balance while cantering

W

weelass

New Member
Aug 27, 2007
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Aberdeen,Scotland
Hi all,

Im new here, have just recently started riding again after a 5 year break absolutly loving it and cant understand why i didnt get back to it sooner.

My problem is i have a disability which affects my spine and right leg, my leg is shorter than my other one but about an inch or so.
Recently i fell off whilst cantering and also the reason i stopped riding when i was young was from a fall when cantering, im wondering if because of my leg i cant balance myself enough to stay on and am worried that trotting is as far as i will be able to go in riding. Im not afraid to get back on and have another go but i feel that another fall whilst cantering may cause my confidence to be knocked totally, my balance in trot (rising and sitting) and going over trotting poles is fine just when i start to canter.

i have had one of my boots raised so that my legs are even but i feel it restricts me and actually makes my balance worse so have stuck to normal boots.

Does anyone agree and think that trotting is as far as i can go or does anyone have any ideas as to what could help me out.

Regards Louise x
 
I have a similar problem as you- my right leg is longer than my left and a weak spine. I was told to start riding at 3 to strengthen my spine.
I always look like my stirrups are mismatched even when at same length and i must admit I can be a very one sided rider but I am now just a happy hacker.

I have found that a dressage saddle is far better for balance than a gp one. Longer leg and a deep seat. I can canter much easier in these.

I had a saddle made for my arab with a VSD cut and a dressage tree. Jazz is impossible to find any saddle of the peg regardless of model.

I would think that raised boot would make things worse not better as less feel in you shorter side stirrup.
 
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hey, i just looked over this post and i have to say ... u are lucky and are not badly 'disabled' look at the people doing the paralympics!! there must be a way for u to continue your riding process and i really hope that u dont give up:o ... is just shortenin the stirrup that needs to be enough to get balanced?? different length stirrups doesnt effect a horses way of going and is also cheaper than buying a new fancy dressage saddle:p

good luck!
Spannah x
 
Hi,
I also have one leg longer than the other and back problems. I find if I try to keep my stirrups even I often cant balance correctly so go with what feels right even if it means you actually have one a hole shorter. If you have an opportunity to do a bit of walk and trot without stirrups to help your seat or to have a lesson on the lunge that might help you?
 
Might be an idea to see if anywhere near you has a mechanical horse with walk, trot and canter. My left leg wastage and shortening was significant after my accident and it tended to dislocate easily. I found the mechanical boy really useful to assist my muscle rehab, and confidence. Also helped me to re-adjust to my new sense of balance, after all we shouldn't need the stirrups or reins to stay on if we have develped balance and core stability. Yoga helped too. I too have built up insoles, stick with it, it takes time to adjust.
 
thank you all for your replies, its encouraging to know that im not the only one out there with this problem.

Siogfinsceal: i will speak to my instructor about trying some walk and trot without stirrups and also a lunge lesson which did actually cross my mind before,as it would be good to have a lesson where im concentrating soley on my position and balance.
Im guessing it will take time to improve my balance so maybe im just rushing things abit,i often feel as though im the one lugging behind in our lesson as everyone is going onto cantering etc.

Justjas: its funny you were told to start riding at 3 for your spine, as when i rode as a child the doctors thought my back had greatly improved with the riding,even the curve in my spine seemed to look slightly better,the dressage saddle isnt really an option for me at the moment though because i ride at a riding school but i will certainly keep it in mind for if i ever get my own horse.

What you say about you being a happy hacker, thats exactly what i aim to be when we have our own horse, but obviously i want to be confident enough with my balance and things hense the lessons.Im not interested in comps or anything like that i just want to do as you do and be a rider who can hack out and be safe, thank you for your comments.


Jane: i have never heard of a mechanical horse but i will certainly look into, anything which will help me is worth a go, your completely right about us really not needing stirrups and reins to stay on,because of my club foot (the shorter one) which i dont have very much movement in, i do rely on my left stirrup alot more to keep my balance which to be honest if i learned to keep my balance would probably be alot easier for both legs if i could ride without my stirrups,as i wouldnt be putting so much strain on my left leg. sorry if im rambling lol!

Spannah: Thank you for your comments,i feel a little uneasy about what you say about im 'lucky' im not badly disabled and to think of people who do the paralympics,i have nothing but utter admiration and respect for those people who take part in the paralympics.I however am not one of those people i was merely asking advice on ways around the problems i have with 'my' disability and riding,i am greatful for yours and everyone elses advice given here but i would like to point out that it is not your place to say how 'badly' someone is disabled from a mere post on here.
I have many problems which i have not gone into here because those are not involved in this perticular aspect of my riding.
I hope you can understand what i am getting at and not be offended by what i have said.

Kind regards,Louise
 
Siogfinsceal said:
If you have an opportunity to do a bit of walk and trot without stirrups to help your seat or to have a lesson on the lunge that might help you?
Click to expand...

I was going to suggest the same thing - without stirrups it doesn't really matter how long your legs are in relation to each other. Remember that many people struggle with balance when they return to riding after a long gap, so you have this to contend with as well as your disability. Give yourself a bit of time to practice and I'm sure you'll be cantering confidently again with no problems :)
 
Hi! My disability is different from yours, but it involves balance problems and weakness in my right leg as well. I find cantering on a lunge line much harder - almost impossible to keep my balance on a rather tight circle. when i try something new I get someone to clip a lunge line to Jessys bridle, but walk round with me so I can go around the school and not on a circle. I have a horse that is trained to voice aids, so when i started I just asked for canter, cantered a few strides and went straight back to walk. I also have a neck strap on my horse so I can hold on if i lose my balance and caged stirrups to keeo my foot in place.
Good luck, let us know how you get on.
 
Hi! My disability is different from yours, but it involves balance problems and weakness in my right leg as well. I find cantering on a lunge line much harder - almost impossible to keep my balance on a rather tight circle. when i try something new I get someone to clip a lunge line to Jessys bridle, but walk round with me so I can go around the school and not on a circle. I have a horse that is trained to voice aids, so when i started I just asked for canter, cantered a few strides and went straight back to walk. I also have a neck strap on my horse so I can hold on if i lose my balance and caged stirrups to keeo my foot in place.
Good luck, let us know how you get on.
 
i guess your right because i fell off when the horse turned to cut the corner and join the rest of the riders so cantering in a circle no doubt would be as hard, all the horses at our school have caged stirrups and the horse i ride has a strap around his neck but im not sure if its what you are talking about or something else, as it seems very far forward to hold on to for balance. I will ask my riding instructor though. thank you xxx
 
Ohhh - you need Monty's canter handle! Monty is a moderator on here, a dressage rider with a disability. She designed a sort of breastplate with a handle to help her balance. Its a brilliant thing but hard to explain. send Monty a PM maybe she can help!
 
I have a handle attached to the D rings on front of saddle. They are called a dressage balance strap and are legal at all levels of affil. competitions, unlike a neck strap which can only be used at prelim level. If you tend to hunch forward however it can make you tend to round your shoulders more. A good tip to improve your position is to have a lunge lesson and hold the front of the saddle with your outside hand and the cantle with your inside hand, this helps you to sit up and keep your shoulder hip heel alignment and your weight on your seatbones. I practice this alot at home on my girl, it also helps to develop sitting trot. I put my reins in my outside hand and practice on a 20m circle when I'm having a day concentrating on training my muscles so I am better able to assist my horse. I steer her just with weight aids. Its an amazing feeling when it goes right.
 
The thing around the horse i rides neck isnt a neck strap its a martingale, i asked my instrustor last night but she says i could use it as a neckstrap if need be.
I dont think it would help though as it is very far forward i think i would lose more balance if i tried lol.

Jane,I saw something in the robinsons catalogue which attaches to the D rings of the saddle i wonder if it is the same thing, i will have to check thank you.
Im going to discuss the advice which has been given to me on here with my instructor tonight and will write and let you all know.

Silvia,i will go and pm Monty now and ask about her canter handle,thanks again everyone you've been most helpful!

Regards Louise xx
 
hey, i have problems with cantering too, i dont have the same problem exactly but i have spina bifida which although doesnt cause me any problems it did give me nerve damage to my left foot. So basically my feeling stops at my left ankle. I find it difficult because my foot will slip straight out of the iron in canter, that unbalances me and i come straight off. I know what you mean, because i also feel that i am lop sided because one foot has more feeling than the other, so i put more weight on one foot than the other. I only cantered once after i had a bad fall in canter , this was at a different stables, and they had me ride a slow canter on a well schooled horse. I also found it much easier when I had a neckstrap to hold onto. Get a neckstrap until you have found your balance, I think it will make it slightly easier for you And you will feel a bit safer. You say horse wears a martingale, i agree this might cause more harm than good, but see if you can nick an old stirrup leather and use that tied loosely so that you can hld it where it needs to be, not where the martingale is. You could also see if your RI will let you have a ride on a horse who has a slower canter, and one who is well balanced, and well schooled. A bouncy horse will not help, or a horse who is uneven themselves, or does not canter smoothly if you know what I mean. And like others have suggested, deffo try without those irons. Its possible to ride entirely without irons, you can even jump without them eventually. I know of a dressage rider who never rides with her irons. And if you can, i would try riding bareback/bareback pad, because although not cantering, it will really help with your balance and help you feel how the horse moves better than a saddle will, so when it comes to cantering, your balance will be up to it. Would it also maybe be worth seeing if you could have a thicker rubber tread put in the iron of the side you are having problems with? this might help even things up without messing round with your boots (i know it sounds silly but its an idea) you can get wedge treads im sure, ive seen them. The other thing is to see if RI thinks another type of irons might be comfier for you, the thing is to try things and find out what works for you. Good luck, and let us all know how it goes.
 
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oh im sorry that i have offended you! i didnt want my post to come off in that way, was trying to 'comfort' and 'encourage' i guess the words are lol im sorry:o i will slap my wrists ...

sorry again

Spannah x
 
(((hugs))) its not a problem, i think sometimes online it is hard to show what u are saying because it is typed instead of spoken, i know you meant well and i hope you dont think bad of me for pointing it out,i thank you for your advice and the fact that you took the time to both help in the first place and also come back and apologise,its much appreiciated!

Warm Regards,Louise xxxxx
 
I had a battle getting my balance and confidence in canter.. it will come and then you'll wonder what all the worry was about :)

I've got a very weak right leg due to polio. It used to be shorter but I had it lengthened when I was a kid. Although its now about the right length I tend to ride with slightly different stirrup lengths as I can't get my heal down on this side.

One thing that really helped me at first was a trick the RDA used. Put an elastic band around your calf and lower stirrup leather near the top of the stirrup. Alternatively you can make the band a figure of 8 around your heal, under the stirrup and around your toes. This helps you keep your stirrup if you're too weak to put much weight into it. This gave me no end of confidence as before this my stirrup tended to slosh about in canter and I'd tense up and of course it would get worse!

I'm now riding without this and only tend to lose my stirrup when my horse stumbles or shys a bit in canter.

I've also recently tried an Aussie Stock saddle. These are supposed to be very secure and I must admit I do feel quite safe it it! Still not that comfey cantering in it yet but getting there!
 
I have taught alot of people who have trouble with their balance and have found that teaching them on the lunge in walk and trot without stirrups is good, when doing this I get them to hold onto the front of the saddle (not gripping it tight, just for sense of comfort) and close their eyes and they have better balance. (I have also done this myself when training for my PTI etc.) I have found that you relax when you close your eyes and your body follows the movement of the horse, you then open your eyes and try to keep the same feeling. It can take time to learn the feeling, I find when I haven't ridden for a while and my balance is not good, I get a friend to lunge me on my horse and I work on my balance. I also suffer from muscle weakness in both legs from the hip down due to injury. You could give this a try with a riding instructor. Hope this is of some help to you.
 
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