Canter help needed

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jessikaGinger

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Tonight i cantered my pony for the first time in over a year ( i had a fall, she had a foal, she is Very green )
My friend cantered her in the school last week for the first time and she was Very fast but didnt do anything wrong
So tonight while i was riding on my own, im not sure what came over me, all of a sudden i thought sod it why not:o i sat at the corner and as if by magic she cantered :D....But, it was only about 5 strides, she was very fast and i tense up and just have no control of my body:o
She is quite strong and once she's in canter mode gentle squeezes of the rain go unnoticed!
Does anyone have any hints or tips i could try before i fall off!
Btw i am deaf in one ear so my balance is never going to be great!

Thanks
 
I found that having someone with me helped (not riding the horse too, but watching ;) ). It was even better when the helper was willing to shout 'sit up and breathe!' at me.

When I tense, I hold my breath and curl forwards a bit. So breathing and sitting up was a good start and it also had the amazing effect of slowing my mare down too. :) My tensing must have been causing her to rush forwards.
 
First of all, well done for trying... 5 steps is a very good start!
If I were you, I'd try to keep each canter time brief, just 5-10 steps each time. Use your body weight to sit up, shoulders back, (stick your boobs out!!) and BIG DEEP BREATHS. Talk to your pony, it is amazing how responsive they are! 'Canter' is a quick, short sharp word, and 'tteerrrrrooooott' is a longer deep word.
I'd also recommend - if you don't already, the use of a neck strap... just tuck a finger under it, it helps gives confidence that you are not going to topple off!

Hope that helps in some way... if you find breathing difficult because you are nervous, sing yourself a song... it often works, keeps you smiling (and breathing!) and also helps with rhythm.

Good luck!!
 
I'd aim to improve her canter on the lunge if you're nervous, & maybe have lessons on a schoolmaster sort in the meantime. Combination of your lack of confidence & her being green will make it harder to start off together, so why not both improve separately for now. And if someone else can do some ridden canter work with her in the meantime that will help too.
 
Thanks guys..
we have a lesson tomorrow so hopefully i will get some guidance
she had never been in a school until recently so on her lessons its all about steering finding brakes and rhytm in trot..
i never thought of a neck strap she wears a running martingale so i will pop a finger in that tomorrow:D
 
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