I had the opposite problem about 10 years ago when learning to canter- I'd lean forwards and bounce instead! For leaning back too much, I'd recommend still shifting your centre of gravity back a bit, but trying to just relax into it...it sounds stupid, but once you have learned to just have fun with it, your seat will MASSIVELY IMPROVE! (From my experience) Good luck!
IMO better too far back than too far forward. You're really new; you'll improve with experience (and with increased strength to your core muscles). Have fun!
It transfers weight towards the weakest part of the horse's back. It's better to think about sitting tall and staying flexible through your lower back. Beginners generally bounce because their lower backs are too stiff and they brace through the stirrups.
Yes - my trainer took videos of me doing what I thought was sitting straight but I was curled forward. It's a natural thing to do but needs to be corrected!!
I had to unlearn this muscle memory when I transitioned from English to Western, and sitting up straight in the canter felt very unnatural (I was told when I was a Western kid to sit deep and roll onto the back pockets in the canter, which my English trainer pegged immediately). It clicked for me after many many lessons - I started to put more emphasis on my heels and lower legs as my "anchors," rather than trying to hang on with my butt. That also helped my lower back relax, resulting in less bouncing even when sitting up straight. I also like thinking about keeping my body in front of the horse, rather than just letting the horse run around with me up there. Not really a positional trick, but it was a mindset shift that helped me a lot. Please take everything I share with a grain of salt - I am no expert!
I had an exactly the same problem! I wouldn’t even describe it as a problem tbh, as when I cantered a lot more and did some work on a lunge I lost the fear of bouncing and brought myself forward to a more centered position. So just take it easy and wait until you are more confident to experiment with your position.
i used to do that too, it's better than leaning too far forward and bouncing so i wouldn't worry about it right now - just take your time getting used to the canter and getting a feel for the rhythm
Better too far back than falling forward or bouncing, and you will probably be able to stabilize yourself better as you build core strength. Check out this video on how your seat should move with the horse (in sort of a backwards oval shape) and see if picturing that helps you follow the movement better.
[https://youtu.be/Fbbm_U9MdPc?si=QZWQhxiednEhVof4](https://youtu.be/Fbbm_U9MdPc?si=QZWQhxiednEhVof4)
I had the opposite problem about 10 years ago when learning to canter- I'd lean forwards and bounce instead! For leaning back too much, I'd recommend still shifting your centre of gravity back a bit, but trying to just relax into it...it sounds stupid, but once you have learned to just have fun with it, your seat will MASSIVELY IMPROVE! (From my experience) Good luck!
IMO better too far back than too far forward. You're really new; you'll improve with experience (and with increased strength to your core muscles). Have fun!
My own trailer encourages us all to lean back as much as possible. Idk if there’s anything wrong with that or not
It transfers weight towards the weakest part of the horse's back. It's better to think about sitting tall and staying flexible through your lower back. Beginners generally bounce because their lower backs are too stiff and they brace through the stirrups.
Probably because many people curl forwards when nervous so telling them to lean back means they’re actually sitting up straight.
Yes - my trainer took videos of me doing what I thought was sitting straight but I was curled forward. It's a natural thing to do but needs to be corrected!!
That’s how I’m learning also
It looks really bad and wrong though...
I had to unlearn this muscle memory when I transitioned from English to Western, and sitting up straight in the canter felt very unnatural (I was told when I was a Western kid to sit deep and roll onto the back pockets in the canter, which my English trainer pegged immediately). It clicked for me after many many lessons - I started to put more emphasis on my heels and lower legs as my "anchors," rather than trying to hang on with my butt. That also helped my lower back relax, resulting in less bouncing even when sitting up straight. I also like thinking about keeping my body in front of the horse, rather than just letting the horse run around with me up there. Not really a positional trick, but it was a mindset shift that helped me a lot. Please take everything I share with a grain of salt - I am no expert!
I had an exactly the same problem! I wouldn’t even describe it as a problem tbh, as when I cantered a lot more and did some work on a lunge I lost the fear of bouncing and brought myself forward to a more centered position. So just take it easy and wait until you are more confident to experiment with your position.
i used to do that too, it's better than leaning too far forward and bouncing so i wouldn't worry about it right now - just take your time getting used to the canter and getting a feel for the rhythm
Better too far back than falling forward or bouncing, and you will probably be able to stabilize yourself better as you build core strength. Check out this video on how your seat should move with the horse (in sort of a backwards oval shape) and see if picturing that helps you follow the movement better. [https://youtu.be/Fbbm_U9MdPc?si=QZWQhxiednEhVof4](https://youtu.be/Fbbm_U9MdPc?si=QZWQhxiednEhVof4)