Confidence coming back :)

CarolineJ

CarolineJ

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Merlin's in shock after being ridden twice in two days - I think I'm finally getting my confidence back :D Thanks in no small part to my uber-confident next door neighbour, who asked if he could have a sit on Merlin yesterday, sorted out the issues I'd been having in 10 minutes and then plonked me in the saddle before I really had time to think about it.

Nearly had a wobble tonight when OH opened the back door and Merlin did the tiniest spook imaginable (literally - it was one step sideways and two strides of canter from walk!). I gave an embarrassingly girly shriek :o and bless him, he stopped dead in his tracks :) Previously that's the point at which I'd have got the shakes and got off, but instead I pushed forwards into trot and finished the session with a short canter on the long side of the school - the first time I've cantered him.

For the first time in about 7 years I'm not scared of sitting on a horse. It's not yet the absolute joy it used to be, but I now believe that one day it will be again :D
 
Fantastic give yourself a huge pat on the back, I can appreciate how you feel a little as I lost my confidence two years ago and in the last month it has started to come back, small steps get you there and good kind people to help, raising my glass to you :) lovely to read such a positive post
 
Class, fair play :) Same boat here - lost my confidence, bought a big ginger horse who is slowly but surely giving me my confidence back... and today I didn't even think twice about cantering in our first lesson, didn't even bother me when he stuck in a sneaky buck!

Keep at it, and be sure to recognise all of your acheivements, whether small or large. It all counts :)
 
Well done! I know how awful it is when your confidence goes but you really want to and know that you can enjoy it.

Really happy for you :)
 
WELL DONE! :D

This really inspires me to get going! Although I know my boy is happy mooching in the field the guilt I walk around with knowing that I haven't ridden in such a long time eats at me everyday, and is made worse when people point it out or ask about my riding. It's so refreshing to know that others are in the same boat and it's not just you getting all worked up about nothing.


I hope you continue to gain in confidence, it really inspires me to hope that I too can push forward :)
xx
 
Great news and well done!

I have been having lessons (on a daily basis in a sort of "Just Do It" mentality) on my YO's 17 year old ex Dutch Champion Appaloosa.

Spent the first 5 lessons thinking OMG and being frankly scared, last week it clicked and I found myself on Thursday doing a jog, holding the reins in one hand with the other on my thigh, turning Wit merely by looking in the direction I wanted to go in and stopping dead by saying whoa and lowering my hand.....fan taming tastic.

OH was watching and was amazed that I was actually laughing and joking with my instructor throughout.

I can highly recommend some one on one lessons with an instructor (or a brave neighbor :-))))who you trust for turbo boosting your confidence levels.
 
I can totally empathise with you. I lost my confidence about a month ago, just before my stage 2 exam through one thoughtless instructor said i wasn't even ready for my stage 1. I faced my demons and worked through it with the help of the HHO who are just lurrrvvvvly folks. I rode the riding school "big one" for the last two weeks and even had him in an outline:):):) I was quite proud as everyone stopped to gawp and he was foot perfect. Keep going and well done:D
 
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