First solo canter, JulieAnn - Age 8

We were caught off guard when JulieAnn's instructor asked her if she was ready to canter at her lesson 12/9/08. Unfortunately all I had to capture it was my iPhone video camera, but it worked in a pinch despite poor video quality.

After she got over the "hump" and actually did it she switched horses (from her usual pony Molly to a thoroughbred mare Inquisitive, ex racer) and proceeded to canter until her heart was almost content.

Still lots of learning to do, but this was a huge step.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• horseback
• ride
• canter
• horse
• child
• english
• first

[Oshawapilot]

Yes, she was actively post trotting at this point, and had been for some time. She completely lost focus on maintaining her post while trying to prepare for (and cue her horse) for her first ever canter.

She's learning english dressage, not hunter.

I'll try to get some more updated videos up sometime soon. She's still actively riding ever weekend, just turned 11 today.

[twifan1011]

I would have thought for her canter she would have had to hold onto the saddle with 1 hand and steer with the other hand. Maybe thats just my riding school?

[Oshawapilot]

@twifan1011 You riding English or Western?

Holding onto the saddle was never on the radar for her - worked on balance and her seat before we transitioned. Proper English technique has both hands on the reigns at all times - even western neck reign (easier with one hand) you shouldn't necessarily be holding onto the saddle.

Perhaps it's a safety thing at your school until you are established and comfortable in the canter at which point they will direct you to hold both reigns.

[apachiedragon]

Very cute! She did great. But gosh that looks like a small area to learn canter in. Maybe it's bigger than it looks?

[Oshawapilot]

It is quite small but the horses are used to it - during the winter months it's a bit of a trade off between using the sand ring outside (which at times is unusable anyways due to ice/snow) and the inside ring which is much smaller, but always clear and free of the biting cold wind. :-)

[apachiedragon]

I considered building a covered arena, but with the high cost, I was afraid I'd have to go too small, but after seeing this I may investigate it again. Thanks!

[Oshawapilot]

All of the horses there do quite well except their Clyde/Percheron cross which is just a bit too bit for the small ring. :-)

Otherwise all of the horses seem quite comfortable with walk/trot/canter (and even small jumps) in the small ring, and as mentioned, it sure beats being outside in the winter - even the horses show clear preference towards getting inside the covered area as opposed to working outside.

[TheBessierocks]

@Naturalviolinist42 I think im more into huntseat because i prefer shorter stirrups. And i know how to post (not very good at it thou lol) but yes she was fantastic at 8

[TheBessierocks]

@Oshawapilot yeah at my riding school its the same, its a safety thing. Althought it was my second hack when i started getting into it and didnt have to hold on. I ride English

[garfieldzgirl]

@Oshawapilot Why the hell is rising trot called posting?

[Naturalviolinist42]

Posting is rising up with the front leg that is closest to the wall at the trot. For those of you that might not know? :)

[Naturalviolinist42]

You should be proud of her. But in all honesty she wasn't quite ready.Does she even know how to post?? And the stirrups were too long for huntseat riding. Her heels needed to be down too. But I don't know if she's supposed to be learning dressage or huntseat. My advice is only credible for huntseat. Seriously though, it was really good. At age eight, that was fantastic!

[Theataskinen]

i remember when my first canter was i ended up on the ground

[musicforever1474]

i don't have a riding school but i ride at my mail lady's house like 7 minutes down the road. i have my own horse she's broke but cut her frog at the trainors so i ride another horse. now i'll have to ride the stallion because my riding horse died 2 weeks ago.

[nikkidavies91]

wow.. she did so well for her first time.. and she is only 8 yrs old.. when i first learnt to canter i was told to cross my stirrups over ( i had never cantered before) needless to say i tensed my legs and lifted off the saddle and fell off.. my first fall.. lol congrats to JulieAnn!!