Hi Lily,
I don’t think you’re arrogant. I feel the frustration in your comment.You sound like someone who truly loves the idea of riding. My first suggestions is not to compare your progress with anyone else. Everyone has their own path in riding and your success isn’t determined by someone else’s success. You need to be a bit kinder to yourself and not use your friend’s progress for self-evaluation. There is no formula to riding. Everyone progresses at their own rate.

I can tell you are riding because it’s a heart’s desire so try to enjoy your lessons. And if you’ve only had 4 lessons so far, be patient with yourself.

My second suggestion is to ask your instructor what you must accomplish in your riding before you can canter. Discuss this with her politely. Don’t mention your friend or compare what you are doing to what she is doing. Find out what you must personally accomplish to move ahead.

You’re correct in saying it’s better to learn to ride on a horse you must encourage. This is because there will be many times in your riding future that you’ll need to encourage a horse who doesn’t want to go through something, or over a certain jump. You have the advantage of learning to use your seat and legs now. This pony may help you develop the determination to get you through sticky situations later.

Those of us who have been riding for years will tell you that we all go through many times that we feel we are doing terribly. No one is exempt from that feeling. A rider’s progress is not from success to success. There are many bumps and set backs in between the successes. The riders who stick with it and become good, push through all the times that they feel like the are regressing and doing poorly. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. Take you time and enjoy learning to ride. Everything will come together if you persevere.

Thanks for contacting me. I hope I’ve helped you. Best of luck to you in your riding.
Barbara

Lily

Lori,
Thanks for your comment and very good advice
Barbara

Hi Barbara,
Thank you for your reply. Somehow missed it earlier.
Situation rules of course when the camper is pressing to canter, and if the only risk is a kid falling off in a sandy ring (vs. not being able to stop, or abusing the horse’s mouth by uncontrolled hands) I may give in to the adventurous camper to have a go. Especially Western, where grabbing the horn is allowable until security in seat develops.
I have had more pressure from students (and their parents) who think they are ready to jump, or jump higher. Much more firm about that as the risks are generally greater.

I look for a combination of mental focus and physical coordination. If a student has these two abilities, I will put them on a very experienced horse and have them do the canter hill drill, which is done on a narrow trail up a hill in the woods.

We use jumping straps (military web belts) on the horse’s neck, and all the student must do is get up into a two point position, which they have practiced at a trot over low cross rails, and grab the strap. The horses know to do the four or five canter strides up the hill and stop at the top. I am at the top on a horse to block them if necessary.

Because we do a lot of work out on the cross country course once the riders get control, it is important that students learn how a canter feels in case their horse canters “not on purpose”. The boy who said he liked to canter “on purpose” was once before coming out of the creek at a walk, and being an adventurous boy he kicked his horse into a trot up a very small hill. His horse went into a canter for a couple strides and it scared him.

I think generally of we teach effectiveness over style, then when something like an accidental canter happens on a good horse, it ends well. But still, I like to have the students know a canter when it happens, so we do it earlier than many stables.

Regina,
Thanks for your comment. I’m glad you find the list useful but be sure to add you own “things” to it. (Maybe ask your instructor for one) And kudos on your canter lesson. Keep up the good work.
Barbara

I love your list and have printed it out to take with me next time I go to the barn. I’m going to test myself against all of the items.

The checklist gives riders several opportunities to feel successful. Many people manage to not fall out of the saddle while the horse canters — we see this in movies all the time and try not to wince in empathy for the horse! — but that is not the same thing as riding and especially not the same as riding well. But I bet lots of riders cannot touch their toes and stay balanced while trotting! (I don’t think I can. But I’ll work on it.)

Bob
Thinking again about your comment… I like the canter up the hill as it prevents the horses from cantering on too fast and I’m sure is exciting for the adventurous. What do you look for as indicators that a rider is ready to canter? What would you tell the camp instructor who is under pressure from kids and the end of camp looming?
Thanks
Barbara