Cantering is something you might have done hundreds of times without giving it a second thought.
But now, particularly when you’re cantering in company, you find yourself worrying about your horse getting too strong, taking hold or becoming difficult to stop.
And sometimes, without even realising it, the way you’re anticipating what might happen can influence what actually happens.
When you’re expecting your horse to get strong
Before you’ve even asked for canter, you’re already thinking about what might go wrong.
You shorten your reins a little.
Your body becomes tense.
You grip.
You forget to breathe.
Then you ask for canter and immediately start trying to hold your horse because you’re expecting them to get strong.
But the more you pull, the more some horses will take hold of that contact and pull back.
So you pull harder.
They take more of a hold.
You tense even more.
And suddenly it feels as though you’re fighting to control your horse.
Meanwhile, all that tension, bracing and forgetting to breathe is exhausting. Your arms start to tire, your body becomes less effective and everything begins to feel much harder to control.
By the end of the canter you’re thinking…
“See. I knew they’d be too strong.”
And next time?
You either avoid cantering in company altogether or you’re already tense and preparing for a battle before you’ve even started.
How anticipation can affect your riding
Something I find particularly interesting about rider confidence is how much can happen before the horse has actually done anything.
You might be riding along perfectly happily in walk or trot, but the moment somebody suggests a canter, your thoughts change.
What if he gets too strong?
What if I can’t stop?
What if the others go too fast?
Those thoughts can influence how you feel physically.
Your breathing may become shallower, your muscles tighten and you start preparing for something that hasn’t happened yet.
And because horses are so responsive to what we’re doing with our bodies, those changes can affect the way they go.
A rider who is bracing against the movement, gripping with their legs and holding tightly through the reins may unintentionally be giving their horse conflicting signals.
The horse may become tense, rush, lean on the contact or struggle to maintain a balanced canter.
Of course, not every horse responds in the same way.
But sometimes a rider and horse can get caught in a pattern where each is reacting to the other.
Neither is deliberately creating the problem.
Why telling yourself to relax doesn’t always work
One of the biggest things riders hear when they’re struggling with confidence is:
“Just relax.”
And whilst the advice might be well meant, it’s not always particularly helpful.
Because if you could simply decide to stop feeling frightened, you probably would have done it already.
When your mind has learnt to associate a particular situation with danger or loss of control, anticipating that situation can bring up an automatic response.
Perhaps you’ve had a previous experience where your horse became strong in canter.
Perhaps you’ve been frightened by another horse taking off in company.
Or perhaps your confidence has gradually changed and you can’t identify one particular reason.
Whatever started it, you may now find yourself expecting trouble before anything has happened.
And every time you finish a canter feeling frightened or out of control, that experience can reinforce your expectation that cantering is something to worry about.
This is one reason why simply making yourself canter more isn’t always the answer.
Repeated positive experiences can help build confidence, but repeatedly pushing yourself through situations that feel overwhelming may strengthen the association between cantering and fear.
What can you do to start changing the pattern?
The first thing is to become aware of what’s happening before the canter, rather than only focusing on what happens once your horse gets strong.
1. Notice when the tension starts
Does it happen when somebody suggests a canter? When the horse in front moves away? Or only when you actually pick up the pace?
Recognising when your response begins can help you understand what you’re anticipating.
2. Pay attention to your breathing and body
Before asking for canter, notice whether you’re holding your breath, gripping with your legs, bracing your shoulders or shortening your reins.
You don’t need to force yourself to relax. Just becoming aware of these changes gives you an opportunity to respond differently.
3. Question what you’re expecting
If you’re thinking, “He’s going to get too strong,” ask yourself whether that’s something your horse is actually doing now or something you’re anticipating from previous experiences.
That doesn’t mean ignoring genuine warning signs. It means recognising the difference between what’s happening and what you’re imagining might happen.
4. Give yourself opportunities for manageable experiences
You don’t have to tackle a fast group canter to work on your confidence.
Depending on your horse and circumstances, you might start with short, controlled canters in a familiar environment, ideally with an experienced instructor or someone you trust.
The aim is to build confidence through experiences where you feel able to think, respond and ride effectively, rather than simply surviving until you can pull up.
But what if your horse really is strong?
It’s important to recognise that sometimes the problem isn’t primarily confidence.
Some horses genuinely become stronger or more excitable in company. Others may be unbalanced or uncomfortable.
If your horse is difficult to control, it’s important to investigate those issues with an appropriately qualified instructor or other equine professional before attempting to work through the problem.
Rider Confidence Coaching isn’t a substitute for addressing genuine safety concerns.
However, even when there has been a real problem with the horse, the rider can be left anticipating that experience long after the original issue has been resolved.
And that’s where confidence work can become particularly valuable.
A different way of looking at cantering confidence
Sometimes the problem isn’t simply that your horse is getting too strong.
It can be a combination of what you’re anticipating, how your body responds and how your horse reacts to those changes.
And once that pattern becomes familiar, it can be difficult to break, even when you understand what’s happening.
But just because you’ve learnt to respond in a particular way doesn’t mean it has to stay that way.
If this sounds familiar and you’d like some help changing that pattern, you’re welcome to get in touch.