Why do I obsess?

Ok, so I am obsessed with getting Star to have a canter. I would prefer a pretty canter, but could we at least get one that doesn't involve, puttering out, bucking, crow hopping and general attitude? So last night out came the pokey stick. When ever I would feel her starting to putter, kiss, leg, then WHACK if she didn't respond. Well, after about 5 WHACKS, she was being good so we stopped. This is not however without a few bucks and ear pinning tantrums. But she is getting the idea. Deb is such a great trainer, and I know most of it is my " operator error" , so I will try the Jane Savoie tips for keeping a balanced seat and sitting square.

This is from her email newsletter:





Can you tell if you're sitting straight and square in the saddle? Or are you collapsing at your waist and sitting crookedly?
Ask a ground person to stand behind you.
1. Are your shoulders level (i.e. the same height)?
2. Is your seat in the center of the saddle so that each seat bone is the same distance from the middle of the saddle?
If your shoulders aren't level, you're
collapsed at your waist, and your seat
isn't in the middle of the saddle.
Here are 3 simple tips to help you sit
straight and square:
Let's say you've collapsed your left side, your left shoulder is lower, and your seat is off to the right.
1. Bring your right seat bone over and
place it on top of an imaginary line that runs down the center of the saddle from the pommel to the cantle.
2. Stretch your left arm straight up so it passes by your ear and your fingers are pointed straight toward the sky.
3. Now to keep yourself straight and
stretching tall, pretend you have two sticks of equal length between your last rib and your waistband. If you collapse again, you'll get jabbed in the ribs by the stick on the left side. And the stick on the right side will end up on the ground.


I will have a canter, I will ride and ride and expect MORE out of Star. She can handle the pressure and my expectation levels. It is just getting me to trust her to do her job.

This is my new obsession, the canter. I will prevail!!