Looking at the pictures in your "barn", your position is a lot better than the rider in the picture on this thread. The barn pics have two leg positions: long & short. I've always liked riding with a long leg, But I've recently brought my stirrups up about 1". What I'm finding is that when I canter using the longer leg position, I tend to reach with my legs so that my feet keep contact at the high point of the horse's movement.
I think when I stretch my legs like that, I'm also unintentionally squeezing with my knees & legs - at least, when I sit in the saddle on a rack and try to imitate it, that seems to be what happens - legs more rigid and knees come closer together. If so, then that would be telling my horse to go faster even while I'm using the reins to slow her down, and the confusion may be causing some of her frustration. Although in fairness to me, marginal rider though I am, some of her frustration is wanting to race the other horse...:?
So I brought my stirrups up one hole, then another. Since the stirrup strap on my Aussie-style saddle folds over, that makes my stirrups 1" shorter than before. Based on the last couple of rides, I think it lets me canter AND keep my knees apart - something I always have problems with since my 54 year old male hips are super tight.
Note:even after nearly 5 years of riding, I still get cramps in my hips regularly. Am I the only person who gets cramps on the outside of his hips when riding? :evil: :evil: :evil:
Since you mentioned you've been doing this with a longer leg, perhaps try shortening your stirrups about a hole's worth - somewhere between the two pictures that I assume are of you in your "HF barn" (
Nelly the horse).
I'm neither a teacher nor even a good rider, so all I can do is share what I'm discovering as I ride & learn. But if it doesn't help, at least it costs you nothing...:wink: