Cantering lesson - flapping legs!!

[Abserd]

Hiya everyone! Had a private lesson today before work. It was great to ride before setting off to the office and the sun was shining. The stables were preparing for a pony fun day and i wanted to stay :o ! It was supposed to be a cantering lesson although the RI and me chatted a lot but it relaxed me...thing is she put me on HER pony!! THis is Dazzle in her stable after the lesson, hope i've attached the pic correctly! She is a gorgeous cob. But i couldn't get her to canter more than a few strides. I think i was first of all a bit nervous as it was the RI's pony (now she's based at the stables but i was really self-conscious of how i rode her, didn't want to pull or kick - not that i can very well anyway. I felt so hopeless flapping about trying to use my leg aids and stay on i ended up in a heap of laughter!! I suppose it could have been worse, but it just reminds me that i'm certainly no natural! At least i managed to talk to the RI about my bad grip and wrists and my confidence. I find it easier talking to horses than humans!! :rolleyes:

[8-legged-pony]

Aww Dazzle is lovely! I know what you mean about riding your instructors horse, it makes you all nervous and concerned you're going to do something wrong that your instructor won't like. In the end though they wouldb't have put you on their horse if they thought you weren't up to it! Will you have the chance to ride her again in your next lesson? Once you get used to her I'm sure the longer canter will come.

[Abserd]

Thanks 8-legged-pony, appreciate that! Hopefully i will get to ride her again, and i did feel very privileged to be riding her, and felt very safe, which was good. I know RI wouldn't have let me on her if she thought i was that bad, and i suppose because i was expecting a different, younger horse to ride, i had no preparation. Daft that as Dazzle is the most bombproof horse i've been on in a long time! But she did say i rode another one of the school horses, Archi, well and i have a lesson on him next Wednesday. I think because i know he can get stressed out, i'm conscious of keeping calm on him. I'm looking forward to that and to put to the test what i learned last week on Dazzle. I'm pretty proud as i think i'm the first of RI's group to ride her, will definitely try again. Not giving up on this one! Will control me legs eventually :p

[Julz]

perhaps the pony is too wide for you? If you have weak legs, and are sitting on a wide pony, it will be harder for you to control your legs than it is on a narrower pony. but unless it hurts you,, do keep at it, as it will strengthen your legs eventually, and then Im sure you'll get good results and a lovely canter from Dazzle. Also remember Dazzle isnt used to you or your leg aids, so wont be sure how to respond...

[Abserd]

Yay! Had my first lesson after my hols. last night on my favourite pony, who is so responsive and kind. I told him before we rode that i was feeling a little blue and he was as good as gold. For the first time ever we cantered all the way round to the back of the ride, i even managed to push him on when he was about to drop back into trot. My RI was pleased! Said i was much more in control. I know he's the easiest pony to ride (and much narrower than some of the others) but i still did it - yay! Just had to tell someone somewhere!!

[Gruntfuttock]

Excellent, well done Abserd!

[Abserd]

Thankyoooo! :)