Gusbear
Well-Known Member
As my boy has such a mahoosive stride and leaps rather massively rather than popping into canter and has been somewhat unbalanced I've been a little afraid after having 5 years out of the saddle to do anything more than a working trot in schooling. Last week on a hack my boy managed to do a few and very comfortable strides of a lovely canter and only then to try and keep up with the horse in front. Silly me mentioned this to my instructor.
Cue my instructor today turning up to our lesson with a lunge rope in hand. I knew something was up.
After attaching said lunge and taking away my reins he told me to trust him as he had full control of my horse. "Don't worry" he said, "he won't canter but if he happens to then just go with it and flick your pelvis". Having not had to flick my pelvis since the 80's and only after copious amounts of alcohol I was rather worried. Anyway, minus my reins, my confidence and a trick pelvis, next thing the sneaky so and so says to my horse "canter" and we are travelling at full tilt (no, not a nice slow one) into what I can only describe as the Wall of Death. Picture if you will an astronaut in training in one of those centrifuge things spinning around at great speed to check their reaction to G forces. That was me today. The world and the indoor school walls passed me in a blur. I managed to drop the F bomb (and I don't swear) the minute my neddy launched himself into his idea of a canter/let's sprint as fast as we can kind of scenario. All I recall is my tormentor (I.e. instructor) saying "sit back, relax, your horse looks magnificent. Don't worry this is what a his canter is like". Yeh right, I'm moments from certain death/injury and being told 'relax'.
I still feel faint some 10 hours later.
Silly me I've booked myself in for another fair ground ride (oops, sorry lesson) next week.
Wish me luck. Why did I buy such a big horse?
Cue my instructor today turning up to our lesson with a lunge rope in hand. I knew something was up.
After attaching said lunge and taking away my reins he told me to trust him as he had full control of my horse. "Don't worry" he said, "he won't canter but if he happens to then just go with it and flick your pelvis". Having not had to flick my pelvis since the 80's and only after copious amounts of alcohol I was rather worried. Anyway, minus my reins, my confidence and a trick pelvis, next thing the sneaky so and so says to my horse "canter" and we are travelling at full tilt (no, not a nice slow one) into what I can only describe as the Wall of Death. Picture if you will an astronaut in training in one of those centrifuge things spinning around at great speed to check their reaction to G forces. That was me today. The world and the indoor school walls passed me in a blur. I managed to drop the F bomb (and I don't swear) the minute my neddy launched himself into his idea of a canter/let's sprint as fast as we can kind of scenario. All I recall is my tormentor (I.e. instructor) saying "sit back, relax, your horse looks magnificent. Don't worry this is what a his canter is like". Yeh right, I'm moments from certain death/injury and being told 'relax'.
I still feel faint some 10 hours later.
Silly me I've booked myself in for another fair ground ride (oops, sorry lesson) next week.
Wish me luck. Why did I buy such a big horse?
im sorry you felt anxious BUT you didnt die and didnt fall off right? i have ridden a few with big canters making you feel like you are on a seesaw rather than a horse but the trick is....relax and go with it. i know, i know, easier said than done but you can do it, proved by what you have done today! So next time, get yourself and horse relaxed by doing alot of walk and trot and then go for the canter, little and often 
