without my trainer

Is it ok to try things for the first time without my trainer there? I am a very new rider, but I have the opportunity to go on a trail ride, english saddle, with a friend. She is experienced. I would love to canter and gallop.

Would that be silly to try for the first time on a trail ride? Should I just ask my trainer next week what she thinks and hold off if I go on the trail ride before my lesson?

I am not too nervous about it. I am really excited to go faster!

I think a lot of it has to do with your confidence level and your balance, the faster gaits can be pretty hard to sit if you are still working on your balance....especially in an english saddle...ive heard it's a bit harder?? I guess it just depends on what your used to. I learned to ride a trot, canter without taking lessons, but I was super anxious to try it and had the basic knowledge of how to handle it and started riding bareback only so I have a pretty good balance. But everyone is different. Maybe ask your trainer what she thinks? Hmmmm don't know sorry!

I would absolutely not canter and gallop for the first time without your trainer. Cantering is so hard in an English saddle, it took me ages to learn to sit it. I was always getting bounced out of the saddle and losing my stirrups. I still fall off when I gallop a lot of the time because it is so fast, it's hard to balance properly.

I guess I learned to ride without a trainer...took some hard falls though. I for sure wouldnt do it for the first time on a trail. I would do it in an arena so if you were to fall then the horse is contained. On the trail the horse could also just feel free and take off on you. Everything really depends on your current riding ability, and your horse. Just be safe in what you decide to do

Agreed, I wouldn't try things on the open trail for the first time because things on the trail can come up rather unexpectedly. I used to do that all the time and I have the scars, bruises, and broken bones to prove it and I have been riding all my life. Just be careful and make sure that someone is with you, preferably your trainer.

I definitely agree with not galloping/cantering on trails without your trainer. Horses sometimes tend to get excited out in the open (more so in the arena) and you could be in for a very fast ride at the gallop --- one you are not used to at all. It is very hard to sit these gaits in an English saddle if you don't have experience. I would definitely wait for when your trainer guides you through the canter in the arena. It's worth the wait to build yourself up to that point, and you'll be happy you did.

I would ask your trainer for advice. Some horses are very well behaved in the ring but are crazy when you take them into the woods. Alot of it has to do what your horse has been exposed to. I also don't think it is the best idea to canter and gallop on your firat time out. If you go you should try and make it an easy ride.