I need some advice on horseback riding please.?

Question

I have been having difficulty finding a decent riding instructor, but now I am leasing a horse that I can ride every day. The only problem is, I don't have a teacher.

(By the way, I ride English and Western)

I know how to walk, I pretty much mastered that, trotting I'm getting much better at. I know how to, I just need to practice more. Cantering, well, I know how to signal the horse to canter, but I'm a little concerned on my posture, and how much I can control the horse. When I try to canter, I bounce around a lot and the horse swerves. I can't seem to keep the horse in line, you know?

I haven't even tried to gallop or jump. I haven't even cantered that much!

Anyway, is there anything I can do to help myself, like, teach myself to be a better rider? Besides just practicing.

Answer 1

well how i learned to gain great balance

was ALOT of no stirrup work. its very awkward

feeling at first but if you just start it out on a walk or trot

then when you feel balanced enough move on to the canter.

relax, dont grip the saddle with your knees, sit up straight, all your weight pushed down in your heels (heels down), when you canter don't yank on your horse's mouth, you kind of let your hands move with his mouth but dont pump or flap your arms like a chicken, and don't hunch over. Practice makes perfect, it took me months to get how to sit at the canter, i finally learned how after riding a different horse, or a few horses. maybe ask a knowledgable horse owner at your farm to help you?  there are also TONS of books out there to help you (Complete Horse Riding Manual by William Micklem)!!

good luck!! =D

Answer 2

The best way to learn to canter is in a straight line. But as for your posture. You still keep your normal posture of a straight back. But you go into the rhythm of the horse's gate. So the normal feeling for me is going back and forth. I move my body that way. However to keep your back straight and lean back a little when cantering, just move my lower body so your upper body's not affected.  Keep your heels down and grip your thighs on the saddle. It's bouncy in the change between a fast trot to the canter but cantering is smooth so you can feel it.

When turning, I just pull the reins in the direction a little bit ahead of time. Then the horse knows that it has to turn. Keep your hands low near the saddle and the reins but not short enough for the horse to stop. But I just turn the horse like I normally do for walk and trot.

For getting better, it's obvious to practice frequently but I mean the bond between you and your horse is important too. You have to trust it. It's normal to fall too. I fell once or twice but get right back up. Do NOT start jumping until you can control the horse. When you can you can try low cross jumps. Just make sure you know the posture for jumping, leaning forwards to stand up a little and hold onto the neck and some of the mane. Do not lean too far. But as for galloping, you are in the jumping position. Do NOT try this without a very large area. So just remember these little tips and you'll get the hang of it! I hope this helps!

Answer 3

I learned this GREAT tip that helped me. Hold the reins in one hand and with the other one, preferably the opposite hand than the lead he's on (like if he's on the left lead, right hand and vice versa) hold the back of your saddle (cantle) and try to keep your butt on your thumb, think of sitting on your thumb. Now, don't do that at a show or anything, but hopefully by the time you do show you'll be able to sit comfortably, so this is just to learn. :-) Helped me a ton, I used to look like I was posting, at the canter... oops...

Answer 4

You definately ought to find an instructor.  It's nice that you have this opportunity, but you are still a beginner.  Even if you were not a beginner, I'd say the same thing.  Trust me, I know from experience, that it is soooo easy to get into bad habits when you ride without an instructor.  I am sure that there are instructors in your area who will come to you.  Even if you can only take a lesson every other week, that'd be great.  At your stage in riding, I really would not suggest that you lease a horse every other day without any istruction.  It'd be better if you could take one or two lessons a week to learn more before you even begin leasing.  I believe that you should have an excellent walk, trot, and canter prior to leasing, or at the least, have often, consistent, instruction at this stage while you are leasing.

Answer 5

When cantering the best posture is to sit back in the saddle- almost leaning back slightly.  Keep your reins short (not too short, you dont want him to stop, you want to control him) and hands low and at front of saddle to help you control the horse better.  During the trot find a nice slow pace and post slightly forward with the horses shoulder that is closest to the fence.  (when his shoulder goes up you sit up slightly at a slight forward angle.  Also during the canter you may have to nudge the horse with your heel to keep a good steady pace.  Faster is not better.  A true canter should be a smothe ride.  You may be bouncing around because your horse is moving between a fast trot and a canter.  When you feel the canter you will know it.  Remember to keep your heels down and your thighs gripping the saddle.  this will also give you control.  I would not try jumping until you can control the horse and your self in the saddle.  Good luck!

Answer 6

I agree with the other answers, but I just have a few tidbits to add.

Rather than trying extremely hard to move with the horse, let your hips move back and forth with the motion of the horse. Most people move their upperbodies back and forth, or 'pump', rather than letting their upperbody follow.

Next, don't focus too hard when cantering... it actually makes things worse. What my trainer does is makes us all think of a mantra. You may know what that is already, but just incase... it's like, something else to focus on so you don't think too hard about your riding. The mantra she made up was

'All living creatures deserve attention, affection, and approval.'

It's not something you hear normally, and it's long, so you have to focus on your mantra, because it doesn't come naturally. It also works if you sing a song, or say a toungetwister.

Remember to keep impulsion while cantering, but not necessarily speed. You want to keep your horse alive and keep the energy up, rather than let him slag and be on the forehand. Also, let your hands follow the horses head.

Wow, that was a lot to take in.

Answer 7

Well thats really great that you're able to ride every day. your very lucky. As far as getting an instructor, thats very important. Are there any teachers at the ranch you ride at??? Or maybe some horse owners that are willing to help you? When you are cantering try not to pull on the reins but keep light contact. Also, if your horse swerves try and use your legs to push her over to the rail. Much of riding is just getting some experience and time in the saddle. In time your posture and position will improve and you will look better. Try having someone video tape you and watching it over to make improvements. I find that this helps me a lot. For jumping, once you are comfortable cantering and have a decent position you can trot over poles and finally trot over some small crossrails. I've been riding for years and these are the obstacles I went through when progressing. I hope this advice helps you and good luck with your new pony :)

Answer 8

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Look at her position..Her back is straight, but soft to absorb the shock.  Her ear is in line with her shoulder which is in line with her hip  which is in line with her heel.  Her heels are down and her toes are angled out.  She is putting weight in her heels, but not to much - this is kind of a trial and error thing.  Find out how much weight you need to put down in your heels.  Keep your hands soft and on the mane, with your elbows at your side.  Exaggerate your motions at first.  You might feel silly, but it really helps.  Keep your feet behind the girth

And when you lease a horse it isn't yours.  You are borrowing it and have full responsibility over it

Good luck

Answer 9

just keep on practicing what you know. I wouldn't go on to harder skills before you've mastered the easy ones though. If you have a teacher, you will progress a lot quicker. I recomend you keep trying to find a good one. Does anyone else you know take lessons from somebody they really like?

PS: When you lease a horse, you are considered a parshall owner for that time.

Answer 10

Nope, not really anything besides just practicing.  What you need is more time riding, and it will all fall into place.  We all started out just like you.  Don't be in a hurry to gallop...take your time and get comfortable at the walk and trot.  Good luck.  There's no "magic wand" to make you a great rider instantly....just more time spent riding.

Answer 11

for cantering you need to drop your inside seat bone(if you are going along a fence it would be the one away from the fence.)you can even bring that leg out away from the horse a little to help you balance. make sure your feet are below you and not out in front of your knee. you need a good foundation. remember you need to center your gravity the same as teh hose. when the horse is cantering the power is coming from the back inside leg so you need to focus your energy there as well. keep your hands low, reins a bit shorter than at a trot and be responsive to your horse, try to feel your horse and work with him and not against him, if you are bouncing all over chances are you are working against your horse. Are you able to tell which lead your horse is on? how are you cueing your horse to canter? regardless of which style you ride, dressage techniques come in very handy. try reading some books as well. There are some good saddleseat books that are helpful too. don't be too concerned about being in a perfect equitation position. while proper seating is very important it isn't something you need to worry about right now. you need to start with the basics. try doing exercises at the walk where you can get to know your horse and how he responds. such as rein work, leg work, back work, tighten different muscle groups and see how your horse responds. such as what happens when you tighten your shoulders? your buttocks? what about squeexzing your fingers - without moving your hands or pulling back? try to focus on one activity at a time, maybe just one a day. also what happens when you totally relax? your body is what controls the horse, not just the reins. it will be a long process but VERY FUN!! to become a better rider. Where do you live??