Dear fellow riders,
I feel almost too embarrassed to ask this question, but what is the "official" way of cantering on a hack? (Not in the school, out in the fields!)
There is a long story behind the question. I have been riding for about 3 years now, I started riding as an adult (I was nearly 40 then) and fairly soon I got addicted to hacking out. Sure enough, I had had lessons as well, where I learnt how to walk, trot and canter, but I found that going on a hack was far more fun, so basically that's what I do. My local riding school was quite happy to cater for this, so I have had a lot of fun and continue to do so. Also, I must admit I am at best a mediocre rider which does not bother me at all. Treat me as a true enthusiast with very basic skills.
Now we usually have a lovely long canter during the hack. (In fact, the very first time I cantered was on a hack. Boy, it was better than...a lot of things) Now it's all very well that in the school you are supposed to sit throughout the canter but I read in my daughter's pony magazine (no joke, seriously) that you are supposed to take a "light seat" position during an extended canter. Great! So what do I do? Well, both. On some horses I ride, it feels quite OK to remain sitting even on an extended canter, although I must admit I feel a bit concerned about the horse's back, so usually halfway through I take up the "light seat" position. On other horses, sitting does not feel right somehow, so I take the light seat position throughout the canter. I am OK with either really but what is it really that I am supposed to do? Sitting seems nicer from the point of view that I feel more "connected" to the horse, whereas my insticts say that the light seat is more comfortable for the horse.
So why don't I ask the riding school? Well, it just seems a bit weird to say "hey ladies, if you don't mind me asking, now that I've been hacking out every week for 3 years, what the heck am I supposed to do while we are cantering?" So I thought I'd ask the question here, taking advantage of the anonymity of the forum. (Or could it be my male ego preventing me asking questions...haha?)
I'd be really grateful if you could share your thoughts with me.
Thanks,
MajorMajor
I feel almost too embarrassed to ask this question, but what is the "official" way of cantering on a hack? (Not in the school, out in the fields!)
There is a long story behind the question. I have been riding for about 3 years now, I started riding as an adult (I was nearly 40 then) and fairly soon I got addicted to hacking out. Sure enough, I had had lessons as well, where I learnt how to walk, trot and canter, but I found that going on a hack was far more fun, so basically that's what I do. My local riding school was quite happy to cater for this, so I have had a lot of fun and continue to do so. Also, I must admit I am at best a mediocre rider which does not bother me at all. Treat me as a true enthusiast with very basic skills.
Now we usually have a lovely long canter during the hack. (In fact, the very first time I cantered was on a hack. Boy, it was better than...a lot of things) Now it's all very well that in the school you are supposed to sit throughout the canter but I read in my daughter's pony magazine (no joke, seriously) that you are supposed to take a "light seat" position during an extended canter. Great! So what do I do? Well, both. On some horses I ride, it feels quite OK to remain sitting even on an extended canter, although I must admit I feel a bit concerned about the horse's back, so usually halfway through I take up the "light seat" position. On other horses, sitting does not feel right somehow, so I take the light seat position throughout the canter. I am OK with either really but what is it really that I am supposed to do? Sitting seems nicer from the point of view that I feel more "connected" to the horse, whereas my insticts say that the light seat is more comfortable for the horse.
So why don't I ask the riding school? Well, it just seems a bit weird to say "hey ladies, if you don't mind me asking, now that I've been hacking out every week for 3 years, what the heck am I supposed to do while we are cantering?" So I thought I'd ask the question here, taking advantage of the anonymity of the forum. (Or could it be my male ego preventing me asking questions...haha?)
I'd be really grateful if you could share your thoughts with me.
Thanks,
MajorMajor