For all you who battle your nerves

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zeuscleoharmony

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I do too but with a mouthful of mints and a deep breath I rode Archie today and it was fab. I know he is as near an angel as you can get but my mind really does play games with me. When I think about riding I can feel physically sick and it would be so easy to throw in the towel. BUT, I get so, so much enjoyment from my boy and the choice is either to overcome my fears or part with him. No choice. I am becoming more confident with every ride (though not complacent) and I love my boy more every day. On April 1st I have owned him 4 years and I feel so lucky to have found him.

To those of you who are wracked with nerves, don't give up. Take things a little at a time, ride when you think the time is right, not because you think you should and hopefully your nerves will fade.

I have good days when I have little or no nerves, I have bad days when I regress to being a bag of nerves and really not a lot of use to anyone, but with the support of my fellow HHO's I realise I am not alone and with support and encouragement riding can be enjoyable once more.

xxx
 
Thanks so much for your post, so many people feel guilty about being nervous and can be sneered at by so many people who are naturally confident and don't understand why we still persevere with something that scares the s...t out of us some days. I am battling with my own demons and have highs and lows but the highs so make up for the lows, there are a lot of us nervous nellies out there so good on you.
 
Awww AM! Well done! I'm so pleased for you!

Meant to PM you the other day, but never got round to it! I hacked!!!!! Four miles, roads, a woods, the whole shabang!!!
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Glad you and Archie are getting there too! Keep us updated!

Oh and what a coincidence. I've had Freddie for a year on 1st April!!!
 
Thanks for your post. We are horseless at the moment and there are days when I wonder why I should bother getting another at all. I think how nice it would be not to have to walk to the yard in all weathers and battle with nerves - I'm not very brave myself. But I love them so much and I know sooner or later, we'll have another in our lives. Its nice to hear other people have demons to battle. There are lots of kids and teenagers who ride on our yard and they never seem to worry, I do feel ashamed admitting to nerves.
 
Really good to hear you've got over your nerves, a friend of mine's in the same boat
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her horse is an absulte gem, but for some reason she keeps losing her nerve. She barely got off the yard yesterday and had to come beck
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she's getting quite upset about it, especially as the horse hasn't done anything wrong.

Just out of interest, how did you go about regaining your confidence? I want to try and help her get back in the saddle.
 
Well done to you! I really believe the best way to start rebuilding your confidence is to celebrate every single step. I completely lost my confidence a couple of years ago - and the first time I went to get on my mare it took me 45 minutes of nearly being in tears stood on the mounting block! And then we managed to walk about 2 minutes down the road, and then turned back and came home!!

To the person who said how do you do it - sheer bloody mindedness in my case! I was so determined that I could make my mare as great as I knew as she could be - and so determined that my fears were not going to rule me! Oh there were plenty of days where I just wanted to give up - but I am far to stubborn for my own good sometimes!!

I have had my mare for 5 years now - and had a foal from her as I had lost my confidence so completely and needed an utter break from trying to battle with my demons - but in the last 8 months we have started schooling, and have now started doing some dressage!

I now have the horse I always wanted - I enjoy hacking (which I hadn't for years), I enjoy competing (which I have NEVER enjoyed before) - and we have such a strong bond I can't believe it.

I'm sorry for rambling on - but me and my girl have finally reached a happy place - and a lot of my motivation on bad days was from reading about people on here who had managed to overcome their worries and demons!

Trust me - you CAN do it!!
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Following a fall last summer I am now a real nervous nellie - not helped by owning a nervous 5yo lol (bought him as 4yo prior to loss of confidence).

Like the rest of you I just keep plodding on and hoping for the best. Some days it really feels like its all coming together, others not so much. But I trust that we'll get there in the end
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There is no shame in admitting to a few nerves! You should be jolly pleased that you can make other riders feel that they are not alone in having doubts. It seems to happen more frequently to 'older' riders but I put that down to lifes other pressures.
Do post when you get another horse - really hope that you can find the right one for your family as we recently did.
 
I may have slightly bullied my nervous friend into riding today
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she had her tack out, and then decided she didn't have time. I made her go along the bridle path and back (takes less than 15 mins), she did it and came back smiling
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if she goes 3 steps further next time, it'll be progress.

She's asked me to take the horse for a canter in the school tomorrow then make sure she does it as well
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apparently I can use a cattle prod on her if I have to.
 
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