Hm. I Cantered the Dizzy One on a Hack...

[MrsMozart]

We went for a good hack and I cantered Dizz on Thursday, but nearly came off

Daughter1 got on and cantered her and was fine, so it's me

. I'm tensing up and all over the place

. Fine in walk and trot, but at speed, downward transitions are not good.

So, no cantering on Dizz for me for a while

.

Friend is lending me Big Cob so's I can practice, and I will canter Dizz on the lunge so she can find her balance.

Instructor will ride her next week as there is sitll a lot of headshaking, but it's not proper head shaking if you know what I mean - it's more young, stroppy, argumentative, but in danger of becoming habitual. She's changed a lot in the last few months.

I forgot to say, I did try the canter again, but as soon as I asked her to slow, her head was high up in the air and her neck was twisting. I lost both stirrups the first time

Better the second time, but still not good. I got back on after D1 had cantered her.

Had a lesson today. Told my instructor (who really is a star! Thank you Lorraine Moon!), and she managed to be supportive and understanding, yet still get me working. She says I have to ride Dizz five times a week to build up my riding fitness and Dizz's general fitness and way of going. So early (early!) mornings coming up for us lol.

 

[Weezy]

Sorry to hear you are having probs, but yay for good instructors

Out of interest, do you canter sitting in the saddle or do you stand a little in your stirrups? If the former, why not try the latter as you will feel far more stable (you can practise on the lunge first

) Best of luck!

 

[Rudey]

Oh mannnnn! Big hugs for you! Chin up - these things take time. Best way to build your confidence is to do it gradually. Don't feel too disheartened by it - you have come a long way already, you are a very brave lady xxx

 

[Cazzah]

I know exactly how you're feeling! I haven't ridden in about 6 months due to being pregnant/having baby and have just started getting Baz (and me) fit again. Went for a hack today and he decided that the canter should turn into a gallop - I felt a bit all over the place

. Must keep persevering

 

[V1NN]

oh no, but i'm sure you will do it in time and like you say will just take a bit of time to build up confidence etc best of luck x

 

[cellie]

Stick with it you will get there

I had good schooling lesson today as you know Tats was like a giraffe her muscle was underneath her neck and Ive worked really hard on her schooling .She was fab today worked in outline the whole time .Break throughs are amazing

 

[devilwoman]

yep i too sympathise with you - being of an older generation my seat is not as secure as it should be and I always feel like i'm bopping about way too much when cantering, same as you though i have a fab understanding instructor, keep practising, you know what they say practise makes perfect - good luck

 

[Izzwizz]

Lots Of work ahead for you then Mrs M, practise will Im sure make perfect. Nearly came off Izzy over the last week when she boinged on the road like Tigger. Just coming back into work after 10 months in stable with DDFT tear. Shes full of life, worse when she sees horses in fields. Still not worked out how to put photos on here, will have to get my OH on the job.!

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

Oh MrsM, sorry to hear your having troubles, I am sure with your lovely instructor you will get there, chin up x

 

[MrsMozart]

W - ta hun

. Her canter is totally not established due to all the problems last year - we weren't allowed to canter 'till July/August, but by then I was so used to her it wasn't a problem

. She's grown and matured - feels different now. Her canter was big and powerful before, now it is just more so! I'm up a little in the stirrups, which she prefers (even when stick insect D1 did it). It's good to know that I'm doing that bit right

.

R - you are so right. I have to accept that I came close to popping off this mortal coil (probably the closest in recent memory), and that it's bound to have an effect! Ta hun

C - you and me both hun (perserving - it's been a while since I was last pregnant lol). We will get there!

Lol, loads more nice people popped up when I was writing the above

. Thank you all folks. I will keep at it!

Had a lesson today (basic or what! trotting figures of eight lol), anyhoo, did the half hour (survived better than I did last week

), then went for a short hack with Friend, then went back in the school and practiced some more - Dizz was a bit put out lol, but not huffing and puffing, and she was a tad miffed when BC left the school (trotted rapidly after him - I just let the reins lose then tugged slightly on one rein to turn her, yes, I'm a coward lol). But, in the end we did quite well and I was chuffed.

 

[Lolo]

If you find her canter tricky to ride, I would try shortening your stirrups a hole or two and standing in them a little. I used to really struggle sitting to my horse's canter (and still do, 4 years on!!) and I've found that if I hover above the saddle I'm more secure and when I do sit I can sit deeper.

 

[spookypony]

My sympathy---I had a hard enough time regaining confidence after landing on my noggin repeatedly last summer, and I didn't even have a concussion, let alone a bleed (though my head did ring like a bell)! Great big kudos to you for doing so well, and be nice to yourself when things are difficult!

 

[MrsMozart]

Ta NS

. I've gone from using a dressage saddle (no knee rolls), to a K2. It's such a weird feel! My stirrups are so much shorter, and my right lower leg/ankle has not taken kindly to it

I tried to hover, but I'm not fit enough/balanced enough, so when we went to drop down a transition, as soon as she threw her head around I was pulled forward and to the side, and she started going sideways. I will get fitter and keep trying on Big Cob!