I guess. I see a lot of more experienced riders do it this way (Not jumpers).

Today, I had my choice. I could have of leaned futher backwards, except my reins were way too tight-despite how much I loosened them it still didn't feel right. I was told to lean forwards. My instructor also told me both were fine. In the gallop, I have galloped 3 times, twice in the ring and once on a hack. You do need to lean forwards for that one, all my books say that too at least.

CityGirl · #4 6th Oct 2003, 03:21 AM

ISM is correct - it is definitely dangerous to be leaning forward. If something happens, you're much more off-balance & likely to go flying. It's also harder on the horse.
I train at an h/j barn & have never seen someone told to lean forward. You want your weight centered in the saddle and to move with the horse. The ideal is a classical position in all things, with a straight line from ear to hip to heel. The only time you would be forward is in a two-point, going over the jump but even then, you should have your weight centered over the saddle.
Perhaps you could ask your instructor exactly what & why s/he means by leaning forward.....

entreat · #5 6th Oct 2003, 03:55 AM

I'm pretty new to riding, and haven't had lessons - so I don't know what is taught.

Having said that - I went trail riding once on some competition horses (not your usual plodding trail horses), and the owner/trail leader said that if I leant forward in canter it would tell the horse I wanted to gallop! I had always leaned forward because Cody has an short, and uncomfortable canter.

Also, I have heard that the shorter the horse (and the shorter the length of his back) makes the canter stride shorter, and harder to sit to. This makes sense 'cause I can sit to canter any horse over 15hh, but anything pony sized is more of a challenge (Cody is 14.2hh, and the trail horse would've been 14hh max.)

I've been riding Cody for about 10 months, and I only managed to sit his canter last week!! Every other ride was extremely bumpy for both of us!

Have alook at Galadriel's site:
http://trainersnotes.lorienstable.co...to_canter.html

nat · #6 6th Oct 2003, 06:52 PM

i agree. i used to always lean forward on my old pony as she was a trotter and her canter was awful. it takes a bit of getting used to to sit up straight but if you sit up and relax you'll get the hang of it. its a lot safer if the horse stumbles or spooks at something too. good luck!

entreat · #7 7th Oct 2003, 05:02 AM

When I say I was 'lean forward', my weight was still over the saddle, but I just wasn't slamming down into his back.

I also had my only fall at canter. Partly 'cause my foot came out of the stirrup, and partly 'cause I was leaning too forward. The same thing happened when I last rode an awesome trail horse with the best canter - I was sitting her canter nicely, but as I pulled to slow her, she lost footing on some mud and stumbled. Both feet came out of the stirrups, and the reins went flying!! It was only my position that stopped me from flying over her head!