Confidence Issues

[BritishLion]

Hi All,
Last season, my pony and I had a horrible experience when a novice rider cantered up his bum and scared him. I asked her to give him space (he is a stallion) and moved but she followed me. It was a very uncollected cob that effectively thundered behind him. In the following championship, another pony cantered near him and he took flight and did a wall of death round and round the ring. I had absolutely nothing, he was was genuinely terrified and only came to a stop when he was ready. I rode him once after the incident (the following day) but he had done something to his stifle during the wall of death and was lame so has had the winter off to recover. Now we are coming back into work and I have realised that all my confidence has gone when riding him. I only have a field at home and each canter I have to force myself to do it and not pull him up. Yesterday, I went to dressage thinking I would feel safer in an arena but froze in the working in when someone cantered near us. I did get a grip and do my test and I know I need to keep going but does anyone have any tips? The pony in question is 10 this year and I have had him since he was a foal, broken him and had a lot of success with him so I am so annoyed with myself for lacking confidence and having such a mental block when this is one incident across 6 seasons of perfect behaviour. I have ridden all winter on another breaker and have no issue with him.

 

[Carrottom]

Could you take him to some clinics so you are riding with others but in a supervised and non competitive environment?

 

[BritishLion]

Could you take him to some clinics so you are riding with others but in a supervised and non competitive environment?

Yes, I have booked some and I have booked one on the same showground so we can go back and hopefully have a positive experience

 

[Barton Bounty]

I had an issue for a little while when me and a friend rode together, she had no horse etiquette whatsoever and insisted on cantering behind me therefore startling BB, although the was a racehorse he had been with me 2 years at that point. So what we did was went to a big field and cantered side by side for the whole perimeter, just so we could each teach the horses staying back and steady with each other.. of course BB hated it and always had to be one length in front but he got used to it.

 

[Poppy+MrDarcy]

Was it a fairly young rider? I've had this happen to me numerous times, all with young inexperienced riders.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Was it a fairly young rider? I've had this happen to me numerous times, all with young inexperienced riders.

She wasnt young but she had no horse sense if that makes sense. Just didnt think whatsoever and never knew left to left either.

 

[Nasicus]

Be kind to yourself, that sounds like a very upsetting incident, so it's understandable that it's going to take some time to get over the trauma left behind from that. I know some may think I'm being dramatic with my language there, but it's often surprising how much stuff effects us weeks, months, even years down the line. Take it slowly and don't beat yourself up if it takes longer than you want, or if you take a few steps back along the way.

 

[VRIN]

Look up Karl Greenwood - he is very good for loss of confidence. Also do you put a ribbon in his tail? That might help keep people away.