Confidence building exercises- visualisation?

[trundle]

Right, i have made a decision. I am SICK and TIRED of being a wuss when riding the Moose, and i bloody well am going to do the stuff I want to do on her. I WANT to jump her, I want to do a tiny bit of XC on her, I want to canter her round the fields and not panic. I can ride her perfectly well in the school (not brilliantly but well enough), i can manage her little spooks and tendency to canter sideways if she sees something she doesn't like, and I can bring her back to walk if she starts getting strong.

I can dose myself up to the eyeballs on Rescue Remedy, but I can't have a drink becasue I have to drive home from the yard again afterwards ! So does anyone have any good advice on building up confidence to improve my riding? Please??!

 

[Demolition_Derby]

Wow, I dont really have any helpful tips but with determination like that, do you really need any??!

Well done and have fun

.

 

[RosieC]

It's all about overcoming your fear boundaries, so why not set yourself a task every time you ride her, something small, and build up to something bigger really slowly. That way, things like jumping and xc don't seem as daunting because you're taking really small steps to achieve them.

Also, I find deep breathing exercises really help. Remember to regulate your breathing when you're riding, just like when you exercise without a horse, it will help steady your heartrate and reduce the 'panic'.

Sorry if any of that sounds patronising, it really isn't meant to! It worked well with me and my AA mare, who was very nervous herself and reacted well to knowing I wasn't.

 

[yvonne36]

Hi,

I wanted so much to do loads of stuff with my horse but it was my confidence that let me down.

Friend suggested hypnotherapy and I thought well why not. Went for two sessions and I am so proud of myself now. I'll never be a good rider but I am now a very happy, confident rider.

Would recommend it to anybody. Good luck!

 

[bex1984]

trundle - it's brilliant that you're so determined. A year ago I never would have thought I could ever canter my ponio round fields, I was in a very similar position. Now I do it all the time

- you WILL get there!

I found positive visualisation useful: Imagine yourself and your horse out in the field, ready for a canter, think of all the little details, what you're doing, what the weather is like etc. Then imagine going into canter and how much fun it is, her ears pricked, wind in your hair. Maybe she looks at something and has a little sideways wobble, but it's fine, you've got control and you jsut straighten up and carry on. Imagine pulling her up at the end, with a massive grin on your face...

Make sure you congratulate yourself on every little achievement you make in building your confidence - tell someone about it (feel free to PM me if you want to), give yourself big pats on the back. Set yourself little goals so you do it bit by bit and don't push yourself out of your comfort zone too much in one go. Maybe start by taking her out for a canter when she's tired, then you can move on to doing it more and once you're confident doing that start doing some little xc jumps?

Good luck

 

[MotherOfChickens]

try TFT as well if you can afford it and agree with the other advice already given, set yourself up for success and baby steps! really does work. I had a horrible fall out hacking and lost confidence, took me a year to get over it and am now galloping over stubble (when its not flooded!). you will get there!also, a good instructor-even though you say you are happy in the school, the happier you are in there the happier you'll be outside

and the better your riding, the better you'll feel. I did alot of work without stirrups that made me feel more secure.

 

[Abbeygale]

I have been having similar confidence issues with my mare over the last 6 months. To start with I was struggling with nerves even just getting on my mare - I'm now hacking her out 4 / 5 times a week with just about no worries getting on. I have even agreed to take her to a clinic in a couple of weeks - which will be our very first ridden outing - I am seriously kacking myself!!!

Rescue remedy yourself and your horse - it makes me feel better to know that my girl is calm and relaxed too! Talking / singing / counting while you're riding to maintain a steady breathing rate - and most definitely agree with visualisation. Every night when I go to bed and if I have time during the day (usually on my lunch break) I will take 10 / 15 minutes out and close my eyes and "see" myself riding down the road, what the weather is doing (ever hopeful!!!), what I can see (Abi's neck and ears and beyond), what I can feel - wind / rain and what I can hear. I take time to imagine every detail - so I found that when I do go out riding doing what I have been imagining, I am then looking for the things that I imagine, rather than worrying about the things that "could" happen.

Sorry - a bit rambly - but it has worked for me! x