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Post by dannyboy on Aug 29, 2008 19:38:00 GMT
To all my very special experienced friends ;D Sorry in advance for being so petty & crap!! You may have already seen my previous thread re: keeping my heels down - well I'm looking for a little extra help pleeeaaassee! In canter I seem to fall forward in the seat - I try & remind myself to sit up straight (leaning back) & pushing out tum & legs/heels down but it's not completely pretty. I feel really unbalanced and feel like I'm regressing, I find my feet slipping out of the stirrups, especially when I give the canter command. There seems to be so much to think about all at once & my brain isn't listening. It's getting me down a little as I'm willing myself on but it doesn't seem to be all coming together properly  I suggested a lunging lesson but my RI is not keen, says he's not too experienced in this area  Surely I should be getting it by now, I'm usually quite quick on the uptake, maybe its a bit of nerves still  Someone told me to have shorter stirrups - do you think this would help? I've been trying lots of different horses / ponies at the RS recently, maybe I should just focus on one until I get completely confident? What can I do  All advice & tips are very welcome 
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ptarmigan1
Apprentice Poo Picker
Team Hayman
Posts: 375
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Post by ptarmigan1 on Aug 29, 2008 19:55:54 GMT
Everybody has this problem at the start, and everyone gets it in the middle, and end! Dont put yourself down, when i had this problem, i looked though some somgs with have a beat of 3, and put them on my mp3 while riding! Another problem that i had could be the saddle, i have to change my gullet as is used to throw me forward. You WILL get it! Pony Promise  |
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Post by Blonde Donkey on Aug 29, 2008 20:01:19 GMT
shorter stirrups work for me
also a lunge lesson would be good with someone experienced in lunging
also a horse that has an easy canter makes it a lot better and develops your seat
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Post by racaille on Aug 29, 2008 21:55:19 GMT
Dear old Danny, you are so not alone, so cheer up! It is difficult at first but I assure you, one day soon it will click and then you will wonder what on earth you were worried about!
Try this exercise - lean back a lot, really back, much too far to start with, as it helps free your pelvis and will allow you to 'do' the movement. The reason you are tipping forward, I think, is that you are gripping with your knees/legs (which is why you are losing your stirrups) and are feeling insecure, which makes us lean forward - this is counter-intuitive as people rarely fall off the back of a horse, so leaning back makes you a little more secure. Your legs will probably go forward but don't worry at this stage.
We do this a lot with newish riders to help them 'feel' the movement and although strange, it does work. Once you've got the moving hips you can then come back again into a better position but this is a good way to practice. Hold the saddle, mane or neckstrap too, if you like.
I'm not sure this makes any sense ;D.
If it makes you feel better, I know what you mean about brain overload! I was so trying to get Paco through his left canter evasion that I was really concentrating on my aids but I remember thinking: hey, this is too much to do all at once!!
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Post by fleabitten on Aug 30, 2008 9:05:16 GMT
Are you doing any riding without stirrups? This is totally brilliant as it teaches you to have a deep seat and not rely on the stirrups too much. Or even bare back! Just a few minutes each session building it up (time) starting with walk and then progressin to trot (although i do suggest you pick a horse with a pretty flat trot so you dont get bounced around too much!).
I rmember i found it so hard to learn to canter - i pushed my heels down and tried to relax everything and just sit there. Bareback might be better as its not as slippy (obv you need a pony or cob ouch!)
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Post by dannyboy on Aug 30, 2008 14:32:44 GMT
Thanks Rac will give the leaning back really far a go!!
Flea I've only done a little without stirrups, maybe i should suggest this again to my RI.
ptarmigan1 - can you suggest some music I could use, someone told me to say out loud - postman pat (this may have been for trot), is this the kinda thing you mean?
Thanks all for your support & advice. x
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Post by Blonde Donkey on Aug 30, 2008 14:34:34 GMT
i cantered to sandi thom - wish i was a punk rocker for savs but brax would need something faster
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Post by brigadier on Aug 30, 2008 14:57:28 GMT
Dannyboy
my reply may not be too helpful as I know youve had a problem finding a riding school etc but Im concerned when any instructor backs off what the rider needs or is asking for- even if she/he thought lungeing was counter-productive they should let you find that out for yourself by trying it (which it wouldnt be!) Lack of experience on the instructor part when teaching novices is not excusable- they shouldnt be instructing if they cannot lunge a rider- they simply do not have enough experience or training, after all you are paying to be taught.
It would be different of course if you were asking to jump puissance as that would be specialist and beyond your capabilities but lungeing is not, it a basic- Im bewildered!
You need lungeing- that will help you- there are plenty of exercises that will help your balance and seat that can only be done (by a novice) on the lunge. there are other ways of course and Racailles suggestion sounds excellent.
I think you may find your instructor isnt willing as its faffy and sooo much easier to teach stood in the middle of the school with a cup of tea! Get into their ribs!
Sorry for being a grump but I want to fly to Ireland and give your instructor a good talking to!
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Post by maximum on Aug 30, 2008 20:11:09 GMT
totally agree with Brig thats an outrageous attitude!
its what you need to improve!
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Post by brigadier on Aug 31, 2008 14:54:51 GMT
Thanks Maxie- I felt a right bitch for saying it but I really want to get that instructor and rip of their badge!!!!!Shameful and not at all fair on dannyboy!
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Post by maximum on Aug 31, 2008 19:16:24 GMT
well lets face it if they cant do something as basic as a lunge lesson they should not be calling themselves a RI! its a disgrace and dannyboy you deserve more!
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Post by maximum on Aug 31, 2008 19:21:43 GMT
what you need to do dannyboy is make sure you stay relaxed through your seat and think of swinging your hips with the rhythym of the canter. Imagine you are like those little plastic toy cowboys who have a bit of plastic sticking up out the saddle which goes into the hole on their underneath- I once was teaching a ski instructor who said to me ' do you mean sex not foul smelling poopy' if you get what she meant! rock the pelvis!
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Post by Blonde Donkey on Aug 31, 2008 19:23:57 GMT
yep move the pelvis
mentally scarred as mum taught me this when i was 12 and did the movement as well lol
works though
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Post by chellebean on Aug 31, 2008 19:40:03 GMT
Hi, Sorry I may be jumping in at the end on this one and everyone has already suggested this but I would have to agree with the others and do some work with out stirrups. I did ten mins or so (normally at the end of a session) only in walk and a bit of trot with out them! It did wonders for my balance and extended my legs hugely (ask Slinky ). I did found however that riding with shorter stirrups made me bounce a lot and I would end up cantering in a stood up position, not feeling very safe at that. The other suggestion I would say, would be is it the saddle? I rode one of Slinky's tbs this week and up until then my balance has been pretty good but this time I ended up gripping with my knees and piviting (sp) forword, end result feeling very unbalanced. After chatting to her this evening, she has suggested that that was probably her saddle more then anything. Maybe this could be your problem? hope that helps? xx |
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Post by dannyboy on Aug 31, 2008 21:45:48 GMT
I don't think the RI is very experienced He must be about 20yrs old & probably more interested in the totty running about rather than teaching Brig as you say there are hardly any other RSs in my area so I can't really be choosy. There is one other but the indoor is so small & it has been so wet over here that I wouldn't have got riding outside on any of my lessons!! Trying to get another friend lined up to go with me tho to see if it's any better. |
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ptarmigan1
Apprentice Poo Picker
Team Hayman
Posts: 375
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Post by ptarmigan1 on Aug 31, 2008 21:56:59 GMT
Dear Danny Boy... The Song that i used what micheal jackson "just beat it" it really workd for me Good lucK! |
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Post by racaille on Sept 1, 2008 3:43:30 GMT
yep move the pelvis mentally scarred as mum taught me this when i was 12 and did the movement as well lol works though PML! Yup, I've done this to my kids too! I told them to think of a dog humping ....LOL ;D |
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Post by Becca on Sept 1, 2008 11:48:05 GMT
I would definately suggest work without stirrups! Although many riding schools don't allow it now because of insurance.
I also find it shocking that you RI won't lunge you! is there another one you could ask?
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Post by brigadier on Sept 1, 2008 16:13:13 GMT
Dannyboy
thats it! He is twenty and chasing totty! You are in a relationship with a lovely daughter- why should he invest time in you? the Basta*d! Go pluck his bum fluff!
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abi
Intermediate Sh*t Shoveller
Posts: 593
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Post by abi on Sept 1, 2008 18:06:55 GMT
search for another instuctor!
the hip rocking can look quite rude, get your instructor to demonstrate it from the ground!
my instructor did this before, i nearly fell off laughing! x
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Post by Blonde Donkey on Sept 1, 2008 18:12:25 GMT
yep move the pelvis mentally scarred as mum taught me this when i was 12 and did the movement as well lol works though PML! Yup, I've done this to my kids too! I told them to think of a dog humping ....LOL ;D evil mothers lol never forgot though probably through embarassment, fortunatley my RI doesn't do it or i would be on a heap on the floor for hours |
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Post by dannyboy on Sept 1, 2008 22:04:34 GMT
Dear Danny Boy... The Song that i used what micheal jackson "just beat it" it really workd for me Good lucK! Thanks Ptarmigan - will give it a go |
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Post by dannyboy on Sept 1, 2008 22:07:55 GMT
Dannyboy thats it! He is twenty and chasing totty! You are in a relationship with a lovely daughter- why should he invest time in you? the Basta*d! Go pluck his bum fluff! Oh Brig - PMSL at this - thanks will ask him politely to pull down his trousers next time I'm out ;D |
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Post by fimacg on Sept 5, 2008 12:57:36 GMT
Danny you need to come over here and play with Chomps, he has a really easy canter to sit to and is great for learning to ride without stirrups as he is so wide he is almost impossible to come off... plus plenty of mane to hang on to, too...
That's probably not much help though...
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Post by showjumper on Sept 10, 2008 19:03:30 GMT
Canter with no stirrups, and you will acutally sit on the back of your bum. My instructor did this with me and now i can sit back much better and keep balance. If i dont have a very good seat in canter she says she will make me jump without stirrups and i go back in the correct seat!
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Surely I should be getting it by now, I'm usually quite quick on the uptake, maybe its a bit of nerves still 
All advice & tips are very welcome 
for so much hard work we thank ye!!
Always saddle your own horse
