Confidence knock

C

Crosshill Pacers

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 May 2012
Messages
1,338
Location
Lanarkshire
Visit site
So things were going really well with Big Ears and me, her trot and canter work is coming on fine and we were having a ball out hunting (not the sort of hunting you're all picturing, try to imagine rugged Welsh hills and country roads and absolutely no jumping thank goodness!).

Saturday we went to a meet that I've never been to before, and in the most part we had a whale of a time (both shattered that night!). But there was one part of the day where I ended up at the back of the group I was with (Big Ears was cantering over uneven ground to keep up with some of the others who had bombed off and my concern was that because she hasn't got much experience of cantering with a rider on board, that she may stumble so I was trying to steady her and slip into pacing which = complete balance on any ground). The group headed down the other side of a hill and they were going like loons. I couldn't get Big Ears to settle and she'd clearly gone into racehorse mode and desperate to keep up, she was still cantering (albeit not a very fast canter) and I began to panic. All I could think about was 'I'm going to fall off'. I think it was a combination of going downhill, cantering, and for possibly the first time since I've been riding Big Ears, having her really wanting to go.

The rest of the day went fine and I'm taking her out for a hack tomorrow afternoon. We're not hunting until Boxing Day so will just be focussing on her trot and canter again. But that horrible nervous feeling that I was getting before I started to get my confidence back has returned. I don't know why I'm so scared of falling off. It's happened countless times and resulted in several broken bones, and I've never been bothered before. I'm not even sure it's falling off that I'm scared of. Maybe I'm scared I'll lose control?

Do I need a stiff drink and to man up?!
 
Been there - and it's not nice.

But it's only through persistence that our horses learn, as do we.

Don't wait until Boxing Day to go hunting again (would never go on Boxing Day) get out there again as much as you can.
 
amymay said:
Been there - and it's not nice.

But it's only through persistence that our horses learn, as do we.

Don't wait until Boxing Day to go hunting again (would never go on Boxing Day) get out there again as much as you can.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I can't make it again until at least then, due to work/being away. There's several meets in the new year that I want to go to though. I've really been enjoying it up until now, and like I said the rest of the day was great. I kind of felt like a real child shouting to this woman to wait for me (a lot of the riders are quite tough no-nonsense sorts) but I've been a while out of the saddle and my horse is only young. I feel like we're learning together and no matter what I chuck at her she takes it all in her stride. I just wish I could be as brave as she is. I think I've scared myself!
 
Look at it this way - you are a hell of a lot braver than me for going in the first place, AND you stayed on - well done you !! I think many riders would have been scared by that scenario, but you should be proud for having coped with it (even tho you don't think you did - you did). :)
 
Can you find someone to buddy up with for the next time you go out? Then even if people in front of you bog off you will still have a pal alongside to keep her steady. I find this works well until a green horse learns that I really do know best about pace out hunting and that they will always get there in the end, and more likely upright, if they listen to me :D
 
I have decided that I am going again this weekend (OH will just HAVE to come and watch for a few hours!). The more I think about it, the horse wasn't doing anything wrong, it was just a bit more than I was comfortable with! I took her out tonight for a hack and she's back to her usual lazy self, mooching along without a care in the world!

My old man convinced me I should take her again this weekend, as it's a
 
...stupid phone! Where was I? Yes, it's an 'easy' meet, ground I've been over before at an earlier meet, and quite a lot of road work. Seeing as we love watching cars and lorries go by so much I don't mind that!

Will keep you all posted, think thr best plan of action is to carry on as before and accept that sometimes along the way something is going to scare me. I just can't let myself become too scared to ride!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top