Teaching a Friend?

Hey guys,

My best friend has shown interest in riding over the past few months, (all of my friends ride at my house :o) ) and she has asked me to teach her to ride properly seeing as I have done it all my life. I said yes, one problem. We have worked it up to trot/canter, trot is easy she is getting that but how do you explain for someone that doesnt ride very much to canter?? What do I say??

Thanks for any replies.

Are you able to get her to canter while lunging? That way she wouldn't have to do much and can concerntrate on sitting correctly. Hmmm.. I don't know how you could explain it.. Just the basic don't bounce and relax sort of thing.
Good on you for teaching your friend how to ride :)
Good luck!

Hi, thanks for the relpy. I didn't think of lunging only problem is I don't know that my horse will lunge (been a trail/ muster horse all her life). I will try however. :)

Haha. I know what you mean. Pumpkin won't lunge, though we are getting there. Do you have an arena or anything? When I get to the stage of my sister cantering on Pumpkin, I will run along with a lead rope (haha. He isn't that fast :p)

Haha, I no it can suck sometimes. Nope my paddocks are on a angle so there is no space for one :( yeah ill try running beside her or she can work on her inside legs first. Haha cool :o) lucky he's not to fast :o) its tiring having to walk every where for a beginner on a lead rope :l

It can be a pain, but that way I know I can slow Pumpkin down or keep him going & whatever. Good luck!

I am a trail guide and part of my job is to explain to new people how to ride the canter and not fall off and hold some form of balance for our advanced rides. And basically I tell them that it is going to mimick a rocking horse motion. You but is going to slide from the back of the saddle towards the front and back again. You want to sit deep, almost thinking of putting all your weight into your butt and keep your heals down and toes pointed to the sky. That is how I explain it to my riders on trail. Hope this helps a bit?

What Azal said. Also,we always tell people to sit on their pockets (most of people around my place ride in jeans). Lunging the horse while your friend is riding would be the ideal, if your horse will do it.

Hi everyone,

Thank you for the replies, I will try lunging if that doesn't work i'll tell her what was stated above.

Thank you,

The biggest thing (aside all the things said above, which are great!) is to relax! Most people tense!

Also--when learning a new gait the first time, you slip, you don't RECOVER. So do a few strides, and if she feels uncomfortable let her go back to the trot. Essentially, perfect practice makes perfect, so practicing the canter when she loses her rhythm and balance isn't going to help it'll hurt.