A little nervous of cantering.....

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Frances28

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Hi there, about 4 months ago I went out on a hack with my friend. We always canter up a particular hill then slow down to a walk at the top. This particular time my horse started to canter then got faster and faster into a full gallop. I got quite frightened.

Since then I have never cantered her outside of a school (which I did for the first time last week!)

How do I get this sorted?! I am nervous to even trot her in case she flies off.
 
can someone else hack her out for you a few times and report back as to how she was. if she was ok then you will probably be fine and ride out with the person who rode her. that way you'll know if she will do it again.
Just remember there is no rule saying you have to canter out on hacks.
 
Thanks goodness I'm not the only one! George and I have little canters on hack, but we've never really gone for it, and at long last I've realised it doesn't matter!

However, second the idea of getting someone to take him out for you - good luck.
 
What are you afraid of? Are you thinking "what if this happens, what if that happens..." or is it just frightened at the thought of it, or the memory of being frightened last time? When you were frightened last time, what was it fear of - falling off, or not being able to stop, or having an accident...

If you can get right down to what you are afraid of you can usually start there to find the solution
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Is there somewhere like a small field you can ride in with a tree or gate that you can use as a point to aim for if she takes off? Will she walk with someone beside her when you ride out so that you gain a bit of confidence? My son is really nervous and when he first cantered 4 of us went into a field with him and basically the pony cantered from one person to the next. He is a very good pony and stopped as soon as he got to each person. I'm just thinking that you need a very short stretch of ground to canter along so she doesn't have the chance to get too fast before its time to stop. You also need to get her listening to you and get your transitions established in the school to give you confidence when you go out. I know how you feel so do it a bit at a time until you feel more confident xxxx
 
Gorgeous George! I have just left a message on your post. I can canter in the field when I do little jumps (when its enclosed and the gate is near) I just cannot seem to do it out in the open far from the gate. I am so silly really.
 
For some reason now that I'm riding again I sometimes get a massive attack of nerves when we canter - not all the time though. I have told my hacking buddy and if I feel a bit iffy she's fine, we just go steady and stop if I want to. Bob also has a martingale so if I do feel nervous I hang onto the neckstrap.

It's bizarre as sometimes I'm fine and other times I'm a bag of nerves!!!!
 
Is there anywhere else you can hack that has a smallish track where you can follow another horse/friend? This might give you more confidence in being able to stop i.e. if you friends horse stops then yours can't get past & will also stop. I am sure after a few canters out you will regain your confidence & be absolutely fine.
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Jerry did the same to me a couple of weeks ago - normally he is quite good to pull up but on that day he took off with me properly. Luckily I have just started having lessons on him and he did the same again during a lesson (although being in the school I wasn't so frightened). I was glad my instructo saw him so she could give me some tips.
To start with she corrected my position and told me not to adopt a forward position when cantering on hacks (at least for now) but to sit up and keep a good contact.
I have since cantered out on hacks and followed her advice and so far so good - our canters are a bit slower and more collected but at least I am in control!
Good luck - and remember just do what you are happy doing, don't feel you have to canter.
 
I know it is difficult to find different cantering places on hacks, but if you can sometimes walk up the places you sometimes canter, rather than this always being the place you canter it may help to defuse the sillyness and the idea that the pony can go at the pace it chooses.
 
I say swallow your fear and give it a go. If you keep your contact and don't give too much leg at the start of the canter, it's not v likely you will have any problems.

You could always canter behind another person who you know can keep their horse at a steady speed, and encourage yours to follow suit.

Hope you do well x x
 
its best to try and canter in different places when you hack because if your horse knows that you always canter in a specific place they tend to tank off when they get there without being told to!

i have developed a slight fear of cantering on hecks as my horse has the tendency to put in a buck or two! he only does it because he's excited but i'm terrified i'll fall off and he'll disappear into the sunset!!
 
You shouldn't really canter or trot etc ect in the same place every time.You should try to vary your ride as if you canter all the time in the same area your horse will always expect to go there and then and get exited hence her trying to go into gallop.Just try walking her up there a few times just so she doesn't assume that she can always go there.
 
Once you are happy that you can control the paces, and make up and down transitions when you want and where you want, in the school and in your jumping field, start practising the same on hacks. I mean thinking 'I'm going to trot at that crisp packet, do 20 strides on the left rein, then walk for 10 strides, then do 20 of trot on the right rein, then walk, then halt for a few seconds at that gate and stare at the view...' etc etc. It puts you in control, and that will give you lots of confidence. Incorporate canter when you're ready, but that hill you were carted up - I would suggest you only walk and trot up that for a while yet.

Good luck, you're not alone with being nervous!
 
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