What's a good way to help me keep my balance in a canter?

Question

My horse has a beautiful canter, really fast, yet really really smooth!! But whenever she firsts starts (for the first two steps or so) it's really rough...almost like a rocking horse. When she starts in it, I always loose my balance, and then can't regain it quick enough.

What are good ways I can gain or regain my balance when she canters?

I've tried going from a walk, to a collective trot, to an extrended trot, then to a canter, but it still doesn't work. I'll have a good balance up until she canters. I'm thinking of competing in a show with her in May...and I believe it's walk, trot, canter (not entirely sure), so I need to gain my balance before then.

Thanks so much in advance!!!!

Oh, if it matters I ride English

@Deny
That is a really good idea...but it wouldn't work for Star only because she doesn't know how to neck reign. I'm going to be teaching her that soon, but until then it won't work.

@dzjessie
The saddle is about the right size for me...it's not too small for me, but it could be a tad too big. Sadly, I do not have my own saddle, I borrow from my trainer, and I found that there's really only two that fit me fairly good. I'm sure they aren't the right size for me, but they are fairly close. I have jumped with the saddle on, and had no problems, and I've done trail rides with it also...so I don't think it's a problem with the size of the saddle.

I think probably this makes it worse, but when I was first learning to canter, I rode a horse that either had a really really really smooth canter (so smooth that is almost felt like a fast walk), or a horse with breathing problems so she wouldn't go fast. I was able to gain balance on those horses really easy....but when I ride a horse who's canter is faster and a little rough at the beginning, I tend to loose balance quickly for some reason.
I'll have my trainer go over it with me (I had a different trainer when I learned to canter), and hopefully that will solve it. If not, I'll try riding a different horse that has a slow canter and slowly work my way up to a faster and rougher canter

Answer 1

Having your instructor (or a friend you TRUST) lunge you on your horse while your holding your hands out to the side, in front, above your head etc.

Trust me, that helps immensly.

Riding without stirrups, start at a walk/trot until you are comfortable. Then take your stirrups, ask for a canter, and drop them.

While a friend is lunging you, close your eyes at a walk/trot and try to get the rythym without using your eyes to help control balance. That is tough to do.

Answer 2

Before asking for canter, establish a good trot. Go into sitting trot then ask her to canter. As you ask, sit deep, allow with your hands and go with the movement.
Before asking for canter give a half halt then put the reins into your outside hand and hold onto the pommel to keep your balance for the first couple of strides. Once the canter is better, take the reins up again in both hands. Hopefully you won't need to do this more than a few times.
Make sure that you're sitting properly. Sit up and back slightly with your head looking forwards. Keep your heels down and think about keeping your weight balanced on each side.
Also working on the lunge, working bareback and working without stirrups will all help you out.
Keep practising and you'll soon get your balance!
Also good luck if you do decide to compete =)

Answer 3

Now I ride Western but I don't know that it matters alot. When I was learning to not freak out when the horse started into a canter from a trot or walk my instructor made me hold one hand on the reins and an open Pepsi can in the other. I was concentrating so much on not spilling the soda all over me that I was more balanced and sitting smooth. Not sure if this would work for you but you since you probably ride with both hands on the reins but you could give it a try.

Answer 4

Mulereiner has the key - lunge lessons are the key :-) I had loads of them, and they really helped me in a way nothing else could.

You can also try sitting deep in the saddle and leaning back. Most people lean too far forward and hunch their backs up, this causes your pelvis to tilt and lose contact with the saddle.

As you ride English, when you sit in the saddle, don't put your feet in your stirrups. Instead, swing your hips from side to side - if your horse is fidgety, then ask someone to hold his head. Then, bring your knees up, so they almost touch, then quickly and as strong as you can, push them down and back - you should hold the pommel of the saddle while you do this. Now, without moving your seat one little jot, put your toes into the stirrups. This is an easy way to make sure you have the correct seat for English riding. You should find it easy to sit to the canter, without losing your balance.

Answer 5

I had the same problem for a while, but what you need to do is make sure that the saddle is the right size, especially with an english saddle. If it is, then make sure that you know where your balance point is. Once you find your balance point and the rhythm of your horse everything should fall into place. If you do need help and things arn't working out, squeeze with your thighs and hold on with one hand underneath the front of the saddle where it raises a bit and try experimenting with your balance. Hope this helps!!

Answer 6

Your horse just has rough transitions- and remember- you don't want a "really fast" canter for english, you want a powerful, slower canter. You need to work on going from a slower trot or walk to a more collected canter. Do a lot of walk canter, trot, canter transitions, and make sure she doesn't speed up to get into them.
From how you are describing it- it is balance issue with the horse- not you.

What I do to get more "jump" and easier transitions into the canter is to carry a whip and if they do not canter immediately when I ask- a slight tap with the whip. If you allow the horse to be a "cow" coming into the canter, you will get the rough strides, and your canter will probably not be on the bit (as you want for english).
To get your horse more collected at the canter, half halt with the outside rein, and use inside leg at the same time. Some horses go better off of outside leg/inside rein combo- try that as well.

Answer 7

sounds like you need to do a lot more riding going into your canter from all gaits before you are comfortable with your horses canter take off. I'd try to 2 point your position until you are more comfortable with the take off and then gradually ease your butt back into the saddle after a few strides...this won't look so obvious to a judge. Good Luck.

Answer 8

I totally agree with Mulerein..... because you need to get your balance down prior to taking off and cantering. Having someone lunge you while you are holding your arms in various positions is excellent. Start with your hands on your hips, then one arm straigh out in front of you, above your head, out to the side, then do large circles with your arm. Switch arms and repeat..... Once you get comforable, go ahead and do both arms at the same time. Do this exercise for several weeks at the trot, and work yourself up to the lope. It's a great thing for your balance, not only for beginners but for experienced riders as well!

Answer 9

I would try going in a 2 point position. Stand up when asking for the canter. Or, as someone to lunge your horse for you while your on, and hold onto the saddle and ask for the canter.

Answer 10

i started off in 2 point. this way, i could get a good grip of mane, and wrap my legs a little, while still holding my balance. make sure you are keeping straightened up, and i would reccomend having someone watch you. does your seat change when you cue for the canter, before she steps into it? also, i would reccomend putting those heels deep down, as well as sitting deep, and staying on the right diagonal from the trot when you are asking for the canter. most of all, i know its hard when a horse throws your balance off when you are doing this, but hang on, and keep trying at it. the more often you ride, and practice starting, the better and more fluid you will both become.