I'm having trouble sitting up when asking my horse to go into the trot/canter. I tend to lean foreward which causes me to become unbalanced. Any suggestions on how to improve my position when asking for the trot/canter?
Thanks!
Krissy

Think of keeping your shoulders back, stretch tall with your upper body and sit on your seat bones before asking for the canter .

Also check how your saddle sits on the horse. If it doesn't fit properly (aka sits too deeply in front), it may put you in a more forward position.

Check that your stirrups are the right length, don't grab with your knees but keep your lower leg on and heels down.

Practice your transitions without stirrups. It would be best if you could have someone lunge you, then you can concentrate on your position.

Hope this helps!

Added: I like to have a "bucking strap" on the front of the saddle for my students to hold on to when I am lunging them. This gives them something to help balance them when they work without stirrups. Don't buy an actual bucking strap but buy bit convertors, they come in pairs, and they are ALOT cheaper.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sonzza Beach,

You could also use an extra stirrup leather to put around your horse's neck for balance.

Lets assume there is nothing medicaly wrong with you and your saddle fits.....

Don't forget a good base of support is needed 1st before you'll get your upper body under control. I find a lot of people who have 'shoulder issues' primarily do 1 or 2 things OR both which causes their 'balance' to shift their shoulders forward.

#1 ( I think the most common) They are rocking their weight on to the front of the saddle (pinching with their knees or putting more pressure on the front of the saddle with their leg when they loose their balance) You should be sitting on the hindend not the inside shoulder.

#2 The top of their pelvis is pointing down (imagine a rope coming from your belling button and pulling forward and down)In an effort to 'straighten' their back they are actually arching too far. You should feel like all the disks in your back are stacked on top of the other sitting straight down on your pelvis. So instead of rocking back and under themselves through the transition, softening their back muscles...they are becoming rigid.

I would suggest a few lessons on the lunge line with a good eye (no stirrups OR reins but a neck strap if you needed it to start).

Sorry if it seems confusing this is the 1st time I've wrote an explanation out LOL Good luck it's a hard habbit to fix!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ponybreeder,