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View Full Version : Frustrated, really couldn't ride canter today


carthorse
25th Aug 2006, 04:14 PM
This is really just a feeling sorry for myself thread but there's no point whinging to my OH & if I moan up the yard peoople will think I'm fishing for compliments :o

I just couldn't seem to ride canter properly today! The more I tried the worse it got, I'm impressed that Jim didn't deck me at one point cos God knows he'd got grounds to. He'd had nearly a week off because of a swollen sheath then a couple of days walk work so my teacher rather kindly said that maybe the problem was that he wasn't mentally tuned in & was taking the easy option of trying to run through the contact & go on his forehand which, because he's so big & strong, was making it very difficult for me to ride correctly. Kind of her, & some truth in it, but we both know that if I can just sit back on him & keep my position then he'll come off his forehand & stop acting like a runaway train :rolleyes:. I think she was closer to the mark when she said she'd never seen him look so strong & me ride his canter so badly :(

Ironically his trot & leg yield were fine & at times good.

Poor lad, he worked hard & it's not his fault that I shouldn't be allowed near a decent horse. Not sure whether to have another lesson, school by myself or go for a hack tomorrow. Probably lesson or school, I know he gets heavy & strong if he isn't schooled regularly & we both need the workout. Although the way my back aches now he may get a day off!

piftisha
26th Aug 2006, 08:42 AM
Don't worry! I wasn't there, so I can't be sure, but it sounds like he was just trying to run through your aids and avoid some canter. My barn has a few horses like that, and with some you have to take them around the arena a few times, asking for the canter in the same place, and eventually they'll figure it out.

Some of the horses we have, once they start doing that running trot thing, you just have to keep your inside leg on until they pick up a canter. It takes a TON of leg muscle and endurance on your part, and it can really wear a person out.

I know its never completely the horse or completely the rider, but in this case it sounds like it was more of a horse problem. But you'll be ready next time!

carthorse
26th Aug 2006, 12:09 PM
Thanks for the support piftisha, I think I was just having an off day physically & mentally :rolleyes:. I haven't ridden yet today, partly cos the arena was busy & my ego couldn't cope with an audience but partly cos my shoulders & lower back are rather stiff. I may ride later if I loosen up!

In fairness he was perfectly happy to canter - at times even when he wasn't asked - but he didn't want to canter nicely. He was getting strong, running through the contact & going flat & long, but then he couldn't really be blamed when I couldn't seem to sit back & still to support him & ride his hind end under. He's not terribly keen on the slightly more collected work he's being asked for because it involves more effort on his part and so when he isn't schooled regularly he reverts back to half bouncing half pulling me forward so that I'm in a weaker position to deal with it. Since he's about 700kg of muscle & brains he finds it easy to take advantage unless I'm very correct & yesterday I wasn't :o. If I ride today I think I'll borrow a friend to sit & scream "sit back", "shoulders back", "keep your bum in the saddle", "relax the knee & sit into him" & a few slightly less polite comments if needed :p

BeachRiding
11th Sep 2006, 09:38 PM
Just saw this thread.How is everything going for you? Cantering coming along?