Gripping with the legs at the canter is a very common mistake and it makes it impossible for the rider to be effective and for the horse to move correctly! It’s tempting to grip in the canter especially once you have managed to get your horse into the canter, and you slide into the “rhythmic squeeze” to keep them from falling back into trot! (Guilty as charged over here! )
This week’s video is going to show you why that’s not a great way of doing things and also how to stop the habit for good!
Here are some pointers:
- A lot of riders “grip up” with the lower leg drawing them up and out of the saddle. This locks up your seat, makes you bounce in the saddle and is unpleasant for your horse!
- Find your neutral leg position. The place where your leg naturally hangs down and you’ve got contact with your calf on the horse, but not your heel or spur.
- To ask for the canter, the outside leg WILL come back for the canter aid, and should stay slightly behind the girth for the canter but without gripping
- If your horse gets used to you nagging and gripping, they’ll start to NEED this to stay in the canter. Your horse will canter much better when you’re able to follow the motion with your seat and legs and don’t have to grip.
If you realize you’re gripping you should.
- Sit back.
- Push your heel down.
- Give a distinct kick.
- Then push your heel down again
This helps you re-educate a horse that has become reliant on the gripping to keep him in canter. Your horse should stay in canter until told otherwise.
It’s important to remember to SIT BACK when you’re giving this aid intermittently. A lot of riders will accidentally tip forward when they kick, and this leads to the horse breaking the gait back into trot!
Another thing to remember is to keep your hands STILL, so you’re not falling into a “kick/pull” cycle that’s just going to upset your horse.
Watch me demonstrate all above in more detail with Jaques in the video and let me know in the comments if you find it helpful!
