Feeling anxious

[EJR]

I posted a few days ago, I got my first horse recently. Tonight I rode her and she kept taking off in canter, turning in to the centre of the arena and walking backwards and it totally knocked my confidence!

I got off her and untacked her and another livery talked me in to going back on with her horse in the are enabled and she was much calmer but still played up a bit. When she was going good I was happy but I did get worked up and anxious she was going to start bucking or rearing which she didn't.

Could it partly have been me? Or totally me? I think her bit was too big I got a new one but will change it back, the other girls agreed.

Don't know the point of this post I just feel anxious now thinking should I have got her??

 

[bisou]

Pulling on her mouth when she started cantering (which is a natural reaction I know) might have caused the walking backwards. Hard to know what caused the cantering in the first place. As alway get her saddle, back, teeth checked, and get a good riding instructor to work with you if it continues as that'll get your confidence up and they'll be able to see why she's doing it. The bit being too big shouldn't solely cause all that but it's hard to say without seeing the horse. It's not necessarily you or your riding!! If you're going to get off, do it when you've ended the session on a good note, not just after she's taken off. What's she like being lunged?

 

[Horseshoe2]

Keep going with the another livery in the school. Try to figure out why she was like that by herself, she may just have needed some reassurance from another horse in that new place. Talk to her old owner to see what work she did, Was it in a school, in a field, just her riding or other people with her. Then you can start to decide what happened, it may have been you but you never know fully (especially with a mare)
You will have set backs but if you really like your new horse and you got on with her when you went to view her (I'm assuming you did?) then you should have got her, you should eventually sort it out. Also, have you got an instructor? if you don't have one,you may want to find one to get advice on dealing with the issues.

 

[EJR]

It was after canter (that I asked for) we were walking along lovely and she just stopped and started walking backwards which panicked me as she backed up to the fence. She did then walk on. I haven't tried lunging her yet do you think I should?

I'm with my instructor tomorrow she is amazing at what she does and I know having her in the arena alone will make me more settled!

Yes she was lovely when I tried her and watched her old owner on her too.

I just feel deflated.

 

[EJR]

Sorry for auto correct!

 

[EJR]

Meant to add she was just ridden in a field on her own before. I felt like she was a bit unsure too. Her surroundings are totally different. Even down to when I was catching her another mare wouldn't let her out. There's a lot for her to take in

 

[LadySam]

Aw, I think you've got a little bit of both going on here. Yes, the horse does have a lot to take in here, especially riding in a school surrounded by others when that's the exact opposite of what she's used to. It's all so new.

But the fact you got anxious over nothing when riding the other horse and it was going well also indicates that you also have a lot that's new to take in and that you need to work on your confidence. That just goes with the territory when you're starting out. So much is unknown, and it's only natural to worry about the unknown. But try not to. Expect something to go wrong and it likely will. Expect nothing to go wrong and it likely won't - plus you'll be calmer and more clear-headed and able to deal with the situation if something does go a little awry.

Keep working with your instructor, keep learning. Right now, every time you get on that horse you should learn something - something about the horse, something about yourself, something you need to do or not do.

The only reason to have not gotten your horse - or any horse - is if you're unwilling to work through stuff like this and expect it to be plain sailing all the time. As Horseshoe2 said, you'll have setbacks. Honey, you're going to fall off a few times and fall flat on your ar$e in a bunch of ways, let's be real! But embrace it. This is the reality of horsey life. We've all been there. The best way to build your confidence up is to not dwell on it and get right back in the saddle. Earn those stripes, woman! Best of luck.

 

[EJR]

Yes I definitely need to work on my confidence. I was 100% expecting something to go wrong when I got on her. I'm going to try and be more confident today and hope yesterday is the worst she'll be. If she's the same today I know I can actually deal with it!

I'll update how my lesson goes

 

[Clodagh]

Just remember when you are feeling nervous you are sending signals to the horse shouting 'DANGER, DANGER' the horse is then thinking 'WHERE? WHERE?' and gets tense. The horse is a herd animal who is happy to accept you as a pal but she needs you to think that everything is fine, then she will think that too. Sing to yourself, or talk, you will look special but it does help as it makes you breathe.
Rescue remedy is good too. Think positive thoughts and enjoy. Baby steps.

 

[wren123]

Definitely think positive thougts, actually mentally say to yourself, relax this is great i am a good rider etc., it really does work.

It is difficult to say without knowing the horse but things I would work on is lots of transitions to get your horse focusing on you, so walk say six strides, then trot six strides, then ask for halt, then walk to canter then back to walk, but if the horse starts getting wound up then sto and walk on a loose rein. I used to ride a horse that would go walk backwards in the school, I would ask him to walk backwards for a few strides then ask him to walk on. But again I would be careful not to get the horse stressy. Another thing I have used is lots of pole work anything basically to keep the horse's mind busy and off being spooky.
Hopefully your instructor will help out as things that help with one horse don't work with another.

 

[EJR]

Thank you for your suggestions. I went up this morning to see her and it was lovely. Though now I'm home I have to admit I'm dreading my lesson a bit in case she acts up. Flitting between 'it'll be fine' to 'oh no'. Trying to think positive

 

[wren123]

Now I want some positive thoughts from you!
You are going to have a great lesson and get some advice from your instructor on what to do if these problems arise.
Remember to smile as well, you might look a bit manic but it does relax you!

 

[EJR]

I will give the smiling a go😂

I do know if she was spooky yesterday or she just wanted rid of some energy. Apart from the walking backwards

 

[Sukistokes2]

Why not just stick to walk and trot for a bit and build up to the canter?