I have been riding for eight years, got my horse five years ago and we just finally got a balanced canter. It is all in the rider and the riders positioning and it does take awhile to figure it out. Also doesn't help that I decided to get an off the track, six year old mare as my first horse. She is crazy, but I love her so much and would not be the rider I am today without her. I no longer fear falling off any horse as she taught me to sit a buck like a pro.
I’m in this same boat right now, except I bought a 7 yr old ottb, chestnut mare, my first horse and I’ve only had her 6 months so I’m still trying to figure it all out. I’m low key scared to canter her. Because she gets so damned speedy and I’m like damn bitch just slow down. So then I get tense and I throw her off balance and just ugh. I don’t understand but I love her so much literally she’s my world. She can be crazy but she’s so sweet
@@-Beidou- That's true. My mare has a much harder time balancing to the left, but its much easier for her when I am balanced. The rider being balanced first makes those problems easier to correct.
my family rescued an ex-barrel racer when I was in middle school, Patches managed to get loose one day and charged around a lawn statue and a rain barrel in the barrel racing pattern before going into the barn and getting caught. At the time I thought it was cute, him doing the pattern but now that you mention how they make them run the patterns over and over I'm wondering if that's part of what happened to him; like how ingrained did it have to be for that to be his first thing to do when accidently loose in the yard, ya know?
i have never seen a westen horse in real life as i ride english but its so sad that this happend to your horse laura. when i was younger i always wanted to barrel race but after hearing that, im glad i stuck to english
Mine will also run the pattern if barrels are in turn out with her. She sustained an injury by being a barrel horse and pony jumper. Never learned to use her body right and she has paid massively for her previous owners mistakes.
@@Lydiamiller_eq Well Idk about this but I’m pretty sure that there is really no such thing as a western horse. Some horse breeds are more wanted for western but any horse can ride western. It’s just mostly tack.
*me being a barrel racer that loves this channel* Honestly, I want to show people that you don’t have to abuse your horse to get a fast pattern… I also actually run the barrel pattern only once a week, because I don’t want my mare to feel like life is only about running circles around barrels. I ride western and live on a big ranch with several hundred acres of pasture, so I spend most of my time riding through the cattle and relaxing. Also, if you see this Raleigh, can I get your opinion on equine endurance racing? There was an endurance event near me that I watched, and I wasn’t sure what to think of it
Absolutely agree. And well said. I am a barrel racing enthusiast however have trained in dressage and hunter only to prefer western trail classes and trail riding. We attend fun shows where my daughter who's 9 runs the pattern and poles. All 3 of our horses love speed and to go fast however are not hot headed but I've also studied extensive equine nutrition and maintain them as simple trail horses.
I love endurance. I did 25 and 50 mile rides on my Arab. Endurance rides focus on your horse being "Fit to Continue" There are several vet checks, and your horse has to pass to continue the ride. I never tried to win just enjoyed the ride and trails. I would never have been on those trails because I did not have access or knew they were there. I loved the camaraderie, the ride, horse camping, etc. Volunteer to be a drag rider, an excellent way to get an introduction. Fun sport. As in any sport, there are jerks and abusers, and to them, it is all about winning no matter what it does to the horse, but they will get pulled.
Hello! I am the girl in the last video and thank you so much for reacting to it! I 100% agree with my positioning (and everything you said really). I noticed it was a repeated thing that would happen. My leg would either be too far forward or too far back. It never got resolved in the time I thought it should. So I found a second trainer to see if it was something to either do with me or just a lack of knowledge on HOW to do it (i was thrown into it). And I found out I have gaps in my training. And I now know the reason why! My whole position is wrong in the video because my lower leg doesn't exist. I would grip with my knees to keep myself balanced, which in turn causes my lower leg to move around which is causing mixed signals and being unbalanced. I am back to square one now and am improving immensely now! Thank you so much for the constructive criticism!!
@@lialane5706 it really is! I worked so hard for close to a year now to get to this point. Only to realize that the muscle I thought I built is nonexistent and I have to go back and kinda "restart". It really is frustrating.
@@destinitaylor4360 To be honest, I am not sure. The barn I used to ride at is an active showing barn so you would think I would learn everything I need to in order to show. I do have a couple ideas though. The trainer is losing some of her best riders to college in a year or so and needs experienced riders for the upcoming showing season next summer. And since I am considered an "intermediate" rider to her, she would throw stuff at me to see how I would handle it. It's been like that for months. She had me jumping some decently high jumps a few weeks ago just to see how I would handle it. And I haven't fallen off yet. Long story short, I think she is in it for the money really.
Ive been ridding for three year and have only done walk/ trot, my trainer says I can’t canter until I can sit the trot and that’s completely fair (I’m really bad at it)🤣🤣 it’s a slow process but you can’t rush horses 🐎 it all takes time and patience, I’ve been getting better tho since is started part boarding my lesson horse so now I can practice on my own time!!
I don't remember my first time walk, trot or canter because I wasn't even a year old when I sat on my moms horse so like I don't remember learning riding (wich is probably why my basics in riding are worse than the non basics 😅 working on it😂)
This is kind of good but also one of those things trainers that is over the top for no reason. Three years? I would have had you cantering the first year on a lunge line. If you build up the canter too much it creates unnecessary anxiety about going faster. Feeling the canter is so important to building a good, flexible seat that works in the trot and walk
I've never had my own horse either, so I know the struggle. I haven't stepped a foot in any barn for a few years now, and all I remember is how bouncy I was, trying to sit a trot bareback. My crouch still hurts from just thinking about how my instructor forced me to keep running the horse around 😅 I wish you the best of luck on your journey
Anyone else love how Raleigh goes from roasting idiots on the Internet who abuse horses to just the most emphatic, sweet, and constructive person ever to her subscribers?
thats what i love about raleigh. she pays attention to details, whihc is pretty important. she may not always say the nicest things, but that is super important also, it helps you learn. shes so kind lol:')
@@birdie8227 there isnt anything wrong with what she's saying. people need to know whats wrong, if that comes out being mean, so be it. if you arent told these things, you will never learn
@@unsureeq9154 What she said about Barrels Racers is TRUE to some people it's just that she said the rider treat their horses bad, and that the horses are ruined, my sister is a completly normal Barrel Racer her horses have nice Muscles and eveything, listen not ALL BR'S Are bad she trained to them to their price of 500$ to 7000$ prob even more
@@birdie8227 yes, this is true. i dont think she was talking about every single barrel racer that ever lived. every sport has awful people and people that defy the rules. barrel racers, in the eyes of everyone else, as seen as cruel and awful, the same way jockeys are seen. not every single one of them are bad, yk?
OMG I WAS THE ONE RIDING IN THE VIDEO WITH THE GIRL SINGING! I’m not an actual barrel racer! i was taught the basics of barrel racing! I’m a Hunter/Jumper!
hearing ur criticisms abt the riding instructors progressing their students way too quickly made me thankful for mine since i’ve been at the trot for 3 years and now im finally doing a lot more cantering and i am able to fully balance in it because i was learning how to sit the trot :)
As a barrel racer, I agree. You don’t have to kick the shit out of them to get them to go. So many of the people at rodeos now just have a nice rigg, and 60,000$ horses when they don’t even know how to ride. A good barrel horse still needs guiding but that doesn’t mean to starfish them. Good point
I was actually instructed by my riding instructor to get into two point WAY BEFORE the jump back when I used to ride. It always frustrated me and felt really wrong. Glad to have my feelings about that validated but also frustrating to remember how I would be "reminded" to get into two point earlier when I actually just tried to follow the movements of the horse.
This is the CORRECT way.. you were being taught correctly. .. YOU SHOULD BE IN 2 POINT!! It develops balance and core .. when you have BALANCE you can ride a whole COURSE in TWO POINT as you SHOULD be able to. You should be able to ride ALL SEATS. Riding hunters or jumpers the US style is a light seat almost a 2point throughout. Raleigh CAN'T RIDE, doesn't know WHAT she is TALKING ABOUT. listening to her "advice" (bullshit she makes up, aka diarrhea of the mouth) PLEASE, PLEASE !! FIND A CHANNEL WITH AN ACTUAL EQUESTRIAN OR TRAINER😒 Just listening to this nonsense is DANGEROUS. NO ONE WONDERS why there AREN'T VIDEOS of her "so called...RIDING, TRAINING, INSTRUCTING?" Bc she is A 100% FRAUD & FLAKE
Omg sameeee! My trainer started getting really mean about it so I switched barns, and ended up with a new trainer who was so nice, and told me that I actually had no balance or stability because I had never been taught. Also she taught how to let the horse come to you
My first trainer always used to teach us how to canter on a lunge line so we could balance without worrying about cantering and steering, so I definitely agree with the round pen thing.
Haha, I agree it's a good way to learn - I need to go back on the lunge, I am so BAD at canter, I just can't get it down! I have sat a few strides coming out of cross rails (trotting in, of course, I suck!)but I get out of sync fast!
4:35 I don't know how common it is, but where I had my first jumping lessons we were actually taught to go into two-point before the jump (possibly that was only a thing for beginners, I don't remember that well). I remember being frustrated by that, because I felt I had less control and balance when I did that, but I actually got corrected when I only went into two-point as the horse came to me.
As a Jumper. I totally agree with how when students start cantering they should learn to sit. I was taught how to sit the canter from the very first time I ever had cantered (i was probably 8) and only mastered my seat last year, (I am now 15). I have just started doing half seat recently and though i do agree it is more comfortable, sitting deep in your saddle allows for so much more balance and control of your leg.
i love these because it shows that your fans who submitted WANT TO LEARN AND GROW. theyre willing to not only be "made fun of" (which i dont want to say, because its truly just playful banter) but to HEAR WHAT THEYRE DOING WRONG. its just, really nice to see
I forgot how old I was when I first started cantering, but I started off with my aunt as my trainer and I loved it! The first time cantering I was bare back (it was a bare back pad, don’t worry!) it was probably 7:00 I would guess, but we cantered in a indoor arena! My aunt fully trusted me and she knew that I was aware of the rules around horses and riding them. But it was amazing! I just went around and around probably 3-5 times. Oh and the pony’s name was Teddy and he was a paint pony! (I know this is 2022 and that this is an old video. But just wanted to share lol)
I canter my horses a lot but I love the trot. Trotting is a lot of fun for me, I quit riding western so then I could learn English and posting helps with my ADHD. Western had me get bored and sack down and not care while English keeps me engaged and lets me do more with my horses and mess around like playing dead, standing up, laying down like a plank and wrapping my arms and legs around their back and fall off xD
With the lesson instructors I had, I wasn't comfortable with cantering and just worked on western pleasure trotting and walking, side pass ect. I had trauma when i was 6 with cantering and flipped out. With my new instructors they put us in the indoor arena to judge us at first. If we have good riding they send us out in the outdoor with the ground and if we need help they take us to a small square pen. I wanted to jump and my horses didn't jump well so I had the knowledge of side pass, collected trot, extended trot, sitting trot, half seat, full seat, and I had help with muscles and with getting into jump position/2 point. I hate one instructor since she doesn't really say anything unless I'm struggling but the one I like is encouraging and talks to me.
When i learned how to canter my “trainer” didnt own a round pen (and still doesn’t own one) So she taught me how to canter on a lounge line. It went good 👍
As a barrel racer I don't kick much because my horses know what their doing and there fast af, the only time I kick(and I only kick like 4 times in the whole run) is when I ride my horse Ziggy because he needs more of a push.. And my horses are always exited to go to the shows and rodeos so I know they love it🖤
Omg the two point statement in the begging is so true bc I was wondering what was off with my two point and then I had my new trainer tell me let the horse take u over AND IT HELPS SOOO MUCH
Raleigh: "I feel like people don't use round pens enough." -- My Barn: - *Only has a round pen (no arena) and riding trails.* - I wish we had an arena lol because there's only so much you can do in a round pen, every so often me and my friends haul out to an arena tho
wow. ive trotted for a whole year before my riding instructor said that im ready for gallop. and it was great. so be patient, it will help you so much in a long term.
Omg do you have a cross bite?? ME TOO! I use to be very insecure about mine but I started to get use to it and you make me even more confident about it.
Raleigh: Listen i have nothing against barrel racers. *lists a bunch of terrible things about barrel racers* -2 seconds later- Raleigh: THATS why i don't like barrel racers.
I learned to canter in a round pen then my second time was in a big arena and then round pen and then arena. Now I’m always in the arena when cantering
Like what you said about not going into my he two point early, my trainer always says to “let the jump fold you” and “don’t do the jump for the horse” to help us keep our balance, and help everything go smoothly.
You have a really good point there with the riding instructors being such a huge part of it and students doing things they're not ready for and ending up hurt or causing the horse discomfort. Now I experienced that myself, with cantering and the riding instructor forced me to canter even tho I said that I didn't want to do it. Now I didn't get hurt that time, but I was crying because I was so scared. And if you or anyone else is gonna jump on me for crying, I was nine years old and I didn't know better. Also this was shortly after I fell of a huge horse that I clearly wasn't ready to ride, but my riding instructor forced me to do it and I didn't say anything against it, because I was nine years old and a very shy kid. So I was already scared beforehand. Now this is a long time ago and I have fallen off horses again without being scared to get up again but these two events destroyed so much of my confidence in riding and especially in riding instructors. And I know that there are amazing riding instructors out there who really help students to build their confidence and understand the horse in a good way, but there is also a lot of bad ones who can do more harm than good to the students. The most two recent riding instructors I had were really good.
I really wanted to buy something off of your clothing brand page, especially the new hoodie or the big lick tank top, but all of it is so darn expensive 😭
Great advice on the jumping. And for the round pen, you can buy really cheap plastic sticks with a metal end and a ball of fence rope to make really cheap but still good round pen. and you just need like 10 or 12 sticks to make nice circle. We used them, because they are easy to put in the ground and also you can always pull them out and move it somewhere else. It's originaly made for building fences, but they are much better for round pens. You can also take those with you and build your round pen anywhere on the field or meadow, even in the sand. I love to do desensitising in this round pen, because the horse is more focused on me and toys than trying to run away from the situation.
Gotta say I have to agree with everything you said in this video. Especially about the instructors that are to busy trying to please the rider, rather than instructing.
I bought Sky four months ago, and I’m honestly amazed at how far we have come in such a short time! I tried her out just coming off my 12hh pony of 6 years, just recovering from an accident with a different horse. It was such a hot day, she was overweight and unfit, and I barely even jumped a cross pole. Somehow, on the way home we stopped at a service station and called her owner up. Because I wanted to have Sky. Probably my maddest decision I’ve ever made. Three days later, we were driving back to her previous home and loading her into our lorry. The week after that, I went for my first proper ride with her. She was spooking at everything around us but she was genuinely trying to get to the end of the road before we turned around for home. After a week of hacking, I jumped her at home for the first time. The fence was tiny, she jumped it higher than any fence I had ever done. There were cows being rounded up in one of the fields next to us, and in the other a huge, noisy tractor. She didn’t care! Stupid me entered my first competition. 55cm and 60cm. I hadn’t even jumped 60cm with her! We went clear for both of my rounds, and some part of my brain said it must be the time to make a last minute entry for the class above me, the 65cm. I won that class. On my new, strange, speedy, sweet, amazing now horse. Ever since then, we’ve been getting better and better. Yes, I’ve fallen off her, but I’ve also qualified for a couple of important events at their lower levels and I hope to compete at slightly higher levels at those events as well! I’ve don’t my first British showjumping competition successfully, and I’m entering my first 80CM class in a couple of weeks!
I have been riding for almost a year in a half and when i first cantered I had NO idea what to do i was just everywhere but the other time i did it i was perfect, balance needed a little work I still hung on the horn but now I'm getting better. I'm training myself for me to sit the canter and try to move less
i have a barrel racing course in my arena because my horse Dancer really loves running them, so i usually just let her run the pattern a few times after each training session as like a little treat. she basically does it all herself! i dont do barrels or a living though lol
My trainer waited over one year for us to canter bc she wanted us to know how to sit in a canter before we started cantering. And the first time we cantered it was in a launching line. Now, almost a year later I understand how much that did, like one week after we started cantering we knew witch canter is the right and how to change it. So I’m very thankful for my trainer. ❤️
Personally I love sitting canter specially since my horse has a SUPER smooth canter its like a smooth little wave and we did these exercises where you sit on the long side and two point on the short sides and I really enjoyed it! I also love when she made us put our hand behind our back and control with one hand on a really loose rein and November is our no stirrup month which means our stirrups get taken away and hidden somewhere until December comes lol, and obviously they aren’t in a safe or something they’re just in a box on the counter top but all these exercises I love doing and I find really fun 😊
When I lost my confidence and when I tried again because I kept on getting anxious I git out of balance and lose my stirrups. Though,bless her soul, autumn helped me get my confidence back.
Hi raleigh ! i absolutelty love your videos! i learn so much from them :)) thanks so much. i had a question, since you talkedabout barrel racing: what did you think about the movie walk ride rodeo ?? all love !
i've been riding for 5 years now,and i sometimes get insecure because i feel like i'm stuck on the same level of riding and cannot get any higher,but i also know i just have to keep practicing and practicing and eventually it will work
I do a bit of barrel racers but my main focus is hunter/jumpers, I started doing barrels with my pony when we learned that he couldn’t jump and he enjoys it but I mainly try to work on the basics of ranch riding and reigning with him along with mounted drill team and trail rides so he isn’t a complete maniac about running the barrels, he has never anticipated and even though his barrel runs may not be the fastest that is an extremely small price to pay for a horse that I can still take out into a ring and he will be able to be a calm good citizen who even a beginner would be safe to use. Honestly I don’t have a problem with barrel racing as long as the rider and horse do something else to work on the riders equitation and give the horse something besides doing the same pattern so they aren’t a complete ball of anticipation.
@@charlottemorrison1791 ranch riding is a certain event that is part of the western discipline, just like in English you can have different events such as hunter jumpers or eventing in western you have multiple different events that you can participate in.
@@charlottemorrison1791 It’s completely fine! It definitely a lesser known western event so I could definitely understand someone not being aware of it
I have barrel raced a lot and Watching your videos very much made me improve on my way of treating my horses I only use Hackamore as I never use spurs or bridals I let my horse out for 4 hours every day I ride for 30 mins but you have helped me improve with treating my horse properly I just wanted to let you know
When I started cantering a couple years back, it had been about a year after I started riding. My instructor would have different timeframes for every rider based on their skill and how fast they are advancing, which is how I think it should be. We would set aside about 10 minutes at the end of each lesson to talk about how we can improve our cantering, as well as cantering. We would start off with a lap, then two and progress from there. I feel like going slow and steady is always the best course in riding, going too quick and rushing is what messes up your riding and leads to dangerous mistakes. The most important thing is that everyone learns at their own pace, no one should be rushed into something or be stuck behind for too long.
My first canter was on a lazy beginner 14,2 hand Norwegen fjord mare called skylark, aka my first ever fave. I’d been riding 3 months by then and took lessons (still do) once a week. My trainer did put me on a lunge line in the small arena, we were the only ones in there.
I agree so much! Before I could canter, I had to trot a whole lap and post with no stirrups the whole lap and not break to the walk. Then I would be able to canter if I was able to complete that lap posting with no stirrups! 17:46
The only reason why I don't personally love Raleigh is because she says that basically every horse sport, besides show jumping or whatever, is abusive. Or that the people don't know how to properly ride, when I've seen may barrel racers ride really good in English tack. Same with horse racing, it isn't all abusive. I've witnessed so many beautiful moments in that sport and all other (Accept big lick.)
I started in dressage classes. Honestly it made it so much easier to do anything on a horse. Now I can look elegant and soft doing just about any discipline😌 never did compete in barrel racing, but I guarantee that I would look better than Falon Taylor 🤣
9:58 Back when I did riding lessons, a girl was doing the barrels and her horse fell over on it's side, while doing the last barrel turn. It was terrifying to watch, but both horse and rider were fine.
I agree with what raleigh said about being easier to disbalance a horse when cantering in v shape position but I think it is a good position to canter for some sports, like jumping. I had to canter my mare like that in endurance because of how sensible her back was during long distance trainings.
Roundpens aren't very common in Germany ^^. However, all the barns I've been to start you on a lounge. You also usually have something to hold onto on the saddle when you ride without it for the first time (you often start with following another rider).
I was lucky growing up and training where I did. Being from a relatively poor family, where I know my parents made sacrifices just to get me lessons, I rode all of the school horses and ponies. I was pushed hard and never catered too, I got help out with pony camps. Never did I move up a level before I was ready, I did nothing but troting and pole work for years before cantering and working on dressage tests. I knew that worked paid off when going to another barn and being told I was great on the flat and had a better seat than girls much older than I was.
Honestly the big problem with barrel racing is that every single little "cowgirl" with a rudimentary skill in riding is usually pushed into barrels. Most of them have little control, little relationship and very little knowledge. As you get higher up that diminishes. But most play days are full of them! 🤢
Yes I agree, I have an awesome relationship with the horse I run and have since I was younger than five I always wanted to race her because I loved her both of the horses I used to ride when I walk up to them I say kiss? And they stick out there nose so I can kiss it and no I didn't teach them with treats, they just learned it out of habit and like their kisses, it took me about 7 years to get good enough to ride xena and I spent all that time getting good enough because its my passion, here's what I always say . Horse first , then sport
I'm new to cantering, my trainer does have a round pen but we use the regular area, we just do a 20 meter circle on the lunge line so it stays a smaller circle
I agree with not going too fast. I had a trainer who let me do what i wanted to before i mastered the basics. And then i had mayor problems trying to sit through canter and jumping. I am going to new stable and hope for a better trainer. The previous one got me onto 20-30cm jumps before I've done smaller jumps. And i rarely was assigned to ride through poles. It is very important when you're a trainer to not rush kids or let them do things faster before mastering the basics. I haven't been riding for long and recently came back to riding. Like about five months or four ago. And just now i am going to a new stable. Wish me luck.
Been riding 5-6 years, just got my horse around a year ago, I’ve been going to a riding camp 4-5 years and I just started working on a canter last year on a lunge line. I’ve not cantered off one yet but I’m working to when I’m ready
I really appreciate your opinion about taking the time to LEARN something before moving on. I'm from Italy, here it's kind of difficult to make people understand this: parents come to you saying their child is getting bored of doing the same exercise he did last time (and I would like to reply "then take him to soccer/volley/tennis/whatever doesn't involve a living creature - that has the potential to kill you!"... But I can't 😅). We are always struggling against instructors who say "you can't teach riding to children as you could do in the 90s": why?? Horses are still the same, even if people has completely lost patience and the sense of hard working. I'm ok with having fun with horses, but not with rushing as if riding was an easy thing! (That's why we don't take beginners out in the countryside... Many other riding centers do it, but I still want to try to spread a little equestrian culture, against the mainstream "consumer-riding", if you understand what I mean.)
Thank you for being open about barrel racing, iam UK so never done it, but at 52 I've watched over the years the atrocious way they handle the horse, I wouldn't be surprised if most horses have severe tongue and corner of mouth tears and nerve damage, don't get me even started with the spurs 🤬, I have been trashed repeatedly for calling out what j see, iam reminded western isn't English so what would I know, plus the horses love it, they are eager to do it?? Old cowboys from days gone by is my idea of there riding with no thought but to win, the horses are just a means to a win. I applaud those that have come away and then realise maybe it's not as good, it's not just barrel racing, it's the horse world world wide, the more we speak out on issues the more we are helping for the horses future . Keep it up Raleigh
My instructor doesn’t let anyone canter in two-point until we can sit out canter. And that’s helped me learn faster, I can now jump in two-point (or as we call it cross country position) and fall flat on my Face ID I mess up strides 😂
I learned to ride bareback in a large paddock with my Dad yelling "sit back". We didnt have round pens or arenas. I ride all my horses bareback in their early days of training to get to feel their paces with no restrictions. Walk only until the horse is used to it. And there is nothing like cantering along a beach bareback :)
I’ve been with my trainer for almost a year and the first lesson for me of January (we ride in an indoor arena as the barn got rid of our round pen) I finally got to canter and in the span of 4 weeks I was told. By my trainer I’ve improved
I have ridden western for 4 years and today Is My first English lesson... I have been able to master the gaits and I think that it is really important to learn how to sit your canter first
I've spent so much time riding bareback that i dread what an instructor/experienced observer would say about my riding in full tack! As riding involves working in cooperation with another being with their own preferences and opinions, you never get to be 100% perfect in any sphere. As long as you're safe, kind, gentle and balanced you're mostly doing ok :)
My family just trail rides so I learned too canter by running behind them on the trails. I show jump now tho & have a trainer who helps me with the nitty gritty 😁 But I’ve also been riding since I was a baby since my dad was a pro polo player so I’ve been riding for a while
I can agree with you on cantering it's better to do it with round pens or lunge lines whichever is available, since while most of horses I rode do have smooth and easy canters, it's not always the case, since I rode one that was an ex dressage horse, so they would naturally put their head down more, but I thought he was bucking a bit before realizing he just had a very bouncy canter (oddly had a bit of smooth trot to where it was easy to do the sitting trot)
* Me being a soon to be barrel racer that is in love with this channel* I've been riding horses for 5 years and I still need therapy ( make that 6 years also i am a barrel racer noww and so happy also don't worry my horse loves what it does i don't use spurs or bits and i try my best to be light on the face )
I pretty frequently come back and rewatch these videos because I feel like I can learn something new every time I watch them. It's been some years since I've had the opportunity to ride, but I do have a horse and I've been having a rather hard time figuring out how to go about finding a good place to board him in my area.. (I live near OKC and most of the stables/boarding facilities in the area are very .. unprofessional. Is there a more sure way to sift out the bad facilities? Or is there a recommendation you could give for how to start looking for boarding? I have always owned the land I kept my horses on prior to this and am in the process of finding a new place to keep my horse because the property he is currently on is not mine and I .. do not like the state of the grounds.
At my riding school we have a really big round pen that they uae for the quarntine horses, but we have a very small arena where they teach the kid to canter on lounge line
I used to work in a riding school, we didn’t have a round pen but we did canter lead new riders so the horse is controlled by an experienced rider on the floor. It does mean it’s harder for them to run off and you can come back to trot if the rider becomes unbalanced.
I agree that you should completely learn how to trot before cantering. Personally i was learning how to trot well first then how to sit the trot and when i started cantering in like 3 lessons i felt comfortable cantering and sitting in the saddle😁
I need to send some of my riding in my neck rope and bareback pad, my mare has gotten so well sometimes I don’t even need to hold the neckrope! I’m so proud of her, and me to kinda
About this time stamp 16:20 she talks about building up the trot a lot before cantering and that is so so so much what my trainer made me do. I had practiced the trot and walk for like 2-3 years before I cantered, so many people I knew would just rush into the canter and I just thought I was a bad rider but everything takes patience and practice. ❤
When I moved to my new barn I was a terrible rider. My trainer had one lesson horse. He was SOOOOO green. We called him the drunk sailor lol. I was very brave back then so I was the test run lol. I would just canter around being terrible and jumping these 2’ jump(I should haven’t been jumping at all, I was sooo bad) I am much better now. Although that wasn’t the safest way to learn, but I’m sooo thankful for that. Most kids start out on a sweet lesson pony. I never had that. That is why I’ll ride any horse now because I never got a sweet little lesson pony, I had a green 16hh horse.
When I first cantered I had to do it in an old ring that was just not really a circle and more of a square. At the barn we had another ring that was easier to ride in but someone had their horse in the ring to we couldn’t use it.
When I was learning to ride I was lead round in walk and trot. For about half a year I only walked and trotted. Now about 6 years later I am cantering well and have been called a “Germanic rider” because of my good and balanced position :D . All the trotting payed off
You know the part where she talks about round pens, i agree with her because i started off in a small round pen and then onto a bigger onw and then into the fields. That is real true 👍
My friend is a barrel racer, I’ll likely get into it later in life or with my own horse. I think Barrel Racing is a great sport if done correctly. My horse can’t run barrels since he’s old and it hurts his joints, but horses that run the pattern once a week / month or so are still great horses. My bestie did lots of groundwork and she really can ride, she’s a great rider but that’s the sport she chose, I think she does amazing and I’m proud of her.
I have been riding for eight years, got my horse five years ago and we just finally got a balanced canter. It is all in the rider and the riders positioning and it does take awhile to figure it out. Also doesn't help that I decided to get an off the track, six year old mare as my first horse. She is crazy, but I love her so much and would not be the rider I am today without her. I no longer fear falling off any horse as she taught me to sit a buck like a pro.
I’m in this same boat right now, except I bought a 7 yr old ottb, chestnut mare, my first horse and I’ve only had her 6 months so I’m still trying to figure it all out. I’m low key scared to canter her. Because she gets so damned speedy and I’m like damn bitch just slow down. So then I get tense and I throw her off balance and just ugh. I don’t understand but I love her so much literally she’s my world. She can be crazy but she’s so sweet
It's not always the rider. Sometimes it's the horse being unbalanced due to various issues.
As someone who was trained on a ottb gelding I get it 😂. He made me hit the dirt more than once
@@camrynkehrer6616 I found it best to start in the summer when its the hottest. They don't want to do anything crazy when its so hot.
@@-Beidou- That's true. My mare has a much harder time balancing to the left, but its much easier for her when I am balanced. The rider being balanced first makes those problems easier to correct.
my family rescued an ex-barrel racer when I was in middle school, Patches managed to get loose one day and charged around a lawn statue and a rain barrel in the barrel racing pattern before going into the barn and getting caught. At the time I thought it was cute, him doing the pattern but now that you mention how they make them run the patterns over and over I'm wondering if that's part of what happened to him; like how ingrained did it have to be for that to be his first thing to do when accidently loose in the yard, ya know?
i have never seen a westen horse in real life as i ride english but its so sad that this happend to your horse laura. when i was younger i always wanted to barrel race but after hearing that, im glad i stuck to english
Mine will also run the pattern if barrels are in turn out with her. She sustained an injury by being a barrel horse and pony jumper. Never learned to use her body right and she has paid massively for her previous owners mistakes.
@@Lydiamiller_eq Well Idk about this but I’m pretty sure that there is really no such thing as a western horse. Some horse breeds are more wanted for western but any horse can ride western. It’s just mostly tack.
@@xxx_a_shxxx you are right 🙂
@@Ahmgcats Thanks. I think the horses are also trained differently then how they would be trained for English so they might be a western horse.
*me being a barrel racer that loves this channel*
Honestly, I want to show people that you don’t have to abuse your horse to get a fast pattern… I also actually run the barrel pattern only once a week, because I don’t want my mare to feel like life is only about running circles around barrels. I ride western and live on a big ranch with several hundred acres of pasture, so I spend most of my time riding through the cattle and relaxing.
Also, if you see this Raleigh, can I get your opinion on equine endurance racing? There was an endurance event near me that I watched, and I wasn’t sure what to think of it
Agreed
Absolutely agree. And well said. I am a barrel racing enthusiast however have trained in dressage and hunter only to prefer western trail classes and trail riding. We attend fun shows where my daughter who's 9 runs the pattern and poles. All 3 of our horses love speed and to go fast however are not hot headed but I've also studied extensive equine nutrition and maintain them as simple trail horses.
I love endurance. I did 25 and 50 mile rides on my Arab. Endurance rides focus on your horse being "Fit to Continue" There are several vet checks, and your horse has to pass to continue the ride. I never tried to win just enjoyed the ride and trails. I would never have been on those trails because I did not have access or knew they were there. I loved the camaraderie, the ride, horse camping, etc. Volunteer to be a drag rider, an excellent way to get an introduction. Fun sport. As in any sport, there are jerks and abusers, and to them, it is all about winning no matter what it does to the horse, but they will get pulled.
My horse does barrel racing but that’s not the only thing he does
I am a barrel racer and from an insider please know lots of people do abuse their horses
Hello! I am the girl in the last video and thank you so much for reacting to it!
I 100% agree with my positioning (and everything you said really). I noticed it was a repeated thing that would happen. My leg would either be too far forward or too far back. It never got resolved in the time I thought it should.
So I found a second trainer to see if it was something to either do with me or just a lack of knowledge on HOW to do it (i was thrown into it). And I found out I have gaps in my training. And I now know the reason why!
My whole position is wrong in the video because my lower leg doesn't exist. I would grip with my knees to keep myself balanced, which in turn causes my lower leg to move around which is causing mixed signals and being unbalanced.
I am back to square one now and am improving immensely now!
Thank you so much for the constructive criticism!!
I have the exact same problem it's so irritating like it came out of nowhere 🤣
@@lialane5706 it really is! I worked so hard for close to a year now to get to this point. Only to realize that the muscle I thought I built is nonexistent and I have to go back and kinda "restart". It really is frustrating.
Oh wow really? How in the world did that important step get skipped for you? :(
@@destinitaylor4360 To be honest, I am not sure. The barn I used to ride at is an active showing barn so you would think I would learn everything I need to in order to show. I do have a couple ideas though.
The trainer is losing some of her best riders to college in a year or so and needs experienced riders for the upcoming showing season next summer. And since I am considered an "intermediate" rider to her, she would throw stuff at me to see how I would handle it. It's been like that for months.
She had me jumping some decently high jumps a few weeks ago just to see how I would handle it. And I haven't fallen off yet.
Long story short, I think she is in it for the money really.
How do you send in a video?
Ive been ridding for three year and have only done walk/ trot, my trainer says I can’t canter until I can sit the trot and that’s completely fair (I’m really bad at it)🤣🤣 it’s a slow process but you can’t rush horses 🐎 it all takes time and patience, I’ve been getting better tho since is started part boarding my lesson horse so now I can practice on my own time!!
I don't remember my first time walk, trot or canter because I wasn't even a year old when I sat on my moms horse so like I don't remember learning riding (wich is probably why my basics in riding are worse than the non basics 😅 working on it😂)
This is kind of good but also one of those things trainers that is over the top for no reason. Three years? I would have had you cantering the first year on a lunge line. If you build up the canter too much it creates unnecessary anxiety about going faster. Feeling the canter is so important to building a good, flexible seat that works in the trot and walk
My trainer would put a quarter under your butt for sitting trot this was in the 70s and you got to keep the money if you didn't lose it.
Same 😀
I've never had my own horse either, so I know the struggle. I haven't stepped a foot in any barn for a few years now, and all I remember is how bouncy I was, trying to sit a trot bareback. My crouch still hurts from just thinking about how my instructor forced me to keep running the horse around 😅 I wish you the best of luck on your journey
Anyone else love how Raleigh goes from roasting idiots on the Internet who abuse horses to just the most emphatic, sweet, and constructive person ever to her subscribers?
Love that Raleigh is advertising round pens a lot and I have never actually seen one let alone used one in the uk 😂
i knoww i swear they just don’t exist in this country 😂
I've seen one like once in the UK but it was at a really posh yard I was visiting
@@stoatkat3660 haha wow fancy
@@isobeld8076 ikrrr
Girl you are missing out
Raleigh: "I'm gonna roast you guys!"
Also Raleigh *says really nice things and being educational*
haha, *no....*
thats what i love about raleigh. she pays attention to details, whihc is pretty important. she may not always say the nicest things, but that is super important also, it helps you learn. shes so kind lol:')
@@birdie8227 there isnt anything wrong with what she's saying. people need to know whats wrong, if that comes out being mean, so be it. if you arent told these things, you will never learn
@@unsureeq9154 What she said about Barrels Racers is TRUE to some people it's just that she said the rider treat their horses bad, and that the horses are ruined, my sister is a completly normal Barrel Racer her horses have nice Muscles and eveything, listen not ALL BR'S Are bad she trained to them to their price of 500$ to 7000$ prob even more
@@birdie8227 yes, this is true. i dont think she was talking about every single barrel racer that ever lived. every sport has awful people and people that defy the rules. barrel racers, in the eyes of everyone else, as seen as cruel and awful, the same way jockeys are seen. not every single one of them are bad, yk?
OMG I WAS THE ONE RIDING IN THE VIDEO WITH THE GIRL SINGING! I’m not an actual barrel racer! i was taught the basics of barrel racing! I’m a Hunter/Jumper!
Lemme just say u were absolutely amazing! Like dude you are so good
@@lialane5706 thank you!! only have one year under my belt for western riding!
hearing ur criticisms abt the riding instructors progressing their students way too quickly made me thankful for mine since i’ve been at the trot for 3 years and now im finally doing a lot more cantering and i am able to fully balance in it because i was learning how to sit the trot :)
Wow! 3 years! I mean, better safe than sorry! ☺️
As a barrel racer, I agree. You don’t have to kick the shit out of them to get them to go. So many of the people at rodeos now just have a nice rigg, and 60,000$ horses when they don’t even know how to ride. A good barrel horse still needs guiding but that doesn’t mean to starfish them. Good point
I was actually instructed by my riding instructor to get into two point WAY BEFORE the jump back when I used to ride. It always frustrated me and felt really wrong. Glad to have my feelings about that validated but also frustrating to remember how I would be "reminded" to get into two point earlier when I actually just tried to follow the movements of the horse.
This is the CORRECT way.. you were being taught correctly. .. YOU SHOULD BE IN 2 POINT!! It develops balance and core .. when you have BALANCE you can ride a whole COURSE in TWO POINT as you SHOULD be able to. You should be able to ride ALL SEATS.
Riding hunters or jumpers the US style is a light seat almost a 2point throughout.
Raleigh CAN'T RIDE, doesn't know WHAT she is TALKING ABOUT. listening to her "advice" (bullshit she makes up, aka diarrhea of the mouth)
PLEASE, PLEASE !! FIND A CHANNEL WITH AN ACTUAL EQUESTRIAN OR TRAINER😒
Just listening to this nonsense is DANGEROUS.
NO ONE WONDERS why there AREN'T VIDEOS of her "so called...RIDING, TRAINING, INSTRUCTING?" Bc she is A 100% FRAUD & FLAKE
Omg sameeee! My trainer started getting really mean about it so I switched barns, and ended up with a new trainer who was so nice, and told me that I actually had no balance or stability because I had never been taught. Also she taught how to let the horse come to you
My first trainer always used to teach us how to canter on a lunge line so we could balance without worrying about cantering and steering, so I definitely agree with the round pen thing.
Haha, I agree it's a good way to learn - I need to go back on the lunge, I am so BAD at canter, I just can't get it down!
I have sat a few strides coming out of cross rails (trotting in, of course, I suck!)but I get out of sync fast!
4:35 I don't know how common it is, but where I had my first jumping lessons we were actually taught to go into two-point before the jump (possibly that was only a thing for beginners, I don't remember that well). I remember being frustrated by that, because I felt I had less control and balance when I did that, but I actually got corrected when I only went into two-point as the horse came to me.
As a Jumper. I totally agree with how when students start cantering they should learn to sit. I was taught how to sit the canter from the very first time I ever had cantered (i was probably 8) and only mastered my seat last year, (I am now 15). I have just started doing half seat recently and though i do agree it is more comfortable, sitting deep in your saddle allows for so much more balance and control of your leg.
i love these because it shows that your fans who submitted WANT TO LEARN AND GROW. theyre willing to not only be "made fun of" (which i dont want to say, because its truly just playful banter) but to HEAR WHAT THEYRE DOING WRONG. its just, really nice to see
I forgot how old I was when I first started cantering, but I started off with my aunt as my trainer and I loved it! The first time cantering I was bare back (it was a bare back pad, don’t worry!) it was probably 7:00 I would guess, but we cantered in a indoor arena! My aunt fully trusted me and she knew that I was aware of the rules around horses and riding them. But it was amazing! I just went around and around probably 3-5 times. Oh and the pony’s name was Teddy and he was a paint pony! (I know this is 2022 and that this is an old video. But just wanted to share lol)
I canter my horses a lot but I love the trot. Trotting is a lot of fun for me, I quit riding western so then I could learn English and posting helps with my ADHD. Western had me get bored and sack down and not care while English keeps me engaged and lets me do more with my horses and mess around like playing dead, standing up, laying down like a plank and wrapping my arms and legs around their back and fall off xD
With the lesson instructors I had, I wasn't comfortable with cantering and just worked on western pleasure trotting and walking, side pass ect. I had trauma when i was 6 with cantering and flipped out. With my new instructors they put us in the indoor arena to judge us at first. If we have good riding they send us out in the outdoor with the ground and if we need help they take us to a small square pen. I wanted to jump and my horses didn't jump well so I had the knowledge of side pass, collected trot, extended trot, sitting trot, half seat, full seat, and I had help with muscles and with getting into jump position/2 point. I hate one instructor since she doesn't really say anything unless I'm struggling but the one I like is encouraging and talks to me.
When i learned how to canter my “trainer” didnt own a round pen (and still doesn’t own one) So she taught me how to canter on a lounge line. It went good 👍
As a barrel racer I don't kick much because my horses know what their doing and there fast af, the only time I kick(and I only kick like 4 times in the whole run) is when I ride my horse Ziggy because he needs more of a push.. And my horses are always exited to go to the shows and rodeos so I know they love it🖤
Omg the two point statement in the begging is so true bc I was wondering what was off with my two point and then I had my new trainer tell me let the horse take u over AND IT HELPS SOOO MUCH
Raleigh: "I feel like people don't use round pens enough."
--
My Barn: - *Only has a round pen (no arena) and riding trails.* - I wish we had an arena lol because there's only so much you can do in a round pen, every so often me and my friends haul out to an arena tho
13 seconds ago… BRO EARLIEST IVE BEEN FOR THE BEST VIDS ON UA-camE
In all seriousness thanks for the content, makes my day better ✨❤️
wow. ive trotted for a whole year before my riding instructor said that im ready for gallop. and it was great. so be patient, it will help you so much in a long term.
Omg do you have a cross bite?? ME TOO! I use to be very insecure about mine but I started to get use to it and you make me even more confident about it.
Raleigh: Listen i have nothing against barrel racers. *lists a bunch of terrible things about barrel racers* -2 seconds later- Raleigh: THATS why i don't like barrel racers.
I think she means that she has nothing against the people since there are good people, but she doesn't like the discipline.
My aunt ALWAYS teaches students on the lounge line trot and canter as we don't have a round pen and are working on getting one
I learned to canter in a round pen then my second time was in a big arena and then round pen and then arena. Now I’m always in the arena when cantering
Like what you said about not going into my he two point early, my trainer always says to “let the jump fold you” and “don’t do the jump for the horse” to help us keep our balance, and help everything go smoothly.
Just ordered a bit less bridle for my 3 year old Arabian! 🥰
My barn doesn't have a round pen, but for our first canter my instructor always does it on the lunge line. :)
Same!
You have a really good point there with the riding instructors being such a huge part of it and students doing things they're not ready for and ending up hurt or causing the horse discomfort. Now I experienced that myself, with cantering and the riding instructor forced me to canter even tho I said that I didn't want to do it. Now I didn't get hurt that time, but I was crying because I was so scared. And if you or anyone else is gonna jump on me for crying, I was nine years old and I didn't know better. Also this was shortly after I fell of a huge horse that I clearly wasn't ready to ride, but my riding instructor forced me to do it and I didn't say anything against it, because I was nine years old and a very shy kid. So I was already scared beforehand. Now this is a long time ago and I have fallen off horses again without being scared to get up again but these two events destroyed so much of my confidence in riding and especially in riding instructors. And I know that there are amazing riding instructors out there who really help students to build their confidence and understand the horse in a good way, but there is also a lot of bad ones who can do more harm than good to the students. The most two recent riding instructors I had were really good.
I really wanted to buy something off of your clothing brand page, especially the new hoodie or the big lick tank top, but all of it is so darn expensive 😭
When we canter for the first time my instructor makes circle so we learn how to control it right away.
I barrel race, I do some other things as well. Like jumping, and dressage. Love you!!
Great advice on the jumping.
And for the round pen, you can buy really cheap plastic sticks with a metal end and a ball of fence rope to make really cheap but still good round pen. and you just need like 10 or 12 sticks to make nice circle. We used them, because they are easy to put in the ground and also you can always pull them out and move it somewhere else. It's originaly made for building fences, but they are much better for round pens. You can also take those with you and build your round pen anywhere on the field or meadow, even in the sand. I love to do desensitising in this round pen, because the horse is more focused on me and toys than trying to run away from the situation.
Gotta say I have to agree with everything you said in this video.
Especially about the instructors that are to busy trying to please the rider, rather than instructing.
Raleigh with random people:😡😠😤🤬
Raleigh with fans:😊❤😌😇
I bought Sky four months ago, and I’m honestly amazed at how far we have come in such a short time! I tried her out just coming off my 12hh pony of 6 years, just recovering from an accident with a different horse. It was such a hot day, she was overweight and unfit, and I barely even jumped a cross pole. Somehow, on the way home we stopped at a service station and called her owner up. Because I wanted to have Sky. Probably my maddest decision I’ve ever made. Three days later, we were driving back to her previous home and loading her into our lorry. The week after that, I went for my first proper ride with her. She was spooking at everything around us but she was genuinely trying to get to the end of the road before we turned around for home. After a week of hacking, I jumped her at home for the first time. The fence was tiny, she jumped it higher than any fence I had ever done. There were cows being rounded up in one of the fields next to us, and in the other a huge, noisy tractor. She didn’t care! Stupid me entered my first competition. 55cm and 60cm. I hadn’t even jumped 60cm with her! We went clear for both of my rounds, and some part of my brain said it must be the time to make a last minute entry for the class above me, the 65cm. I won that class. On my new, strange, speedy, sweet, amazing now horse. Ever since then, we’ve been getting better and better. Yes, I’ve fallen off her, but I’ve also qualified for a couple of important events at their lower levels and I hope to compete at slightly higher levels at those events as well! I’ve don’t my first British showjumping competition successfully, and I’m entering my first 80CM class in a couple of weeks!
I have been riding for almost a year in a half and when i first cantered I had NO idea what to do i was just everywhere but the other time i did it i was perfect, balance needed a little work I still hung on the horn but now I'm getting better. I'm training myself for me to sit the canter and try to move less
i have a barrel racing course in my arena because my horse Dancer really loves running them, so i usually just let her run the pattern a few times after each training session as like a little treat. she basically does it all herself! i dont do barrels or a living though lol
I rode stirrupless for like a whole summer before I cantered... my legs were so sore that summer😂
My trainer waited over one year for us to canter bc she wanted us to know how to sit in a canter before we started cantering. And the first time we cantered it was in a launching line. Now, almost a year later I understand how much that did, like one week after we started cantering we knew witch canter is the right and how to change it. So I’m very thankful for my trainer. ❤️
Can we just appreciate how GORGEOUS she is 😊
Girl, I wish you were my riding instructor.
Personally I love sitting canter specially since my horse has a SUPER smooth canter its like a smooth little wave and we did these exercises where you sit on the long side and two point on the short sides and I really enjoyed it! I also love when she made us put our hand behind our back and control with one hand on a really loose rein and November is our no stirrup month which means our stirrups get taken away and hidden somewhere until December comes lol, and obviously they aren’t in a safe or something they’re just in a box on the counter top but all these exercises I love doing and I find really fun 😊
When I lost my confidence and when I tried again because I kept on getting anxious I git out of balance and lose my stirrups. Though,bless her soul, autumn helped me get my confidence back.
Hi raleigh ! i absolutelty love your videos! i learn so much from them :)) thanks so much. i had a question, since you talkedabout barrel racing: what did you think about the movie walk ride rodeo ?? all love !
Yo, I want to send u some of my riding videos but like- idk XD
4:23 as a person who rides a mare who’s scared of poles and jumps and used to stop in front of jumps i totally agree with you.
I wanna start riding again but I need to wait and every time I watch your content I learn more and I get more exited to get on a horse again
Super super agree. Cantering is so dangerous and messy when you can’t trot almost flawlessly! I trotted for two years before cantering!
i've been riding for 5 years now,and i sometimes get insecure because i feel like i'm stuck on the same level of riding and cannot get any higher,but i also know i just have to keep practicing and practicing and eventually it will work
How are you doing now?
@@awkwardautistic i stopped riding a couple of months ago !
I started watching this when it was 7 seconds old :>
I do a bit of barrel racers but my main focus is hunter/jumpers, I started doing barrels with my pony when we learned that he couldn’t jump and he enjoys it but I mainly try to work on the basics of ranch riding and reigning with him along with mounted drill team and trail rides so he isn’t a complete maniac about running the barrels, he has never anticipated and even though his barrel runs may not be the fastest that is an extremely small price to pay for a horse that I can still take out into a ring and he will be able to be a calm good citizen who even a beginner would be safe to use. Honestly I don’t have a problem with barrel racing as long as the rider and horse do something else to work on the riders equitation and give the horse something besides doing the same pattern so they aren’t a complete ball of anticipation.
It’s called western riding not ranch riding
@@charlottemorrison1791 ranch riding is a certain event that is part of the western discipline, just like in English you can have different events such as hunter jumpers or eventing in western you have multiple different events that you can participate in.
@@caseyscattle ohhh yeh makes sense now… sorry.. I do western riding just haven’t really looked into the events it contains besides roping I spose
@@charlottemorrison1791 It’s completely fine! It definitely a lesser known western event so I could definitely understand someone not being aware of it
I have barrel raced a lot and Watching your videos very much made me improve on my way of treating my horses I only use Hackamore as I never use spurs or bridals I let my horse out for 4 hours every day I ride for 30 mins but you have helped me improve with treating my horse properly I just wanted to let you know
I got my 🍿!! Lets do this thing!!
When I started cantering a couple years back, it had been about a year after I started riding. My instructor would have different timeframes for every rider based on their skill and how fast they are advancing, which is how I think it should be. We would set aside about 10 minutes at the end of each lesson to talk about how we can improve our cantering, as well as cantering. We would start off with a lap, then two and progress from there. I feel like going slow and steady is always the best course in riding, going too quick and rushing is what messes up your riding and leads to dangerous mistakes. The most important thing is that everyone learns at their own pace, no one should be rushed into something or be stuck behind for too long.
One of the things my trainer did is when I got really good at trotting before she taught me to canter she made me trot with not hands
My first canter was on a lazy beginner 14,2 hand Norwegen fjord mare called skylark, aka my first ever fave. I’d been riding 3 months by then and took lessons (still do) once a week. My trainer did put me on a lunge line in the small arena, we were the only ones in there.
I agree so much! Before I could canter, I had to trot a whole lap and post with no stirrups the whole lap and not break to the walk. Then I would be able to canter if I was able to complete that lap posting with no stirrups!
17:46
I started cantering on a lunge line and we had to learn how to sit the canter before we learned to do anything else
The only reason why I don't personally love Raleigh is because she says that basically every horse sport, besides show jumping or whatever, is abusive. Or that the people don't know how to properly ride, when I've seen may barrel racers ride really good in English tack. Same with horse racing, it isn't all abusive. I've witnessed so many beautiful moments in that sport and all other (Accept big lick.)
Learned something new today! 2 Point position - let horse come to you! I never knew that 😊 Thank you! ❤️
I started in dressage classes. Honestly it made it so much easier to do anything on a horse. Now I can look elegant and soft doing just about any discipline😌 never did compete in barrel racing, but I guarantee that I would look better than Falon Taylor 🤣
9:58 Back when I did riding lessons, a girl was doing the barrels and her horse fell over on it's side, while doing the last barrel turn. It was terrifying to watch, but both horse and rider were fine.
*Raleigh talking about barrel racing*
Me: “can we get a shit counter. Like how many times has she said it. LMFAO”
I agree with what raleigh said about being easier to disbalance a horse when cantering in v shape position but I think it is a good position to canter for some sports, like jumping. I had to canter my mare like that in endurance because of how sensible her back was during long distance trainings.
Roundpens aren't very common in Germany ^^. However, all the barns I've been to start you on a lounge. You also usually have something to hold onto on the saddle when you ride without it for the first time (you often start with following another rider).
I was lucky growing up and training where I did. Being from a relatively poor family, where I know my parents made sacrifices just to get me lessons, I rode all of the school horses and ponies. I was pushed hard and never catered too, I got help out with pony camps. Never did I move up a level before I was ready, I did nothing but troting and pole work for years before cantering and working on dressage tests. I knew that worked paid off when going to another barn and being told I was great on the flat and had a better seat than girls much older than I was.
Honestly the big problem with barrel racing is that every single little "cowgirl" with a rudimentary skill in riding is usually pushed into barrels. Most of them have little control, little relationship and very little knowledge. As you get higher up that diminishes. But most play days are full of them! 🤢
Yes I agree, I have an awesome relationship with the horse I run and have since I was younger than five I always wanted to race her because I loved her both of the horses I used to ride when I walk up to them I say kiss? And they stick out there nose so I can kiss it and no I didn't teach them with treats, they just learned it out of habit and like their kisses, it took me about 7 years to get good enough to ride xena and I spent all that time getting good enough because its my passion, here's what I always say . Horse first , then sport
I'm new to cantering, my trainer does have a round pen but we use the regular area, we just do a 20 meter circle on the lunge line so it stays a smaller circle
I agree with not going too fast. I had a trainer who let me do what i wanted to before i mastered the basics. And then i had mayor problems trying to sit through canter and jumping. I am going to new stable and hope for a better trainer. The previous one got me onto 20-30cm jumps before I've done smaller jumps. And i rarely was assigned to ride through poles. It is very important when you're a trainer to not rush kids or let them do things faster before mastering the basics. I haven't been riding for long and recently came back to riding. Like about five months or four ago. And just now i am going to a new stable. Wish me luck.
Been riding 5-6 years, just got my horse around a year ago, I’ve been going to a riding camp 4-5 years and I just started working on a canter last year on a lunge line. I’ve not cantered off one yet but I’m working to when I’m ready
I really appreciate your opinion about taking the time to LEARN something before moving on. I'm from Italy, here it's kind of difficult to make people understand this: parents come to you saying their child is getting bored of doing the same exercise he did last time (and I would like to reply "then take him to soccer/volley/tennis/whatever doesn't involve a living creature - that has the potential to kill you!"... But I can't 😅). We are always struggling against instructors who say "you can't teach riding to children as you could do in the 90s": why?? Horses are still the same, even if people has completely lost patience and the sense of hard working. I'm ok with having fun with horses, but not with rushing as if riding was an easy thing! (That's why we don't take beginners out in the countryside... Many other riding centers do it, but I still want to try to spread a little equestrian culture, against the mainstream "consumer-riding", if you understand what I mean.)
Thank you for being open about barrel racing, iam UK so never done it, but at 52 I've watched over the years the atrocious way they handle the horse, I wouldn't be surprised if most horses have severe tongue and corner of mouth tears and nerve damage, don't get me even started with the spurs 🤬, I have been trashed repeatedly for calling out what j see, iam reminded western isn't English so what would I know, plus the horses love it, they are eager to do it?? Old cowboys from days gone by is my idea of there riding with no thought but to win, the horses are just a means to a win. I applaud those that have come away and then realise maybe it's not as good, it's not just barrel racing, it's the horse world world wide, the more we speak out on issues the more we are helping for the horses future . Keep it up Raleigh
My instructor doesn’t let anyone canter in two-point until we can sit out canter. And that’s helped me learn faster, I can now jump in two-point (or as we call it cross country position) and fall flat on my Face ID I mess up strides 😂
Plssss part two. I finally have some riding clips
I learned to ride bareback in a large paddock with my Dad yelling "sit back". We didnt have round pens or arenas. I ride all my horses bareback in their early days of training to get to feel their paces with no restrictions. Walk only until the horse is used to it. And there is nothing like cantering along a beach bareback :)
I love riding in a round pen even though U have been riding for 11 years. It is a really nice relaxing way to fokus on your riding.
I’ve been with my trainer for almost a year and the first lesson for me of January (we ride in an indoor arena as the barn got rid of our round pen) I finally got to canter and in the span of 4 weeks I was told. By my trainer I’ve improved
I have ridden western for 4 years and today Is My first English lesson... I have been able to master the gaits and I think that it is really important to learn how to sit your canter first
I've spent so much time riding bareback that i dread what an instructor/experienced observer would say about my riding in full tack! As riding involves working in cooperation with another being with their own preferences and opinions, you never get to be 100% perfect in any sphere. As long as you're safe, kind, gentle and balanced you're mostly doing ok :)
My family just trail rides so I learned too canter by running behind them on the trails. I show jump now tho & have a trainer who helps me with the nitty gritty 😁 But I’ve also been riding since I was a baby since my dad was a pro polo player so I’ve been riding for a while
I can agree with you on cantering it's better to do it with round pens or lunge lines whichever is available, since while most of horses I rode do have smooth and easy canters, it's not always the case, since I rode one that was an ex dressage horse, so they would naturally put their head down more, but I thought he was bucking a bit before realizing he just had a very bouncy canter (oddly had a bit of smooth trot to where it was easy to do the sitting trot)
* Me being a soon to be barrel racer that is in love with this channel*
I've been riding horses for 5 years and I still need therapy ( make that 6 years also i am a barrel racer noww and so happy also don't worry my horse loves what it does i don't use spurs or bits and i try my best to be light on the face )
I pretty frequently come back and rewatch these videos because I feel like I can learn something new every time I watch them. It's been some years since I've had the opportunity to ride, but I do have a horse and I've been having a rather hard time figuring out how to go about finding a good place to board him in my area.. (I live near OKC and most of the stables/boarding facilities in the area are very .. unprofessional.
Is there a more sure way to sift out the bad facilities? Or is there a recommendation you could give for how to start looking for boarding?
I have always owned the land I kept my horses on prior to this and am in the process of finding a new place to keep my horse because the property he is currently on is not mine and I .. do not like the state of the grounds.
I like barrel racing if the horse loves barrel racing and if the rider can ride properly
At my riding school we have a really big round pen that they uae for the quarntine horses, but we have a very small arena where they teach the kid to canter on lounge line
Can you roast your own riding some day that would be fun✨
I used to work in a riding school, we didn’t have a round pen but we did canter lead new riders so the horse is controlled by an experienced rider on the floor. It does mean it’s harder for them to run off and you can come back to trot if the rider becomes unbalanced.
I agree that you should completely learn how to trot before cantering. Personally i was learning how to trot well first then how to sit the trot and when i started cantering in like 3 lessons i felt comfortable cantering and sitting in the saddle😁
I need to send some of my riding in my neck rope and bareback pad, my mare has gotten so well sometimes I don’t even need to hold the neckrope! I’m so proud of her, and me to kinda
Raleigh: “A lot of hunter jumpers don’t practice sitting the canter.”
Me, a hunter jumper who sucks at sitting the canter and doesn’t practice it: 😅
About this time stamp 16:20 she talks about building up the trot a lot before cantering and that is so so so much what my trainer made me do. I had practiced the trot and walk for like 2-3 years before I cantered, so many people I knew would just rush into the canter and I just thought I was a bad rider but everything takes patience and practice. ❤
When I moved to my new barn I was a terrible rider. My trainer had one lesson horse. He was SOOOOO green. We called him the drunk sailor lol. I was very brave back then so I was the test run lol. I would just canter around being terrible and jumping these 2’ jump(I should haven’t been jumping at all, I was sooo bad) I am much better now. Although that wasn’t the safest way to learn, but I’m sooo thankful for that. Most kids start out on a sweet lesson pony. I never had that. That is why I’ll ride any horse now because I never got a sweet little lesson pony, I had a green 16hh horse.
When I first cantered I had to do it in an old ring that was just not really a circle and more of a square. At the barn we had another ring that was easier to ride in but someone had their horse in the ring to we couldn’t use it.
When I was learning to ride I was lead round in walk and trot. For about half a year I only walked and trotted. Now about 6 years later I am cantering well and have been called a “Germanic rider” because of my good and balanced position :D . All the trotting payed off
You know the part where she talks about round pens, i agree with her because i started off in a small round pen and then onto a bigger onw and then into the fields.
That is real true 👍
My friend is a barrel racer, I’ll likely get into it later in life or with my own horse. I think Barrel Racing is a great sport if done correctly. My horse can’t run barrels since he’s old and it hurts his joints, but horses that run the pattern once a week / month or so are still great horses. My bestie did lots of groundwork and she really can ride, she’s a great rider but that’s the sport she chose, I think she does amazing and I’m proud of her.