Canter Video

[Waikato Valuta]

Ok, I just uploaded my very first video of me riding. It had to be a crap one but oh well. I believe I am on the wrong leg in every scene. I have always found it hard to tell what leg I am on. No wonder he was much harder to sit to that way.

The trainer told me to do counter canter to built up strength but I think he meant the other way round. As he rarely picks up the left rein first time. Anc with me not knowing what leg he's on.... sigh. I'll just have to be more careful to get the right one in future.

Let me know what you think of my appalling riding. :eek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnIvydNcL1w

[coss]

the horse looks really balanced which is always a good sign (if your unbalanced you affect the balance of the horse)... you were on the right leg on a left rein circle so you were technically in counter canter.
Did you trainer want you to do counter canter to build up your strength or your horse's?
I would definitely work on your ability to work out which leg is leading, the best way is to think how it feels then look. do this many times until you can feel which leg is leading without looking. I don't think you should do counter canter (as an exercise) until you know which leg your on. You should also be able to ask for left rein canter and right rein canter (apologies if you can already do this). Well done for staying in balance :)

[entreat]

WOO!!! YOU GO GIRL!!!

I'm so proud of both of you!! Was that *the* first canter?!??!?!?! It must ahve been - you're at the trainers.

i'll let other people add the constructive comments. i'm hideously biased!

[MissFliss]

What a lovely horse who seems so soft and willing!!

This is just my experience, but my trainer would rip my head off if I cantered around on the wrong leg! It's the only time he really lets fly. As to feeling the leg lead, some horses are easier to feel than others! It's the well balanced ones that are the hardest.

Is there any physical reason he dislikes the left lead? Or is he straight off the track?

[Waikato Valuta]

The trainer wanted me to build up the horse’s strength. Normally I can canter of the correct leg, but I need to look down. I don't know why I didn't *sigh*.

He did race but he has since done Eventing. He has come back into work after a year off and just doesn’t like to work on the left canter lead. I will need to work on this.

Yeah he is a very relaxed boy.

Entreat: nope that wasn't the first canter. I cantered him when I was at the trainers *got the correct leg then* and twice last week. This was just the first time I could get any photo/video. So it was our fourth canter.

[Hero]

really nice, but properly may of felt a little wobbly as he was on the wrong leg hunnie

x

[Skyhuntress]

The trainer wanted me to build up the horse’s strength. Normally I can canter of the correct leg, but I need to look down. I don't know why I didn't *sigh*.

He did race but he has since done Eventing. He has come back into work after a year off and just doesn’t like to work on the left canter lead. I will need to work on this.

Yeah he is a very relaxed boy.

Entreat: nope that wasn't the first canter. I cantered him when I was at the trainers *got the correct leg then* and twice last week. This was just the first time I could get any photo/video. So it was our fourth canter.

Just out of curiosity, but why would you continue to canter around, even though it was on the wrong leg? And why wouldn't your trainer stop you? By asking him to continue cantering on the wrong lead, you're actually building up WRONG muscles.

But he looks to be a very cute boy and you seem well matched!

[BeachRiding]

You look pretty good, a bit stiff in the arms maybe?

[Waikato Valuta]

Like I said Arion I didn't pick up on it :o

And that’s not an instructor in the movie, that’s my dad. I did canter the other way as well, Its just that I didn't get any footage of that. Perhaps I should have waited for some better footage but I figured it would show me at my worst so why not.

I was only riding for about 30min and that footage is just about the extent of the cantering I did. I will be more carefully in future to pick up on it, I really do know better.

Besides the internet is pretty safe, I wont be showing this to anyone I know. Well.. except entreat, lol.

[entreat]

hehehe - I'm still so proud!! You guys look great. & you can show me all the wrong-leg canters you like 'cause you know I'll never notice!! *blush* hehehe

[NatalieR]

from watchin that clip i think you need to have more rein contact and make the horse round, but your position was fine!:)

[Waikato Valuta]

I'm riding in a halter in the video, and I must admit I find it hard to make him go round in a halter.