First ride after two years....

Z

zip

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Hi, I'm getting on and attempting to ride tonight after an accident a few years ago. I have ridden once before last year but I felt like I had forgotten everything and I was so nervous my legs were shaking as I rode.

This horse is a nice steady cob mare, I have been to meet her and she seems a nice type, not sharp. ( I hope) and If all goes well I will exercise her for the owner as she is recovering from a traffic accident. She is gng to be lunged first, so any tips. I don't want to transfer my nerves to her. Deep breaths.......

Thanks
 
Smile! :D
It really helped me relax after a fall and time off riding. It helped having someone in the middle talking to me, to take my mind off riding how scary and high up I was :)
 
have someone to chat to, it takes your mind off it :)
Also - sing a song if you get really nervous, like 10 green bottles. The steady rhythm will MAKE you breathe so you don't sit there getting so nervous you go blue from not breathing :)
 
Have a one to one chat and cuddle first, ideally you should tack up. All time for you to get to know the mare and chill out together. Tell her you trust her and explain the situation to her. She won't understand your words but will get your tone and it will help you set it all out in your head, kind of like alcoholics saying they are an alcoholic!

If in doubt, lengthen your reins to avoid grabbing her head, maybe put a neckstrap on for your confidence knowing it's there. And just do what you feel comfortable with, walk today if that goes well maybe a little trot. When you feel you've pushed yourself far enough go back to walk. Next time push yourself a little further, I try to do one thing each week that I am not comfortable with on my youngster so that we both advance.

If you're doing a lot of very slow work you could add bending or poles flat on the ground to stop her getting bored and fidgiting.

Singing works, or nursery rhymes. Trust her and she will feel able to trust you.

And try to enjoy it, riding is what you do for fun!
 
Singing really works, I know I'm probably one of the most nervy riders ever. :D Also try and take in what's around you so you are not completely focusing on the horse, and don't hold the reins too short. I do that a lot and am now conscious of it and I don't tense up so much. You'll be fine I'm sure xx
 
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