In Us it the canter is said to be three beet not three time.

It's called that as well here you can use any.

Hey, I've been riding for about fourteen times in the last month, and my instructor's about to start me cantering the next time. To tell you the complete truth, I'm scared to death. I'm pretty comfortable with the trot in both sitting and rising, already. During one lesson, I had switched my horse with another student who wanted to try cantering on my horse. The horse wouldn't let me mount, but after a few strong words, I finally mounted. I was suppose to be trotting, but the horse finally broke free and started cantering. I was terrified, but managed to pull her back into a fast trot. At the bend, she broke into a fast canter again and I let out a yell! (yes, I was embarrassed afterwards). Most of my friends tell me that cantering is like riding the wind...yadda yadda. To me, it's like riding on a roller coaster that bounces and I'm not wearing my seatbelt! Do you have any special tips (or encouragements?). I definetly DO NOT want to be scared of cantering, and I really want to do it, but the thought of flying through the air doesn't really help. Can you help me? Thanks.

This is in reply to Maria's comment on 4 September.

The first time I cantered was an accident too, and this is why. I was doing a fast trot, coming into a corner when I realised I was on the wrong rein i.e. rising when I should have been sitting and vice versa. So I sat down for 2 beats. To the horse, apparently this is the signal to canter - sitting down and squeezing or kicking, especially coming into a corner as in a school, it is easier for a horse to canter into a corner as it automatically knows which leg to "take off" from. Here's what my instructor advised me when not too good at cantering. Keep the reins very short so the horse knows you're in charge, and hold on to the pommel with one or both hands if you need to. Turn your head just before you go round a corner so your body is balanced, and lean slightly inwards as you would on a motorbike. I hope this helps.

Have fun!

Be careful about leaning inwards, if taken to extreme this can unbalance a horse causing it to slip or fall. Better to try and keep your body upright which will help the horse to carry you.

Yesterday I rode this horse who had not been ridden all day, so he was really fresh. As we were cantering along the woods, I felt as if he was out of control. People have often talked about half-halts - how do you do them and what do they do? Thanks.

I have been riding off and on for the past six or so years, and it has been several months since the last time i was on a horse and even longer than that sincei had a lesson. I have had a about three monts total of weekly lessons, and at my peak was probably an intermediate rider. Now that i am at college i have joined the equestrian team and have thus realised that i have forgotten almost all of what i used to know how to do...i know what i should do most of the time, but can't seem to coordinate my body and make it work. My biggest question that i cannot for the life of me remeber the answer to is cuing the horse for the correct lead from walk into canter. Inside rein and outside leg, or vice versa? I really want to get the commands down so tha ti can just atemopt to apply them instead of having to ask, which would make me feel oh so foolish after telling everyone that i have ridden for several years. I feel like an idiot out there!! But i want to ride and show so badly!! I am determiend to enter a show by the end of the year...there is one in December that i would like to enter but i want to make sure i am ready so i son't make a fool of myself!! Any suggestions would be great! I need to know CUES!! CUES CUES CUES!! where to put my leg, which leg, which rein, and what the different combinations will (or should make the horse do).

Cristi

Hey! I have been riding for nine months, so most people would say I'm an intermediate, but I'm not. My old riding school taught me next to nothing and now that I'm at a new stable I'm really starting to learn. But when I tell people that I've been riding so long and then they see me in the ring doing walk/trot the whole time, I'm REALLY embarassed. When do you usually start cantering-- after 4 months or so? I'm just making a random geuss. But I am wondering if it is normal to be behind like this. Please give me some encouragement!!! OH and a word of advice-- never choose to go to the first stable you look at! It ended up being a HUGE mistake for me, the place was horrible and I almost quit riding for good! Just thought I should say that:)

Don't worry, your only walking and trotting because you started somewhere that wasn't very good! Now you're at a new school think of it as a fresh start and don't count the months at the old stable. You will be suprised how quickly you will learn to canter! Your new stable sounds nice so i'm sure the people won't be wondering why you aren't cantering yet, they have probably heard of the stable you went to first and will understand that you werent taught much there. I would just focus on getting the riding you're doing at the minute really good, and I'm sure that in no time at all your instructor will move you on to the next level.

Christi - did anyone answer you about aids ? I have always had real problems with where to put leg and weight for sideways stuff, and the only way I can remember is if I get on the ground and do the movement myself.

You may feel foolish, but have a canter around yourself on the ground - which leg is ahead, which behind ?...

Hey all.

In response to Emily and Maria about Cantering.

The only answer on when to canter is - when you feel ready to canter then have a go. I have been riding on - off for over 10 years and now have my own horse. :-) Canter when you feel ready. The pace is felt in three beats and I think it feels like sitting on a swing. If you imagine yourself from the side, your hip will draw an elipse (an oval or squashed circle) as you sit to a canter. Try not to lean too far forward, and try to relax your hands with your horses movements. The more tense you are when you canter the more uncomfortable it will be for both of you.

There is nothing wrong with holding off on canter for a while. If you rush things you can shatter your confidence if it all goes wrong. Try and find a schoolmaster to learn canter on, a horse that knows what it is doing can make you feel more secure. Or maybe have a private lesson. There is nothing worse than being really nervous, trying something new, and fearing making a mistake in front of a class, even if we all had to learn at one time or other.

You will feel a great sense of acheivement when you can canter. And I don't think much can beat the wind rushing past on a summer day on a hack out!

All the best.
Nicola

Ive been reading the few things you have put down on cantering and I find them comforting. Im gonna canter for the first time tomorrow and im a bit shakey, but if i get scared it will just make things worse. so thank you for the encouragment. im excited about tommorrow!

I just started cantering after riding about 3 months. It is wonderful but I will admit it feels a little out of control.
Did anyone answer the question about aids to canter? I was taught that when I am on the left rein (my left is to the inside in a ring i.e. going counter-clockwise), I use my inside (left) rein and outside (right) leg. If the horse in already on a corner, usually outside leg is all I've needed. I think the inside rein aid just reminds the horse that we are doing a left hand turn, so he remembers to start on the correct lead. I was on a straight-away going counter clockwise and asked for a canter with a little inside rein and the outside leg and he picks up the correct lead. The inside rein must be slight or the horse will veer in towards the center of the ring. The opposite applies to going clockwise. It is always outside leg and inside rein. I still have a hard time telling if he is on the correct lead.

I have figured out that if he is on the left lead (i.e. for a counter clockwise circle), his left front leg is the last to hit the ground at the end of one rocking motion. Then you are suspended (no feet on ground) for a second until the next three beats start. Over his shoulder it looks like he is pulling with the left shoulder/leg. You should see the left front shoulder drop as the left front leg hits the ground at the third beat! The opposite goes the other way. Another thing is the purpose of using the outside leg....continuing with my left hand turn, when I want a canter, I nudge him behind the girth with my right heel. I think this tells him to start the canter with that leg (i.e. right rear). He starts with this right rear hitting the ground first, followed by the pair left rear/right front, and then ending with the left front. It is kind of odd that the third beat (i.e. last foot) to touch is called the "lead"!

Take care and happy riding!

Hi everyone,

I've been reading all the notes about cantering and they've really encouraged me. I started riding about a year ago, but I ended up shattering my collar bone when my horse was spooked. I went back to private lessons about 2 months ago, and my instructor says I'm ready to canter, but I'm really scared, because I fell when I was cantering last time. I'm fine with walking and both rising and sitting the trot.

Any advice please? I'm really nervous, but I want to be able to canter again.

Take care everyone.

I am so glad I found this...I have been trying to canter for the last couple of lessons but I get so scared, I can't do it. Last night I ended up in tears...uggh. I had a little rodeo ride a few months ago and it spooked me. I get scared that I will be out of control, so I start to grip with my legs. I have tried everything to relax and am fine in a trot. My instructor said we might try a lunge line so I can just get the feel of it...and he will be in control. Hope it works as this is making me nuts!

I just switched from riding an older horse to a younger, more energetic one. She has an extremely fast canter and I have been trying everything to slow her down. Half-halts, trying to sit deeper, and other things. But nothing seems to really work. I have a really hard time getting her collected for a nice, smooth canter. I want to definatly keep riding her, and I hope that I will be able to get used to her canter more.
Any tips anyone?
Happy riding!!! Ü
luv,
Ashley

Just reading all the notes about cantering and all I can say is don't give up. I've been riding for years, but have never owned my own horse. I'm lucky enough to be able to ride a fairly well-balanced and well-schooled horse just recently. When everything goes right in the canter and she really brings her hind legs under her, I feel her back rising up to meet me and we both look like we know what we're doing!! It's the best feeling in the world - even if sometimes it only lasts a stride or two - but you just KNOW that this is what it's supposed to feel like!! So don't give up on the canter work (& I know it's scary sometimes, I've been galloped off with & dumped more times than I care to remember!), because you'll know when it's right and it will be worth all the effort.

It's really nice to hear stories from people who feel the same as me!!
I have recently started having private lessons after a gap of about 8 years.
During my first lesson I fell off twice, but was determined not to be beaten, so got back on. I have since had two more lessons, and have been riding a lovely gentle horse (who is ready for retirement!), and I feel much safer on her.
I have been having lunge lessons, which I would highly recommend as they are wonderful for getting your balance just right. On my second lesson I cantered which was so amazing after my awful first lesson.
My instructor told me to think of trying to polish the seat with your bum, and it really helps!
If you're not sure whether you're ready to canter, say so. You're paying for the lessons, and if you are not happy with something, don't do it.
But if you're feeling a bit daring, take the bull by the horns, and go for it - you'll be so proud of yourself!! Good Luck.

I have been riding a 13yr old horse that has been a lesson horse. She tries to buck me off when I start to trot. Then stops short on me. I don't know if it's me or if it's the saddle. She knows I am a beginner. What advise can you give me. I have taken lessons and know I need many many more. Thanks

Help!

I'm so embarassed. I've been having group lessons for 5 weeks, and last Friday, my instructor got me to try to canter for the first time, but I couldn't do it. I was bouncing around too much at the sitting trot, to be able to do the correct signal so that my horse would canter.
He cantered once, but then went straight back into a fast trot.
I feel so dumb in front of the rest of the class (who can all canter, and they've all been riding ALOT longer than me). Please help!

Love,
Cait

Diane -
I've been riding for awhile now, and my horse was formerly used as a lesson horse. She was used to often, and because of this got sour. She began to start bucking, kicking out and trying to do anything to get the rider off her back. It ended up that she was just a little ring sour, and she had started to get cranky from to many beginners riding her. The problem with your horse coudl be a variety of things, but I know in my situation my horse just needed to take some trail rides and have a little change of scenery!

Lexie-
I hope that this letter finds you cantering around, but in the off chance that u r still worried, heres some advice:
When ever i get nervous or tense i take a herbal mixture called "Bachs Rescue Remedy" 3 drops under my tounge and then iam fine!! Sometimes i also give it to my horse. Its avalible in Australia, so iam sure that if you visit a health food shop, they would be able to give u a similar mixture. Try to ask your instructor if they can put you on a school master with a vaulting roller on, (the ones with 2 big handles on the top) then get astride and give it a go!!Chamomile tea also has a calming effect. Hope that this can help you. Best of Luck. Remember 'mind over matter!!'

Eden

P.S: We have a magazine in Australia called "horse Wyse" it recently had an artical on fear with riding. Its worth a look at:
http://www.horsewyse.net/fear.html

This is for a couple of people. For Cathy, to get your horse to canter from a walk
1. Make sure your horse in bent to the inside and is working with implusion
2. Bring your inside hand up a little (about one to two inches)this keeps his shoulder from falling in
3. Slide you outside leg back (Don't kick) so the horse knows what you're going to ask of him
4. When your leg is back squeeze with it
5. As soon as your horse picks up his lead make sure you apply your inside and outside leg on strong

For ems:
A half halt is usually done with the outside rien.
It's exactly what it sounds like. You know when you want to bring your horse back to a trot form a canter you pull back gently on the riens then soften. A half halt is when you pull back on the outside rien for about 1 or two seconds (or one stride) then soften. It's used to slow the gait down from say fast canter to a slow one. But DO NOT just pull on the reins. This won't help and in some cases the horse will just pull back against you and go faster.

Another way to slow your horse down in the canter is to lean as far back as you can and resits the motion of the canter. But remember to keep your legs on.

Hey everyone:
I've been reading all of your fears about cantering, and let me tell you, theres nothing to worry about. Cantering is the most fun, natural thing you'll ever do, and soon after you start, the real fun begins. JUMPING!
Anyway, when you first try, don't worry at all about sticking in the saddle or all the correct postures, don't think about a thing except how much fun you're going to have. If you're nervous, or have trouble signaling to a canter because you're afraid of what will actually ahppen, ask you teacher to lunge you a bit first. Thats how I learned the first time, and it made things much easier. I wasn't afraid at all, where before I had been very anxious. Before I knew it, I was off the lunge, and very happy to be cantering around the ring. Sure it was a bit bouncy, but if you have any patiant horse, which I'm sure you do if you're riding a school horse, it probably won't take off. He or she may break every now and then, but once you've cantered a little, you'll have no trouble getting them going again.
My best advice to you is don't carry a crop, unless your instructer insists. When you first learn to canter, your horse is probably doing you a big favor by responding to improper cues. The worst thing you could do would be to smack him for not answering a shady or completely wrong cue. When in doubt, cluck a bit. The universal urging to go foward. *wink* If you still have trouble getting them going, just pull your outside leg back a bit further and give them a little tap with it. They'll be off a bit fast, but not for long.
Remember, inside rein, outside leg, and keep the inside leg tight at the girth. Most of all, relax. I've fallen off my horse plenty of times, and serious injuries aren't that common. Worst I've ever gotten was a little bruising on my back. Usually all you end up as is a little dirty.
Good Luck! And have fun! Soon cantering will be your favorite thing to do!


God bless you and the horse you rode in on

Personally, I think one of the main problems people have with cantering is a lack of confidence, which I realise is hard to get over. Going into canter is difficult and uncomfortable from a racing sitting trot, which tends to happen if your nervous and over-grip, or give the wrong aids. Practice your sitting trot first for a while, then when you're comfy with it give the aids, but only if you feel 100% sure. Remember, if you don't your horse will know, and feel worried him/herself.

Don't worry if you're scared - who cares what others think? I know plenty of riders who are happy just to walk and trot in both lessons and hacks, and you can learn far more that way than by pushing yourself and your mount to extremes.

I know that everyone is saying to canter on a horse that is experienced and to be on a lunge line and all, however, the first time I cantered (on purpose, lol) was on a greenie. She was an Anglo-Arab mare who had only been under saddle for 3 months. I am a beginner but she has a sweet temperament which allowed me to ride her without being on a lunge line. Her trot is quite springy however she gave me loads of confidence because she was so green. I just felt comfortable and said "canter"(she goes by sligh leg aids as she is sensitive however she does better with vocal cues) and I could not believe how well I stuck in the saddle and how good I felt. So the only advice I can give is just to give it a go! *Most of the time* you won't regret it and you will find that you're progressing quicker! :)

Aiding for canter can depend on how the horse has been trained. We tend to train them to go from the inside leg at the girth, rather than the outside leg behind the girth. This is to prevent the horse swinging his quarters in, especially in horses who have been trained in lateral work, where the leg behind the girth asks him to step sideways. To aid for canter, we would move our outside leg back behind the girth, and use our inside leg at the girth to ask for the transition. Raising the inside hand a little, will ask him to keep the bend to the inside. Our horses are all trained to go from walk to canter, which can make it easier.

It's best if possible to learn canter on a steady schoolmaster who has a good collected canter and is trained to go from walk. However, if that isn't possible, rather than sitting the trot, bouncing and letting the horse run on, a more novice rider could ask from rising trot, preferably on the 'wrong' diagonal, which means the timing would be better. If the horse does rush off in trot, it's best to come back and try again, not letting him run on and fall into canter. A pole on the ground in the corner of the school can help too. Asking for canter as he steps over the pole.

The first time you're going to try the canter, it's easy to throw everything at the horse and tip yourself forward, but sitting up and concentrating on keeping your shoulders back, not letting your lower legs slip back, should keep you secure and safe. Read Heather's description of how to absorb the canter, keep your shoulders back and look ahead and you should be fine!

Canter is very easy to sit, so long as the horse is suitable to learn on and keeps steady. Many people find it much easier than trot and it shouldn't necessarily be any faster, just different.

If you are a bit shaken up when you first start cantering, and if the horse has a martingale, trie holding on to that and it will be a lot easier.

Hi, this is a great site and wonderful for new riders. I've been taking lessons for about 9 months now and have been cantering but have 2 problems. The first one is while I mostly enjoy the canter, I don't necessarily feel that I am in control. How can I get that feeling of control, maybe just experience? The other one is probably more to do with a sitting trot - One of the horses that I ride has a very bouncy trot, which is fine while I'm rising but when I want to go sitting before I go into a canter I find I'm bouncing around too much which then worries me about going into a canter on him. Is there any easy technique to sitting comfortably to a bouncy trot?

Here are just a couple of tips for cantering your first time:
A neck strap (usually an old stirrup leather buckled fairly loosly around the horses neck)is a better thing to hold onto to balance than the pommel of the saddle, as you still have two hands on the reins.
Secondly,when asking for canter, make sure you have a good, rhythmic trot and if you find your horse is just trotting really fast instead of cantering, slow down, get your balance back and ask again. if you go from a very fast bouncy trot you balance and everything will be all over the place and you will find the cantering a lot harder!
I hope this helps!

Here are just a couple of tips for cantering your first time:
A neck strap (usually an old stirrup leather buckled fairly loosly around the horses neck)is a better thing to hold onto to balance than the pommel of the saddle, as you still have two hands on the reins.
Secondly,when asking for canter, make sure you have a good, rhythmic trot and if you find your horse is just trotting really fast instead of cantering, slow down, get your balance back and ask again. if you go from a very fast bouncy trot you balance and everything will be all over the place and you will find the cantering a lot harder!
I hope this helps!

Hey,
I have been riding for awhile now, and own a welsh ponie. Recently, I have been riding with someone else who owns larger horses. It was hard for me to "absorb" the canter and the trot with them, because my ponie has a small movement canter. So, what I did was watch my frind do it, and then I tried it. Its embarrasing flopping around when people are watching you! But I caught on and read this, and it helped! thanks, and to all you beginners, its always hard at first, but keep trying, and eventually you'll get it!
-April

The books go into detail about ones seatbones and balance, but they confuse me. Can someone please unomplicate it for me. What should I be doing with my behind,legs,hand position while cantering? I find that I end up pressing down on the stirrups for balance. Can anyone tell me how to properly stop my horse. I pull on the reins, lean back, release the reins a bit...is this right? Should I be squeezing my lower legs a bit too, then releasing? Thank you. Lori

Hello there,

I'm a 28 year old who's been riding for 9 months or so now. I started lessons last July, changing schools by November as the small farm I started at sadly had to close. I wasn't progressing on an hour a week group lessons so decided to start sharing in December.
I now share a cuddly half shire who will be great for hacking in the summer but I am still, like Emily either walking or trotting whenever I am in the school. He's a pretty big boy and I'm a little weed so even though I've been riding for that amount of time it's taken me alot of hard work to start getting him to go forward with me. Now finally spring is here and with the longer evenings I am going to be able to get out of the school and start hacking and I too want to canter like the wind!! I am determined to go for it but I have learned to live with the fact that all the other guys in the yard have been riding since they were knee high to a grasshopper and the fact I have come this far (9 months ago I wouldn't have known what to do with a riding crop!) is something to be proud of on a personal level. Who cares that you may not be as good as the others at the moment. The good thing is that you are trying and determined to succeed where so many others would bottle out!! So don't worry that you are not yet the worlds best horsewoman, just enjoy yourself and have fun!!! (I'll probably eat my words this Sunday after I end up head first in a pile of horse poop). Only kidding!!

Hey! I have been riding for 2 years, and recently started riding a 5-year old Morgan/Standardbred cross mare. At the canter she can get very fast and strong, especially out of the ring. I want her to be more controlled and collected, but nothing seems to work- sitting back, half-halts, going against the movement, anything- it all seems useless on her. Once i had to use a pulley rein on her when she spooked outside the ring, and that brought her right back down to a trot. Any tips?
Also, i find she gets very strong when i am cross-country jumping. This past week i was riding with my friend, and my horse took off after a set of jumps, causing my friend-s horse to take off, too. I couldn't stop her! She gets very spooky at a canter outside the ring. Any tips on how i can calm her down?

I remember my first canter. It was on an arab mare who is VERY fast! But I had a leader to run along side incase she galloped off. All I had to do was to hold on to the saddle but I found that I was really bouncing out of the saddle. But know I canter by myself all the time and if you find that your always bouncing out of the saddle DONT GET SCARED because the more practice you have of cantering the better and you'll love it. Canter is a relaxing and smooth pace once you've mastered it if you've only just started to canter then you proboally think its the most uncomfetable pace. I think its the most relaxing and smoothest pace remember to ABSORB the movement! And relax and dont be scared and say im not cantering go out there and practice.

I am able to canter on some horses without trouble but get out of control on others. I not always sure if it's the saddle, the horse or me. I want to be consistent no matter which horse I am riding. Also sometimes I ride with a western saddle and am having a very hard time staying seated in it - I end up bouncing quite a bit and then end up putting my feet in front of my knees and bending my body slightly forward in order to avoid the bounce, but this position makes me feel out of control. Do you have any tips for western saddles or for being consistent?

im hoping to do my first canter in my next few lessons and am nervous about it as i fell off last time i did a sitting trot! i was trotting with out stirrups. i have been told that if i can master a sit trot then i should master cantering quite easily. is this true? i also have a simple (embarresing) question. when riding is it best to grip with your knees or calves or thighs! im concentrating on keeping my heels down all the time(they always come up! how can i stop that?) that i just hang for dear life.
thanx

amy

dont panik amy!!!! dont grip - just relax and let the horse "flow". believe you will canter and relax .

remember 2 breath aswell!!!!!!

To all those people who are learning to canter for the first time. Dont worry about not getting it the first time, or only getting a few strides. Transition to canter can be tricky. Concentrate on getting a positive controlled sitting trot right first. The trot neednt be too fast to start cantering and is actually better the more controlled the pace before asking for canter. Look at how slowly dressage riders canter. Try a private lesson so you can concentrate on the transition. If you dont get it once, try in on the next corner or change the rein. You and the horse may prefer a particular rein to strike off initially.

Once you get into canter, it is even more confortable than trot. Just relax in the saddle and think about waltzing, which is a three time/beat dance. Tensing makes you bounce more. If you grip with your knees you will find you actually come even further out of the saddle (think about trying to hold onto a bar of wet soap in the bath, the harder you grip it the more likely it is to fly out of your hand). Just think about letting the energy of the canter flow through you and out through your heels.

If are cantering in the school, you will find it more comfortable to sit to the canter, particularly round corners as the centrifugal force will force you down in the saddle. Out hacking however, you may find it easier and more stable to adopt a lighter seat (ie bending forward slightly and taking more weight on the toes in the stirrups) when travelling over uneven ground.

As others have also said, having a neck strap available is also a good idea and much better than grabbing the pommel. This is because you have more control of the horse with two hands on the reins and you can also pull on the neck strap as well if necessary to help slow the horse down. Putting a hand on the pommel can sometimes make you push yourself down and back in the saddle which isnt necessarily a good thing as you lose the rhythm and unbalance.

As someone who came back to riding after a couple of really bad crashes at high speed and a long break, I love the sensation of the canter. When you've got going, sit there, smile and relax. It's a great feeling both you and your horse can enjoy.

I started riding 2 months ago.I am 37 and was about 30kg overweight. My instructress was reassuring & I have managed to shed 10kg since my first lesson, however I am constantly aware of the impact of my weight on the horse.The horse I ride is a large sturdy schoolmaster and he has shown no signs of adverse effects or behaviour (in fact he is marvellously patient with me), such as bucking,etc.
I have had about 10 lessons and have begun to canter. I was terrified at the thought, but now enjoy this tremendously.I sit pretty firmly in the saddle without the "polishing" motion during the canter. Is this a problem? Any tips about how to minimise the effect of my weight on the horse ?

So glad I found this site. I've just begun the canter too. And I feel like everyone else- a sack of potatoes bouncing around. And fearful too. I'm thinking that it is just a matter of time in the saddle before I get it....still, it is very anxiety producing. I'm 56 and have been riding since Feb.

Paul

Hello,

All this talk of Cantering,.. Makes me remember my first canter...what a rush. You soon will learn which lead your friend is in. Look over your horses shoulder (or over the neck above the whithers). Depending on which lead he is supposed to be in, that is the foot you should see leading.

Also, remember *(in western) to squeeze with your knees. NOT you calfs. Legs should be relaxed from the knee down to give the approriate cues. But you should be holding tight with your knees and thighs. Rocking motion with your hips, NOT the upper body this will throw the horse and you, off balance with eachother. The motion is in the hips, kinda like you are springing the horse forward.

Have fun...and never be afraid. The horse will sense that and either baulk, or take you for a scary ride!! (much to his/her delight of course)

Im having a BIG BIG problem with my horse she tend to be BUCKING every time i ask for CANTER she has started to stop doing it but still throughs in the odd buck and she has quite a buck(almost vertical) when i hack her she is fine i dont under stand because she is pretty much well behaved for her age. She started doing all thei last year so we got a saddle fitted but thing got worse till in the end she gave up but i dont understand why sometimes she will get herself so wound up with her broncos she will sweet up v bad it will be rollin down her face any advice HELP

I haven't had a lot of experience with riding but I learnt on a 16.2 ex racehorse. Never had any lessons. He scared the hell out of me. He had a lovely canter but he was very fast and I found I couldn't keep up. I would get scared and pull him back into a trot. I now ride a 15h arab and he is about 19years old. very quiet he is lovely to ride but i'm still very scared to canter. I fell off a few times on my other horse and I still remember it's a long way down. I have only started riding again after a long break, i'm now 35 and can't get riding lessons cause i live to far out in the country. I think this site is excellent I just wish you could help me with my confidence. Keep all the help comming as I think we will get there in the end.

I'll keep riding I still love the thought of the wind and the freedom while riding it's my time out.

Regards Lisa