Had my horse 3 months now and we're going through a very similar experience to many I've read of on NR - him spooky and nervous, me nervous and falling off.
Going out for a hack tomorrow (with friend and her non spooky younger horse) and although I'm scared sh!tl"ss and have only trotted so far - unless he's bolting across the field and I'm falling off, I really really want to canter.
It's like the new nervous me is saying 'don't you bloody dare that is the stupidest thing ever', and the old brave, what's the worst that could happen me says 'well maybe it would help improve your ability to stay on if you gave him a good blast'.
He's out of condition so I know it wouldn't be for long!!
What's your thoughts - to canter or not....?!
P.S. Was reading another thread earlier in the week and I've invested in some PAX spray, fingers crossed!!
Yes I've got access to a school Pale Moon - he's a big fella though - Belgian Draft.
I'm a bit ashamed to say that I've never really been properly taught to ride - was only in a school about three times as a kid and spent all of the 9 years i had a pony happy hacking.
Now I'm older and wiser I'm giving it a go and he's been very good in the school, bit stiff on one side but I'm learning, and, this is stupid but I just feel weird about cantering round in such a small space - it's totally foreign to me!! I think psychologically, cantering in the open feels safer?!
I would suggest a track, preferably slightly uphill and straight, with a lead horse. Try also to make it long enough so he slows of his own accord and you don't get into a fight on your first canter together. Also invest in some good lessons to help with your confidence and ability. Cantering in a school is quite difficult, unless you have the control to only canter the long sides until you are both more balanced. Good luck for tomorrow and I hope all goes well and you enjoy yourself!
Ditto Kathy - make sure the lead horse isnt one that will take off and just do a couple of strides, back to trot, another couple of strides and build it up gradually.
Right, yes, uphill does make it sound less scarey and a few strides would just make me get over this barrier I've built up where I seem to think I can't possibly stay on when he spooks so better hitting the ejector seat!! God I've forgotten all this stuff from when I was kid, all the wee tricks and smart ways of dealing with this stuff, thanks guys going out at 11 will see how it goes!
Shouldnt really comment as I am such a worrier although I was a lot less timidwhen I was younger, I am now nearly 52 and a nice collected canter is about my limit, mentioned gallop and I chicken out. As long as you have a sensible horse in the front which can slow down to a trot if you feel unsafe then go for it. What would be good as others say is a short burst uphill or a longer uphill stretch where you can go down to trot and then up into canter again if you feel happy. Good luck!!
Thankyou for the encouragement guys, I was all hyped up ready to go this morning, couldn't eat anything before and felt totally sick. But had some bachs and then some pax and then we found that my reliable lead horse is lame, poor wee man. So no cantering today- just went into the school instead. I guess it's telling that I actually even thought about cantering - do the nerves ever go?!!!! I almost end up going blue when I'm tacking up - I get so bloody nervous and hold my breathe!!
Only good thing is I've lost 11lbs from worry over the last ten weeks!!!
Determined to canter next time!!!
Thankyou for the encouragement guys, I was all hyped up ready to go this morning, couldn't eat anything before and felt totally sick. But had some bachs and then some pax and then we found that my reliable lead horse is lame, poor wee man. So no cantering today- just went into the school instead. I guess it's telling that I actually even thought about cantering - do the nerves ever go?!!!! I almost end up going blue when I'm tacking up - I get so bloody nervous and hold my breathe!!
Only good thing is I've lost 11lbs from worry over the last ten weeks!!!
Determined to canter next time!!!
Poor you, but think of the new bod! As they say 'every cloud has a silver lining'!
As for nerves, of course they'll go, but at the moment they are there for a reason - to keep you getting complacent. Don't let them get the better of you though. You're doing all the right things by going out with someone else etc. I would take Pale Moon's advice and try canter in the school. As he's a big lad he'll not really want to do much so even if you do one length then you'll have made progress.
What tack does he wear (sorry if thats an obvious question for a Belgium D); does he wear a martingale or hunting breast plate? They say if you are a nervous hacker put one on even if horse does need it. Then, if they bolt or get carried away you can grab it to help you feel more secure.
I just feel weird about cantering round in such a small space - it's totally foreign to me!! I think psychologically, cantering in the open feels safer?!
Isn't that because you think you can't balance properly? Thats what I always think. Cantering whilst out generally involves straight lines. Don't belittle what experience you have. If you've hacked for 9 years you have tons of experience! People can be quite dismissive of happy hackers don't you think?
I would really recommend some lessons. They have been great for me.
I have had Izzy since August and he had been out of work for a bit. Although I have been having lessons at a RS for a couple of years and done plenty of riding friends horses, I found I was really nervous on my own.
I was always going to have lessons but really concentrated on them and have had 3 a week since we got the saddle about 5 weeks ago. I had been doing loads of groundwork with Izzy so he had got a lot fitter and we just took it slowly in the lessons.
We have been concentrating on getting him going well, but it has given me loads of more confidence. With a good RI you will work on what you need to do to more confident hacking or exercises to help your boy's way of going.
I am still working up to hacking out - so very impressed you are hacking out!
Last edited by tiga; 9th Nov 2009 at 08:33 PM.
Reason: grammar
One of my pupils has a Belgian Draft /Ardennes. She was a nightmare to stop once going in canter purely through her strength and lack of schooling. Have a very short canter preferably uphill and a large hedge at the end !!
Seriously make sure you are happy and well in control in trot in the open before cantering on a hack. With a horse this size cantering in a school has other issues but I would ask your RI to take her out on hacks to start with to check her behaviour out.
Ditto all the above. Uphill, short, another horse that will stop, etc.
I think the best of the advice, is to get someone else to canter and make sure you have brakes, and it will increase your confidence to know someone else has done it and survived.
Years back, I used to make my riding instructor get on the horse at every lesson to make sure it was ok for me to ride that day, they thought I was nuts, but it does wonders for the confidence to know what they are going to do before you try it for the first time. If there are any problems that way someone else could sort it for you and you wouldnt get any nasty surprises. When we got our own, my daughter used to go on first every time, and tell me if horse was fresh or not that day, and she was a 20yr old plod. Handy to have a teenager that will ride anything.
Maybe the lady with the lame one could canter it in the school for you.
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Last edited by kturner; 10th Nov 2009 at 01:03 PM.
I would be inclined to do some schooling in an enclosed field and canter in there before venturing out hacking. That way, if the worst happens the horse has to stay in the field and you don't have the worry about him hurting himself or someone else.
I always like to be in complete control and wouldn't personally canter unless I was pretty sure that I would be able to stop again. If you haven't got that control you are putting yourself and others in a potentially dangerous situation.
I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't found NR sometimes!! I really appreciate the interest and words of encouragement (sorry for the soppiness!) thanks guys!
Funny, on Saturday I did exactly what you suggested KTurner - my friend with the lame horse hadn't ridden my guy in the school and as her pony was lame I wanted her to see what she thought of him since she's giving me lessons. He's pretty bad at falling in and she decided we'd have a lesson on Sunday on the lunge (yikes!) so as not to undo some of the stuff she'd worked with him on the day before. I was doing ok, and all of a sudden she said 'right you know the aids for canter don't you' and I went 'ooooohhh kkkkay'. I had two attempts, trying not to be a fool, but really not happy cantering on the lunge, i explained to her that i was already not comfortable with the idea of doing it in the school nevermind on the lunge!! So...almost did it - but didn't!!! I've explained my fear about his size, straight lines, etc and she's going to do it first and show me its possible!
It is a psychological barrier you're right and I guess that will be the opportunity for her to test out brakes - quite rightly EML! Flipo's pretty forward going for a heavy, although fat at the moment, but I've been learning about emergency stops using my reins and practicing shortening my reins quickly. I'm constantly repeating 'lean back' to myself (anywhere and everywhere - it's like my mantra now when i'm not even riding) just incase he takes off but yes i guess im not in the best situation yet to be trying to canter outside of the school. I have been thinking about risk to myself, and maybe not about others, which is a valid point, I should be - i work in insurance!!
He doesn't wear anything else like a martingale, have got an old stirrup leather i was going to put round his neck for support but he's got the most tremendous hunk of mane for me to grab as well!!!
Thankyou for the comment about my riding experience Honey65 , I guess I've just been getting the whole 'you've forgotten what its like' and I have! the very basics are there but the rest of it is just like starting again - I'm really enjoying getting to know him, just wish i knew more about his history as he was imported about a year ago and we know nothing prior to that - groundwork has become very important over the last few weeks as you say Tiga - its really helped me cope with Flipo's size, I don't think I was prepared for him being such a heffer and intimidating me so much but the riding will take a bit longer as we're coming in to winter, I just don't have the daylight to work with, I'm impressed you're getting three lessons a week, that's dedication!
I think now the idea is in my head I am going to canter but the right way to go forward is to try in the school like Pale Moon suggested - I'm determined, but I will make my friend do it before I do!!!
If you haven't got that control you are putting yourself and others in a potentially dangerous situation.
I was having a childish whine wasn't I!!! You're absolutely right Mary Poppins, I think your point, very nicely, has hit home with me and as Honey65 said, my lack of confidence is there to serve a purpose, to keep me safe, but I have to be grown up and also think about Flipo and others as well in this situation.
I think now the idea is in my head I am going to canter but the right way to go forward is to try in the school like Pale Moon suggested - I'm determined, but I will make my friend do it before I do!!!
Shame you are so far away. I'd have like to come and give moral support. Good luck
I was having a childish whine wasn't I!!! You're absolutely right Mary Poppins, I think your point, very nicely, has hit home with me and as Honey65 said, my lack of confidence is there to serve a purpose, to keep me safe, but I have to be grown up and also think about Flipo and others as well in this situation.
Your not childish at all, you just want to enjoy your horse - and you will do. I think that it is great that you have a goal to aim for and that you know what you want to achieve. You sound like you have a very supportive friend and in no time at all I'm sure that you will have built up a relationship with your horse and you will be posting pictures of long hacks and sponsored rides.
I think that you need to take small steps, keep up the lessons and get to know your horse inside out. If you rush it, you run the risk of ruining your confidence and teaching your horse bad habits.
I do understand why you are not keen to canter in the school or on the lunge. I used to ride a very unbalanced pony who fell flat on his side when we were cantering round the corner of a school once. After that I only cantered in straight lines on hacks. I was worried about lack of control and used to pick my spots really carefully to make sure that there were gates ahead of me incase he bolted. He never did - infact he was really lazy, but it was my nerves which were the problem.
I had been doing loads of groundwork with Izzy so he had got a lot fitter and we just took it slowly in the lessons.
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