I am writing this after one of the most successful days with Chester so far. I would have previously thought that would be after a big competition or a big day out - but nope I simply rode at home this morning, alone, and cantered in a field for the first time (v. early I may add as we are currently in the middle of the greatest heatwave the UK has ever seen!)
I've always had fears of cantering in open spaces. Pepsi hasn't really helped with that as he is quite possibly the worst horse to ride at any pace other than walk with any other horses. Group situations were nightmares! Don't get me wrong, like any other horse, we had our good days - random fun rides where he was uncharacteristically calm - and now in his older age my mum canters him round the fields by herself and he is as good as gold. But 9 times out of 10 in a group/more than 1 horse setting, we would experience the most almighty bronks, leaps and bucks. He has his wild moments 🤣 Because I know Pepsi so well, his moments never put me off. I laughed at him, and they were never with an underlying bad nature, it was pure excitement. And even though extremely impressive for a lazy horse, he very rarely got me off!
Since having a couple of pretty bad falls and traumas from horses (other than Pepsi) recently, I do think I have developed a fear of 'what if' when riding, which is something I never had to deal with before. I am forever thinking a horse is going to do something naughty, or the unknown. It's something that I am battling with internally with Chester, and I know I need to overcome it in order to improve our partnership and continue to move forward. Its even more important considering Chester's age, that I give him confidence and room to develop and experience new things. We cannot do this if I have no confidence or trust in him.
We have owned him for 3 months now, and as time goes on my bond with him on the ground is a whole lot stronger, but our ridden partnership is quite far behind. This hasn't been helped with having to ride bitless for a month (eek!), but for me, BUM IN THE SADDLE time is the only way I ever gain trust and confidence in a horse. Every new experience with him, where he is impeccably behaved, gives me a boost and we grow stronger.
I've been struggling with canter in the school, with the left rein being particularly weak and poor under saddle. We are working on this, but I do feel like being able to canter him in the fields will do a world of good for his strength, confidence, balance, and also my confidence at that pace too. It sounds ridiculous - I have ridden competitively for 10+ years, but now I am afraid to canter. But I do think my set backs, and traumas have had more effect on my riding and confidence than I am possibly willing to admit.
TODAY marks the day I cantered Chester in the field, by myself. We also got 6 x correct lead canter transitions on both the left and right rein in the school before hand, which I do think gave me the boost to go out in the field. I've been building up my trot out in the fields, we dont do many strides of it (the ground is very hard), but 10 sets of 10 strides of trot for example is better than nothing. We practice listening, transitions, and strength outside of the arena. Today I had done 2 x sets of a couple of strides of trot, and I knew in my head I was ready. My next set, I went for it - it took us a while to get there, as I was hesitant to ask (my bad), but once we were in it - WOWEE. We did about 5 strides, I pulled him up with a huge grin on my face (and a few specs of tear in my eye I am not afraid to share), and we left the field on a high. All with no bit may I just add!
Onwards and upwards and I get the feeling that this is the start of the old me 😍
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