Freya starts cantering next week...

[chev]

...and I'm not sure I'm brave enough to watch!

She had her fourth lesson yesterday. She did walk/trot/walk transitions, halts, changes of rein, sitting trot to rising to sitting to rising... Topper (pony) was mostly co-operative but even when he wasn't Freya's strong enough and confident enough to make him do as he's asked. Her lower leg tends to slip forward still when she's tired (like after trotting round the school) and her hands are not as low or as still as they could be but her seat and her balance are great. Have to admit I'm a bit smug! ;) :D

Her instructor reckons she should have cantered yesterday but she's so small it's hard to believe she'd be up to it. She also said she teaches kids twice Freya's size who've been riding far longer who are not up to Freya's standard - and yes, I want to brag!!! :D :D

So next Sunday, Freya canters for the first time (well first planned canter anyway!). She's really blase about it, although looking forward to it - I'm really scared!

[Mehitabel]

ooh exciting! good luck freya!

[kyanya]

Good luck to her. I'm sure she doesn't need it, it sounds as if she's doing exceptionally well

[Monty]

Would you like me to come and watch FOR you. You could bury your head in your hands, and I'll tell you when it's safe to peek!

[Bobbi77]

Hehe I know the feeling well - my daughter is 5 (6 next week) and when she first started cantering I had a shaky-kneed sick feeling of dread. I needn't have worried though, she absolutely loved it. Now, it's the highlight of her lessons, so the instructor uses it as a bribe to get her to work well during the lesson with the promise of a few canters at the end.

I am always amazed at how such little people can have such a good seat and soo much confidence! I suppose asthey know no different, they have no reason to be scared, do they? I hope Freya's lesson goes well, and you don't have too many heart failures (just don't do as my hubby did once, and walk out because he couldn't bear to watch hehe).

Bobbi

P.S. and OT - I love the name Freya, my daughter was going to be called that all the way through but somehow ended up as Fern
:-))

[chev]

Bobbi, she amazes me too - not least because she's also struggling with hearing and sight problems at the moment too. Your daughter sounds like she's doing well!

Monty, that sounds like a good plan to me... and if you brought a certain someone along I'd probably have Freya doing crosspoles by the end of the lesson just to impress!! ;) :D

[JaniceH]

Hee hee, this is just like when I watch James (nearly 10) ride every week, he has been riding since August and is merrily cantering around and tackling small jumps. He is not like some of the others in his class that are flying about with mountains of confidence but lets just say he is cool and collected (as only pre-teen boys can be with a lot of girls around lol) I must admit I do tend to rest my chin on my hand with one elbow on the arena wall then if I need to cover my eyes, it does not look so obvious! Children have so much less - oh no this/that could happen, and seem to be able to canter and bounce about without losing balance at all.