The blog has gone quiet as Rosie and I have been concentrating on making progress. We’ve been off the lead rein and trotting in the school and off the lead rein most of the time on short hacks. I’ve really been beginning to feel like we are a team and I feel safe. In the first photo she looks as calm as a beach donkey. The second photo is my impromptu canter injury!

The blog has gone quiet as Rosie and I have been concentrating on making progress. We’ve been off the lead rein,trotting in the school and off the lead rein most of the time on short hacks. I’ve really been beginning to feel like we are a team and I felt safe trotting down the left long side of the school – Does anyone else have random ‘safe places or is it just me?

Rather than a comfortable ‘Derek Trotter moment,’ we went straight into a canter. I have always struggled a bit with canter and I really wasn’t expecting it. We began to circle round and round as I panicked and struggled to stay on. We were like western barrel racers without the skill or the barrel ! Three clock turns and I was done for. I fell in slow motion, and managed to fall on my side. I think my whip may have caught the saddle and startled her. I was startled we often don’t reach the dizzy speed of trot, let alone canter! I’m starting lessons again in August.