Advice on confidence building

[Evenstar]

Hi everyone,
I just need some advice. I'll start at the beginning (sorry it might be abit long!):
I have always wanted a horse for as long as I can remember, and in February at the grand old age of 28 I finally got my first, a 17 yr old Arab X mare. When I went to see her and try her out she was a bit neglected-looking, really quiet and docile and covered in long shaggy hair as she had been living out on the side of a mountain with no rugs.
Paid for her to be transported to me and set about getting to know her. As the months have gone by she has changed; all the shaggy hair has dropped off to reveal a very fine gleaming coat and her temperament has become very fizzy. She now looks absolutely beautiful!
We were getting along great when disaster struck. Every time I mount her she always rushes (well she starts prancing around as soon as you start tacking her up!) but this particular time she rushed off before I had my foot in the stirrup. She galloped towards the fence, did a 90 degree swerve at the last minute and I ended up in the mud!
The next day I went back to ride again, not feeling particularly scared, but as soon as I tried to mount her I froze. I hesitated on the mounting block, with her getting impatient and when I eventually tried to mount I was so hesitant and nervous that she took off again. I fell off again the exact same way and really badly injured my shoulder.
Now I haven't ridden for nearly two months and my shoulder is feeling nearly normal again and I really want to go riding.
But every time I even think about mounting I get a really sick, churning, panicky feeling in my stomach.
She is not in any way a nasty horse. She's always well behaved if a little sharp, and she has never tried to buck me off or anything once I'm on. I know once I've ridden her a couple of times I'll be fine again.
I just don't know what to do to get past my fear of mounting.

 

[Bex7]

Can you get someone to stand with her at the mounting block wehan you get on? Could you also get a quiet horse to mount with her? let her go first and then the other horse, it might make her more inclined to wait nicely and not rush off.

Bert is a nightmare at the block, never stands and can be a damn pain... I have someone hold him so it is safe and will be knocking his silliness out of him this summer by getting off and re mounting over and over until her learns to stand still.

 

[jenbleep]

okay everyone is going to ask you this:

have you had her back, teeth and tack checked? because if there is any pain there that could be why shes behaving like this, although arabs (or crosses) are normally quite sharp.

id say get someone on the ground to help you, maybe get her to the mounting block and not get on her all the time, just make her stand and when she stood still for a while give her a pat and a treat or something, you should stand as if you are about to get on her with someone on the ground next to her head on the other side.

do that a few times until she is calm, then get on her, still my someone on the ground to help. im not professional so hopefully other people have other ideas as well! dont be proud, event the best riders and confidence crisis's sometimes, dont be afraid to ask for help.

you dont have to ride straight away dont forget, just practice.

oh yeah and when you do get on her, try not to pull the saddle over or jab her in the side, because shes sensitive and if you do that she may think you want her to move away!

good luck hope it all works out for you xxx

 

[mrussell]

How much do you know about her history? Do you know why she had been "abandoned" and neglected? She is, after all 17. Perhaps she has old back or teeth issues that are starting to panic her when she feels you start to mount?

The fact that she was quiet means that it is within her (being old, thin or hungry doesnt usually change them from maniac into sloath...it just means they have less energy to be naughty for long).

Good luck....

 

[Stella]

Hi, I agree with the points made by other posters. I'd also add, if your not already, get an instructor to come out and work with you regularly. Eyes on the ground are invaluable. Also focusing on what is being asked of you, together with the instructors presence inevitably help confidence

Also, what do you feed her on? Some horses are more sensitive to feed than others, but most do well on a high fibre diet (e.g Badminton High Fibre Nuggets) and many are fizzy on 'mixes' 'cool' or otherwise!

Good luck with it.

 

[victhevet]

I had similar issues. Even though I knew physically everything was ok, I still had psychological problems with 'getting on'. Once on, I was fine, but I know how you feel. I didn't have anyone around to ever hold her or help me up but the things I did which have helped enormously were...

* tacking up a while before riding, and letting her (&me) settle in her stable so she's not so excited
* always get on from mounting block
* big chunk of mane or neck strap/breastplate to hold onto
* initially only got on in an arena - soft landing & nowhere to go
* the most important bit... she's now learnt that if she stands patiently while I get on I'll reach forwards and give her a treat

Now 7months after our original incident I'm totally fine about getting on, and she waits patiently while I get on because she knows a treat is on it's way!