Will I ever not dread....

[Trewsers]

Hi all, fell off over the weekend (mentioned in another thread). Its really knocked my confidence as this time it really HURT! :eek: Ironicly, I wasn't cantering (my BIGGEST FEAR) - I was trotting in a circle. I feel really rubbish about it, I got straight back on again (the rear end and left leg didn't seize up till I got home!!! :D ) Anyways, I was just wondering, will I ever NOT dread cantering??? I feel worse than ever about it now, as I've hurt myself so much falling off in trot, I mean, crumbs, how much more is it going to hurt if I come off cantering????? My feeling is that I need to go right back to basics - more lessons on the lunge - even though it feels like a step backwards :( . How long was / is it before you all stopped worrying about stuff like that? I've only been learning 9 months. I felt really confident about trotting before this though!!!! Now I'm wondering if I'll ever get it right!!!! Any advice?

[shirley]

Hi there, it took me three and half years before I felt confident enough to canter. But once I had done I felt as though Mount Everest must be a mole hill!!!
Have you / do you know why you came off whilst you were trotting on a circle. Perhaps even having one or two lessons on the lunge again, so as your instructor can see how your trot has progressed and troubleshoot to see if there is anything to work on. Then concentrate on doing this. At the end of the day when we learnt to drive a car we only went slowly to start with, I feel that this is very much the same as learning to ride.
I am glad as I get older that getting and doing something by certain time is no longer the issue, it is just getting there, acheiving my goal, regardless of how long it has taken me. Attaining it is the main priority. There are loads and loads of us who find canter difficult, scared, frightened, even terrified, but if we do a little by little approach and build up our confidence in our time we will get there and acheive our goals. Main thing to do along the way is to have fun, not get to up tight or even frustrated at it not happening all at once - we have a number of youngsters on our yard who all seem so fearless, but their time will come, as it has done to the older ones who have fallen off and had their confidence knocked, but we all learn how to get up again. Well done for you for getting back on board. My boy bucked a little and I came off several weeks ago, but it was a long walk home, so had to get back on or walk - that was not an option. But it has dented my confidence about riding around our perimeter rides on my own, but we are doing more and more on our own, little bit further each time.
Good luck, enjoy and if possible smile at your war wound - those types of bruises do go beautiful colours!!!!!

[Jinete789]

Hi Trewsers

Having also perfomed an unscheduled dismount this weekend, I just wanted to raise the point that more speed doesn't always mean more pain. Yesterday I fell off at full gallop and only have a few aches and pains - as I kid I was always going over jumps before (or instead of) the pony so falling off when the horse was technically stopped - and that really hurt!

Honestly I feel that its often about what you land on and how you land as much as the speed you are going.

The canter thing - I was like that for ages and ages when I came back to riding as an old F@£t. For me getting out of the school and going on a week-long riding holiday where I just cantered loads really worked, as I wasn't worried about "the wrong leg" or "picking up canter at point B" with all the 12 year olds sniggering at my failure to transition :o

Trust me, that canter confidence will come - I am sure I still look a shambles on a horse but I don't worry about my canter any more and I really enjoy it! :cool:

Jin (fellow equinaut)

[Trewsers]

Hi there, thanks for the replies! Shirley, I know what you mean about fearless youngsters! There are tons at our yard!!!! Still don't know why I lost balance in trot - one of lifes mysteries!!! Jinete - thats comforting what you said about more speed not necessarily meaning more pain!!!! (like the fellow equinaut title :D )

[cazrider]

Trewsers don't despair! I was reading the Mature rider forum feeling very fed up as my lesson on Sennie went really badly yesterday and then I read your thread. So here's a bit of mutual sympathy...These sort of days happen to us all. You'll be fine. Nerves are a pain, but once you're on top of them, and you will be, you'll feel fantastic. I think horses are all about challenging yourself and bringing you out of your comfort zone.

I am wellout of mine, and it sounds as though you are well out of yours too. A good thing! What would life be if we just stayed comfortable all the time. Riding is often two steps forward one back, or in yours and my case at the moment, two forward two back :) . Next time it will probably be different. No, it WILL be different :D

[Alle]

Just keep at it Trewsers, and don't worry about taking a step backwards...you're not really taking a backwards step at all imo! Confidence is tenuous and if something happens to shake it, and if you feel you will regain it by taking lessons on a lunge, then do it, and don't worry about it. Note: They don't do lunge lessons at my barn but I think they are a great idea and would love to have some.

There is no race to your learning, right? (This is something I always have to remind myself!) So take it one step at a time, and you will get there. Best of luck! :)

[NoviceNic]

I couldn't wait to Canter. As a teen it was my favourite gait. I have to admit though I was very scared. They gave me the yards old faithful and I started to Canter. Piece of cake I thought. What you don't realise is that the horse does everything the instructor tells us to do. IE I wasn't giving any aids the horse just knew that it had to go into canter at C. Anyway my biggest fear was galloping but I knew I just had to have a go. I bought Captain last August and have gradually built up from Walk to Canter. One day I went out with a 12 yr old. (I'm 33). We got to the stubble field and we had arranged to gallop. I asked her to go in front but the minute I asked her to slow she would. Off we went from stand to Gallop. :eek: Didn't know my plod had it in him. During the gallop I asked him to steady and he seemed to come back a bit. I never steered or anything. Just a straight line. Hung on for dear life but I tell you it is the most amazing thing I have ever done. Sorry a bit long. But what I am trying to say is that once you start to Canter it will be the best thing you have ever done. Then you will want to gallop and wonder why you were soo worried about Canter!!! ;)

[JustJas]

You will love it- when you get the right horse you feel happy on!

[Drummers mum]

Just take your time, relax and enjoy yourself, there is no rush!

Novicenic: lol! :D

[Trewsers]

Hi there, once again, I feel much better after reading all your replies! I really like this forum, its great to know I'm not alone!!! :D Looking forward to the Easter weekend - and hopefully lots more practice!!! (will try and stay on this time.....) :rolleyes:

[alfie]

it was so good to read other people have the same worries!! iam dreading the time when i canter :( i have owned alfie for six months now and we have a riding lesson once a week, we do lots of hacking out in the new forest and we have a trot. i can tell he would love to take it further but he does,nt. :) hes such a good horse and we are building a trust together so who knows we might just get there!!!!!

[Wobblydeb]

Trewsers - I've been riding on and off for 25 years and I still dread canter because it makes me wobbly!! :D

In the past few months I've gone right back to basics with a good instructor - and I STILL struggle with canter! My confidence and ability to manage it is improving though, but slowly. :) I figure with enough practice one day I might get it :)

[NoviceNic]

Drummers Mum - I read your first gallop post and it was similar to mine. Amazing feeling isn't it. But you can't help thinking I am not in control here. :eek:

[VickiGG]

I shrieked the first time my instructor made me canter on the lunge - and asked her if everyone found it THIS hard....she replied with a laugh - yes... :)

That was about 8 months ago (I try and have two lessons per week) I guess and I am finally finding my balance in canter so my bum doesn't come out of the saddle even, and it seems hard to beleive that I asked her that question now.... so trust me it does come.... :)

A year ago I remember thinking - I wish I could make my horse trot and canter when I want him to.....now my wish is...I wish I could control my horse when he bolts back to the paddock gate for food! :rolleyes:

[Janette]

For a long time, I simply didn't 'do' canter! (After being bucked off at a show and landing with a loud splat) A very wise person on this forum reminded me that there is no law saying that you HAVE to canter (think it was KadyA, or Tumbleweed).
However, I came around to it in my own time and the support of a very sensible riding instructor. (one day she simply said, 'and canter in the next corner' - and I did!!!!!!! :eek: )
Six months later, I went to a show and, as we cantered around the ring as part of a group, I felt like an Olympic gold medal winner. That's us in the pic, just coming around the corner. Since then I've done a few dressage tests, and now cantering holds no fear at all.

Now Jumping - that's another matter :o

[Alle]

Now Jumping - that's another matter :o

hehe, I know what you mean. But maybe you'll be making a similar post about jumping in the future. You never know! :)

I love canter, but when I first got my mare, I got very tense about it even though I had no apprehensions about cantering one of the school horses. Took a little while to work out, but it did. Now jumping is my hangup. :rolleyes: There is always something. :)

[Mary Poppins]

I don't tend to canter much as I always feel a little unbalanced going round corners and sometimes think that my horse is going to fall over. I have had a few lunge lessons which have helped and I am getting better at just sitting still and not leaning into the corner. However, the horse does help. I had a lesson on a lovely pony the other day and we bombed around the arena in a perfectly balanced canter - maybe you could try riding different horses to see if there is one who you feel most comfortable on.