Walk, trot and now canter...

[Tim]

When I started riding about 4 months ago, I had no idea how involved it was. I hadn't actually imagined it was going to be easy and I've had some disagreements with the instructor about things, but we're over that now and this week I had my first intentional canter. I've had canters before, but I had no idea it was about to happen and I can still hear the horse laughing as she charged off to my surprise! This week though, the canter was intentional and I knew it was about to take place when the horse charged off. Well, I thought it was great! I can imagine cantering around in an open field without the overhanging branches of the bridlepath we were using this week. I hadn't accounted for the extra speed when hitting overhead branches, especially the spiky ones that overhang on this particular bridlepath and I'm sure the horse was running from side to side in order to get me as many times as possible ! The second time I tried to canter this week, I actually 'dropped' a rein, and couldn't immediately pick it back up, much to the horses consternation, she turned her head as if to say 'Oi, hurry up and pick that rein up', while at the same time slowing a bit so as to make it easy for me. She did stop a bit suddenly at the end of the canter and I nearly pitched over her head....that would have been fun at 6'4" and weighing in at 14st ! However, I didn't fall off, and I think I remained largely in control:D I can't wait for the next canter...:p

[sallym]

Those low lying branches will certainly help with your jumping position!

[Piaffe]

sorry - I'm laughing - but remembering a horse I used to share who loved to try and wipe me off on bushes, trees - anything he could!!!

Well done for staying on! - you must have great balance - and a great sense of humour!!

The horses definitely laugh at us!

[Tim]

You're right, the horses do laugh at us, they've only got to see me drive into the yard and they go into hysterics, tears rolling down their faces, the lot, I dunno what's so funny..........:D

[Laetitia]

Its obviously the expression on your face, either that or you've got your boots on the wrong feet. L

[Tim]

Oh....the boots go on MY feet ??? I've been putting them on the horse...... :D ;)

[Lovecat]

Tim,

You did make me laugh there!:D

When I first started hacking on Pride (my share horse) she'd do the 'stop dead and drop the head' thing (usually when we'd been cantering around a field) and then look at me as if to say 'but there's grass here! What do you expect me to do?'

But isn't it great when it all comes right like that?

Cathy:D

[Tim]

That's the trouble with horses, they're walking around in a permanent canteen, food everywhere, and can't understand why they can't just keep eatin', thank the Lord there is no such thing as a naturally occurring Polo Mint shrub, that really would put the cat amongst the pigeons.:D

[Tim]

Yet again I cantered this week......:) Oh, I'm havin' such fun ! What made me laugh this week was the horse...she's got this method of stripping leaves off twigs and overhanging woodwork, while she's runnin along....:D Well, I couldn't cope with that, it was sooo funny to watch I nearly lost me balance and fell off. Just imagine, you see a twig bearing juicy leaves, looming up in front, you move to avoid it...horse grabs it and strips the foliage off leaving a bare stalk... without breaking stride! Anybody else's horse do this??

[Ipsa]

Yes my horse does this as well.
What is even funnier is when she takes careful aim, opens mouth, closes mouth and comes away with nothing.:D
Oh the look of frustration on her face is priceless.

[fair~filly]

My horse does the leaf stripping trick if I let him, you have to be quick to avoid all the tasty bits.
Sounds like you're really having fun...long may you continue.

F.F

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[Showjumper]

lol! :D This is a great thread - horses are devious critters...

[sallym]

Yes, mine does this too. Have you come across the "happily trotting along, sudden stop, rapid reverse into the bracken and munch" manoeuver yet?

[Tim]

I like the sound of this rapid reverse into the bracken, I reckon that could be quite fun :D

[sallym]

It's quite fun if there isn't a ditch and even more fun if there is.

[Laetitia]

Its quite useful if you're going along an overgrown track, nag just eats her way through. L

[Tim]

Ok, Horse number 4.
This is the fourth horse I've cantered on, in the last four weeks. This brute is a big grey sod about 18 foot tall, (ok, slight exaggeration, about 17hh), who has a warped sense of humour. So I jump on him, and off we go. Turning up the bridle path there are some gardens that back down onto the path and there lurked a black dog in the shadows.....out runs the dog from the shadows parallel with the horses, needless to say they were spooked:eek: . So horse jumps up in the air, legs going in all directions, tail and mane in all directions, doesn't know whether to turn and run back down the path, jump on the dog and kill it, kick it, kick me, throw me off and scarper, or what? 'Steady on old chap', is the English translation of what I actually said. Anyway, the dog buggered off and the horses calmed down a bit, so we set off on a little trot, which was to break out into a canter, intentionally. My God!! when it did break into a canter I thought the dog was back !!:eek: Down went his head as if he was grazing, up came his back end in an attempt to get rid of me again. 'Oh I say, this is hardly cricket is it old chap?' Again another translation:D Every time I got close to going over his head, he picked it up a bit to stop me!! OK, now horse, get with the programme !! Then my riding companion sings out that he's not really been schooled properly as yet.....thanks for tellin' me before I got on:p What am I? Crash test dummy? So, finally we get into the routine of a decent trot up this path, and wouldn't you know it, I got hit in the eye by a spiky leaf, probably a holly leaf, and while I was trying to clear the blurred vision, I ran smack into a thick overhanging branch that made such a row, it spooked the horse again......glad I had me 'at on, might have knocked some sense into me otherwise:D :D Errr...I can't wait for the next hack:( :) :D



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[kayleigh]

LOL......Awwww Tim you poor thing, sounds like it was quite an eventful experience. You did so well to stay on by the sounds of it :)
I gotta thank you for sharing this story with us all tim, it had me rolling for ages, can't wait for horse No. 5. :D

[Tim]

Horse number 5 is going to be at a different riding school, which starts on Friday.............:D

[CarolineR]

just wait for the gallop!!!!That'll put the wind up you!! Just remember not too much of a forward seat as you'll end up on his neck when they stop or swerve

[Tim]

GALLOP?!!:D
Hang on a bit, did you say Gallop? hey, I can end up wrapped round the horses neck in rising trot!! Don't frighten me with gallop!:D



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