Help with Canter

Well I've cantered before, a lot, but seriously from my lower back all the way up it hurt. The horse wasn't heavy on my hands, I remember having a LOT of issues breathing during my lesson. I'm not sure what it was. My friend (also a coach) in the states believes I was holding tension in my back but even she was floored by how much pain I was in. Just not normal...

I'll give you all an update when it comes to my first lesson at the new barn. Fingers crossed it's a good match...

Okay so had my lesson at the new barn :)

Aside from ME sucking at keeping contact and sticking my toes out like a loon... it was amazing! I improved just from the start of the lesson and the best part is no back pain :)

My mom came with to take videos so I haev a "starting point" and hopefully will improve from there. I even cantered without fear.. and it was a tiny fast canter, especially when I got him tracking all around the arena we bumped it up a notch to stretch him out.



And there are more videos there.

:) Got the cue right too, but dang it my contact is so horrendous.... :/ I think my core is really weak or something.

Well I'm pleased things have improved!! Good for you! So how did you end up cueing him for your lope? Looks like you had no trouble there!

I slid my outside leg back slightly so my lower leg was behind the girth, supported with my inside leg and squeezed with both simultaneously. He reacted to it rather well :)

My new instructor believes that the issue came from the type of horses I've been riding. Sky (my own horse) cantered on cue very well but since being in NZ my canter cueing has been an issue.

Thanks for the help everyone :) I will work on my contact and toes.....

I think overall you look great, Sky! Very relaxed, at ease, a "natural"! :0) I had trouble hearing all of what was being said, but I liked the fact that there was so much feedback from the trainer! I hope she works out well for/with you! :0)

Thank you Back2Horseback :) I think she and I will get along great. Just need to work on continuing to be teachable (sometimes I can get a bit sassy especially when it comes to contact as it's really hard for me to understand)

Wow, I'm exactly the same way when it comes to having trouble understanding exactly HOW I AM supposed to accomplish whatever it is that I'm being asked to do! I never get sassy with the trainer, however, instead, I get so frustrated and insecure with my skills that I begin to get all "caught up in my head", worrying that whatever signal I'm sending the horse is going to damage her training, or, that I'm being unfair to the horse by sending "mixed" signals, thus I "shouldn't even be riding"! (these are the nutty thoughts that fleetingly run through my head, making more complicated lessons horrendous for me!)

Nonetheless, just thought it would help to know you aren't the only one to get confused with stuff...ESPECIALLY patterns of things. For example; "do two walk to canter/canter to walk transitions, and then, go ahead and change direction, while picking up a working trot halfway through the change..." I'll find I'm lost back at the canter transitions and have forgotten the rest!
**Really good thing that I'm NEVER, EVER going to show! Haha!!

The sassiness emerges because everyone just says "cue to canter" but never explained HOW to cue... and I asked and got zip answer from previous instructors. This one actually verbally told me, physically showed me (on the ground) and talked me through it.

Love her! No sassiness from me

WHOAH! I've always been taught that if I'm having trouble with picking up the canter, especially regarding picking up the correct lead, to ALWAYS ask for it in the corners! I find this works well because they're bending already around the turn and it's harder for them to run away on the corners. If your horse doesn't get the canter in the corner, either circle and keep circling, or go down the straight away and wait for the next corner. Don't let him run down the straight away, though. Slow his trot to a good working trot, the try the canter again at the next corner. Good luck! :)

Is this horse new to you? It seems like every horse I ride responds to a different canter cue just because they were all trained so differently. For example, some respond to outside leg, outside rein, while others respond to outside leg, inside rein, and still others respond to only outside leg. Food for thought.