Confidence or lack there of

[TwoForTwo]

So I’m 36yo and I’ve ridden since 4yo I’ve always had not the best confidence and I’ve had some really awesome ponies over the years but also some bloody tricky ones and one nasty one. Currently I have an OAP 15hh retired Connemara who was the awesomest of all. He was simply sublime and more than once I was offered a blank cheque for him. No amount could ever convince me to sell him. I also have a 14.2hh part bred Welsh D who is built like a tank, when she is good she is exceptional but she is extremely quirky and sensitive. Sharp is not the right term for her but some would say she is, now I can cope with her both on bad days and on horrific days BUT I do but myself and I have had days when I’ve got off after 5 minutes and days when I’ve stood her at the barrel to get on, stood on the barrel and she has started being dick so I’ve lunged or long reined instead. I have a brilliant instructor who without I would has sold the madam long ago. She is better in summer as she goes out a bit more. She had some injury issues and also a badly fitting saddle that made her sore, she is now past that and was doing really well then this bloody weather came and so everything stopped, because of the weather she’s done nothing for 10 days and has had no turn out as the way out to her field is like an ice rink! We are in an American barn so I’ve walked her in hand everyday, she not been sat on in over a month as we where sorting out the saddle issue, now we have a saddle she is happy and comfy but now my nerve is wobbly at best and I’m dreading getting back on, she will have turn out be long reined and lunged before I sit back on as this is the best way to lit how badly she behaves for the first few times I’m back on. She’s real hard work but I think she could go so wrong if she went to someone else who didn’t understand her ways and tried to square her up. Flippin horses!

 

[vmac66]

Confidence is a fragile thing, takes years to build and seconds to lose. Mine is at a low at the moment due to lack of riding. The only way I've found to really get it back is time in the saddle. My mare is being a, tit at the moment, I won't get on unless I lunge first but that will get better when she's back in work.
Have a look at Carl Greenwood on fb, he's brilliant. His bok makes good reading too.

 

[PSD]

Confidence is a fragile thing, takes years to build and seconds to lose. Mine is at a low at the moment due to lack of riding. The only way I've found to really get it back is time in the saddle. My mare is being a, tit at the moment, I won't get on unless I lunge first but that will get better when she's back in work.
Have a look at Carl Greenwood on fb, he's brilliant. His bok makes good reading too.

Yep I’m the exact same. I haven’t ridden for nearly 2 years now and the thought of getting on is starting to worry me as I’ll have a freshly backed youngster to get on!

 

[Dontforgetaboutme]

Confidence is a fragile thing, takes years to build and seconds to lose. Mine is at a low at the moment due to lack of riding. The only way I've found to really get it back is time in the saddle. My mare is being a, tit at the moment, I won't get on unless I lunge first but that will get better when she's back in work.
Have a look at Carl Greenwood on fb, he's brilliant. His bok makes good reading too.

I subscribed to his online course, not sure what is in his hypnotherapy recording as always fall asleep as so soothing ? it has helped loads. I have been through this with my welsh d. She’s great but if she doesn’t understand a question or makes a mistake she can have a tantrum. I have learnt to sit to the buck or spin & she is fine straight after. What I’ve found helps my confidence is to do risk assessment, are we in any danger from the wind etc & I think I must project confidence. I found with her working every day helps so pick a good day & keep going if you can!

 

[Pinkvboots]

Confidence is a fragile thing, takes years to build and seconds to lose. Mine is at a low at the moment due to lack of riding. The only way I've found to really get it back is time in the saddle. My mare is being a, tit at the moment, I won't get on unless I lunge first but that will get better when she's back in work.
Have a look at Carl Greenwood on fb, he's brilliant. His bok makes good reading too.

Can also recommend Carl they have some great hypnosis recordings and run courses in normal times, I went to one of the courses last year and it really helped me.

 

[TwoForTwo]

Thankyou

 

[IrishMilo]

She sounds like a typical Welsh Cob. FWIW there are loads of people out there who she would thrive with, and vice versa, so don't worry about that if you want to sell. We always think no one can look after our horses better than us, and it's (fortunately!) not true!

 

[TwoForTwo]

She sounds like a typical Welsh Cob. FWIW there are loads of people out there who she would thrive with, and vice versa, so don't worry about that if you want to sell. We always think no one can look after our horses better than us, and it's (fortunately!) not true!

1) you don’t know her
2) you don’t know her
3) I’ve had her since she was 3 and she’s never been done or ridden by anyone else apart from my instructor
4) she’s going no where and no where does is say I want to sell her.

So thanks for your input but not what I was actually asking

 

[canteron]

Why not invest in some online training for groundwork and focus in these until you really really want to ride. So many to choose these days - lots of Warwick Schiller free on you tube, trt, Jenku, connection training, clicker etc etc take your pick.
You tube is your friend for research.
Lunging and long reining are fine but as the trt man says, you have to teach your horse to enjoy learning - and it’s great if you feel you can do productive stuff without riding.

This thread is running concurrently and may be useful?
https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/online-groundwork-courses.801174/

 

[TwoForTwo]

Thankyou canteron deffo something to bloom into

 

[Ambers Echo]

1) you don’t know her
2) you don’t know her
3) I’ve had her since she was 3 and she’s never been done or ridden by anyone else apart from my instructor
4) she’s going no where and no where does is say I want to sell her.

So thanks for your input but not what I was actually asking

To be fair to IrishMilo you say without your instructor you would have sold and that she's hard work but you think she would go wrong if sold to someone who did not understand her. So your post sounded to me like you might want to sell but did not think you should because of her 'ways'. But IM is totally right - there are plenty of experienced homes who can help sensitive, spooky horses to thrive. But lots of people worry they need to keep a challenging horse. Her post was intending to be genuinely helpful in reassuring you that you need not worry about that aspect of it. Of cours if you are committed to your horse that is totally fine too.

 

[GreyMane]

Slightly off topic but THANKS for the Karl Greenwood recommendation.
Just watched this video linked on his page - which has brought a smile to my face. I'd say these French riders were confident! (What's Yee Ha in French?)
Perhaps Keith_Beef or another HHO Francophone will be along to translate the French song they sing at the end?
It's Raining Men (Hallelujah)