ummm......I DID IT!

[Yip]

Today, I cantered for the first time in almost 2 years!!! And even back then I was still "working on it."

I've tried the last couple rides but instead, Cookie went into a hellacious fast trot. I slowed the trot down, but every time I "thought" about asking for the past 2 days, she accelerated into that trot again. She knew!

Today, as I held Cookie's head in my arms and prayed for our safe ride and freedem from my fear, it seemed like now or never. She seemed determined to trot like a Standardbred so I just rode through it and asked anyway. She did it! It was very fast but I held on to the pommel and rode it out. I did ok, but with holding on, I had only half of my steering. We cantered counter clockwise several times, but couldn't duplicate it going clockwise in the indoor. One more round before leaving the indoor....and we "accidentally" cantered over the trotpoles, because she wanted to & my sterring was too slow to avoid them. It was actually very good and fun!

Then we went outside and I got it both directions. Clockwise didn't feel so good, and she knew my steering was slow so Cookie took advantage of me and headed for the gate. Baaad horse! It turned out ok.

So, Susan has begun using Cookie for 1-2 lessons per wk. with an advanced rider and says they're doing beautifully. She told me today after the fact, that she doesn't allow her students to canter from the trot, and Cookie will canter from the walk. News to me. I'm going to watch the lessons this week and begin doing what they do. It has to be gentler on me, right?

So, that was a big accomplishment for me today!

Thank you! Thank you very much!

[DorothyB]

Awesome!! I still remember the year not that long ago that I was able to canter without the huge adrenaline rush and being shaky afterwards. Congratulations!!

[ride4fun]

Congrats Yip WooHoo

[Yip]

"Like!"

I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from me. Irrational fear is a huge weight, an albatross.

[Idaho Linda]

Congratulations!

[KarenN]

Whoooo Hoooo! I'm right there with you

[Marci]

Good job! I haven't ridden in a year except for walks around the paddock. My last ride outside Shadow was a ditzip and wouldn't walk and was lame when we got back. My arthritis can't take it anymore.
Sucks to get older, you sure learn how fragile we are. But yes, walk to canter will be much better. You will be floating.

[Frostym]

Wahoo! Congratulations!!!!

[snelson]

Congratulations!! You'll have to update us once you watch the class and try it yourself. I like to do all sorts of transitions and I find it's easier for me now that I don't ride hardly at all to go from the walk to the canter. I seem to stay centered better.

[Yip]

Well, Cookie made the transitions quite well for the student but I wasn't able to get it from the walk. She insists on trotting first with me. Obviously I'm not being clear enough. I am using my outside leg long, behind the girth and going down low and then inward & up. Like digging or pushing upward. That's what the student was told to do.

I keep my inside leg on the girth and squeeze & shift some wt. to the inside. Also trying to ask just before the inside rear goes forward.

I may not have explained it very well, but can you give any advice?

[Idaho Linda]

Your weight shift and your mental intent. I shift my weight so very slightly backwards for an upward transition so my mares will shift their weight onto their hindquarters. Think of it as a standard gearshift. Certain positions of the rider signal for different gears. It is a secret language between you and Cookie. Those on the ground will not be able to see it.

Second, think and feel CANTER. Shift your mind to a three beat gait. Shift your body to riding a three beat gait. And, you know, a little smooch wouldn't hurt. You want to give Cookie every indivation that you want to canter and canter now! You want her to spring into that canter with her hind end and not fall into it with her front end. So you are going to need a.little bit of collection. It will help at first if you signal for the canter at the same spot in the arena. Give her every opportunity to know what you want. You can refine the cues from there. And, it may be that you need to carry a switch to reinforce that leg. She is going to catch on fast, just help her in the meantime.

[Yip]

Thank you, Linda. I'll do all of that. The other day, I think I forgot the smooch and I know I forgo the halts. I could also be using a voice cue because when carting (and longeing), she responded to voice cues. When you think of it, there are a lot of steps to set up properly, and I'm so out of practice, I have to think through all of them instead of just "doing" them naturally. I sure don't expect anything overnight. But seeing ooke respond correctly & pretty quickly to her lesson student, it's obvious she understands. I'm just in the clumsy stage again. These are the times I long for Phyllis or Rose.

[Marci]

I bet she feels your indecision and fear. She is taking care of you. Good pony girl.
Keep trying, you will probably get a bit ticked off you can't get it and that will push you through to getting it. Then it will be easy.
I really need to get back on my horse. I do miss riding. But I think it will be in the small arena. Shadow gets too hopped up out on the trail and over does-for both of us. LOL