Well last week in my riding lesson we cantered again and I didn't do so good!! So I'm just wondering how do I sit a canter without nearly falling off!
Also how can you tell when to rise in posting trot?
Please help me cause I really want to do well in my lesson!
If you have not been cantering very long, you won't have the balance to sit a canter very well. This only comes with practice. And that's what you said you wanted to do!
If you can ride a horse in between lessons -
-Ride bareback. This will build up those leg muscles that riders just have to have! (If you are uncomfortable with going completely bareback, use a bareback pad. At least for now anyway lol)
-Have someone lunge you. Make sure your reins are tied somewhere - or taken off - so they can't fall. Put your hands out to the side, behind your back, on your head, etc. You can also kick your feet out of the stirrups independently or doing a combo with everything I just said. Eventually try this at a trot. And only if you're comfortable, canter. Don't drop your stirrups for this until you can sit relatively well. I know it sounds weird telling you to not hold on. But trust me - it will help! Once you have this mastered go bareback. Don't canter and do this bareback until you can sit the canter well with a saddle.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
If you don't have access to a horse in between lessons, ask your trainer if you can work on what I just said instead. I'm sure your trainer will understand. The best way to sit a canter well is to go back down to the walk and trot and work on balance! Now I don't mean quit cantering. You need to do it, but go back and get some more balance.You not being able to canter well is not because you are a bad rider. Not at all. It just says that you need more balance. Which can only come with time! So be patient. I promise you will get it! Also, once you get used to the movements of the canter, you'll be able to sit it much better.
Whatever you do, never squeeze with your calves. This only encourages the horse to move forward. If you have to hang on, squeeze with your thighs.
You should be rising in the posting trot when the outside (if you are traveling down the fence, the leg that is closest to the fence is the outside and the one you should be rising to) foreleg of the horse is going forward. That means that you should be sitting when it is back, on the ground.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com I love your determination! You have to have it! It makes things so much easier, I promise! If you have your mind set to it, it will come!
Good luck!!!! I hope you pick up on that canter really quick:)
If you have any questions about anything, please feel free to email thehorsesource2@yahoo.com I'll be happy to answer! If you are uncomfortable with emailing, message me through Y! A
It takes time to become a good rider ! You need to develop the right muscles for the job, and the only way you can do that is practice practice practice!
However, just remember in the canter that you want to sit as deep and still as you possibly can. Try holding on to the front of the saddle until you build up your muscle.
With posting to the trot, you rise on the second beat of the trot. If you look down at your horses shoulders during trotting, you'll see the the shoulders alternate, and move forward in a two-beat time. You should aim to rise as the outside shoulder comes forward! That will put you on the right diagonal too.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com The natural movement of the horse will help lift you out of the saddle, anyway.
Keep up the work! Once you master trot and canter, you will never forget!
When cantering, try to get your movements to move with your horse. It takes a while to get the hang of it, but you will know when you finally get it. It is a great feeling when you get and stay in rythm with the horse for the first time.
This is almost the same thing as cantering, you will know when you get into the rythm, you just have to work on it. Have your trainer or somebody standing on the ground tell you when to go up and down. Thats how I learned, and it really helped.
For catering: find the rhythm of the horses canter and try to move your body with it
Trotting: you rise when the outside leg moves forward. This is known as the outside diagonal
You have to keep you feet in the stirrups and squeeze your legs to hold on to the horse's mid. Try to flow with the jolts.
