first canter lesson- scary!

[tiger28]

hi all- i am new here and love love love reading all the posts- i just started lessons (i just had number 6), am nearly 40, and have been fine up until now- was anybody else terrified first learning to canter? i keep reading about how everybody 'loves the feeling'- is it an acquired love? i only did it twice around the ring yesterday and i couldnt believe what a big movement it was-i was sure i was going to fly right out of the saddle! my RI is teaching me to do it in the 2-point position. what is the position it is normally ridden in? any advice or feedback would be so appreciated!

[Trewsers]

Hello there, yes its scary! hehehee, I've been riding for three years "properly" (prior to that I had a 20 odd year break!) and I still don't get cantering....my horse is a little wick tho, thats probably something to do with it! My OH's horse is a real steady neddy and I love cantering on him (he's quite hard to keep going tho). Its one of those things that I envy people who enjoy it - like I say tho, my horse is very fast and can be spooky, so she does tend to get a bit carried away in canter!!! I'm sure you'll be fine, I think you've done well to canter on lesson 6! I think I'd had a few more than that - but your teacher must think you're up to it!!! Welcome to NR by the way! Its a great board, lots of friendly advice.

[Nazdaq]

Hi, I cantered for the first time about two weeks ago and I was scared the first time, but it was fast and bouncy becuase I was on a small pony. I changed RS ponies to a bigger guy, and cantered again this part Thursday and it was much better, I got the rocking motion better and it felt rather enjoyable! I think you need to do it every lesson, lots and lots and you will eventually get it. I am surprised at how fast you are learning (I have had around 20 lessons!) I hope that helps you. :D

P.S: Its normally taught (over here in the UK) in normal sitting position, not two-point. We use two-point for galloping though, so maybe RI is connecting the canter to the gallop. :)

[curlycal]

Hello and Welcome :)

As an older learner myself, I'm in my mid 40's and started learning last may,
It took me quite a while to feel confident in canter and loose that nervous feeling before every lesson. I think being older makes you naturaly more cautious, in my case anyway, I wouldn't dream of doing things now that I did when I was a teenager :eek:

Anyway, you'll be pleased to know it gets easier every lesson. I found doing lots of trot with no stirrups helped to improve my seat and balance.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on.:)

Cal x

[**KEZZIE**]

Was terrified when first learning to canter and that was after having private lessons for 9 months (plus a year before that in a group at a not so good school), so it sounds like you are doing very well!
I bounced around all over the place, hanging onto the saddle for dear life, certain that at any moment i would fall off and could not understand how anyone could say canter was smooth and comfortable!
Trouble is the more scared you are, the more you tense up and tip forward and this is what causes you to be unable to go with the movement of the horse and so you bounce, which in turn is scary and so you tense up... its a vicious circle.
The thing that helped me the most (and still does, i'm still learning) was doing loads and loads of canter transitions with just very short canters (maybe just 3-4 strides). I found that this enabled me to focus hard on keeping the correct position into the canter, which meant i bounced less. It also meant i didn't get so frightened and tense because i knew, however scary it was, i only had to stick at it for a few strides and then i could go back to trot (phew...) And by having to repeat the prosess over and over in each lesson the whole issue of cantering became much less of a big deal. Did not learn in 2 point but the principle is probably the same.
Having said this, everybody learns differently and i know some people find longer canters more helpful.
Thoughts are with you and it does get better - with a lot of practice :)

[molly1973jade]

Hi There

Well done for starting to learn canter after lesson number six

I am 33 yrs old and just started to learn to ride over a year ago and still am learning to canter though can almost manage a full arena now in canter.

Dont worry it will come eventually and I still get nervous depending on the horse I am riding :D

[loopyh]

I can't believe your doing canter on lesson 6 wow
I did learn after about 2 months but then had an accident and it took me years to get the confidence back. I do love it now though. I suppose its like anything new it takes a while to get used to but in a couple of months you'll be wondering what the problem was. Now I'm scared of the speed of gallop. It doesn't help that I'm not used to cantering on a hack and so the idea of galloping is even more scary.

[Skib]

Lesson six sounds early to me.
I cantered after about seven months, but abandonned the attempt and didnt really canter till I'd been riding about 2 years. By then I was happy to do it, could relax and love it.

However, canter in two point ( forward seat) may be different. When I was a girl even beginners taken hacking on a lead rein were taught canter like that. A very old fashioned way of teaching, but the major question is whether you enjoy it?
My great theory about riding is that you shouldnt do anything that scares you.
Anything that scares you may well be dangerous. And spoil your pleasure.

As to forward seat versus sitting - teachers vary a great deal. I did experience one teacher who took me hacking when i was quite a beginner and encouraged me to ride two point in canter, and there could be good reason. It is easier to do. It is easier for the horse and easier too on one's spine.
But the reason forward seat canter is no longer taught first is that it is probably safer for new riders to be secure in the saddle, with a lower centre of gravity. Most of us start by learning to feel the movement in walk, then in sitting trot both without and with stirrups, before we start to learn to sit to canter.
Similarly with two point, you should learn to ride like that in walk and trot before you try canter.

Sitting canter is normally ridden in the school and doing dressage. But once you learn to ride and particularly if you hack, you will learn forward seat as well to make life easier for the horse.

In other words in the end, everyone learns everything - just take your time and dont feel any pressure to learn faster than you enjoy. If you are male, you may well be pushed to take risks that would not be encouraged in an old lady like me.

[tiger28]

thank you all so much for your encouragement and expertise! i didnt realize this was early to be cantering- it was really only twice around the ring and back to trotting for the rest of my lesson (perhaps because i seemed so terrified?). i shouldnt be so scared- the horse i am riding is nearly as old as me and gentle as a lamb. i have never done anything without stirrups (that would definitely freak me out!) i love this board- you are all so helpful and knowledgeable! thanx, keri:)

[Animallover4eva]

I tend to ride a canter in a sitting trot position. You'll soon get used to it - it's a wonderful feeling.

[myronshear]

The Canter Is Hard Becouise You Have To Control The Amount Of Weight You Put On Your Sturips To Much And You Bounce Up To Little You Do Same You Have To Get It Right By Pratice But Dont Get Scaried It Keeps You From Coricting To The Right Amount Of Preshure On Both Feet You Will Get It Right And It Is So Great When You Master It (you Will) Myron

[della33]

Hi Wow Lesson 6 and ya Cantering...Go u! Even if it's only a little its all experience..In two point position though...hmm..I learnt to sit the canter and go with it first I can do it in two point but to be honest its harder to get ya balance right and concentrate on keeping the horse going etc so if ya can canter in two point on lesson 6 you'll have no trouble sitting the canter when you get to it! Good luck :D
Della x x

[sallymouse]

Totally agree, cantering is rather scary!
I have a private lesson on a Sunday and do more cantering, it is getting slightly less scary but not by a lot....
Rode a horsey with a strange rolling action at the rear (only for second time) and had a look of sheer terror on my face as we picked up canter as I thought I was going out the side exit. Luckliy had a laugh about it afterwards. My big problem is that I bring my heels up and lean forwards and feel very unsafe.
As someone else said doing a few steps then going back to trot is good and does help confidence rather than trying to do circuits of school or circles (which I believe are an impossibility at the current time)!!!

[horseygirl123]

I learnt to canter after only a few lessons too, and to be honest, it terrified me !! I just couldnt get the trot to canter transition at all, but now when i look back i think it was because i was scared to canter and tensed up then bounced like a sack of potatos!! Now tho I love to canter, and when you progress to doing 20m circles thats a nice feeling too, to be going fast and in balance doing a circle. (took a lot of practice tho, my RI instructor used to shout at me ' its a horse not a motorbike,you dont have to lean into the circle!! )
canterring without stirrups helped me more than anything i think, cos you learn to hug your horse and also get a deeper seat because you arent pushing yourself up and tensing with your leg.
Also canterring in a straight line whilst out hacking i found easier than canterring in the school, but make sure you are on a nice safe horse that wont get excited and tank off with you ;)
Welcome to NR btw you'll love it here :D

[flyingirishlass]

Hi All! I remember being quite freaked the first time I cantered, but Tiger28...well done for doing it on lesson 6! I think getting that first canter in early is a good way to start, you'll be used to the faster pace early and know what to expect. I remember thinking it was quite strange, but its amazing how fast you get used to it. Like everything, loads of practice.

Try to breathe and relax! I used to forget to breathe, and it makes you tense and bob around on the saddle and makes you start feeling insecure. Relax and enjoy, and soon you'll be in tune with the horses movement. I was taught to sit in canter first. I think it gives you good 'feel' for the horse and how to be sympathetic to his/her movement. I use the light seat (or 2 point) out hacking or else across country and then sit for work in the indoor school.

[tiger28]

i really love this board- you guys are great! i have a lesson tomorrow morning- missed last week's due to weather (sub zero temps) and tomorrow it is supposed to be 65 (so bizarre)- i am sure i forgot everything i have been learning so far- now it has been nearly 2 weeks since the horrifying canter episode (which lasted all of about 30 seconds total)- i think maybe the good thing about learning canter in 2-point is that there really isnt a transition since i am starting from trot in 2-point position. anyway- glad della said i should have no problem sitting it since i am learning in 2-point first- that was really worrying me. hopefully tomorrow i will be telling you all how great it went!

[Samantha1980]

Could you get a private lesson with you on the lunge? That way you don't need to worry about controlling the horse.:)

[cinammontoast]

Never mind cantering-trotting almost had me not going back! My reins were at my face cos it felt so fast compared to walk. Once you've cantered for a while, you will love it-best feeling ever. You could ask your RI to lunge you so you can concentrate on balance/postion without having to worry about steering: you can hold onto the saddle or ask for a throat lash. It will be fun very shortly-don't be scared off. Practise makes perfect and gives you confidence. :) Honest, a bit of time makes a big difference. Try not to move your legs except to keep the horse going (nudge-tricky in itself at any speed, you feel like you're lifting up) and try sitting trot without stirrups-it is essential for your balance and not too scary if you're being lunged and can hold onto the saddle.

[katie2]

Hi, hope your canter is going ok.
It took me years to really feel the canter and it eventually clicked in place when I was working on a polo yard in NJ, to keep the horses fit I had to canter them 4 miles a day round a track!!

After lots of bumping and a very sore back I learnt to go with the movement and not fight against it, the key is to swing your hips with the horses movement.

Good Luck!!

[sockonmyhead]

i started to learn to canter in lesson 7...i think it just depends on how well your RI thinks you're doing! i haven't done it in two-point though.

all the best

s

[micky17]

hi this proble isnt no help but ive been riding for 6 months and on my
6 lesson (i think )i started to canter you will fill like your bouncingall
over the place at first but then after a wile you will get with the flow
and i is brillent (i love cantering )!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


So i hop in a few lessons you will like it more and have fun with your lessons :)


byexx