Fell Off & Feel Down, Confidence Issues

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silverstar

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I went horsehunting today and fell off the first horse I saw, the second I got nervous jumping on. Its my confidence, I set off nicely get near the jump and put the handbrakes on. Also I got told I bounce a lot in the saddle in canter. I need to sit deeper and Ive been riding 10+ years. I really love jumping but get scared. Ive been told to get lessons but I cant afford to do that and look for a new horse. I feel like a total numpty riding. Has anyone else lost their confidence? Has everyone got issues with their riding? I know not everyones perfect.

Please no nasties thanks, not that the nice folk of HHO would.
 
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Maybe the bouncing was simply because you was riding a new horse and feeling a bit insecure/lacking in confidence, and falling off when trying a horse is not exactly going to help you !! try to put it behind you and move on, the perfect partner is out there somewhere just waiting for you to find him/her - keep your chin up :-))
 
Too~Many~Nags said:
Maybe the bouncing was simply because you was riding a new horse and feeling a bit insecure/lacking in confidence, and falling off when trying a horse is not exactly going to help you !! try to put it behind you and move on, the perfect partner is out there somewhere just waiting for you to find him/her - keep your chin up :-))
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Its not a new horse thing the bouncing. I think a couple of lessons may help.
 
I fell off last Aug and broke my ankle - well smashed it!!! my horse bolted with me and then decided to snatch the reins result a fall!! Ive owned this horse for 5 years and she has never done anything like this before so ive put it down to being a one off. Her teeth, back and saddle are fine.

Ive just back on her and have been ok till yesterday. I had a massive panic attack whilst on her. She didnt do in particular but I just freaked and wanted to get off but at this point I realised I couldnt lift my leg over her back due to muscle wasteage so i just threw myself on the floor. Horse just looked at me daft.

So how do I get over this??????
 
Have you considered putting off the horse buying for 6 months and spending money on really good lessons instead? It might be the right decision for you long term.
 
WHen I went trying horses I hadn't been riding regularly for a year as my old mare had been out of work. I took my instructor and she did the jumping bit, because I knew how out of practice I was. I found it very useful to watch their technique over the fences too. I just had a ride on the flat to get a good feel for the horse and then with the one I ended up buying, I went back to hack it out. If you are not happy jumping the horses yourself, take someone with you who is an experienced jumper, then you can watch and they can give you some feedback on how the horse felt.
 
This happens to me on occasion too, my confidence gets knocked back easily, especially with jumping!!

I agree that lessons would really be sensible... Private ones (or ones with just one or two other people) are usually better, even if it means having them less often.

A good idea, when riding, is just to conciously relax your whole body and take some deep, calming breaths. I've ridden some crazies (my old boy certainly had his moments) and this helps, just to kind of relax and organise yourself and calm the horse :p
 
noblesteed said:
WHen I went trying horses I hadn't been riding regularly for a year as my old mare had been out of work. I took my instructor and she did the jumping bit, because I knew how out of practice I was. I found it very useful to watch their technique over the fences too. I just had a ride on the flat to get a good feel for the horse and then with the one I ended up buying, I went back to hack it out. If you are not happy jumping the horses yourself, take someone with you who is an experienced jumper, then you can watch and they can give you some feedback on how the horse felt.
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Good idea. Ihatework - yes considered that but I want my own horse now. Going to book some lessons but they wont be every week. The only decent riding school with schoolmasters is an hour away but worth the drive. I just keep jumping with the handbrake on and really want to get out of this habit.
 
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I think it may definitely be worth holding off horse buying, and having a couple of lessons with an experienced and sympathetic instructor on a schoolmaster/horse you feel confident on. When I used to jump, the pony I had was a rearer, napper and bolter.....Totally chipped away at my confidence, I didn't feel capable of being a rider at all and I've ridden since I was 4! I had some lessons that focused on flatwork and even more so on my position; I felt more stable, stronger and more capable.

Just as a side note, be careful you're not viewing horse that are too sharp for you.... as long term, it will never work. It might be worth viewing horses that are a couple of years older, and have seen abit more of the world? Good luck! xoxo
 
As part of my education my RI has me on creatures ranging from 14hh to 16.2, with lots of variations in stride length, canter smoothness etc. On one horse it took me at least 3 lessons to get the hang of his canter at all - the cadence was alien to me, and the more I thought about it the harder it became to relax. Know how we cracked it? Tough transition work, where it wasn't the transitions themselves that helped but being so busy thinking about when I had to anticipate a change of pace that I forgot about the canter itself... and then I was relaxed. It can take time with different horses so don't be offput.

If you can't afford lessons, do you have any horsey friends who would know enough to watch and help you riding instead? It's not ideal, but might be a good compromise to help with technique and confidence.
 
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Poor you. I totally utterly sympathise. I have fallen off my new boy three times of late. Have hacking issues and now for the first time in a long time am seriously feeling my nerves. I agree with the others, hold off the hunting and try and get lessons or rides where you can. Maybe lunge lessons? I know may sound silly, not doubting your ability but really helps you to build trust in the horse and so good for your seat. In canter try to sit right up, breathe and let your pelvis absorb the movement. One instructor used to say that when sitting to canter, think about having sex(!!!!) - that kind of rhythmic movement! Or trying to imagine sitting on your thumb behind saddle when in canter. My friends horse has such a big wafty canter that some days there is big air between me and saddle.

Sometimes i wear my ipod, just put one ear in, down low. I sing so helps me to breathe and relax. Your confidence will come back. Do not put pressure on yourself and take your time hunting. Am trying to stay positive myself, but also I need to give myself a metaphorical kick up the arse to shut up and get on with it, as I know I cannot give in to it.

Chin up honey, you are not alone!
 
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