can you improve a horses confidence

[debsflo]

following an earlier thread have discovered our horse did some intro eventing and area trials show jumping and was frightenred jumping.she is hit and miss now and i think panics.can damaged confidence be rebuilt.

 

[vikkiandmonica]

Definitely! My horse had done BSJA up to 1.10m, yet when I got him, he wouldn't jump coloured poles. Yes, it was very hard to build up his confidence again, but I just stuck to doing trotting and cantering poles, and just schooling around a course of jumps without him spooking away from the wings/poles. I then went onto doing a course of poles as though it was a course of jumps, but the poles just on the floor. From there, I just built up the fence sizes, and started doing courses of jumps, before bringing in fillers. I only put them at the side of the jumps, and gradually brought them in and in, until we were jumping over fillers.

Yes, he can still lack confidence at times, but we now compete happily, with very few refusals, and will hopefully do affiliated stuff soon.

One thing to make sure you don't do is push too hard, too soon, as otherwise you may back to square one and have to start again.

Hope this helped

 

[saddlesore]

Yes, you definitely can - but just like people its a case of taking it nice and slowly. Don't overface her and always stop when she has been successful. Good luck

 

[girlmoose]

I'm really enthused to read this as I am in a simular situation.
Thankyou

 

[teddyt]

Yes, confidence can be rebuilt but it takes time and patience, starting from scratch and building without asking too much. a horse should find jumping easy and be enthusiastic before moving up a level. the rider also needs to be confident and balanced to give the horse every chance.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

following an earlier thread have discovered our horse did some intro eventing and area trials show jumping and was frightenred jumping.she is hit and miss now and i think panics.can damaged confidence be rebuilt.

Yes, without a doubt, just small steps to regain confidence, but it can be done, good luck

 

[Mari]

It takes confidence, knowledge, understanding & patience to regain lost confidence, doesn't matter if it's horse or rider that's lost the confidence YES it can be done.