[showjumpingjunkieee]

I do jumpers and i know that dressage happens to be the foundation of riding so i need your help dressage guruss! I can get everything but a good quiet sitting canter...
i want to be more still it my leg and upper body, and more fluent with my horses motion... I have a greatt, quiet sitting trot but my sitting canter could use a little work...

Suggestion and help for me to master my sitting canter???

 

[JustDressageIt]

First off - yay!! I'm so glad that you are a showjumper but believe in dressage as a basis for your jumping - I could hug you!
Secondly.. on to your question -- can you get your trainer to give you a few lunge line lessons? If you don't have to focus on controlling the horse at all, you can focus more on your position - I find it helps riders' positions a ton! If you can, do this without reins and without stirrups - and focus on remembering to keep your legs soft (not gripping with your thighs) and your pelvis loose and following the horse's motion.
If you can, get a hold of Sally Swift's Centered Riding books - they are fantastic and filled with analogies that really make sense and pop into your head at the weirdest times!

 

[showjumpingjunkieee]

Awesome!!!! as a matter of fact i happen to have just picked up that book! and its greatttt, it amazing how it helps you to actually see your riding in your mind. My trainer said that i would be doing some lessons on the longe line to help me just as you said. thanks!!

 

[Kayty]

Get a few lunge lessons on a good quiet lunge horse with a smooth canter with no stirrups and reins. Closing your eyes while on the lunge is also good so you may focus soley on the rhythm of the canter.
Imagine that your eyes are on your seat bones, you want to feel the point of your seat bones on the saddle, balance on them so that your pelvis may open and allow you 'roll' with the movment of the canter. Also working your stomach muscles in time with the canter will help to keep your seat in the saddle

 

[MyBoyPuck]

Any time I have trouble following my horse's motion at the canter, I find that my hip angle isn't open enough and I'm tipped a little in front of the vertical. When that happens, your lower back cannot properly absorb the shock of the motion. If you're riding in a jumping saddle, your hip angle most likely needs to be opened up a bit. I agree with the other posts. A few lunge lessons will give you the opportunity to concentrate on finding a good supple seat.

 

[ridergirl23]

you could ride bareback! it helps me TONS lol im sooooo glad to hear other like salyl swift as well! haha she is soo good!

 

[sullylvr]

yayy i love it when pepople realize how important dressage is!! i would also reccomend being lunged on a calm horse with no stirrups and no reins, this makes your main point of contact your seat, while doing this thing about the expression "cleaning the saddle with your butt" its silly but it really works. let your hips rotate while scooping with your seat. hope this helps and good luck!!