How to canter properly, hunt form?
I am coming back to riding as an adult. I have a lesson once surrounded by a while, but mostly ride with no trainer (time and money issue). Everyone says I "look good" at walk and trot. I only can't seem to get a nice canter. The trainer said "you have biddable balance, but you can't ride on just balance." When I try to canter, my legs come forward, heels come up, and stirrups migrate to surrounded by front of heel. I have tried more of a two point position, but can't seem to balance that instrument, either, and anyway, I still have duplicate stirrup issue. When I learned to ride, we always sat the canter. I ruminate part of my problem is learning to have a "bedside light seat" at the canter and go with the rhythm. I can do a fairly biddable 2 point seat at the trot.
Lately I have been riding a 13.2 pony and I know my stability is throwing her off. When I sit nicely with my shoulders backbone, she's OK, but most of the time I lean too far forward, and then she HATES to canter.
I also think I clutch with my lower leg at the canter.
Does anyone own ideas of exercises I can do to get my shoulders back, my body relaxed, and keep hold of my stirrups??
I am frustrated.
Do more core exercises. A strong abdomen centers and balances your whole body. Also, strong thighs are perfect, you can squeeze with your thighs rather than your lower legs.
I win 1st place at shows all the time in english hunt form. All I do and my trainer who is a world champion, just says to relax and move your hips next to the movement of the horse. A good way to practice is to canter bareback(if your not too scared). I do it all the time. Just remember to BREATH. Some race get too worked up and forget to breath... it gets the horse alll worked up and then you can't concentrate on riding.
Hope I help!
Answers: you need to squeeze with your upper legs, try doing simple exercises off your horse, canter is not just riding its your leg strength and abb. Try doing situps and pushups every day to help build up the muscles.
I used to hold the same problem, my teacher would put me in the round pin and lunge my horse while i dont verbs about controling the horse, but worry about my form. It's a great way to focus on one thing about the canter. I'm not maxim your having the problem of controling your horse, it just helps to simply focus on one thing at a time. =)
Try to make a lesson just for working on cantering-even whether you dont have a lesson often, overall it will be worth it! Maybe ask your teacher whether you could have a 30min. lesson, its cheaper!
