Confidence-building for a wuss

[trundle]

feel remarkably silly even posting this, but am getting a bit desperate.

I share the Moose (16.3hh TBxID mare), but i am her only rider, no-one else rides her at the moment. I am quite proud of the way that she's fittened up nicely and looks in beautiful condition now. The downside, of course, of having a fit, well-conditioned horse is that they want to GO.

In the school, we are fine. She gets very over-excited when cantering, but I don't mind that and i can comfortably bring her back to me and get her attention again. She has a lovely working canter in the school, very very easy to sit to, and her downward transitions are lovely now. Out in the fields, though, its a different matter. I had a crashing high-speed fall off her at Christmas, when trying to pull her up after a gallop, and since then, i've felt very nervous about asking her for canter in an open space. In fact, when I say "very nervous", I mean "totally phobic", as I haven't done it since.

I WANT to canter her out hacking. We have wonderful hacking, with proper mown canter tracks round the edges of all the fields, and lovely long, uphill straights that are just begging to be cantered up. I took her out yesterday in her breastplate and martingale, with every intention of going for a little canter just to get my confidence back - but I chickened out. I was furious with myself when we got back, but on the upside, at least I was still on board.

So does anyone have any good confidence-building advice, visualisation techniques, etc, that will help me get back to the point where I can have fun on my Moose? Do i just have to dose up on Rescue Remedy, make sure there is someone on the yard to catch her if i come off and she goes home, and go for it?

 

[Hullabaloo]

Hi
Have been there too - my horse took off with me a couple of times and frightened the life out of me a while back!
Is there a steady horse who can come out with you? I found the reassurance of knowing there was someone with me if anything did happen made a huge difference to my confidence.
Other than that, just keep enjoying your hacking til you're ready and choose a place where you feel fairly safe - maybe a nice uphill stretch.
When you set off, get her in a good trot and only canter when/if you feel happy to do it. Be firm about her going at your speed and not dictating the pace if you can (I find that easier said than done!).
Finally try to remember the nice canters you've had when you've been out and put the fall out of your mind (again easier said than done, but it does make a difference!).
Good luck

 

[0ldmare]

My best tips would be
1. Dont go out thinking you are definitely going to canter today - your nerves will transmit to her. Better to think Im not going to and then change your mind!
2. Do it away from home and up a hill
3. Do it where there is a barrier at the end - fence/gate whatever so you know she will have to stop.
4. If you have a mate with a steady neddie that will not mind being behind then that would help too, but not if the other horse is competitive!
5. Only do a few strides the first time then bring her back as she wont have time to get a hold

Good luck I am sure it will be fine, it sounds like you have done a great job on this horse so you must be a good rider!

 

[oofadoofa]

You could always chicken out and get someone else to canter her for you for the first time and see how they get on. If you know that she stopped Ok with them it might help your confidence. I had a friend with the same problem and after watching me ride her horse a few times it gave her the confidence to take her for a canter herself. That and the two large glasses of wine my friend had beforehand!

Are you happy with the bit you are riding her in? Horses often need a stronger bit when out in open spaces than in the school and it may help your confidence too if you know that you have bigger brakes in for the first few times you canter.