At 21:03:57 on 08.09.10, Scared2Canter wrote:
I used to ride when I was younger but fell off too many times to the point that I would cry the second I got back on. When I was 14, I started riding again and have been riding ever since (I'm 16 now). The first time I've fallen off in those two years, I've fallen off twice - both in the same week. I was bucked off once on the trails when the horse I was leasing got overly excited and the other time in a lesson when the lesson pony, Prince, bucked me off while cantering. My main phobia now is cantering. My trot is perfection and I've even jumped small cross rails without a problem. But ever since I fell off Prince, a fall so bad I had to get xrays and was told not to ride for 2-3 weeks, I have been too scared to canter. I actually haven't cantered since the fall, which was on July 31, 2010. Today is September 8, 2010. Help!

At 21:20:07 on 09.09.10, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
I have had countless falls where the doctors tell me to not ride for 3 weeks or something silly but i don't listen, my friend rode in a cast and a sling. I think it isn't your riding that is the problem it is your mind. Think positive, everyone falls it doesn't mean you have failed as a rider or you won't be able to ride again. Maybe just take a step back and ride confidence givers. Have some lunge lessons focusing on your canter. Enjoy riding, don't hate it, accept that these things happen to everyone and you are not alone others feel the same, it will get better in time just keep trying. Good luck, don't give up :)

At 21:36:11 on 09.09.10, Scared2Canter wrote:
@JessAndGrenville123 thanks so much :] The only problem is, my barn is a tad bit crappy so there aren't too many 'confidence givers' to ride. I'm not giving up though. I love riding. It's just the cantering that freaks me out. Thanks for the advice, though.

At 11:07:23 on 10.09.10, Flicka wrote:
Yes I also think some lunge lessons would be good then you can just focus on keeping everything relaxed and breathing slowly and deeply. If you look at all the threads in this group you'll find loads of tips and videos that you can use. When you canter don't think of it as going faster just going into a different pace. Actually a nice place to just have a few strides of canter is after a jump-sometimes a horse trots in and then canters afterwards. Just do a few strides and build up slowly. It sounds like you're determined enough-good luck and let us know how you get on :D

At 15:36:39 on 10.09.10, Scared2Canter wrote:
@Flicka, thanks so much. :) I have actually trotted into jumps and cantered out on a big Thoroughbred in my barn named Valentino who has a long canter stride and it wasn't that bad at all. I'll definitely look around more and I'll ask my trainer what she thinks about me taking lunge lessons at the canter. Thanks so much for the help, it's really appreciated. xD

At 19:22:26 on 10.09.10, Flicka wrote:
This member had a similar problem with canter so I thought you'd like to read what Confidence coach Caroline P recommended to her :)
http://www.trotontv.com/community/showforum/1559/is-there-any-hope.html

At 19:25:10 on 10.09.10, Flicka wrote:
And lots of good tips in this thread too. They definitely work :D

At 23:19:39 on 10.09.10, Scared2Canter wrote:
@Flicka, thanks so much :]

At 13:58:58 on 11.09.10, sophieandcallum wrote:
Ahh I went through the same thing and stopped riding but of course no riding is just not acceptable. I was afraid to even trot on a horse I didn't know...and I had previously backed and brought on a few youngsters. I found buying my pony was the best move ever - not your average confidence giver but learning all about his quirks meant I knew I would be in control and would know what he was about to do next :) Away to start help bring on another youngster soon again, I think you just need to find some honest horse/pony and take your time, learn to trust them. Agree with lunge lessons on a well behaved horse will help you too.

At 22:55:23 on 12.09.10, Scared2Canter wrote:
Thanks so much @sophieandcallum. That really helps, a lot :)