We cantered!!

[pattir7]

Wahoo!!

I bought my boy back in February this year. I had been riding (and cantering) regularly on lesson horses prior....but hadn't attempted it off the lungeline on my boy until today! He is a friesian and his gaits are pretty big...bigger than I was used to... I needed the lungeline so I could hold the saddle for his transition which is very 'up'...and we've been practicing for a couple of months with my trainer on the lunge. I had a goal to canter around the arena once without the lunge (obviously) by February next year... and today, she says...'today, you are going to canter by yourself!'. So, figured I'd try... and my boy was SO good... he picked up the canter quickly and I sat the transition without holding on...and without yanking his mouth... and we cantered... and cantered.... and cantered... around the arena two times (each direction). It was so wonderful! I consider it his Christmas gift to me... and what a gift it was! A major breakthrough for us! Wahoo! :D :D

Patti

[Unbridled]

Congratulations! :)

Big movement is much harder isn't it? Chance has a beautiful, smooth canter. But I'm still struggling to learn how to ride Sugar's big, bouncy stride. Good for you!

[pattir7]

Yeah, big movement is certainly more challenging. I don't know if I'll *ever* be able to sit his trot... but I can post it just fine and it is SO fun! You feel like you are really flying... and I guess that is partly true.

I am still very excited to have had this breakthrough and be able to add canter to our in saddle work now...

[TheHoglet]

:D:D well done! :D:D

you must be soooo pleased! go you!!

[coverblown]

fantastic! That's a great acheivement - he's doing well to go round twice, and you too.... that's a long way to keep in control....... excellent stuff, onwards!

A.

[pattir7]

Thanks! Thing is, I could have kept going and going and going... it was downright EASY...and he was so willing, he could have/would have kept going for a while longer too... I just decided not to 'push it' and end things on a good note. For a little bit of it, he got REALLY forward and was 'cookin'... it would have been easy to get scared cause we were covering ground...but I was fine...very secure... and he came back down to trot the moment I asked.. what a GOOD boy! I am still excited!

[pattir7]

Ok, I had to see if I could do it again...totally by myself..no trainer..and we DID!! 5 times each direction and many times around the arena! Wahoo! Ok, so I can't steer right now...but I can sit it pretty darned well. First things first! Once I am comfortable with the transitions and the gait, I will attempt to steer. Just can't do too many things at once...so we only canter when there aren't other horses in the arena...which is fine for now. I am just thrilled that we are cantering. Steering next...then we work on 'pretty'.

I was so proud of my boy today... he really put in a great effort. There was a lot of horse under me right up until there was nothing left... what a good boy! He gets three days off now... he deserves it! :D

[BeachRiding]

Well done!

[caraid_alba]

:D well done:D