Confidence gradually returning!

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Tangaroo

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Well, having had a complete confidence crisis lately i decided i had to make my riding fun again.
I havent done much XC for the last couple of years but today went off to our local BE course as they had a fun XC day.
I picked up a friend who i have always got on with and is on same wave length as me.
We warmed up with me wondering what i was doing there:o
All i can say is my coloured boy was fab, he was so up for it and loving every minute of it. We only jumped the BE80 fences as sadly the take off and landings of nearly all the fences were so hard and rutted that we didnt want to risk their legs.
We are now planning to go somewhere else in next couple of weeks where we can put a course together without having to worry about the ground.
I had forgotten what fun i have been missing out on.
Sorry, bit of a boring post but just wanted to share as really felt i turned a corner today
 
Good stuff! It's been a long hard winter which doesn't help either I find - well done though for getting on and doing something about it! :)
 
Well done - it's great to hear about someone enjoying themselves!

I'm hoping I turned a corner with my jumping confidence on Monday - by falling off!

I used to jump loads when I was younger, affiliated BSJA, HT and team chasing, then had lots of time off horses and came back to them about 10 years ago now, but started with 6 month old foals and due to various bits and pieces, at the ages of 10 and nearly 7, they are only now ready to get on with their jumping careers....I'm just hoping that I am too tbh!!

I *love* jumping, but just seem to be hampered by worry of....not very much really...... I think I'm worried about something catastrophic happening to them really, rather than me - the fear of the unknown seems to loom larger the older you get!

I think in the main, it is getting confidence in my boy that is key - he has lots of talent, but is completely different to ride than my old mare, which has given a crisis of confidence in my own ability etc etc. I want to enjoy it, but sometimes find it hard.

Anyway, I hired a SJ course on Monday to have a bit practice, as we all know practice makes perfect, and promptly fell off after a dirty stop at the third fence we attempted. It was kind of my fault, as I was riding a little backwards, but a few months ago, he would have been honest about it. The stop pished me off sufficiently that I got up, pulled myself together, jumped straight back over it and would have had a thoroughly good afternoon thereafter, if I hadn't tweaked the lower muscles in my back a little bit when I fell! We did jump quite a lot more, with me calling the shots and finding my brave pants, though my ability was curtailed a little bit by my back shouting at me!

I also got on the 6 yr old and did trotting poles and her very first cross poles, so was q. pleased about that. I *think* that the fall has brought me to my senses a bit - falling isn't the worst thing in the world, and if you haven't done it for a while, it gets built up in your brain as a big, worrisome, fun killing thing! The only prob is that the closer to 40 I get, it does tend to make me ache quite a bit when I do come off, but nothing that Ibuprofen can't handle! I need to dwell on the good rather than the bad - I think this should be my mantra!

OP - Have fun at your next xc playtime! We need more of this happy enjoying our horses vibe!

ETS - Tarrsteps - I just noticed your quote and couldn't agree more :D For me, and the stage I am at in my horsy life, it is very apt!
 
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It's so great to hear such lovely stories of people gaining confidence! I am a Confidence Coach who actually works with horses to help people understand the psychological route of their confidence issues or nerves.

My colleagues and I use a tried and tested combination of ridden and un-mounted techniques including Holistic Equine Assisted Coaching, EFT and NLP.
We can work one on one or in our workshops. These are fun, uplifting and effective 2 day workshops with lots of positive client feedback!! They are held in small groups only – allowing you to really explore your fears and make a positive change.

Our courses are held on our yard in Surrey, but we can come to your yard if you have more than 6 people (no need to all have a horse, a lot of the work is done in hand exploring our feeling and fears rather than ridden and facing them).

If anyone is interested we have a course coming up on the 27/8th April. if you want to get in touch then PM me and I can send you details. :)
 
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