[StockHorseGirl]

I am almost embarrassed to post this because it's so basic, but lately I have had problems sitting the canter. I used to be really good at it. My Arab mare has a faster canter and my quarter pony has a canter that's impossible to sit (calling it a canter is pushing it, it's more like a slightly slower gallop), so I have sort of lost my seat for it in a way. I haven't had a lesson since last summer () but I have one planned for Wednesday. If anyone can describe exactly what I should be doing with my legs, seat, and hands at the canter and when I asking for it I would really appreciate it!

[FleetFeet]

Don't be too embarrassed...I'm having a similar problem. I quit riding 2 years ago, and now I am riding my neighbors 2 morgans and I can hardly sit their canters not to mention their trots. My old horse was a TB and had a much bigger stride. These 2 have little tiny up and down strides, and my back is so much weaker now. Its very frustrating.

[cassandra01000]

Maybe some lunge lessons with no stirrups might be in order? or just riding with no stirrups without the lunge lessons?

the 2nd option helped me to sit the canter better

[SaddlebredMom]

My experience is with the saddlebred saddleseat canter, which when done in proper collected form really is a wonderful rocking horse canter, but I'll be happy to pass along the best advise given to myself and my daughter about sitting the canter in case it can be helpful to you.

The visual analogy is to a sack of potatoes. If you hold a sack of potatoes by the top and plop it down on the countertop you can see the shift of the center of gravity down to the bottom of the sack. You need to do that with your seat -- shift the center of gravity down to your derrière. (Now don't go plopping your booty down in the saddle though try taking a quick deep breath and exhaling and plant down into the seat on your exhale.)

And relax your hips!! That let's you roll your hips with the horses energy and keeps in you time with his rhythm. The canter really is all about the way you move through your hips.

For your legs, the grip is with your thighs, but loose enough so you can roll through your hips.

I hope that makes sense and is helpful . . .

[Nuu]

Relax your lower body.
I would also say take the opportunity to speed down your pony. I had a similar problem with a mare I was riding -- it took us a while, but we eventually cracked her down into a decent canter that was sittable. The faster the gait is the more uncomfy it is to sit -- you wouldn't want to sit a fast, unbalanced trot, right? Bring her down into a slower canter with a nice rhthym. Relax your lower back and go with the flow.

[bloodymerrie]

LOTS of sitting trot. If you cannot sit the trot, and by that I mean your bum does NOT leave the saddle at any point in the trot, you cannot do a proper canter. It's about building core muscle strength. Relax the small of your back. Swing your hips, not your shoulders.

[jedy]

With all the sound advice, is the canter sooo faaast that it makes it near impossible to seat? Or just touch fast? What's your feeling about it?

[JBandRio]

It really is all about relaxing, but still keeping some tautness, in your lower back and pelvis. If you are stiff there, you bounce. If you grip with your legs, you create tension in your pelvis, and you bounce.