Cantering a horse?

Question

When I'm cantering a horse I always lost my sturrups? What should I do?

Answer 1

Keep more weight down in your heel. It's kinda hard to do if you've been doing it wrong for a while... last year I lost my stirrups all the time, doing everything... and my coaches told me to put the stirrup on the ball of my foot and press down with my big toe. I don't know at what point I started doing it right, but somehow I never lose them now.

When you start cantering you probably want to sit back and lift your leg a little because that'll make the horse go slower and keep it collected and stuff, but you can't do that and keep your stirrups. You can still keep a deep seat and a long leg... just try to stetch your legs as long underneath you as possible and you need to always feel the pressure of the stirrup on your feet. When you lose the stirrup, get it back on your foot and keep your leg stretched long with your foot pressing down on it.

It's a hard habit to break, but if I can do it, you can too.

Answer 2

First of all, I would shorten your stirrups. The way to tell if the length is correct is to take your feet out of the stirrups with your horse at a standstill, and let your legs dangle for a moment or two. If the length of your stirrups is correct, the irons will just touch the inside of your ankle bones. This also works on a Western or stock saddle- again, the stirrups should just touch the ankle bones on the inside of the rider's leg. You should NOT be standing on tiptoes to reach the stirrups in any saddle, no matter what kind it is. You need to learn to sit up and sit back, and let your weight sink into your heels and butt ( you should NOT bounce in the canter, because it will throw your balance and your horse's balance off, and may prevent your horse from taking the correct lead) and look where you are going. Looking down while asking for the canter is another big no-no, because your horse will look down too, and he is more apt to stumble and lose his balance. Ride by feel and balance, NOT by gripping the horse's sides with your legs- this will cause many horses to really speed up, because they think that they are being asked to run. The canter has 3 beats, and is a CONTROLLED form of the gallop- notice I put the emphasis on the word controlled. Thinking of the movements in a waltz may help you get the tempo of this gait, and it may also help you to find your balance. Cantering is much smoother than trotting, and is less tiresome for the rider, but it is also a faster speed for the horse and is therefore harder to sustain for long periods of time. So keep your legs under your body, with your heels DOWN, sit up, look where you are going, and RELAX !!!! Don't forget to breathe while you are cantering- relaxation is key to having a comfortable experience. Good luck- hope this helps.

Answer 3

My guess is that your probably "running" into the canter, a very bag habit for both the horse and you. Since the horse is lazy you might want to think about wearing some tiny spurs or bring a crop w/ you. Keep your leg on the horses girth its there to tell her "canter", sit back squeeze cluck a little then she should pick up the canter. (do this from the walk). It's not that he won't canter it's that your not asking him correctly. Ever horse is unique and is always a bit of a different ride, requires something extra and mabye something less. By figuring out HOW this horse needs to be asked to canter, then you can then canter him. Good luck.

Answer 4

I used to have this problem too! Most likely, you are pinches your knees in the saddle. I used to do this because i was not relaxed, and always loose my stirrups. What you need to do is relax your leg, try to think about letting it hang LONG and put your weight in your stirrup. What also helps is to keep your heels DOWN. If you have a problem with keeping your heels down, chances are you are loosing your stirrups. Think about putting all your weight into your heel, and keeping your foot a little farther in the stirrup than you nornally would (maybe a little past the ball of your foot.) You should also practice getting your foot back in the stirrup without looking so you can do this when you loose it at the canter. I hope this helps, I had the same problem and this helped me.

Answer 5

I had this problem too until my instructor told me to canter with no stirrups. So, try to cross your stirrups over your horses neck and canter about 10 to 15 strides like that. Once you feel conferable and feel like you can canter with out your feet coming out of your stirrups then you will be set.


If this does not work try shorting your stirrups and then try the same thing that I said above. Also try to point your toes to the sky and you heels to the ground



Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just be convenient and never give up. You will get it believe in yourself!!!!!!!

Answer 6

ok, first of all your stirrups need to be high enough that you can reach them, but I don't think that this is your problem. you can't just solve the stirrups problem by raising them... you can have your stirrups as high as a jockey rides and still lose them. you need to keep your leg long and press down in your heel at the canter. I wouldn't advise riding without stirrups to solve this problem because it sounds like your leg is trying to come up at the canter and if you have no stirrups and your leg comes up, you can slide right off the horse. Besides, you can solve the problem riding with your stirrups... just every few steps of the canter, think to yourself to press your heel down toward the ground. so long as you concentrate on it, you should do great.

Answer 7

It could be your stirrups are a little too long. Shorten them a hole. Also, work on getting your heels down and pressing your foot into the stirrup a little.
Your stirrup or shoe may have dirt between the grips so your foot can't grip. Check and clean them out if they do.

The girl above who says this person isn't good enough, please actually try cantering a horse before you comment. This happens to the best of us.

Answer 8

Try taking your stirrups off the saddle and sit as you feel most comfortable-this will help you find where your center of balance is-or even bareback. Ride like this for a couple of days -its tough and quite a workout, if you can do this for a week - when you put your stirrups back on-you will feel where the perfect length of stirrup should be for you - then adjust them to that length.You will notice a HUGE difference in your riding and your leg will stay perfectly still and in the proper position.

Answer 9

Up until this past year, I always had this problem. Just try to go with the motion of the horse and sit back more in the saddle. Don't lean forward, try to stay balanced and if that doesn't quite work then, maybe then tighten up your stirrups. Don't give up, it took me years to finally get it down.

Answer 10

shorten your stirrups and learn to hold the horse more with your calves. sit back on your pockets and move your hips more in time with the horse to avoid stiff legs, which move in the stirrups.
Your stirrups are too long, if you can't put your weight through your heels and hold the horse in frame with your calves.