Fear

RubysGold

RubysGold

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I have to ride Roo out everyday, can't go in the arena as its got to be straight lines.
BUT im terrified of hacking :(
Yesterday was fine as I had mum with me and so I felt safe.
But today, Roo was angelic again, couldnt fault her :D But it was a constant fight with myself to NOT get off. And after like 10 mins, I was shaking :?

No one will want to hack with me, becuase we can only do 10 mins walk at moment, so waste of time tacking up etc for others.

HOW ON EARTH am I suppose to build her up to full work out on hacks :? I have like 3 months ahead of me hacking EVERY day :o

*buries head*
 
Oh bless you! you managed today though even though you felt like that. Just keep trying, I have got off, got on, stood still, sung, talked to myself, ridden with my OH on foot, on bike, my daughter has even led me round the school on a lead rein!!!! I got my nerve back in the end by just carrying on no matter how stupid or scared I felt.
 
get to the bottom of the problem. why are you scared? what do you think will happen? there is no rush lovely, like you said, a whole 3 months of hacking, so just take your time go at your pace and if you have to, drag someone on a bike or just walking. if having someone there makes you feel better, keep them there until you feel ready. Roo rounds like a a lovely horse and slightly off topic but always been interested, as a Shire x TB, whats her jump like?
 
RG glad it's gone well so far, why don't you try and tie up with people who are maybe just out of the school and see if they'll just pop out with you for those 10 mins...if it's in walk they could use the time to cool down their horses? Or is there a way they could head out on their hack with you and then you come back after the 10 mins walk on your own whilst they carry on or would that upset Roo? So glad to hear you're back on board :)
 
Thanks for the replies :)
Im scared that she'll spook, I'll fall off and she'll run away. :(
Just wish my mum didnt have to work so much :/ I could ask one of the liveries to help, but I'm ashamed to admit it, when my horse is one of the best behaved on the yard.

BSJA: She has THE most amazing jump :D She'll jump anything you put in front of her, and clear it by quite a way (at least up to about 3"3, I've not gone higher). I miss jumping her, just hope we can again
 
MD: I couldnt leave them once I'd set off with them, Roo wouldnt be naughty but I'd panic.
I could have a word with some of them and see if I could arrange for someone to ride out after schooling :)
Thanks
 
she sounds awesome! what happened if you dont mind me asking :( and i also hope you back to jumping very soon, she sounds like she loves it!
 
Shes had windgalls (huge! ones) since before I bought her but they never caused any problems.
Then in September she went lame, they did scans on her front fetlocks and found a lot of scar tissue and an old tear, something had obv added to the damage.
So she had to have surgery to cut the annular ligaments (both fronts), get rid of scar tissue and "tidy up" a tear, not sure what that means though.
Its nice to be back on, but I wish I could ride in the arena.
 
You have to think positive. :) A friend of mine lost her confidence riding, she would go to the yard, groom and tack her boy up, then take all his tack back off. She didn't even have the confidence to get on him. She did that nearly every day for years. She was desperate to ride, but just couldn't do it. She'd had all the lessons, but nothing could convince her she was good enough to hack out on her horse. With the help of another friend, and gentle encouragement from both her and me, she is now back to galloping across the mountain again.
She has turned into a complete speed freak! :D Her horse isn't even the easiest horse to ride. He hates hacking out on his own, and spins constantly trying to go home. When he's excited he spins on the spot and does mini rears, but she takes it all in her stride now. She knows that he's not going to do anything nasty. I passed her the other day in my car and she was out hacking on her own. I was so proud of her! :D
She's come a long way from 12 months ago, when we hacked out together and she first attempted the last leg of her journey home on her own. I was so worried, I slung my horse in his stable and followed her at a discreet distance in my car, just to make sure she was ok. I haven't to this day, told her I trailed her home. :)
When she rides now and she feels insecure, she just envisions herself doing it and it helps her loads.
 
Rubysgold I know exactly how you feel! Don't feel silly or be afraid to ask for help, it isn't surprising after what you've been through with your lovely girl.

What I'd say is, three months is AGES, and, it can be longer if needed, it doesn't matter, she's your horse and you have to do this together. When I have had a major crisis in confidence, I tackle it in tiny, tiny stages. I make myself a deal for that day, which might only be walking to the end of the drive and back. If all goes well I do that for a few days until it is boring and I want to go further, then I rethink the plan and decide firmly where next, like maybe the third telegraph pole after the end of the lane if you see what I mean. Before I know it the fear has disappeared again as long as I stick to my goals. I only ever do what I decided to do, no more, which makes it feel very safe. I also make sure someone knows exactly where I am going and how long I will be, I usually say I will text when I get back so that they would know if anything happened. The other thing I have done is to lead the horse until you are halfway round your hack, then get on and ride back, I always feel safer on the way back somehow! I sound like a real neurotic and I am so not, but sometimes I have these weird blips and this works for me every time. Hope that helps, good luck, you will be back to riding without worrying in no time.
 
If you would feel better when in company could you not do what I did when in a similar situation and ask a friend who is schooling one day if they would mind having a 10 minute warm up/cool down walk off with you?? It helped my confidence heaps to have someone there and see he will behave and I will now go out on my own quite happily too!
 
Agree with appylass that even leading in hand can improve confidence, it's about learning to trust and bond again out and about, if you then feel like hopping on, all the better. Dont pressur yourself or stress too much, it WILL improve
 
Hey, you are not alone ..... And it does get better.

Couple of thoughts. Firstly try to reinterpret your nerves as excitement before you get on. Secondly, try and distract your thoughts from your fear. For example count 10 walk strides then 5 trot strides, then 5 walk, then a halt - or whatever to keep your brain busy. Or you could focus on which hind leg is coming forward without looking. You need to develop a few tricks to stop your brain going into overdrive.

Good luck.
 
Oh bless you, I know exactly how you feel as I am in the same boat.

My chap is a few weeks ahead of Roo in his rehab and I have had to provide 'controlled' walking exercise for 10 mins twice a day for 2 months, building up to 20 mins. Two weeks ago he was declared sound.

Towards the end of the box rest I decided to start riding as we were up to 20 mins and it was worth it. Up to that point, like you, I would have said that he was the safest on the yard. However on the fifth ride he bolted along the road with me. :eek:

I am now not only scared witless, I hate him and all the trust I had in him has gone.

The point of this essay is to say that you are right to be worried as even the
steadiest horse can behave unpredictably after box rest, so take all the precautions you need to to make you feel as safe as you can, back protector,
person walking, get off if necessary etc etc. There is no shame in getting off
before Roo realises you are scared, you need to keep safe and achieve small
things each time you go out. In hand hacks wil contribute to the fittening work so you could walk day and ride it the next.

I have also told everyone on the yard and they have been fantastic. I have
'targeted' two ladies with the safest horses and asked them for help. They
have been really pleased to help and only too happy to ride with me for 20
mins or so. You may be surprised and get a really helpful reaction from your
yard mates - after all, everyone at one point has been in the same position.

I also checked about working in the school and we are allowed by the vet to use it so long as no 10 metres circles etc. My lad had a swollen tendon sheath
and had IRAP treatment for it.

The bolting episode was 2 weeks ago and yesterday I hacked out for 30 mins with a steady companion. We were in front all the way and even had a little
trot!

You will get there. I feel so much better about what I have achieved and hopefully will be back to normal soon.

So, good luck, take it steady and ask for help from your friends. :)
 
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