Whenever I preform these transistions I always end up collapsing forward. I can do non-stirrup trot and canter perfectly well it's just when going back down, I always kinda fall forward onto the pommel of the saddle.
Do you have any advice to solve this?
First make sure that it's not your horse. What I mean by that is, when you do have your stirrups, are his downward transitions smooth? If he's one of those horses that trot five steps after you ask before actually walking or trots really fast after cantering that's not going to help you out.
If that's not the problem, it could be you being tired. I don't know if it's just me but sometimes if I haven't ridden in a while or haven't practiced not using my stirrups, and I canter 4 times around the arena by the time I go back to walk I'm not as tight in my seat and topple forward. If that's it you should gradually go longer and longer. So maybe canter or trot only half way around, then do your transition, so you can focus on that.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com Above all remember to think about sitting deep and straight up in the saddle, shoulders back, and keeping you heels down like there were stirrups when you ask to go slower.
It might be partly that your horse is throwing his weight onto his forehand when doing a downward transition, especially if it takes more than a light feel on the reins.
I would sharpen up his downward transition by softly asking him to trot, waiting a few strides to give him the chance to respond, and then firmly asking him down to a stop, and back up to where you asked for the transition in the first place , and then give him a rest in a free walk for incentive.
If he's soft in his transition, you could get him off his forehand by transitioning to the trot for a few strides and then back uphill to canter very snappy if he dives downhill with his shoulders and head.
If it is your position, you are actually collapsing your abs and hips, keep your core braced and pull your belly-button and bottom ribs in and your shoulders and armpits down, instead of trying to lean back. Or you can visualize everything below your pelvis draping down and everything above lifting up and back.
When you go to transition make sure you think about sitting back. I also use a shoulders back, which keeps my shoulders back and helps me think about sitting back, i've attached a link to show you what it looks like. Good luck.
