Are there any exercises i can do to help improve my position when i canter to help me sit to it ???

Question

I find it very hard to sit to my geldings bouncy canter and i cant seem to get my back to go with the move ment :S !!!

Answer 1

Have you tried Yoga on horseback?  Ask your trainer to help you with it. You start at a walk, and get used to your horses movement.  Relax your hips and allow the horse to move your hips.  Once you are comfortable, you move up to a trot, and then on to a canter.  There are multiple exersises in yoga on horseback classes,  but they are excellent and very helpful when it comes to staying on the horse without bouncing.  You can buy books on Amazon which teach you how to do it, or you can look on craigslist to see if any stables near you teach it.  Good luck!

Answer 2

Defineantly do lunge lessons. Ask your trainer or somebody to hook you up on a lounge line, and they'll be in control of the horse so you can work on your position. Sink deep in the saddle when you need to sit, you can hold onto the saddle if you need to.

Try no stirrup work. You have to sit when you don't have your stirrups, simply because you need to stay in the saddle, try that for a while, and it should work!

Answer 3

ride without stirrups. good luck.

Answer 4

Have your Trainer give you lunge lessons.

They steer the horse, so you can work on your position. You can ride a couple of weeks without stirrups, then add your stirrups.

Nearly all of the top riders in Germany and Vienna take months of lunge lessons every week, even if they are riding at Grand Prix. It really helps your position.

Answer 5

I think your horse is gallopping. Because When you are cantering it is very smooth. But when you ar egallopping you very bumpy. I'm only 19 but I love horses. I am almost an expert.

Answer 6

Pilates REALLY strengthens your core and leg muscles. It will make cantering easier for you if you have those muscles already in place. Charmayne James does it every morning. Hope that helps! ;o)

Answer 7

Frog position. draw your knees up to help them find the middle of the saddle and to stay there without gripping with their calves.

Dog position. lift your thighs away from the saddle (like a dog lifting its leg) to help you find the center of the saddle without gripping with your thighs.

Riding without stirrups. Riders can work on this alone but they will achieve faster results if an instructor or knowledgeable riding partner puts their horse on a longe line so they can work without either stirrups or reins. Start at the walk (in both directions) and gradually work up to the trot and canter as balance improves.

Squats are a good balance exercise. you can start against a wall at first and move away as your strength builds. Eventually, they you can work up to a one-legged squat with the other leg extended out in front of them. Trampoline work is also great for balance. Riders can cross train in any of the martial arts, yoga, ice skating, roller blading or any other exercise program or sport that challenges their balance.

hope this helps and happy riding

Answer 8

Riding with out striups will help a lot. Ask someone to put you on a lunge line and ride with no struips or reins. Also when I teach the young kids I tell them to pretend like they are polishing their saddle with there booty. Try and move with the canter. Work on sit troting as well this will help you with rythem.

Answer 9

I agree with previous comments. Riding without stirrups is really very useful. ofcourse, I can imagine it will be hard for you at first. if you're bouncing around WITH stirrups, it will be scary to take them off but it really forces you to follow the horses movement.

Depending on your horses temper you can  try it on a lunge line or just in the regular riding ring. Make sure it's not to busy though, since steering can be pretty hard when you're concentrating on your position and balance.  When I was learning to ride my instructor would put me on the lunge line but I didn't like that as much since you're also leaning to one side the whole time...

Good luck.

Answer 10

Yes there is, plus if you find your balanced seat and keep it, your horse will improve his canter as well.  I won't go into all of the details here, email if you wish, and I will tell you step by step how to get and maintain a balanced seat....if you are bouncing around up there, your hands are doing the same, ragging on your horse and causing him to respond in kind...it is all tied together...email if you would like further more detailed help.