Totally lost my confidence in canter

dibbin

dibbin

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I appear to have completely lost the ability to canter. I can pinpoint exactly when it started - I fell off at canter out hacking at the beginning of December and haven't managed it properly since. When I try, Jazz humps his back and fights me because I'm tensing up and clinging on. I don't even realise I'm doing it. My instructor demonstrated this to me perfectly this morning; she had him cantering beautifully, then did what I do when I ask for canter and he did exactly what he does with me.

I've been riding 18 years and have never felt so utterly bloody useless. He's a super big horse and I feel like I'm totally letting him down being so pathetic. My instructor's brilliant and I have no doubt she'll get me through it, but I'm so frustrated and annoyed at myself.

Sorry, self-pitying rant but I know you will all understand.
 
You will get through it!

I am working on canter at the moment, I tend to tip forward which encourages naughtiness in my girl so have to really sit up. I have found kalms and frequent transitions from trot to canter on a 20m circle help you feel in control and before you know it you're cantering down the long sides laughing!
 
It's so hard to make yourself relax when you're worried/scared. I take it you're thinking to yourself 'right, I'm going to canter now'. I would try not to think about it and see if you can let it just 'happen'. Think about yourself, your position, your breathing. Let the trot flow loose and then just a nice steady contact and ask for a 'lift' but not specifically a 'canter'. Maybe try and break the cycle of 'we will canter now' and the subconscious tensing that will lead to. I'm the same jumping so feel your pain :(
 
Op I'm glad I've read this!
In September last year I was cantering my horse in the field and he exploded throwing me half way across it! Apart from the fact he's my super safe, silly but would catch you if you fell type horse I really hurt my back.
He's had to have time off. Partly due to my back, then daylight was a problem. He's now back in work and ready to canter but I'm not sure I am!!!
I feel a bit stupid about it but it was such a shock that I admit I feel a bit scared!
Good luck with sorting yourself out! Your lucky in that you have a good instructor who you can see cantering your horse so try and take confidence in that. :)
 
would it help if you tried cantering on another ' safe ' horse? i ask as i have the problem in that i am ok on my horse but i can't get my act together on any other horse including OH's Mr P, i go all stiff and scared so i know how you feel.
 
Hello OP - it's a great step that you have recognised what is going wrong, with an instructor who sounds great.To help you get relaxed again and not tightened up on Jazz, would you consider a few rides/hacks with cantering on a different horse/riding school horse that is a bit less sensitive to the rider? Might make a big difference to the way you feel about it and react, and help you out a bit quicker then telling yourself not to tense up, which might be part of a vicious circle.Good luck.

Posted same time as Shady. Greatminds...........
 
Forget about cantering for the time being, at least on this horse. Take the pressure off yourself and just go with the flow.

What about a couple of lunge lessons on a schoolmaster, allowing you to sit there and get into canter because the horse has cantered on voice command for an instructor? Better still, a mechanical horse session?

And can you go for a hack on another horse, accompanied by your instructor. Again, no pressure to canter. But when it feels right, it will happen.

Trust me, your horse does not need to canter with you on his back. You both need to build up trust again in each other, and to do that, stick with things where there is no pressure and you feel confident.

One step at a time.
 
Would it be worth a session on a mechanical horse, just to work on your own position and breathing on something that will never get out of control?
 
This has affected me recently too, we had a bit of an accident where she tripped in canter and she fell over, throwing me off too. Oddly I am fine cantering her out on rides (when she is behaving!) but I totally tense up in the arena. I've spent a bit of time pulling the transition apart and thinking about it in small stages, that keeps me relaxed which ultimately relaxes her. It has taken time though and I'm still not back to how I was before our fall!
 
I had a bad fall 18 months ago and confidence is going up and down, more ups though. Had a couple of falls since but knocked me back a bit, so understand how you feel. Do not put any pressure on yourself, enjoy what you are doing and the canter will come in its own time. The more you try and push yourself the more tense you will get. Been there, done that. The canter will surpise you sooner than you think, when you are relaxed and enjoying riding without pressure.
 
Just take is slowly. Baby steps and all that. Are you feeling that your horse will "Get away" from you?
I felt like that. Concentrate on what you feel comfortable with & perhaps one day, just pop a couple of strides in & back to trot.
More strides next time.
I also feel your pain, I am horrifically nervous at times & am battling demons, but you CAN do it. If I can, anyone can.
Hugs from me & ear waggles from Camilla.
 
Thanks so much to everyone, some really helpful advice :) my instructor has basically said we can just stick with walk and trot for now if I want and really work on those, then go back up to canter when I'm ready. She's going to ride him for me once a week as well (which will be helpful generally as I work full time Monday-Friday). I might have a go at having a couple of canters on my sister's boy to build my confidence up, he's not as dramatic with his reactions as Jazz.

I'm not worried about him getting away from me, his canter is super steady and it's hard to push him out of a rhythm. When I fell off it was because he did a tiny buck, pure high spirits, and it was just enough to unbalance me. I whacked my head and had to go to hospital to get my nose looked at! I think I'm subconsciously expecting him to buck and that's why I'm clinging on. He's a sensitive horse and is always happiest with a quiet, relaxed rider (which I generally am, when I'm not trying to canter at the moment!)

Oddly enough we were out for a hack a couple of weeks ago and Jazz broke into canter to keep up with my sister's horse trotting, and I was absolutely fine. I think I'm anticipating my transitions too much and over thinking them. Had a really good 20 minute walk/trot session this morning which settled me a bit ... I was crying and snottering into his neck while my instructor was sitting on him yesterday!

Thanks again everyone. I feel like a total spanner but it's good to know I'm not the only one having an issue like this :)
 
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Take things at your own pace. If you don't want to canter, don't. Work on your sitting trot, and maybe do some no stirrups so you develop your seat and can relax your leg down a bit.

Take your time, it will come.
 
I have had confidence issues in the past and still do sometimes and I try to think that if anything I am safer in canter than in Trot.
In canter you are sat on the horse with your legs wrapped around and are quite secure but in trot you are suspended in the air at least half of the time!
Not sure if this is true or fact but it works for me.
I'm sure the time will come that you get bored with trotting and you'll be dying to have a little canter.
Try not to dwell on it, it will come.
 
This may sound really silly but have you tried cantering in the school? I find I'm more tense and nervous when hacking and prefer the school because it's an enclosed environment; the ground is soft etc. when working to get my confidence back I found little short bursts were best? Just a few strides and gradually building up
 
Podgelover said:
This may sound really silly but have you tried cantering in the school? I find I'm more tense and nervous when hacking and prefer the school because it's an enclosed environment; the ground is soft etc. when working to get my confidence back I found little short bursts were best? Just a few strides and gradually building up
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Yup. It's in the arena I'm having problems :( I haven't tried to canter deliberately on a hack since my fall, but the one time he broke into canter by himself I was fine.
 
The mind is funny don't you think! I've never had a single fall out hacking all my falls have been in the arena yet I find hacking terrifying!
 
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