Trouble striking off into canter after a fall

Hi!

How lovely to have a shared horse 🦄 I hope you did not hurt yourself badly when you came off.

I can imagine it was a bit frightening for both her and you when you came off as she bolted. It would be no surprise if you have started to tense up more, and perhaps grip with your legs, since it happened. Some horses, and mares in particular, are very sensitive to a rider gripping with the leg or tensing in any other way. You may also be holding the reins a little more without realising it, which would brake her as you ask for the canter, in case she should bolt again.

Is there any chance of getting help from a trainer who knows the horse and who you feel safe with? It is easy to become anxious or frightened after something scary with horses, such as coming off, and this is where it really helps to have someone on the ground giving you tips and tricks. Often it helps just to have something else to think about, the trainer's instructions and exercises for example, and then the canter will hopefully feel completely natural again before long.

Getting to know each other also takes time. As you have only ridden her for 2 months, you have plenty of time ahead of you to build that relationship. The canter can come later, no rush 😊