I’ve been lurking around here for a while…mainly in a quest to calm my nerves before my first canter a couple of weeks ago. I was a wreck just thinking about it
So, I thought I’d start a diary to keep track of my progress.
I’ve been having half hour private lessons since October last year & am absolutely loving it – although I’m pretty much equal parts excited and terrified. I’m 41, so I’m much more of a scaredy cat than I would’ve been if I’d started as a youngster!
But I’ve definitely got the bug. I’ve become completely obsessed with it.
I’m paying for my 8 year old niece, Mya, to have lessons too and she’s fearless, of course.
I kind of wish I’d started a diary at the beginning of my journey as it would be nice to look back on the build up to my first canter. I was completely petrified, totally over-thought the whole thing.
I literally had sleepless nights imagining me flying off the horse with the first Canter transition. But, my RI told me I was ready and deep down I really wanted to, so a couple of weeks ago, I went for it.
And I loved it!!
I’ve now had 2 full canter lessons & one where I managed a brief canter at the end. Which in reality means I’ve managed a canter around half the school about 10 times and the rest is a lot of stop/starts & wobbles.
But on my last lesson, I managed the whole lesson without holding the pommel. And I managed a couple of (very) short canters which felt smooth and my bum actually stayed in the saddle (briefly) those little moments are just wonderful.
I also lost a stirrup and almost slid off sideways on a corner at one point and then I almost went over my horses head when he stopped suddenly…but hey, it’s all part of the learning.
I struggle with stopping my feet slipping through the stirrups and have to make a conscious effort to really push my heels down, some lessons it’s better than others. I wonder if the fact I wear heels a lot makes it harder for me? I’m probably too used to my feet going in the other direction.
I have my next lesson on Saturday, so hopefully it goes well, every lesson gets a tiny bit easier and right now my aim is to at least manage a canter round the whole school soon.
But 1st I just need to keep my heels down and keep my legs on and sit up straight and…well, not fall off hopefully.
So, we’ll see how that goes…
Nic x
So, I thought I’d start a diary to keep track of my progress.
I’ve been having half hour private lessons since October last year & am absolutely loving it – although I’m pretty much equal parts excited and terrified. I’m 41, so I’m much more of a scaredy cat than I would’ve been if I’d started as a youngster!
But I’ve definitely got the bug. I’ve become completely obsessed with it.
I’m paying for my 8 year old niece, Mya, to have lessons too and she’s fearless, of course.
I kind of wish I’d started a diary at the beginning of my journey as it would be nice to look back on the build up to my first canter. I was completely petrified, totally over-thought the whole thing.
I literally had sleepless nights imagining me flying off the horse with the first Canter transition. But, my RI told me I was ready and deep down I really wanted to, so a couple of weeks ago, I went for it.
And I loved it!!
I’ve now had 2 full canter lessons & one where I managed a brief canter at the end. Which in reality means I’ve managed a canter around half the school about 10 times and the rest is a lot of stop/starts & wobbles.
But on my last lesson, I managed the whole lesson without holding the pommel. And I managed a couple of (very) short canters which felt smooth and my bum actually stayed in the saddle (briefly) those little moments are just wonderful.
I also lost a stirrup and almost slid off sideways on a corner at one point and then I almost went over my horses head when he stopped suddenly…but hey, it’s all part of the learning.
I struggle with stopping my feet slipping through the stirrups and have to make a conscious effort to really push my heels down, some lessons it’s better than others. I wonder if the fact I wear heels a lot makes it harder for me? I’m probably too used to my feet going in the other direction.
I have my next lesson on Saturday, so hopefully it goes well, every lesson gets a tiny bit easier and right now my aim is to at least manage a canter round the whole school soon.
But 1st I just need to keep my heels down and keep my legs on and sit up straight and…well, not fall off hopefully.
So, we’ll see how that goes…
Nic x