Heather help

[Esabelle]

Heather I have your book, I read all the messages on this board, I know what I should be doing in the canter, but as soon as the school horse lurches into that first step, I panic, grab the mane and my mind goes blank with blind panic. This has been happening for months now and I am getting left behind by the class who are doing fine. Even Rescue Remedy doesn't help, I see the ground rushing by and feel sick. I now dread the weekly lesson and know at the outset that everyone expects me to fail and yes I do fail. I'm not the only one to have had a bad accident in the past, but it's blocking my progress. Sometimes I still get unbalanced in trot and I'm positive that it's because I'm always waiting for the horse to fall as soon as she picks up speed (that is what happened to me before). I was quite confident up to that point, but for months now I have just been struggling through the classes and feeling relieved at the end. We've done trotting poles and some little jumps at trot - no problem, but when it comes to canter, no amoint of previous reading on the subject helps. I'm getting so depressed and embarassed about it that I feel like stopping classes because I feel so useless since I've been riding for 18 months on and off. What a pity there is no access to your wonderful simulator, I'm sure height off the ground is also my problem! i recently bought an older horse from the stables (19) who was more or less semi retired (I remember riding him last summer) but had no beginner adults to cater for so spent most of his time in the fields. Consequently I'm visiting every day to feed, groom, bathe his recently acquired wound from a kick, and generally love him to bits, as does my young daughter who can ride him with no problem. Gentle walking to exercise, some trotting and a tiny bit of canter is what we've been advised, but I won't even try on him through fear, although to watch my daughter is a delight because his movement is so smooth. The saddle we're using seems less secure to my bottom in so much as I'm sliding around a lot!! Are there different types of general purpose saddles? I'm sorry this is so long but I'm losing whatever confidence I had completely and am feeling thoroughly negative about myself.

[lisae]

how about private lessons? Probably more expensive but go less often, perhaps. I also have fears dating way back to being thrown from a full gallop back in 1987! I owned two other horses in the meantime and had no problems but when I bought my current horse, there was something about his very forward way of going that reminded me of the horse I came off of way back then. Plus they were both bay, who knows what the mind connects with. Now, I enjoy mostly walking out on trail rides, and in the ring in my backyard I get really wild and try walk trot transitions. The horse doesn't seem to mind (once in a while he tries to go faster, but I just tell him to "save it for the pasture" and bring him back down). The word Failure shouldn't even enter into it if you are enjoying the horses company, the time with your daughter, and the riding that you feel comfy with! All the best, we know how you feel.

[KarlR]

I agree. I would certainly recommend some private lessons with a sympathetic teacher.

Perhaps a lunge lesson or two would also help so that you can get used to the feeling again without having to worry about what to do.

However, do take it steady and get back to being comfortable and relaxed in trot before you go back to canter. It is probably not practical to do this in a group lesson so try to find a patient, private teacher.

[Tammy]

Poor Esabelle, riding is supposed to be fun!

What exactly are your riding goals? Do you want to show or just be confident enough to hack out? If you are just learning for your own pleasure it shouldn't be necessary for you to canter until you want to!! Is it possible for you to take some private lessons? Your fear is probably causing your trot problems and if you know you don't have to canter you may be much more relaxed. Try to find a way to go at your own speed and forget about "the rest of the class" and what you "should be" doing.

You bought a horse to enjoy it, so don't be pushed into something you are not enjoying!