Confidence in Canter<\/span><\/h3>\nBefore a rider canters, they need to have an independent balanced seat and be able to control the horse at speed. When a rider starts to canter too early, or after a long break then they are not balanced and their muscles are not strong enough to keep them secure in the saddle.<\/p>\n
A good guide to this is to make sure you are able to guide and control the horse with one hand through witches hats on a circle, diamond and square with your other hand on your hip. Then change reins and go the other way.<\/p>\n
Your transitions on the lunge should show you have the ability to go between halt and trot (and trot to halt) using direct and indirect transitions with the ability to keep your hands on your hips through all transitions (proving an independent seat). If you use the second method then include two-point seat in these transitions.<\/p>\n
There are two schools of thought on teaching riders to canter, and I really believe it can depend on the situation and the horse. I use both ways, preferably on the lunge.<\/p>\n
The first one is to have the rider bringing the shoulders behind the vertical as they go into canter (often with the outside hand on the pommel and the inside hand on the cantle) so they allow the hips to follow the movement of the canter.<\/p>\n
The second is for the rider to remain in two-point seat and to hold the mane or the neck strap with both hands as an extra balance point.<\/p>\n
It is a good idea for an experienced instructor to lunge you on a suitable horse when you are ready to canter.<\/p>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
Jumping Confidence<\/span><\/h3>\nIf you are happy and confident riding on the flat, but not confident to jump it is often a problemof previously being over-faced for the amount of balance and muscle tone you have.<\/p>\n
To improve your muscle tone, shorten your stirrups and ride in two point seat for a few minutes each time your ride, in trot and canter paying particular attention to maintaining two point seat in the trot-canter and canter-trot transitions.<\/p>\n
By the time you are riding about 20 minutes of two point seat, start with a pole on the ground and progress to some raised trot poles, progressing to a canter bounce from a trot approach.<\/p>\n
(You may need assistance setting up the correct distances that your horse is comfortable with here but do not be talked into making them higher than what you are comfortable with.)<\/p>\n
Each time you ride, practice at least ten of these canter bounces (with trot approach), the main goal is for continual practice and to increase the number of times you practice rather than the height.<\/p>\n
If necessary, continue this exercise for months or years. The main thing is that you progress when you are comfortable, not when some-one else tells you that you are ready.<\/p>\n
When you are confident, increase to canter approaches over a single raised pole. Only when you are happy (no outside assistance here) you should increase the height.<\/p>\n
Riding Outside<\/span><\/h3>\nRiding outside in a big, wide, open area can be exciting for a horse and can also cause a rider to lose confidence riding outside. Sometimes people are surprised that they have problems stopping their seemingly lazy horse when they ride outside.<\/p>\n
Imagine you are the horse. There is no use running away when they are in the arena. Every few strides there is another fence, another corner, another barrier. When they are outside, there are no barriers, no corners and no-one to stop them.<\/p>\n
If the rider is nervous or insecure, the horse is not encouraged to slow down and they have the opportunity to gain a faster and faster pace.\u00a0 If there are other horses around and the horse can hear them going at a faster pace, their pulse increases and their excitability levels increase.<\/p>\n
If you ride your horse \u2018as if\u2019 they are in an enclosed arena in the corner of the open area there is less of a huge leap into the great outdoors. Ride circles, figures of eight and serpentines until they are happy and comfortable.<\/p>\n
Then make your circles bigger of serpentine into a larger area. Every time they become a bit excitable or nervous, simply return to circles, figures of eight and serpentines.<\/p>\n
Of course, ideally you would have a more experienced rider do these exercises on your horse before you attempt them.<\/p>\n