Bad hack and cant get it out of my mind

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mar2505

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I am just getting my confidence up hacking and today went out with another girl for a ride around the local housing estate. All was well but i was very tense as have not been out for 2 weeks but we only intended to be oot for 20 mins. Suddenely we came across a small dog barking at a gate. I froze , i grabbed the reins even though my horse was ok and I made my horse so scared he spun round and tried to take off the other way. All the people came out from the houses as my voice was so loud and paniky. I now feel so stupid and like i have gone back ten steps. Just when i was getting my confidence up, I feel i have let my horse down.
 
Put it behind you. Dogs are scary things to encounter when riding! Think to yourself - something scary happened, I panicked, but nothing bad happened. You and your horse are safe. You should think of this as a step forward (you survived unhurt) rather than a step backwards!
 
Dont worry about it, it was a natural defence reaction that you had and your horse just got ready to take you both out of danger, reading your signals.;

If you have any dogs that you could have around your horse at home, this will restore your confidence, then you will know he wont be bolting home. Most horses are fine with dogs, they ignore them generally and at the worst if a dog is barking around their heals, the dog will get a kick.

I dont stop my dogs barking at my horses when we ride past their kennels, as I feel its good training for the horses when out on hacks. See if you can create a simialar situation at home, to put your mind at rest.
 
Its just that i feel such a failure. My confidence is only slowly coming back and I really feel that I am letting my boy down as he is such an angel and would not have done anything. Also made a fool of myself in the local neighbourhood! Mind you i suppose I livened up everyones sunday.
 
If making a fool of yourself was the worst that happened then you don't really have that much of a problem!

As Jellicle says look on it as a positive experience - he was OK with the dog, you made a mistake & upset him but you still kept him under control. If you can control him when you're panicking think how well you'll do next time
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Run through it in your mind focusing on the fact that he was ok. When you reach the point where you grabbed at him freeze the image & tell yourself what you should have done. Now run it again & again doing the correct things - see how easy it is & how well he responds? he's a lovely kind horse & more than willing to please - until you feel that in that situation you'd automatically react in a better way. Then go out next weekend & ride past with no problems, smiling at everyone & saying a cheerful "morning!"
 
Rescue remedy wil certainly help next time you go out..make sure you have a neckstrap for panicky moments rather than hanging on to the mouth and if you have a real tense moment, just keep the mantra 'heels DOWN and relax' which will stop you curling up and tensing.
 
Oh I feel for you and completely understand how you feel. I went on my first hack in a year yesterday morning. The sun was shining and it was great, but made a big mistake and almost didnt get out!
Because I was so nervous I took my mare in menage first, and she is a little b***** cos she took control and made me feel as though I had forgotten everything. She is on part loan and has changed so much in a year, but so have I. I had back surgery in Sept so am obviously very scared about falling or pulling back. So she got away with loads and then the girl who was hacking out with me had to get on and give her 15 minutes of behaving properly! I almost gave up and said forget it.
But I got on and went around the local housing estate and back and she was excellent. I just knew if I did it I would come back full of confidence and thats exactly what I got.
When you go out again forget what happened to you this time, you coped very well and people around area are not that interested, honestly. Trust yourself and your horse to get it right together and you will be fine. Look forward to hearing about your next hack.
Cant wait to go out again, but first got to cope with bolshy mare in menage!!!
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