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CLAUDIA

CLAUDIA

New Member
May 10, 1999
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46
West Virginia
I wanted to share with everyone that it seems I'm over my canter problems! I've been working really hard the past few weeks at having confidence and applying what I've learned; I think it's paid off! The last few weeks of lessons were great, and I cantered my first course of jumps. It's amazing how much anxiety can hold a person back, but once you're past it you can move forward in leaps and bounds!

I would like everyone's opinion on something. Months ago I had a huge, confidence-smashing experience on a particular horse. He dropped his inside shoulder and veered toward the inside while cantering a circle, which caught me off guard, and I ended up on the ground--twice in less than 15 minutes. I haven't rode him since but would like to try him again. I'm a little concerned that it will happen again, reviving my canter anxiety. Am I just being silly? Or should I really not ride him? I wanted to ask everyone here what they think before I talk to my instructor. :)
 
Hey Claudia - that's brilliant! And congratulations on cantering the jump course. I've been working on canter too, but things seem to be finally coming together (although my leg position isn't great yet). It's such a good feeling to know that I can ask for, and keep, in canter. About the horse you had the falls from...I know what you mean about wanting to try on him again, but I wondered if, before you do, you can get the chance to see someone else ride him? I don't know enough to guess why he did what he did, but perhaps if you can watch from the sidelines, maybe there will be a clue as to why he veered in when you last rode him, and you can assess how he will be with you.
good luck!
 
Awesome job with horse #1! It was pretty exciting reading your post.

Regarding horse #2. I had the same experience He'd canter, drop his shoulder, turn sharply to the inside then stop short. This horse did it to me a few times and it was horrible for my morale. I knew I could canter, but felt like a whiner by saying "I can do it, but not with him". The instructor (no longer my instructor) was insistent that the horse was "deeking" me because could sense he could get away with it that he did it with all beginners, I was ruining it for all and proceeded to berate me for letting him do so.

So, back to your question. I think it's personal. I would really want to master the canter before I got back on the other horse. Or, I would want to be sure I could prevent that behavior from happening or know how to correct it instantly before getting on that horse again. Saying that I may be much more conservative than you. If he throws you, at least you won't lose your confidence, in that you know you can do it with horse #1.

Good luck with whatever you decide. Karin
 
Thanks everyone!! :)

I think I'll take the advice you've both given me. I didn't even think about watching another rider on him...great idea! :)

I do trust my instructor, so I'll wait until she suggests that I ride him. So far she's been a great teacher and never pushing me to do things that I feel I shouldn't be doing. Like Karin suggested, I'll wait until I master the canter before I ride the confidence-smasher. ;)

OH! I heard some people speaking about the horse that does the weird shoulder-dropping thing. They said he needs a rider that will support his inside shoulder and bend him consistently. He's also stiff and needs to be loosened up and feeling good before he'll give a good ride. So, that's another reason for me to wait to ride him...for his sake! :)


Thanks again!

[This message has been edited by CLAUDIA (edited 14 December 1999).]
 
Dear Claudia: I'm happy that cantering is going so well for you now. I had a similar confidence bashing experience recently. I was cantering circles to the right and the horse deked left. I had a bad fall. On the previous circle he had bucked at about the same point but I stayed on. I now think that it would have been a good idea to get off after he bucked and have my instructor ride the next circle. And have her describe what she is doing as she goes round. You could discuss this with your instructor prior to your lesson. Good Luck

Susan
 
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