Anyone successfully improved hacking/ general confidence and how!?

If he's a new horse, definitely start with groundwork. It's invaluable to lead out / long rein and see how they react to things, knowing you can't fall anywhere ;)
 
Watching a 12 year old ride my cob and realise that he never puts a foot wrong has had the effect of improving my confidence because i can see with my own eyes that he can be trusted and i love him for it.
 
Love this thread because this is me right now, if not worse! A couple of really nasty falls and a bolt and I now can't get on without crying. Am going easy on myself though and accepting that I need to take baby steps to get over this - first step being finding a plod to get on and even be lead out if necessary.

Some great advice on here and good to know we're not alone in having confidence issues!
 
Keep getting on is what helped for me. Set a tiny goal like get on, walk circle, get off.
I found after a bit of doing this it was "well I'm on now might as well change rein/have a trot..."

I am still nervous, but I have a fab instructor. Rode this week in the horrendous wind and yes, I cried! For about 40 seconds I said "I can't do it" but instead of saying that and getting off I now stay on and try to keep walking while I'm thinking
Sometimes I get a little cross with myself and that helps too
 
After a spinal op I had a few lessons on a mechanical horse. Got me thinking positively again and corrected my position in the saddle. I ride with a body protector as I think it makes my back straighter, warmer and I feel safer. I've also swapped my homebred youngster who was quite nappy and needed lots more schooling for an older established horse who I can get on and go. She's super in traffic non spooky fun but has brakes.
 
You need to be honest about the suitability of the horse. Many horse just aren't the right horse for a nervous rider. I had a lovely black Welsh cob x who never did anything bad but scared the poo out of most riders who got on him. More than one person got on then got off again 2mins later because, despite doing absolutely nothing wrong, he made them feel really nervous and tense. They said he felt like a coiled spring, ready to explode. I never even noticed it as Id done so much ground work with him I knew him inside out. And in reverse I have a little cob who makes even the most nervous rider feel safe. My friend is THE most terrified rider you've ever met (usually bursts into tears after 2mins) yet was zooming about on him within 5min.

Is it something the horse does that bothers you? Too strong? Too forwards? Bucks? Spooky? Sharp? If it's anything like that, and he does it with other riders, he may not be the horse for you. However if it's just your mind going into overdrive with all potential disasters, then it's you, not him.

Inhand walking really does help. It shows you how he'll react whilst under saddle. Most nerves are because you don't know how he'll react /behave. He'll learn to trust you and see lots of the world. You can then progress in little steps: hop on for 5mins in a place you know he's always sensible and quite and build up.
 
My confidence is like a rollacoaster ride, i have a wonderfuk horse who is great at giving confidence yet somedays i feel like i just cant ride nothing sets it off just its there. This weekend im going for hyponsis so that i can move forward if anyone is interested how i get on feel free to pm me and ill let you know
 
A really good thread and I have enjoyed and learned from the replies. I don't know where my confidence went, it just did !
I have now got a new horse and hacked him out on Tuesday when he hadn't been sat on for a fortnight, on his own, and he was a saint. I now just have to convince myself I can do it again tomorrow!
 
Ah good luck with your hack today, you are braver than me I haven't made it out the yard yet! My horse is a good boy but he does do the odd buck on the lunge which I know doesn't help my nerves. He can also be spooky all of a sudden which I know is making me think he is going to spook and bolt when out hacking. But I love him dearly and couldn't face selling him so I need to try and overcome these things together. I have a lesson today, first one in three weeks and I am feeling so nervous as instructor great but I know she will push us both outside our comfort zone... Let me know how you get on at hypnosis I would be really interested to know how you get on x
 
We all lose confidence at some time and its a real process getting it back, you need to make everything you do a positive experience. Personally my method was first of all gaining confidence with my horse on the ground, we did lots of parelli type stuff lots of yielding and forming a relationship again, it did not take long about two weeks, then we hacked out just in walk, threw in a few trots etc and kept up the ground work in between. I have taught her to do a one rein stop and make her anticipate backing up when we stop, lots of tools in your kit and you will be good to go! Good luck
 
CPtrayes comment on the body protector is right ! I wear one on my spooky cob and it gives me a psychological boost, sort of like wearing a seat belt !
 
This is a great thread!

I am currently going through the same thing. I lost my nerve totally just over a year ago, when I had a little horse who liked to deck me on purpose. He was sneaky and unforgiving and down right mean! (had back, teeth, saddle etc done, no problems there, but he had recently come over from Ireland and I don't think he had the best start and I was just not the right person to deal with him). I then got a lovely ex-racer who was a total star and I felt I could do anything on him, but sadly after a short time he became very ill and I lost him.

I now have another lovely ex-racer, who is a star also, and just wants to please, and I'm not at all scared of him, as he doesn't put a foot wrong (apart from a slightly bouncy ride in the snow the other week) but I am having a real wobble at the moment, and it really helps to read some of the suggestions on here and know that I'm not alone.

I'm going to give the long-reining a go later in the week, as I know he has done this before, and I really enjoy it too! :D
 
Yep, went from Petrified to getting on, never ever riding unless all conditions were perfect, to being the lead horse when riding out with friends in spooky situations

Firstly, I think everyone's confidence waxes and wanes, to me, the important thing is to use it as a learning opportunity to become an all round better horseperson.

I now look at 3 different areas and work on them all, as long as I ride it will be a work in progress!

1. Riding. I eventually came to a brilliant biomechanics teacher. Knowing my position was as secure as possible really helped my confidence. I think that being unconfident tends to make your riding tense and maybe tippy forward? To me, breaking down how I rode and building it up piece by piece has given me things to concentrate on when tricky situations come up.

2. Mind. Don't be scared to investigate things to help you control your thoughts. After all it is your mind that it letting you down. Things like hypnotherepy, etc can really help. And never read stories about riding accidents, etc, it is too easy to focus on the negative. Oh and learn to breathe on a horse as soon as you get nervous. Thats 7 breaths in and 11 out .... fake it till you make it!

3. Horse. It may be that you need to ride other horses in different situations. Or maybe just improve your trust relations with your own horse. I want to know that my horse is more focussed on me than the outside world when I am riding. I have used Clicker (that keeps both our brains busy) - and improved riding skills - for this. Whatever you do, remember to praise your horse when he is good otherwise it can just be a very negative experience for the both of you. There are other ways, just be open minded!!!

Good luck, I am proof it can be done, but you do have to really want to do it and find what works for you!
 
I believe there is only one way of improving confidence and that is to get on a horse as often as possible. If your horse is scaring you then I am sorry but you need to find one that you can trust!

Perhaps some nice hacks out on school horses would help and of course a good instructor but if your own horse is still a nightmare that fear will never go away.

Sorry !
 
I got my confidence back, but it has taken a long time and I still have the odd wobble and won't got too far hacking if I am on my own.

It was my horse that gave me my confidence back. I shared him at first as a confidence giver and then ended up buying him. It took 2 years to form a solid bond and this third year I really feel like I know him and he knows me and when I get on his back it feels like home.

Now, if he tits about, it doesn't bother me at all. I had to make myself get in the saddle as much as possible. The longer you are not riding the worse your nerves will be.

I love my boy, he is a legend. Today I got on him after not riding for over a month due to the horrendous weather. Went on a nice long hack in the wind with another horse. He was perfect.

The horse has to be right, my boy is genuine and I trust him. Without this, you may never be totally happy with hacking out.
 
To pick up on this thread again...

Have managed to successfully get back riding after all the snow and was going quite well but had v negative experience at weekend with my horse suddenly in a spooky mindset and me without back protector. Have booked first session with Jo Cooper so fingers crossed this helps..! Will keep you all posted.
 
If it's any consolation, I've gone from being a nervous wreck back in June 2011 where I wouldn't even get on without someone holding her and my stirrup and a gulp of rescue remedy :eek:

With help from a fantastic friend, I now look forward to getting on her and riding out. Don't often ride out on my own because she's not keen and I've come such a long way I don't want to go backwards.

Friend used to walk on foot with me, then progressed to her coming out with me on her horse. All I did for quite a while was walk, then had a couple of lunge lessons, after that I progressed to trot on a hack :)

Eventually went out with two friends from yard and they asked if I wanted a canter, my heart was in my mouth but I said I would providing they would pull up if I felt my girl getting strong. I overtook them and must say it felt fantastic :D

I had a fall a few weeks later, no fault of my mare, my boot had a fight with a gate and lost :eek:

That fall didn't knock my confidence but did make me concerned about going through gates and my mare rushes a bit now through gates.

Happy to get on my girl on my own, take her in school and hack out with anyone :)

I've had her for 10 years and she's bolted twice so she's a good girl really and now I trust her she seems much more relaxed.

You'll get there - hope you enjoy lesson :)
 
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If you found Kelly's book useful then have a look on the IH website as two of the RA's run a course called Perfect Confidence in hand and under saddle. I know a few people who have been on it and they said it really helped them. :)
 
I had a few incidents last winter where I ended up bolting downhill towards a main road, galloping up a blind country lane and spinning on the spot and generally being scarily out of control. I'm happy to say I am now back in charge as a result of lots of changes, I'll list them and maybe something will work for you?
I use a few drops of Bach's Rescue Remedy on a carrot for my boy before a hack. Placebo? Probably :)
When I see something scary coming I stop him, stand and repeat 'good boy'. I get my right rein ready (he spooks left) but don't look at the vehicle so my body doesn't tense up. I smile and nod at the driver but I don't give myself chance to panic thinking 'oh a trailer'...
When passing lorries, buses etc. I wait for them to stop or I do, my boy can't cope if both he and scary thing are moving. If they pass us and we follow I get him to trot after it to 'chase' the scary thing away! He likes that!
After a year of dreading hacking but making myself go I can happily say I'm coming through it and finally enjoying it again!
I gave myself a good talking to and realised I was over thinking everything. I'd ride past a ditch and picture us falling in it?! Why worry about things that might happen I decided. I realised I was transmitting all my nerves to him and making the situation 1000 times worse. I really do sympathise, it's a horrid catch 22 situation but look in the mirror and talk yourself out of it! Break the cycle now and as Kelly Marks says, if you can't be confident, act confident! Fool yourself and convince your horse! if you act like it's silly to be scared of whatever it is your horse will agree with you eventually. Good luck :)
 
Well today I actually did it! I got out on a teeny little hack just 15mins round the block. He was a bit excited to be out and about but very good for first hack in six months and first ever hack from current yard. Fingers crossed I can do it again soon, can't quite believe it!
 
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