Not quite push button- but thats good isnt it??

[brigadier]

So my little boy has continued with his lessons. He has one a week and sometimes his friend joins him on his pony. He is off the lead rein now and manages Toudle quite well. (I should say at this point that Toudle is very nearly sound but I feel he will not be able to jump for a long time- if ever, I give him 'no bute' which seems to be working and only occasionally will he seem a bit stiff on the left rein)
C has been adamant that he will not canter, although his sitting trot is to die for, his position is fab (lovely hand and arm carriage) and he is working his diagonals with only the occasional lapse. He has been doing lots of trotting poles and working between the poles to improve accuracy. Im really impressed with Jack the instructor, he is only 17 but is very mature and very talented, plus has a great way with the boys.
Well last night Toudle decided to try his luck a little, he tried to go right when he should have gone left a couple of times, but Jack was great and gave C the tools to sort it so the pony behaved. At this point Toudle decided C was ready for canter! So after the short side he cantered down the long side, with C saying "Whoa Toudle" and pulling him up (which he managed to do) when Jack told him he had cantered he was amazed and hadnt realised that is what had happened.
By then the pony wanted to canter, but Jack wanted to make sure he was doing what C was asking so he made him trot around until he kept him at trot the whole way round and everytime the pony tried to canter C had to bring him back to trot. It was fantastic to watch as by the end of the session C really had the measure of Toudle. He completed the lesson on a high with only one hairy moment when Toudle wanted to canter and picked up speed, I heard C whimper a bit at that point but after a pep talk with Jack he was ok again.

Later that evening C had some advice for me "Mum" he said "I want to give you a tip, Im not saying you are a bad instructor or anything like that....but......you needed to push me a bit instead of holding me back,Jack knows how to coach me, just so you know for the future"!!!

I actually think he is right.

So impressed with Toudle though- he isnt push button any more- he is too intelligent for that, but he is safe and he really is teaching my boy well.

[racaille]

Out of the mouth of babes ....

But it's natural, isn't it, that you'd want to keep him safe. Only an 'outsider' can see that he is ready to dare a bit more. Well done C - and his instructor!

[Blonde Donkey]

Sounds fantastic! My second pony was not push button but he was wise enough to know when we ready to move upto the next level, sounds like Toudle has the same quality.

Your little boy sounds very clever too. I think mums to tend to stop their kids doing somethings, my mum taught me until I was 11 but was always worried about pushing me too far so she didn't. I went to PC and they were too pushy but my mum got me an RI that was in between and me and Savs went great when she was teaching me because she just knew how much to push and when to lay back. If a 17 year old can teach like that its very impressive. Definately one to watch.

[fleabitten]

Sounds like a brilliant lesson! Its hard to know when to hold back and when to push! Im always so cautious and tend to make baby steps instead of challenging myself! Jack sounds like a natural instructor!

[brigadier]

I must say I find it hard to watch let alone teach him. Im the same when he does trampoline, when he is learning his new moves my heart is in my mouth. My rational brain is saying "He is safe, they are experts, you have to let him fly" my mummy brain is saying "Noooooooooo!" And this may seem awful but as he is my only son I think its worse (but not having the experience of more than one I cant be certain).
Whoever said that once you have a baby you never stop worrying is so right!

[haffyfan]

Sounds great. Glad Toudle is on the mend too.

[ernieburt]

Sound brilliant, nice Toudle is on the mend and has a job (can help the clever ones) and your boy is having fun. Win win isn't it.