First canter...Erm....Oh dear

[shirl62]

Today was the day....Had it all planned in my head what I should be doing...Well that went all to pot.. Balanced ..no...panic...yes.. The only positive is I managed to stay aboard. I am so disappointed in myself for making a right mess of it. I am going to try again on a more sedate horse. I just don't want the ''fear monster '' to mess with my head..I did take a video of the momentous moment but it was more of a ''Murphy Whoa''



Shirl

 

[Redders]

Never mind! Just relax and don't 'plan' how you want it to go in your head. Take a breath and go with it. The more relaxed you are, the easier it will be to find the rythmn! If you get all tense and bunched up, it will be uncomfortable and awkward and you'll pass tension on to your horse. Canter is easier than trot, so forget about that fear demon nonsense! Try relaxing, and I hope the next attempt has a better update

Oh, and if you managed to stay aboard, you can't have been that unbalanced !!

 

[maggie62]

Yeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaa...........Shamrock strikes again !! The video is so funny you need to put it on here.........hingin oan fer dear life !! You will be better next week.

I am Shirl62's sis

 

[shirl62]

Thanks Redders...I certainly was tense and the horse knew it...This was certainly not one of my best days..I shall try and relax next time and go with the flow.

Shirl

 

[shirl62]

Yeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaa...........Shamrock strikes again !! The video is so funny you need to put it on here.........hingin oan fer dear life !! You will be better next week.

I am Shirl62's sis

Thank you dear sis for your support !...I would put it on but I don't know how....

 

[shirl62]

hope this is the video
[video=youtube_share;Pk--9b9D21g]https://youtu.be/Pk--9b9D21g[/video]

[video=youtube;qEYuwuNPcUk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEYuwuNPcUk[/video]

Stop !........

 

[millikins]

Don't know what you are worrying about, plenty of worse first canters than that

 

[shirl62]

Thanks millikins....makes me feel a whole lot better...Although it does not show it...I was scared...can laugh about it now...lol

 

[Meowy Catkin]

The horse was a bit unhelpful tugging you forwards like that, but you coped. It does get easier (and less scary) with practice.

 

[Leo Walker]

The horse was a bit unhelpful tugging you forwards like that, but you coped. It does get easier (and less scary) with practice.

Thats my thoughts. The horse didnt really help. You were unbalanced as to be expected but the horse took advantage and dragged you forward. Was this at a riding school? If so I'd be asking for a different horse. Any riding school should have a really steady, sedate horse that will pop into canter from the instructors command and trundle around while you get the hang of it Maybe a different instructor as well as no decent instructor should be shouting "stop, stop!" But I'm not sure if that was just a friends/family horse you were on?

If it was I'd be looking for a good riding school were you can learn safely without worrying about the horse

 

[teacups]

Oh well done!
It's a feeling so different from walk or trot that you're bound to be a bit shocked by it...but once you've done it a few times you'll find it's actually quite comfortable, I think.
Was that you or the instructor shouting stop?

 

[shirl62]

Thats my thoughts. The horse didnt really help. You were unbalanced as to be expected but the horse took advantage and dragged you forward. Was this at a riding school? If so I'd be asking for a different horse. Any riding school should have a really steady, sedate horse that will pop into canter from the instructors command and trundle around while you get the hang of it Maybe a different instructor as well as no decent instructor should be shouting "stop, stop!" But I'm not sure if that was just a friends/family horse you were on?

If it was I'd be looking for a good riding school were you can learn safely without worrying about the horse

I am going to try again next week on a more sedate horse....The person shouting stop...stop...was me! lol. I am at a riding school and have had that same horse for a number of weeks...he has behaved very well. The riding instructor thought it would be better for me to try canter again on another horse..TBH I was a bit scared and obviously felt my tension. my confidence after the lesson was zero, but I am trying to put it to the back of my mind and move on...It was certainly not the experience I had imagined it would be .

Shirl

 

[shirl62]

quote:

Oh well done!
It's a feeling so different from walk or trot that you're bound to be a bit shocked by it...but once you've done it a few times you'll find it's actually quite comfortable, I think.
Was that you or the instructor shouting stop?


Twas me ...lol

 

[Leo Walker]

Ask for another one I taught for years at various riding schools and they all had horses that would pootle round in canter and be voice activated for people to learn on. The first time you canter is about you learning to relax and sit to the movement, not worry you will come off

 

[teacups]

I thought so - sorry but I laughed, it was a great clip.

Every lesson I have I am disappointed by my lack of serene stillness and, basically, general flappiness. Also, another rule seems to be that if you have a very good session it is almost bound to be followed by one where you think 'why on earth am I even bothering?' Look forward to hearing how the next canter goes, in other words!

 

[Amye]

That doesn't look too bad to me! as others have said, the horse didn't help by dragging you forwards.

My OH recently learnt to ride on my horse, and he got quite frustrated learning to canter as he felt unbalanced for a while - but he now happily canters and is fine so you will get there

I don't know if this is 'correct', but when my OH was learning to canter, I used to get him to put both reins in his inside hand and hold on with the other to a neckstrap (or the front of the saddle), it stopped him jabbing the horse in the mouth if he felt unbalanced with the transition or using his reins to balance himself, and it helped him sit his weight a bit further back than tipping forwards (not saying you did this, but it can sometimes help to hold onto something that's not the reins). I also stuck him on the lunge a few times so he didn't have to think about reins etc as I had control and he could concentrate on the rhythm.

I really wouldn't worry too much about it! It IS scary when you first try it, it's a different gait. But you will get there it just takes practice Don't be afraid to try again, and try not to let it knock your confidence too much, everyone feels a bit flappy and ungainly when they first canter (I still feel like it sometimes now!).

 

[shirl62]

Thank you everyone for your positive comments they have certainly made me feel a lot better. I could only think about staying on the horse, never mind ' riding the wave' , I felt it too fast and panicked. Definitely a shock to the system. I do appreciate that canter is very different on every horse....so hope the next canter will be a better experience.

 

[Maesto's Girl]

I looks nowhere near as bad as you think it was for a first ever canter!

I agree with the others though - about riding a more 'push button' horse to learn the gait. Once you have your seat, it's easier to concentrate on any other funny business.

Keep at it! Canter is my favourite gait!!!

 

[shirl62]

I looks nowhere near as bad as you think it was for a first ever canter!

I agree with the others though - about riding a more 'push button' horse to learn the gait. Once you have your seat, it's easier to concentrate on any other funny business.

Keep at it! Canter is my favourite gait!!!

I am sure I will love it once I have my seat..lol..The instructor said he is a bit 'bouncy' in canter...although he does have a lovely trot...He was unusually full of nonsense that day too...must have known!

 

[SpringArising]

I cracked up at the 'Stooooop. Stoooooooop!' part.

But really, I was expecting much worse. It actually looked pretty great for a first canter!

 

[ester]

lol I think it was going fine! The only issue was the stop stop! Sit on your arse kick on and you'll be fine. I quite like the horse too, popped into canter very sweetly rather than running and I expect pulling you forwards was just a reaction to you being a bit tense.

Maybe instructor could pop you on the lunge so that you then keep going long enough to work out to relax a bit?

My first canter was along a grass verge that the pony promptly put its head down to eat and I went over the front so let's have some perspective here!

 

[shirl62]

lol I think it was going fine! The only issue was the stop stop! Sit on your arse kick on and you'll be fine. I quite like the horse too, popped into canter very sweetly rather than running and I expect pulling you forwards was just a reaction to you being a bit tense.

Maybe instructor could pop you on the lunge so that you then keep going long enough to work out to relax a bit?

My first canter was along a grass verge that the pony promptly put its head down to eat and I went over the front so let's have some perspective here!

Ester My twin sis and I had a great laugh about it last night and said if she had been there she would have pe'ed herself laughing..I think she thought I would sail through the canter as I had bags of confidence....well just goes to show not always the case..I managed to sit up but could not sit relaxed enough to let it happen, and can't even think of what my legs were doing..lol We did go back to walk and he was still wanting to canter, but things eventually settled down .

I do agree with you that he did go into canter very easily so I must have done something right but it was the operator that went a bit to pieces. I survived my 'wobbly' moment and will try and relax...maybe hum a tune next time...definitely not ..The William Tell overture !!

Shirl

 

[moosea]

Looked ok to me for a first time too.

Tips for the next time-

* Try doing a few more strides of sitting trot before the canter - it'll give you time to think about sitting up and back, which will keep your bum down into the saddle more.

* Aim to only do two or three steps of canter - the first time I drove a car alone I didn't try to do a huge long journey!! This also gives you something to focus on.

* If you do wish to hold the front of the saddle then slide your inside hand back on the rein and hold on with just the inside had. This leaves the outside hand free to keep the horse to the outside and also your outside rein controls the speed.

* I always advise people learning to canter to take rising trot as soon as the return to trot. This gives you something to focus on, helps the rider to rebalance and helps the horse to balance too.

* Try hard not to shout/ squeal/ scream! If you panic the horse his natural response is to run away from the thing that makes him afraid!


Looking forwards to next weeks video!

 

[shirl62]

Looked ok to me for a first time too.

Tips for the next time-

* Try doing a few more strides of sitting trot before the canter - it'll give you time to think about sitting up and back, which will keep your bum down into the saddle more.

* Aim to only do two or three steps of canter - the first time I drove a car alone I didn't try to do a huge long journey!! This also gives you something to focus on.

* If you do wish to hold the front of the saddle then slide your inside hand back on the rein and hold on with just the inside had. This leaves the outside hand free to keep the horse to the outside and also your outside rein controls the speed.

* I always advise people learning to canter to take rising trot as soon as the return to trot. This gives you something to focus on, helps the rider to rebalance and helps the horse to balance too.

* Try hard not to shout/ squeal/ scream! If you panic the horse his natural response is to run away from the thing that makes him afraid!


Looking forwards to next weeks video!

I will try not to disappoint...

 

[millikins]

Just a thought, is there anywhere near you that has a mechanical horse? Think lessons on these are quite expensive but might be a risk free way of making you feel more confident.

 

[shirl62]

Just a thought, is there anywhere near you that has a mechanical horse? Think lessons on these are quite expensive but might be a risk free way of making you feel more confident.

Thanks for the suggestion..I will keep that in mind . I think if I try on a horse with a more sedate canter which will give me a little more time to relax and think about my position and not go into self preservation mode..I guess some have a rocky start and some sail through. Its just part of my learning curve I guess. Onward and upward..

Shirl

 

[9tails]

Oh bless you, the horse didn't help you by yanking down but it was far from a fail.

 

[shirl62]

Oh bless you, the horse didn't help you by yanking down but it was far from a fail.

Awww....thank you so much 9Tails and to everyone else with their encouragement.. It has certainly raised my spirits up no end. My evil twin is still laughing her head off .....lol

Shirl

 

[GirlFriday]

Ha! the vocals were kind of funny (poor horse!) but you did fine

I learnt mostly on things (at highly approved RSs) that would routinely buck going into canter/only canter on one rein (due to known physical issue, not *just* rider)/tank off etc, etc so to all those suggesting you might be better off elsewhere, well, not necessarily. The horse looked fine for a RS mount to me and surprisingly responsive to your aides so you could def do worse!

Well done

 

[shirl62]

Ha! the vocals were kind of funny (poor horse!) but you did fine

I learnt mostly on things (at highly approved RSs) that would routinely buck going into canter/only canter on one rein (due to known physical issue, not *just* rider)/tank off etc, etc so to all those suggesting you might be better off elsewhere, well, not necessarily. The horse looked fine for a RS mount to me and surprisingly responsive to your aides so you could def do worse!

Well done

I must say I felt sorry for the horse when I became vocal...it was an involuntary response during a panic situation..reminded me of Frank Spencer in ''Some Mother's Do Have Em'' sitcom from the 70's..( I did apologise to said horse after lesson ) One thing I thought about was maybe if I had gone from sitting trot into canter rather than rising trot I may have set myself up better for canter ? My next lesson is tomorrow so I shall try and relax and not go into 'panic' mode.