We Finally Did It

[PrissyBritches]

Yesturday, 10/12/07, I cantered on Britches for the very first time. I dreaded the day when i had to teach her to canter because she is a little rebel. When I use to lounge her and tell her to canter should would take off adn buck and rear, just through the biggest fit. I told myself that i need to get over my fear and canter this girl because it was time. So, I walked and trotted her around and she was really good with that. When I started to speed her up she would get mad and kick out. I asked her for the canter and she through me. I didnt get hurt but she cant a little smack on the side and I got right back on her. I tryed over and over again abd she just kept bucking and kicking out. I started to talk to her and reasure her that she could do it. I asked for the canter one more time and BAM, she did it. We cantered around the ring and then I hoped off or her and gave her the biggest hug and told her she was a good girl. Got back up on her and asked for it again and it was perfect. I cryed that day because I was so proud of not only her, but myself. I trained this horse from the beginning.
I use to think that I could never train Britches and I use tell my mom to get rid of her. I didnt want to deal with her because it was too much of a struggle but we have came this far and this is my horse for life.
I just had to share my excitement with someone and thought id post this.

To everyone, never give up hope adn keep trying becuase one day you will look back and be like, WOW, I did that.

Have a nice day.

[Alwaysridin09]

YAY! talking to the horse is the best way! congrats!

[Mackoroni]

Congrats! You and Britches will do great things together. If you were able to work through this you can work through just about anything now. Good luck and keep us updated of what else you accomplish with her.

[StarGirl]

Congratulations! That's an awesome accomplishment!

[musiccraze777]

I know this is a realllllllllllly stupid question, but how do you know the horse is cantering? I know it's faster than a trot, but ppl sound like they can tell the difference by looking and maybe feeling (when on top). I don't really understand it...might have to do with my not knowing what to look for...but I just don't understand it.

(Please, anyone who answers, don't treat me like I'm stupid just because I don't know)

[alliekk]

Knowledge of the gaits comes with practice and experience. A walk has a 1-2-3-4 rhythm, a trot has a 1-2-1-2 rhythm, and a canter (which in most cases is smoother than a trot) is a 1-2-3-1-2-3- rhythm. When a horse is trotting you can watch his foot falls, they will be in cadence with its diagonal foot. ex: the front left lands at the exact same time as the hind right. You will be able to tell a difference once you are a strong enough rider to canter.

[Skip_n_Hide]

Nah it's not a stupid question, its like someone saying "how do you know if you get ringworm" bad example I know but if you hadn't had it before you might feel as if you won't know when you have got it! I was involved with a puppy with ringworm the other day... so that is where that has come from lol!

Anyways... look at me getting distracted! You can tell by the beats the horses feet make. Walk has a 4 step movement... Trot has 2... Canter has 3. Watch the next time someone is riding around and look at the horses hooves. It walk it would be 1 (left front), 2 (right back), 3 (right front), 4 (left back). It's hard to think of it when you have got to right it down!! Once all the legs have acted it starts again... its repetitive. Its counts for the same when you are riding.

I hope this helps but others may be able to explain it better than me.

By the way that great to hear about Britches, PrissyBritches! Keep up the good work!

[musiccraze777]

Thanks, guys! And Skip, about the ringworm thing, yeah, the first dog I had (we had to let our friends keep her until we got a house, but they got rid of her before then...I think they killed her) wouldn't eat, so grandma said she might have worms...I think we took her to the vet...but yeah, so I know about that!

And I guess I need to learn to count the beat because I don't notice the beats thing for horses. I just ride. Didn't add numbers. When I trot, I have never counted the beats, just focused on the horse. But yeah, when I was riding Smutt, trying to get her to trot by clucking continuously, Ariel told me that after she starts, I need to quit clucking (though that caused her to stop trotting after a while) because she would canter, and I didn't get why that was bad because I was managing to ride her bareback at a trot (ow my butt) but figured if she thought it was bad, it was. So I tried to only squeeze her sides. Thanks for not thinking my question wasn't dumb!

[fowlerk]

Good 4 You!! :)

[DixieGirl]

Congrats!!! More running for you in the future! :rolleyes: