No we're not addressing cantering in co again!

[kya]

Thursday... nice slight uphill forest track. Putting Blue in front this time with horse trotting behind. Intend to throw in a few strides of canter, return to trot etc or carry on if all is well. Any other advice bar the body protector?

See my latest comments for reason calling off- Wens. Kya.

[alfie]

smile ;D, bum in ,boobs out.
well it works for me anyway
have a great time.you'll be fine.

[angblue]

Hi kya, sorry no advice to give except keep breathing & don't anticipate a bucking fit !!
I'm sure you'll manage just fine as you've done it on your own after the incident last week & everything was great
Just wanted to say good luck......tbh don't think you'll need it

[kya]

Boobs? What boobs? Oh, those fleshy things most girls have on their front... riiiiiight!

[amarche]

LOL alfie!!

kya - do only what you are comfortable with and if it doesn't happen (although I'm sure it will and you'll be fine!) don't beat yourself up about it

I mean this is in a positive way as I'm willing you on (believe me!) but remember it's ok to back out and try another day.

[julz]

only ask for canter if Blue is relaxed and happy, i.e not pulling/fighting you... and keep breathing..... sounds silly, but we do tend to hold our breath when things get stressful! Oh...and talk to him!!

[Louise C]

Agree with the others - and make sure your partner knows to stay behind at all costs! You will be fine then as he does the cantering by himself.

[Casper]

Echo what everyone else has said. Keep picturing how great this ride is going to be in your mind, how great you are going to feel afterwards etc etc - and go for it. But only as long as it feels right. If your inner voice says "no, not today" then remember there is always another day. But I think your plan sounds ace and have a really good feel about it for you x

[kya]

Thanks Casper. A bit like childbirth... I'm choosing not to think about it at all!

[kya]

Had a really challenging ride today and called off the canter tomorrow. Blue was jumping out of his skin and we met a fully loaded cattle lorry of bawling animals on a one car road, followed by a massive oil lorry on the same road, followed by the blowing bin bag and russtling forestry sign. Yikes! Got down and led him through three foot corridor at side of oil lorry and went on, but that's enough excitement for this week. When the forestry sign flipped over in the wind, I wondered if I was going to have that flat out gallop I'd been dreaming of!! Not up for it. Happily self declared wimping out! I was of course faaaaaaaaaaabulous (ehem- well, didn't go home did I??)

On the upswing my dears, I led both horses out to the field up the hill together past their scary monster in the forest, something I was not keen on doing after being kicked in the field a few years back. Opened lines, closed lines, released horses etc, very pleased.

[angblue]

Hey don't worry about it, by the sounds of things you made the right decision.....didn't know you were taking up xcountry LOL ;D
You CAN do it on your own & look at that ride today, I would have went to peices(on my own) but you did it & survived !
Chin up like you said in your post........think on the stuff you can do & the stuff your wary of will come given time

[kya]

Well if you count swinging from the trees, which is where we would have been if she had passed us out doing 'fast work' then cross-country here we come!

[HFM]

hey, ;D dont feel bad you did exactly the right thing in making a sensible decision. The best thing to do is to set your self up for success and do it another day. Also dont let it worry you as it sounds like you met every possible scary gremlin out there and you coped...sooooo see it as a worse case scenario which you got through!!

good luck for whenever you do canter...

[amarche]

kya - that's really great and if it means anything I'd have made exactly the same decision - oh no wait that would mean I'd have to get ON my horse to start with..........

[Louise C]

I think you're just being sensible girl:-)