Canter without stirrups!! PLEASE HELP!!!?

Question

Im a intermediate- advance rider and my riding school are going to start hacks. my instuctor is more then happy to allow me on hack, however as a law from the inspectors( who turn up at anytime) everyone must be able to walk trot and canter without stirrups. Now i can walk and trot, but cantering without my stirrups.... well i just freeze...everyone always says relax.. let your legs hang low which i will do but does anyone have any tips on how to sit more relaxed while cantering w/o stirrups? any advice welcome.

Answer 1

Hold onto the horn/pommel (if you want) and sit up straight,Make sure you dont tense up. keep youre heels down and imagine that youre stirrups are still there.

Good luck!!

:)

Answer 2

It's a lot easier than trotting bareback.  Lean back a little bit, don't grip with your legs, relax, and breath. Roll with the motion.  You just have a mental hangup, and once you quit worrying and relax you'll find it is really easy (that is, going on the basis that your balance is good enough to ride the sitting trot well and balanced).

Answer 3

maybe count the horses strides while cantering- it might keep your mind off falling off. or singa song u never know..it could work

Answer 4

its easy.

just chill , if you are an advance rider you should know this.

its just like trotting, just sit in the saddle , squeez with your inside leg and move with the horse rythm , make sure to be sitting up and dont fall forward or you will lose your balance and fall off, just stay calm. the horse is as calm as you are, if you freak out than they will sence you are scared.

just start going slow, and at any time you feel scared pick them back up, than when you calm down dropp them again.

its quite easy,  just let loose the horse will take care of you.

and if you fall, you just get back on. nothing to worry about,

everytime you fall it makes you a better rider.

remember to sit in the saddle , sit up  and squeez the sadlle with your inside leg it will help with balance and keep you up.

have fun!

Answer 5

Not an advanced rider at all then unless your instructor has remarkably low standards. Sorry, don't mean to insult you really but I would expect an intermediate rider to be able to do that.

Try cantering only a few paces at a time to start, so that you drop back to trot before you start to stiffen. Also a good trick, although it doesn't look neat it works to help you, is to push forward your hip on the side of the leading leg with each stride. It makes you look lopsided but makes you feel more in balance. Don't lean over, just push forward.

Answer 6

it's easy just try to relax. Tighenten you thighs against the horses sides not so much so that you are making him move faster though. Rock with the movements of the horse and ride as usuall! hold the mane if needed!

Answer 7

Yes the old fashion way, take the d**n stirrups off the saddle and start riding, use your butt, and  thigh contact and balance, yes, just like riding bareback, you have to think about riding, not talking with the other riders, or thinking about boys.

Answer 8

heels DOWN i know riders hear this a thousand times but feel like you weigh 9000 pounds .  hold on to a little mane if you need too.

Answer 9

okay. so first, just chillax. but anyhow, cantering is usually so much smoother than trotting, too. let your legs dangling a bit, let of on the bit, a bit, and you can either post while cantering, to help ou figure out how it feels, or pull your weight into the saddle, holding the saddle with you hands.

Answer 10

i've been riding for 7years,all you have to do is remember, YOU CANOT FALL OFF IF YOUR HEAD IS IN THE MIDDLE,so push all your weight into your heels, point ur toes up, wrap your legs round and keep your upper body still and upright, good pointer to help you stay inthe saddle is to put your hands under the martingale, or to point your belly button to the ears.email me if you need more help!good luck!

Answer 11

maybe for practice on relaxing could someone lunge your horse why you sit on him bareback and to steady yourself grab mane during the canter until you find your secure seat!

this is what i did and it helped alot

Answer 12

practice and relax!

upright and around

Answer 13

You need to tuck your tail bone underneath you and lean back just a little and relax! Make sure you keep your heals down. If you start feeling like your going to fall off bring your horse back down to a trot until you regain your balance. I hope I helped. This is the way I learned and now I can gallop bareback without stirrups! It's really fun!

Answer 14

I cn canter without stirrups,

when u canter without sturrups hold on the saddle to get use to it, put all ur weight into the saddle.

next time dont hold on and put ur weight in the saddle

hope i ave helped

i could have given more but i cnt explain

Answer 15

imagine you're on a rocking horse.

try cantering a lot more often with stirrups for awhile. Then go into bareback trotting and cantering. Just keep getting used to the rythm of the horse and go with the flow. The more you canter the more you'll get used to it and the more you'll feel comfortable. Just keep persistant and if you fall while cantering get right back on!

good luck!

Answer 16

PUSH DOWN IN THE CANTLE (BACK) OF THE SADDLE AND LET THE HORSES BEATS MOVE INTO YOUR UPPER BODY, SOMETIMES YOUR HANDS GO A BIT CRAZY BUT YOU SOON LEARN.

JUST PRACTISE.

OH AND IF YOU HOLD ONTO THE FRONT OF THE SADDLE IT HELPS IMPROVE BALANCE AND RELAX YOU.

Answer 17

Grip with your upper leg and knee. Don't death-hold, just squeeze. Keep your heels down. Keep your lower back relaxed. Look ahead and breathe deep. Soon you will get into the rhythm and be fine!

Answer 18

hi

mayb if it relaxes you you could hold on to the pommel

but dont squeeze your legs to tight because that will just make the horse go faster which you probly no lol

to you have trust in the horse?

hope i helped

Answer 19

You already know this, babe, it's in your head. Seven steps to heaven:

1.Take nice deep breaths.

2.Drop your shoulders and lengthen your neck.

3.Picture yourself in your favourite place to ride.

4. Make your bum feel really soft and squidgy.

5.Loosen your waist and lower spine so that your body can move with and absorb your horse's movement.

6. Let your legs feel clingy like a wet shammy, no need to grip.

7. Enjoy.

I find canter the most relaxing and comfortable pace to ride, hope you do too after this.

Answer 20

just imagine you do have stirrups, only they're really long and you have to stretch your legs and sit up as tall as you can to reach them

Answer 21

I hope you dont take offense to this,  but a student who cannot walk trot and canter without stirrups would never be labeled as intermediate or advanced here.

What i would suggest is to have someone help you on a longeline.  Let them be in complete control of cueing the horse.  You can then concentrate on your position.  Its going to be harder to keep your position in the arc caused by the longeline so when you take what you've learned out onto the trail it will come very easily.  

Before you drop your stirrups concentrate on using your thighs to maintain your position on the horse.  Let your feet be light where they join with the stirrup and think of it as your just trying to keep the irons from flopping around .. not using them for support.  

When you have mastered that try dropping the irons and ride your mount maintaining proper position.  Let the cadence of the horse guide you.  

If it is simply fear that is holding you back there is not much a riding instructor can do for you.  You'll have to dig deep within yourself and decide where you want to go with your horsemanship .. and what you are willing to do to get there.

Good luck, hon.  If you can keep your seat at the trot .. there is nothing holding you back from the canter except your own hang-ups.  You can do it! :)

Answer 22

try cantering with really long stirrups.... this will help u slightly as you know that u still have the security of your stirrups. Cantering withough strirrups is alot easier than it is to trot without stirrups. Just sit up straight, lean back slightly and point your toes to the floor. Look straight. With some pracitce this will becomes easier for you. I cant see how you need to be able to ride without stirrups for hacking though.... but it does come in handy if you loose a stirrup etc. Also, the bigger the horse you ride, the easier it will be because of the longer stride, so this will make it easier for you to sit and relax into.

hope this helps and good luck