Building up confidence with a new horse

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flutterby321

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Okay, please bearedith, bit of a ramble! I was lucky enough to get my first horse last week after a good few years on ponies :D he's a 15.2, 7 year old ISH and has so far proved to be very sweet and forgiving! We've had a lesson with our dressage trainer and it's already coming together nicely, so I'm really pleased :D
Sooo, I decided to bite the bullet and go for our first ever xc schooling session! Eeek! It was all very low-key and relaxed as he's not very experienced, so it was just all about seeing what he was like and what he could do :)
Well things had been going so well we were bound to hit a bump in the road! ;) he was very distracted, and at the first fence I took my leg off (I was feeling a little bit nervous!). He slowed to a stop for a look and then, being an extremely honest chap, absolutely soared over it, leaving numpty rider to check out the ground conditions ( very firm ;) ) after that I learnt to ride more positively and he took everything in his stride. very honestly he popped all the steps, ditches and water, although very enthusiastically!
The only problem was I was finding myself getting nervous as I was worried about being thrown out of the saddle by his powerful jump! I've only had him a week so obviously am not expecting miracles ;) but does anyone have any tips or advice for getting used to and confident with a new horsey? Particularly as I've just moved up from ponies and can't help but feel a little bit out of my depth! :)
 
Oh my God! This is me too - however, must admit, I've had my boy just over three weeks and i have to say that going cross country schooling with him now makes me feel positively sick never mind a bit nervous! I'm nervous about riding him in an open field just now, however, I've found that just taking it slowly, establishing a bit of groundwork, schooling so that he is listening to me and going for a few gentle hacks is working well for me. There's no rush to do everything at once! Just take a step back a bit and concentrate on getting to know each other, after all, you should have a long happy relationship together, why rush to do everything at once?:) Good luck !
 
As you have only just got the horse, maybe just lots of gentle hacking and low key school work - that way you can get used to each first and start to build up a confident partnership before attempting the more challenging stuff?!
 
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This is pretty much me at the mo! Just bought a 7y/o ISH aswell :) The first few times I got on him everyone was really pushing me to "work him harder" etc etc, in the end I just snapped and said at the end of the day Im a nervous rider and hes a new horse (no I havent overhorsed myself, hes been a hunter then in a riding school and is as safe and as gentle as they come!) so Im going to take things slowly and get to know him. I had a very experienced rider get on him and jump him, gallop him etc so I could see how he was, so maybe try that? Get someone you know and trust to take him out xcountry and see how they ride him. We had mine gallop round the field then be pulled to a halt while leaning forward, just so I could be sure he would stop and its made me so much happier with him! Sorry to ramble... :)
 
MrsD123 said:
Get a good instructor and go for lessons, he is a baby and you are a novice, not the way to go forward
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Is he - and is she???



OP give yourself some time - no pressure, have fun with him for a bit and get to know him and his movement and then crack on. :)
 
sleepykitten said:
Oh my God! This is me too - however, must admit, I've had my boy just over three weeks and i have to say that going cross country schooling with him now makes me feel positively sick never mind a bit nervous! I'm nervous about riding him in an open field just now, however, I've found that just taking it slowly, establishing a bit of groundwork, schooling so that he is listening to me and going for a few gentle hacks is working well for me. There's no rush to do everything at once! Just take a step back a bit and concentrate on getting to know each other, after all, you should have a long happy relationship together, why rush to do everything at once?:) Good luck !
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^ that ^

Wise words, I too am getting used to a new horse, totally lovely and sensible but have to remind myself no rush - be gently on yourself you will get further in the long run, life is a marathon not a sprint!! Enjoy your lovely honest new boy gradually and have lots of fun!
 
Its all about time :) They say it an take up to a year to really "know" your horse and bond with it so its early days yet!
Your getting lessons which helps the getting to know eachother period go alot smoother! Get jumping lessons, Trotting poles with a jump on the end etc until you get used to his technique! It will come in time :)
Have fun and good luck :)
 
Get some help and do grid work ,in a school until you feel more "with" him.
It takes time to adjust to a bigger stride and if he is a little inexperienced he will be needing some help from you.
When you are happy to jump at home over a variety of fences then start again with some simple XC .
Dont be in a rush once you get the feel of him you will progress more rapidly.
 
I had my boy at the beginning of the year and I'm only just starting to feel really confident and happy jumping him ( he has a very bold jump too) The way I did it was to work in my comfort zone, the school, lessons, hacks with sensible horses, lots of ground work etc until I got to know him and was more confident in my ability to ride him properly. Then I started to compete at home so if anything went wrong I had people to help me out, and then finally when I was totally happy with my ability to stay on ;) I started to venture out into the big wide world and we are doing quite well if I do say so myself
I know it sounds really boring and cowardly but sometimes its better to just potter along at your own pace and progress slowly but safely :)
Good luck! :D
 
Ooh I do know how you feel, I was in that situation with my last horse. First horse 15.2 and much more 'ping' than id ever been used to. I found myself being jumped out of the saddle a bit and tipping forward on landing. I remember spending a lot of time at home schooling with a xpole and just doing on a big circleand trying to get used to his jump. I had lots of lessons over poles doing grids as well,all little stuff. We did all this before going xc schooling but I have to admit although I improved I never felt totally secure almost came off on more than one occasion because I got pinged forward onto his neck.
 
Take your time. It's a bit of a jump up from pony to horse, not least the size of the stride. Go for hacks with your mates, keep inside your comfort zone for the moment and don't let anyone push you into doing anything you don't feel ready to do.

He sounds a lovely honest boy so I'm sure he'll be quite happy just bobbing along until you both get to know each other.
 
Thanks everyone :D
Been a bit of a while since I posted that, but I've done pretty much as suggested and so far so good! :) we have a lesson every week and I definitely feel alot more confident. We had a little setback after he came back from 2 weeks box rest (self inflicted injury in the field!) where he was absolutely full of beans and had taken to leaping around- nothing nasty just enthusiastic! However it did put me off a bit so we've just gone back to basics to gain our confidence again! :D our first dressage competiton is in a couple of weeks, and thanks to everyone who advised we just take our time! I was feeling a bit pushed to get out competing immediately, but I'm glad I've taken the time to get my confidence and get to know him first :D he's proving to be a real star! Good luck to everyone going through the same, sticking with it and persevering seems to be the best course of action :D thanks for the help!
 
Well we've had Kali since January of last year and I would say (due to some pretty big setbacks) that we are only now finally bonded and "as a unit" . . . it takes time and experience to get to know a horse (and for the horse to get to know you). I've spent TONS of time with Kal on the ground . . . just handling, grazing in hand, going for walks, long-lining, lunging, loose schooling . . . you name it. And I've spent TONS of time on his back . . . getting to know and understand how his mind works, what makes him tick and what pushes his buttons. Lastly, I've spent a fair bit of time watching my trainer ride him and talking to her about him to see how he operates under saddle when really pushed (she's obviously a much better ride than I am).

Kali has a much bigger movement than I was used to so when he gave me a nice forward trot it felt like he was tanking off - which made me grab at him - which made him tense up and rush and . . . well you get the picture. Now that I'm used to how he goes . . . and he's used to numpty novice-y Mummy being on board . . . we get along just fine!

Give yourself a break . . . it's early days with you and your horse . . . you'll get there :) x

P
 
Do lots of hacking for bonding and spend time with it on the ground so you build up trust and do pleanty of flatwork and schooling so the horse is responsive and listens to you and of course have fun!
 
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