I cantered my youngster for the first time last night....

[Charla]

Bit of a pointless post but I am so pleased with my youngster!

I cantered him last night in the school for the first time ever! The first one was a little hoppy and hunched and then after that he was fantastic! He has a LOVELY canter and it's surprisingly balanced for a baby! I was so so impressed with him.

The first canter of youngsters does daunt me now I'm older. I'm not as pingy as I was as a child and teenager. I've seen my boy throw some serious tantrums on the lunge so I almost expected the worst. But I cannot sing his praises enough. He's come on leaps and bounds in the all of about 7 times he's been ridden now. I finally feel like I'm riding a normal horse and not an extremely green, newly broken baby!

A lady I know broke in her gelding at the age of 3 and didn't actually ever canter him until the age of 5! She said he wasn't ready? My instructor has always said don't make it a big deal and the longer you leave it the bigger deal it's going to become!

What do you do with cantering your youngsters for the very first time?

 

[LouS]

I've always put so much groundwork in that I know they'll be absolutely fine.

Cantered my gelding third time I sat on him in the school, well he just offered it and off we went.

Good luck with your boy.

 

[Spyda]

Good to hear!

Just backed mine and am only quietly walking at the mo. Did a wee trot yesterday but, like you, am a bit daunted by the first canter.

 

[BBP]

I have to admit that i backed my boy at rising 4 and didn't really start cantering til he was 5! He was a panicker and mentally not really ready to do much, not really balanced and very sensitive. We had a few on straight lines out hacking but none in the school, not even on the lunge. He was turned away for 6 months at 4 and then again for 2 months at 5 (through the snow this winter) as he has been so immature. In hindsight perhaps I would have waited a year longer and backed him at 5 and done more straight away.

But it hasn't been a big deal, I just didn't worry about what everyone elses babys were doing. If I have him til he's 40 I figure it doesn't matter if i am a bit slow starting! But today he was doing walk piroettes into walk to canter, then back the other way and was a total star, so I don't think I have messed him up too much! He is finally ready to be a grown up!

 

[Ilovefoals]

Awww isn't it a fab feeling?! I'm currently re-backing my mare. She was broken at 3 but then sold to a stud where she's only had babies. Now 7 I decided to bite the bullet and she's been a total star! Such a high when they are going well and you see them learning on a daily basis! Lets see some pics please!!!!

 

[noodle_]

well done

mine was backed at just turned 4 - she has started cantering 6 months later - its nothing to rush ()although taken me a while to realised that)!

but feels great when you get that first canter!