Baby steps aren't a bad thing - just a bit of a ramble about my first canter in the arena off the lunge today because I'm feeling pretty happy

[LeilaLei]

One thing I've learned while learning to ride is to recognise, analyse and vocalise how I'm feeling especially with confidence, fear and my everyday headspace.
As I've talked about, cantering has been a big mental hurdle (and a bit physical but that's getting better every day). I had a small fall from bad balance and a trail ride guide who, albeit meaning well, let me try before I was ready in that situation and method.
My safe and comfortable place, even with some challenges, is in the arena with my regular horse and instructor. We worked on technique of course, stirrupless work, 2 point, trot poles etc but also confidence. My goal was to get a new success in every lesson, even if it meant slower pushing through the milestones. If I wasn't ready for something in my mind, I said so and we agreed on when I'd try it and had got my head around it. Group ladies lessons have also been great, supportive and fun. All levels but all having things that they want to improve or challenges. Last week we played games - we were like kids again and of course the school horses were well and truly up for the fun.
So this is all leading to 2 big successes. For a couple of lessons now, I can canter with only one hand holding the monkey grip. The other with the rein but no pulling on the bit (soft hands?). I can't get the other off simultaneously yet really but that's at least 50 percent mental.
My big success and hurdle overcome today was cantering OFF the lunge. The lunge line was my "safety blanket" that I think I thought would hold the horse and stop it bolting or other bad moves (like a dog lead I guess). I got rational eventually, realising that my instructor wouldn't be able to hold back a 500kg bolting horse anyway, and reminded myself what the purpose of the lunge line was. I also thought I'd have to do the asking for canter with the leg aids etc - I didn't as the horses respond to voice and the odd reminder from a crop or instructor whip sound.
So it went this way. We tried a neck rope for the hold on (I sort of held that and the monkey grip together) - mainly for confidence, I'll slowly ease myself off the extra gripping. Being a very well trained and behaved school horse, he pretty much knew what his job would be, responded to voice commands and was the expert. I got one stride the first time (I think the shock that I was doing it kept it shortlived). Second time we got communicating and I probably got about the last third of the long side of the arena, dropping back to trot when for some reason I tried to steer him around the corner (of course he was going to turn anyway). Many smiles all around and I had that aha moment - the cantering felt good and I would have just kept going as long as I could keep it working. Third time we got probably half the length of the arena and across the short end. All this time I'm hanging on but that will come. I loved the feel of it and I'm so relieved that I'll be able to manage a surprise canter. A planned as well eventually as trail cantering will be a new challenge.
I also used the trick of singing to yourself. It's pretty easy to find something that has the right rhythm and if you can't, make something up.
A lot can also be said for finding the right instructor who gets to understand me and understands that learning to ride at 60 years old involves a huge chunk of mental work and training as well as the physical. I feel like there are few people outside of our loved ones who see our state of mind, fears, and dreams as clearly and unfiltered as our riding instructor (and maybe the horses we ride).
Can't wait to build on this : )

 

[Jessey]

I always think looking for the silver lining and being happy with small steps in the right direction is a good attitude to have, no matter your age! It can be easy to get disillusioned that you aren't progressing fast enough, or achieving whatever unrealistic goal you have set yourself, and that can sap the joy out of learning, but if you look for the little wins, it makes every time you try a positive and keeps you moving forward. So glad to hear you are winning!

 

[Skib]

I probably got about the last third of the long side of the arena, dropping back to trot when for some reason I tried to steer him around the corner (of course he was going to turn anyway).

That isnt strictly so. A horse cantering down the long side is likely to turn but to cut the corners making a sort of semi circle. One prevents this by holding onto (having contact) on the outside rein.
It also helps steering in canter (and in trot too), simply to look at the point you are aiming for. So as you head down the long side in canter, turn your head to look at the far corner of the short side.
I found it very difficult to trot down the long side and turn at the end and then turn again, still trotting, up the center line. Turning your head to look at that far end of the centre line alters your seat on the horse and sends it the message that is where you are aiming for.

 

[carthorse]

Well done, and what a pleasure to read!

It sounds like you've developed an approach that works for you, and maybe learnt more about yourself too. A bit like you I work on the approach that no ride is so bad I can't take away something good from it, and I focus on positives not negatives. It's good that you aren't so focused o the technical stuff that you lose feel and empathy with your horse, I love that you can trust him yo do his job . It sounds like you've found a brilliant place to learn to ride - understanding, flexible instructor and a horse that's nicely schooled for the job he's doing, it's a shame all schools aren't like that.

 

[LeilaLei]

Well done, and what a pleasure to read!

It sounds like you've developed an approach that works for you, and maybe learnt more about yourself too. A bit like you I work on the approach that no ride is so bad I can't take away something good from it, and I focus on positives not negatives. It's good that you aren't so focused o the technical stuff that you lose feel and empathy with your horse, I love that you can trust him yo do his job . It sounds like you've found a brilliant place to learn to ride - understanding, flexible instructor and a horse that's nicely schooled for the job he's doing, it's a shame all schools aren't like that.

Thank you

 

[LeilaLei]

I always think looking for the silver lining and being happy with small steps in the right direction is a good attitude to have, no matter your age! It can be easy to get disillusioned that you aren't progressing fast enough, or achieving whatever unrealistic goal you have set yourself, and that can sap the joy out of learning, but if you look for the little wins, it makes every time you try a positive and keeps you moving forward. So glad to hear you are winning!

It's supposed to be fun! And I find that disappointment and impatience sets a mood that is counter-productive. Thank you : )

 

[LeilaLei]

That isnt strictly so. A horse cantering down the long side is likely to turn but to cut the corners making a sort of semi circle. One prevents this by holding onto (having contact) on the outside rein.
It also helps steering in canter (and in trot too), simply to look at the point you are aiming for. So as you head down the long side in canter, turn your head to look at the far corner of the short side.
I found it very difficult to trot down the long side and turn at the end and then turn again, still trotting, up the center line. Turning your head to the centre line alters your seat on the horse and sends it the message that is where you are aiming for.

This part of the lesson was just to do these first canters without a lunge line and not in the round yard. "Steering" in canter will no doubt be trained with time just as steering at other gaits has been and will continue to be.
Quiet and balanced turning has been a constant in my lessons since the first day

 

[Skib]

On the buckle because actually it's her in charge

This part of the lesson was just to do these first canters without a lunge line and not in the round yard.

I dont understand what is meant by round yard. In the USA (but not so often in UK) horses learn in a round pen. I have ridden in one, But never cantered in one and would not want to.

I found canter on the lunge quite difficult and our RI explained the problem. If you want to provide a slow canter you need a small circle which makes it harder for the student to balanace. But if you increase the length of the lunge line for a larger circle, the horse speeds up, the canter is faster.

 

[carthorse]

@Skib if the horse is well trained it will maintain the canter speed it's asked for regardless of the size of circle, or indeed if it's on a straight line. If the only way to get and maintain a slow canter is to make the circle small then there's a gap in the training and that horse isn't suitable for giving lunge lessons on.

 

[Jessey]

A round yard is the same as a round pen, it's just regional difference in names. Cantering in one is easy, they're generally only just smaller than a 20m circle which is normal to canter on. They're good for a young horses or inexperienced riders as the bend is constant and requires little input into direction/steering so reduces the complexity.

 

[LeilaLei]

Very interesting the different aspects. My first canters were on the lunge in the round yard. It meant the instructor had control so I could concentrate on feel and all the other things. It also, at least for me, felt safer (I don't have any real basis for that but that's how it was).
The next step was on lunge in the arena, so we could do larger circles. Then no lunge line, so the normal arena path but starting about a third down the long side. The instructor used voice and I could do this too as the horse is trained to respond from voice aids.
Personally, I had no issue about circles re balance. There was a mind habit to break from motorbike riding where you lean into the corner but eventually the habit changes. My balance issues are more so because of differing strength in legs and general alignment. I have a method of keeping myself from leaning (after learning the hard way) involving looking slightly above the horse's outside ear and I've been able to do rising and sitting trotting no hands in circles.
Like I said before, the horse is very well trained and knows his job like the back of his......fetlock?

 

[Skib]

Cantering in one is easy, they're generally only just smaller than a 20m circle which is normal to canter on. They're good for a young horses or inexperienced riders as the bend is constant and requires little input into direction/steering so reduces the complexity.

That may depend on the rider. As an adult beginner, I always had difficulties in a school because of banging my outside knee on the fence. My break through in riding dressage tests came the day when all the RS schools were occupied and I rode with white boards in the grass arena. The RI told me most students found that more difficult, but not me.

 

[Tir]

I really love that you are enjoying your lessons and learning all the time. Spunds like you have found a really good place to teach you as well!

If it helps I can still get nervous asking for the tranisition to canter on a horse I dont know, so I think you are doing a fab job.

Cantering in a reasonably sized round pen shouldnt be a problem for a half well schooled reasonably balanced sound horse. The only time Id not have wanted to do this was side saddle for the first time when the side you have legs on is on the outside. That lead feels horrible until you get the feel for it!!

 

[LeilaLei]

I really love that you are enjoying your lessons and learning all the time. Spunds like you have found a really good place to teach you as well!

If it helps I can still get nervous asking for the tranisition to canter on a horse I dont know, so I think you are doing a fab job.

Cantering in a reasonably sized round pen shouldnt be a problem for a half well schooled reasonably balanced sound horse. The only time Id not have wanted to do this was side saddle for the first time when the side you have legs on is on the outside. That lead feels horrible until you get the feel for it!!

I can imagine that would be strange with side saddle (I also ponder how strange side saddle would actually feel generally!).

I actually think I have slight claustrophobia or at least aversion for barriers. I don't like riding close to the sides of the arena and I prefer the outdoor arena to the covered one (other than when weather changes that view). The horses I've been learning on are OTTBs and I sometimes wonder whether they tend to slip into a rail position as a leftover of that.