Little Ted
Member
I'm the proud owner of an 18yr dressage school master. He's my first ever horse (I'm 50) and I've had him for 3yrs. I'd only taken up riding a couple of years before buying him from a reliable source. My problem is that I can't keep him in canter. To be honest I didn't do well with canter before him due to poor quality school horse, but thought he'd teach me. All my instructor says is I need to push him on more because he's learned he can stop. I have three lessons a week and ride at least once on my own. My boy can be very strong once he gets going which can be scary and in his previous life competed/went better in a double bridle. I started out with him in a French link but have progressed to a double and bigger spurs. But this isn't what I wanted when I set out. To say I'm frustrated is an understatement. To my way of thinking if I can't canter him around the whole arena after 3 years but I can on a different horse, then I ought to sell him to save my sanity. All the evidence seems to be pointing that way or am I missing something fundamental? My instructor can ride him well but he's been riding since he started to walk. What should I do?