Confidence is shot :(

[basilbrush2009]

I dont know what to do

My confidence is gone. vanished. how do i get it back?

Ive had a few falls since Christmas which i wasnt too fussed about. However just before the snow went to get on my horse and he took off bronking, managed to stay on but jarred my back (i was only getting on to see if i could ride again after the lastest fall)
I got off and then the snow came

a friend lunged him today and then i got on he led me round for a few minutes and we went out on a short hack

It was okay nothing happened but he was tense when i first got on

Im nervous to get on again. i feel like he is just going to bronk when i put my let on

I dont know where my confidence is, ive had the horse 3 years and i broke him in myself, we have done a bit of everything, showjumping cross country dressage and he hacks alone or in company so i cant be that bad a rider surely?

so sad, this is the first time its happened and i really dont know what to do

 

[ruth83]

Get some more help.

It happens to the best of us at times. Time off, especially when enforced, usually makes things much worse!

Can you borrow a reliable beasty to get yourself feeling comfortable in the saddle again? (Physically follwoing your fall as well as mentally). Perhaps someone else (trustworthy, capable and sticky!) could ride your horse a couple of times for you to help get the freshness out and show you that he can behave! If the bolting/bronking is out of character for your horse, make the usual checks to ensure he's not in pain etc.

 

[Archiepoo]

hi im having the same problem as you,i came off jumping in the woods 10 days ago on a very narrow track,my horse couldnt avoid standing on my leg -ouch! im fine but sporting a rather fetching multi coloured horse shoe shaped lump on my shin. anyway its left me a tad worried about riding the same track again-in fact i havnt ridden since with the snow etc im very lucky my horse is fine he doesnt have any problems so getting back on isnt going to be an event -its just me being a wuss! the trouble with confidence is its very easy to lose

 

[Tilda]

Poor, poor you I was in this exact position 3 weeks ago and got some really good advice from the folks on here and from my instructor. I know it's always the first question but have u had back, teeth etc checked. I only ask because I had my boys back checked as it was so out of character (he tanked off not bucking) and he had a very sore neck which we think was the cause.

Otherwise I am probably not the best person to advise as still trying to sort out my own confidence and I think everyone is different. For me getting back on with it but trying to minimise the risks (lunging first etc) has been the best thing but for some people taking it slower has worked. One thing I plan to do when I have saved the money which someone on here suggested is to have some lessons on a mechanical horse in the hope they can come up with some strategies to help me with the tensing up.

Good luck x