Any tips for confidence...

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vkb

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Has anyone got any tips to increase confidence when they are riding or, if they start to feel nervous, how to overcome it?

I regularly ride two horses, one has a tendancy to be spooky and the other is ok and fairly steady, although anytime I have fallen off it has been off the 'steadier' of the two, I find that I become nervous on the spookier horse and worry that she will pick up on this energy. Out of the two, she is probably the one that I have the closest bond to 'on the ground'.

I know that breathing correctly is meant to help, but I worry that I am still then transmitting my nervousness through to her. Has anyone any tips or advice?
 
I often forget to breath (sounds simple, often isn't!!) which doesn't help my mare if she is on a bit of a spooky day! The absolute best thing is to sing - sing anything and you will breath too. It will help relax you and get your breathing going, which means you won't be anxious riding your horse - which can only pass on feelings to your horse of 'omg a big monster must be coming up, I'll coil up like a spring and get ready to spook'!!
 
Always ride your horse forward. when people get nervous they slow down their horse and pitch forwards. It is easier for a horse to mess around when they are held back. Send it forward and look up and ahead- your body always follows your head if you look up and tuck your bottom under; you will sit up, your shoulders will be back and you will have your leg down and will naturally push the horse on! that way it is more difficult for you to come off!

Also nervousness and excitement are pretty much the same biological response, so change it in your head! when you think your scared- just become more positive about it! "I;m so excited about this bit of the hack because although he spooks we get the most amazing canter afterwards!"
 
Singing definately helps to distract you and get you breathing. Maybe a favourite song or a lullaby to help you both relax?! Slowing your reactions may also help, along with slowing your breathing.

I get very tense and nervous loading my boy as we had a problem once which rather traumatised me. I am really conscious how good they are at reading body language so I have to focus on looking like I'm relaxed, even if my brain is going ten to the dozen. It's definately working.

I have a tendency to throw time/money at a problem and get professional help fairly early on (I realise I am very lucky to be able to do this). I went on an intelligent horsemanship clinic weekend away (which was brilliant), to help with the loading. I also have lots of lessons to help my riding particularly when I lose confidence e.g. with jumping.

If you aren't able to pay for help, then having friends come with you on hacks, give you tips on riding, maybe videoing you so you can see how you are going, reading articles in magazines (there are lots about cofidence techniques) and generally finding out as much info as you can will hopefully make you feel like you are better prepared. The main thing I'd say is take it slow, have someone on the ground or hack in company for a while, and BREATHE :)
 
Just remebered a breathing exercise!

Breathe in for 3 through your nose
Hold your breath for 3
Breathe out for 5 through your mouth

your whole chest and shoulders drops. I use this to get to sleep too! I close my eyes and focus on my breathing and I'm usually asleep in less that 3 mins! (annoys the OH but it's great! Can sleep anywhere for any length of time!)

Loved the singing advise too! My favorite in order
1. In the Bleak Midwinter- all 3 verses,
2. Hickory Dickory Dock, the mouse ran up the clock!
3. Row, row, row your boat!

easy to remember when you're stressed and they have a steady beat that you can ride to!
 
defo start singing, its great. also, if you can without moving your whole foot/leg, try wiggling your toes, its great for relaxing your body and mind - it takes quite some concentrating to do it and will relax any gripping with your knees that might be going on...
Also as said above - let the horse forward! Get a neck strap and cling on to that if you have to but make sure you are not gripping on the reins and winding the horse up.

Have you ever tried bachs rescue remedy? Get it from boots/tescos etc, some people swear by it.
 
cuppaeggnog said:
wiggling your toes, its great for relaxing your body and mind - it takes quite some concentrating to do it and will relax any gripping with your knees that might be going on...
Click to expand...

My friend who does alot of Yoga says that if you concentrate on feeling the soles on your feet (not touching them! just thinking about the weight going through to them) it centres your mind!
 
Get a monkey grip... My last horse was a bucked, and even through I got him out of it, I kept the monkey grip as it made me feel much more secure knowing that it was there is I needed it.
 
Sing! I used to sing and tell stories to my old horse when going cross country. We'd get laughed at but it definitely works. He was a bugger for refusing so I'd end up practically yelling the words of the song I was on when aproaching each jump to encourage him rather than "Get on!" Worked a treat! My current youngster has stories told to him when we hack out to keep me breathing and him calm, people think we're nuts and they're probably right! :)
 
Set small targets. When you meet them a couple of times, set new ones pushing a little bit furhter. Works for me.

I also recently discovered Kalms tablets before competing. May be placebo effect but they seem to be helping!
 
Ahh thanks everyone these are some great tips!
I'll try the singing (hopefully the people I ride with won't mind hearing my dodgy singing too much!) I do tend to talk to the horse a lot before I start riding and whilst I'm riding as I think it helps her - and it helps me as well.
I have some of the Bach herbal remedy so will try some of it too - I think I just had a particularly difficult lesson on Saturday and that's whats made me think 'right I need to do something to turn this into a positive'.

And will definately try the breathing excercises - I'll practice them before hand (that sounds silly - practising breathing!) so that I'm more relaxed doing it and before getting on the horse x
 
My nag went through a broncing phase and i ended up on a spinal board. I was a nervous wreck riding her anywhere but the school and wouldnt jump. One thing i found helped which sounds stupid was to give regular pats on the neck in a kind of 'its all fine' style which made me feel 'its all fine' and so because I felt more fine she did :) Strange but true. Also sang a lot!! Finally I tried to have fun? So riding with people and them laughing a lot made me forget what i was thinking so if its possible to ride with someone else and you pay them to chatter at you non stop that works :) It all comes back in the end i promise, just takes time.
 
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