Help with Canter

I've found this to be absolutely true, as well, regarding the three horses I've ridden in lessons lately...all have been trained to cue to canter differently...!

The one in the video is new.

The one I wrote the thread about I have cantered before without any issues or delays. It was just the last two lessons I was struggling.

Your mentioning that you get sassy sometimes with the teacher reminded me that I, too, used to get frustrated and sometimes sassy with my trainer, years ago. When I didn't understand, I would show my frustration too much in the tone of my voice, and in arguing. I even got so sassy once, way back in college, that my old French teacher threw me out of the classroom! Now that was a shock. But sometimes it takes one.

Looking good there. Don't be too hard on yourself with the contact issue. One thing at a time. Right?

Thanks Tinyliny :) Yeah I am a bit hard on myself. I'm happy with my seat though. I'm not bouncing all over the place anymore! Woo!

Man iIve never gotten that sassy! Thrown out? I've only every been just a little bit but that rarely happens. Usually only when the instructor refuses to walk me through something.

That teacher was a real Prig. The French Dept. Head told me it had happened before. So, I got put into another class. I had been rude, but my apology was rebuffed. Live and learn. It makes for a good story now that college is miles behind me.

So... crazy update!

Apparently I was ready* for some lateral work. Ladies and gents, I did haunches in, haunches out, canter to halt transitions, halt to canter transitions, lots of trotting, lots of cantering, and apparently I'm going to try my hand at small cross rails next week.

I have never felt this confident! I'm just learning these lateral movements but the horse (who feels like a pony in comparison to Sky lol) is very schooled and ever so attentive. I was really proud of myself this weekend!

I need to get video.. will drag someone with next week as I went solo this time.

Isn't that just a feeling that puts you on top of the world like NOTHING ELSE, having an utterly successful lesson??!!

You DESERVE to feel amazing, you definitely WERE ready, and cued that horse to do just what it knew how to with the correct cures...To me, that is like fitting a key into the lock and hearing it turn!!! :0)

Soooo happy for you, Sky! Can't WAIT to see the footage from your next lesson! You go, woman!

Won't be on until the third. I'm nervous about my jumping lesson!

I'm betting you're going to LOVE your jumping lesson!! No feeling in the world like jumping...even the tiny jumps used to begin one's training offer a real "sense" of what is to come.

Yay!!!

maybe you need to ease back with doing some trots and posting, maybe doing some bending, so he's alert to you. Sit up tall and project energy and confidence.

If you've done all the preliminary work and he's giving you grief:

You ask and he gives you the crazy fast trot, halt him immediately and set up again. Don't let him get away with playing games. If he's a school horse, he knows what he's supposed to do. They get a little pushy when they sense you're not confident.

I'm assuming you have someone else watching what you're doing and you're cueing him right.

If he continues, back him up three steps. No more. Immediately ask again. They don't like to back up. It's punishment. But this can't go on for an extended period of time.

You mustnt get angry or frustrated, he'll know. Breathe out. STAY RELAXED. That's really important. When you tense up it become a struggle. Don't struggle. Sit up, sit back, ask, expect, see it in your mind, expect it. If it becomes a struggle, let it go. Do something else. No sense in fighting with a horse. They're bigger.