A walking ride but I am SOOO proud

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shmoo

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So, this may be OTT but I feel so proud. Took my TB out tonight for first time in ages. I have mounting issues from an old but nasty accident and mostly I am my own worst enemy.

Didn't bother with a mounting block, stood on the style, that didn't work so got on from the ground. First time in years !!!

Went off road - again first time in ages, I had a small wobble inside but took a deep breath...and she did nothing, barely even broke into a jog. Walked all the way with the grass under her hooves.

Walked so fast my daughters ex polo pony had to almost trot the whole way to keep up but she only broke into a jog twice. Both times when I asked she stopped and walked again!!!!

I can't say how proud I am of her, of me, I feel all big and all clever.

The only thing I did different was 4 shots of rescue remedy rather than 2.

Think i'll get one of thos globe bars for the yard :D I might even canter on grass then :D

This will seem pathetic to all you seasoned riders out there, but I am so happy I could burst. :D
 
Well done :D

I will share my magic tip (that you are already using ;)).

It's called Boring yourself to Bravery :D You don't make yourself brave by doing terrifying things and surviving. You make yourself brave by doing small things in your comfort zone over and over, until you build up a big memory bank of "went for a ride, nothing happened". Then, without even noticing, you find you've started to expand your comfort zone a bit, and you actually want to do a bit more, and then a bit more and a bit more.

I've also found that for people who've had bad mounting block experiences, teach the horse to be very calm and predictable (and cooperative) about being mounted, and doing the teaching yourself, can really help with confidence. It's because you break it down into tiny bits... Lead horse near block, ask them to stop straight, reward and repeat. When they've got that, lead horse to block, ask them to stop straight, reward, repeat. Lead horse to block, step on block, ask horse to stop lined up, reward and repeat. You do this over days (and weeks if needed), building up in tiny steps until you know the horse knows what to do and will reliably do it. And then, suddenly, you realise you're not worried about mounting because you trained the worry out of yourself at the same time as you trained the good mounting block behaviour into the horse :D

Well done again and keep up the great work :)
 
Thank you all so much..:D

Feel I could do it all again now, right now! I haven't enoyed a ride in so long I forget when I last did. Poor gal was probably being squeezed to death I have been so nervous. Tonight, long loose reins, and a smile on both our faces (hers was more cheesy).

He he he :D
 
What a fantastic and inspiring post. :)

Please do not berate yourself for 'only' walking...what's wrong with that?!! ;)

The answer is nothing at all - the horse knows no different - they don't have expectations that you should or shouldn't do this, that or the other!

Very well done, I am hoping to take some confidence from this tomorrow (weather permitting) and do the same! :)
 
Well done :) I know how horrible overcoming a hacking fear can be- you're doing better than me! Onwards and upwards :D
 
Thumbs up to you from me. As for a walking ride, my horse would always prefer one of them - a lazy sod! But good on you for achieving that. Onwards and upwards.
 
The only thing I did different was 4 shots of rescue remedy rather than 2.

Think i'll get one of thos globe bars for the yard :D I might even canter on grass then :D

This will seem pathetic to all you seasoned riders out there, but I am so happy I could burst. :D[/QUOTE]


First of all well done for overcoming your fears.

Who had the rescue remedy? You or your horse? Can you give it to horses?

What is a globe bar, and how will it help you canter on grass? Never heard of a globe bar.

Thanks. X
 
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