Oh Ya! I Cantered.....BooYaahhhh

We were cantering like the wind! Ok, it was only for 1-10 strides at a time, but like the wind, none the less!



Reminder, cantering Rose was a huge problem that I was just tackling before the car accident. Have done nothing for 2.5yrs. I cantered her on memorial day weekend, in a round pen, with my friend in the middle helping at first. no more than a half circle at a time. BUT today it was in the big arena, with two loose horses.


Our first depart was a walk/canter transition to the right. we did it three times about 6 strides each............she is sooo light on the forhand, and VERY uphill. I love it, so smooth...........but then the LBE...........turned on me and she started to dive bomb things(barrels, green ball, horse, fence, friend) in the arena to get me to stop asking her. when that failed she got nasty. ears pinned, teeth grinding, head tossing, steering lost.......when THAT failed her.......she resorted to freezing.......with all the above too. I was calm, and used the only strategy that doesnt make it worse. which is to stay at phase 4 legs on, NO matter HOW loooooong it takes, until she moves.....then relax and go with what ever gait she gives me. I am going to have to get this on video tape, because I doubt alot of people would believe just how big a tantrum she throws to get her way. it used to work because it used to scare the crap out of me. but I spent a year working my way thru it, only to have all my hard word lost due to the car accident.....so now I gotta do it all again. but this time I am not scared.........woooooo hoooooooo

so once I got her moving again, she resorted to bucking instead of cantering. Her version of phase 4. but I held on, and pushed her thru it, as I am not going to let her bully me. if it was right brained even the slightest, I wouldn't push......but this mare oh no......it is deliberate, calculated and cunning

she never bucked going to the right, and it was mild on the left.....UNTIL.....my friends horse tore across the arena feeling very good about his kentucky derby winning sprint. Rose decided to go total bronc with him. Mind you, I AM in a dressage saddle. I don't know how, but I did stay on, and got her moving again. And it didn't scare me


I was only able to get her to canter from a trot going to the left, and only for a few strides, 6max. But oh, to the right, she was like riding a cloud. We even made it one time almost the length of the arena, but Snookie got in our way. I wish I could afford to board her there, so I could ride every day. Regardless, I now have a tangible hope of passing FSL3 this year. Of course I want it to be tommorow, but I know better than that


Woooooo Hooooooooooo
Savvy Me
Michelle