Cantering like Crazy

Jessie and me after cantering

I'd like to brag that I can canter like the young woman in this YouTube video - http://youtu.be/gOxrlfthclM - but today, I did spend the better part of my lesson in the canter, a gait between a trot and a gallop.


I was back riding Jessie today. What a wonderful horse! He is so responsive that it takes little to no effort to put him into a canter. 


The four or five times we managed the gait properly, I was letting out shrieks for having accomplished this. My friend, Mary, who also takes lessons on Monday, thought I was screaming because I was terrified I was going to fall off. Not so. It was a wonderful gait to ride and I was having the time of my life. These were shrieks of joy!


If you want to see someone cantering who knows what they are doing, check out the video. "It's a beautiful thing," as the expression goes.


Onward in a canter. 

Back to my skating 'roots'

Coach Chris and me
Opening pose for FD5 program
December 2010

I've been skating for a fairly long while now. I started because I dreamed of being an ice dancer. My journey has taken me in many skating directions - ice dancing, pairs, freestyle, synchro, and free dance. What a range of disciplines in this sport!

Sometimes I need to be away from something to realize how much it means to me. That's how it has been for me with ice dancing. It fell off my skating radar screen, while I concentrated on doing Free Dance (which is a form of ice dancing) and Free Style skating.

After working on the European and American Waltz dances recently, I realized that there is nothing that trumps traditional ice dancing for me. I know that my pathway has been circular; I'm back to why I started skating. It feels absolutely spectacular to be in the arms of a partner (who knows what he is doing!) and dance. Yes, the waltzes have had a profound effect on me and my choice to stick with dancing exclusively for the rest of my skating 'career.' But, there are other dances, like the Paso Doble, which are at the opposite end of the dancing spectrum from a waltz, that feel as great - but different - than a waltz. So I know it's not just a 'waltz high' that lead me to this decision.

I still want to test as high as I am able in Free Dance because I love the combination of ice dancing and free style elements that make up a Free Dance program. The Tango music we are using for FD6 is fantastic and so sexy to dance to. I love the Argentine Tango dance pattern that's a requirement for this level. 

It feels so good to truly look forward to skating again, to be excited about going to the rink, to know that there's an attainable goal. Mostly, it just feels 'fantabulous' to make the dream I had so many years ago front-and-center again. 

Onward, ice dancing my way through life.