I cant use my legs when im cantering?

It sounds like you're a bit perched and gripping with your lower leg, Hence why when you try to use it you feel unbalanced. Try and get a lunge lesson, and work on cantering without stirrups. That way you can practice on balancing whilst some one else controls your horse. Practice sitting up, and sitting deap in the saddle. Also make sure that you don't hold your breath, as this is a typical thing that riders do when they are nervous and it makes your body tense up. Imagine you are riding on an armchair, and just sat relaxed on your saddle, no tension anywhere. Once you've got the canter position right, using your legs should be a doddle.

Sounds like you could be gripping wyour ith your knees rather than with your calves! Try taking your knees unnaturally away from the saddle then letting them fall back into place from time to time and this should help you keep your balance. You could also try work without stirrups in walk and trot to help you improve your balance and after that, canter without stirrups. Its not as hard as it sounds, the transitions are the worst bit! While you're still getting used to canter there is not harm in using your stick a bit more to keep the horse going - not whip it sensless but the occasional tap every few strides will allow you to maintain and get used to canter without losing your balance. Hope that helps :D

Ok Well i Used To Have A Bit Of Trouble With This Too But Try This And It Should Really Help :) Do Plenty Of Sitting Trot, This Teaches Youu How To Relax And Move With The Horse Which Will Give Youu More Balance Hence More Confidence If This Is Hard Lenghthen Youur Stirrups, Also Canter With Long Stirrups Because Youu Will Have Too Push Youur Legs Down Which Will Help, After afew Weeks Of That Then Youu Should Improve :) Hope Thats Helped :)

i had the same problem and i all i can say is the more you canter and get a better balance the easier it will be to use your leg. just keep practising

ok well i think you should try to do balancing exercices such as.. like standing up in your saddle or bending down and touch your toe but don't look down look between the horses or ponies ears. thats what i do and... im not trying to brag but i have really good balance.

you need to keep your heels down and push all your weight into them, this will also help keep you seated rather than bouncing around in the saddle, keep your back straight shoulders back and your head up. you may need to strengthen your calf muscles, to this by standing on the edge of a step, stretching up on tip toe, and back down again. do a session of ten as many times in a day that's comfy for you. you will start to notice a difference. best of luck xx

I used to have the exact same problem. To fix it i simply tried to concentrate on turning my toes in and putting my legs a little more forward and keeping them still, maybe that will work for you too?

I'm no horse expert but it sounds like you need to strengthen your legs. Oh, and aren't you supposed to use ur thighs to halp balance.

mm thats odd. just get used to waving the whip more often don't ware yourself out using your legs. when they feel abit slow make some noises clicking , or kissing noises any really, and give her/him a tap with the whip. seriously just concentrate on being balanced and toes up and not to move ur hands around too much :]