For those that are nervous - how do you ride alone??

When I first moved to my current yard and started hacking on the fields onsite I was quite nervous as had never tackled open fields alone on him (he was rising 5 at the time). I used to pop my headphones in and sing. It would help me breathe and relax. Although to be fair I'm unsure if my singing made him spook more! :D
 
Giving in to a fear and quitting is easy, the challenge is to overcome it, that is not so easy. I am trying to regain my confidence after a bad fall last year. I am enjoying some rides, pony is happier with a walker. I can ride in school ok on my own. He gets very excited with the rare treat of another pony as company, so that does not help the confidence going out. Just do not be hard on yourself, and only do what you are comfortable with. Somedays may not be as good as others but do not be discouraged. Enjoy the better days. All us nervous ninnies will get there eventually in our own time. With the satisfaction of over coming the nerves.
 
Chotty I have been there (and still am undereath). Twenty years ago I would ride anything and go anywhere. After a series of falls and accidents on totally unsuitable horses my confidence ebbed away without me realising until the day came when I couldnt even get on a horse.
Last year my husband got me (as a final resort) a 15hh cob who was and is amazing but I still couldnt find the confidence.
I had planned to give up riding completely as couldnt get the mojo back and found every excuse not to ride. Out of the blue as a birthday present he bought me a point two air jacket. WHAM!!!!! it came back in an instance. I know it sounds crazy but it made me feel so safe. I know I can still get hurt and break things but the difference is amazing. I am now cantering through woods, on my own, through open fields etc and I start Autumn trail hunting in a coule of weeks, something I hadnt done for years.
I think what I am trying to say is for me, it worked as the mental block about gettig hurt went.
Stay with it and hope you find your trigger to get back your confidence.
 
I lost all my confidence on my last horse because he was unpredictable and too much for me. I sold him and got my girl, who has cheeked me more than he ever thought of doing, but she feels safe for some reason! Probably because she is very confident and her 'voice' sounds like my mum. Cheek is easier to deal with than fear!

When I first got her we walked and trotted with my instructor. She was great, then when I was riding without a lesson she would suddenly dash forward a few strides and I'd get scared.In the end this became such a regular trick that I was ready for it, and I got sick of it. So I stopped her. Then I felt braver, and we have gone from there. Hacking out wise I knew she would go alone when I got her. the bounciness that she'd do due to preferring not to also scared me, so we went up and down the safe track at our yard until one day I actually slightly enjoyed the bouncing as we got a nice outline. Something clicked and I trust her totally, she still has moments of cheek but I feel capable of dealing with them.

In short I felt just like you, the last time I got on my lad it felt like sitting on a ticking time bomb and I also cried at OH. And now I'm cantering, jumping and hacking alone despite bounces and pretend runnings away.

as someone else said one of you has to feel confident! How about some lessons with a sympathetic instructor on a schoolmaster so you remember that you can be in charge? and try tiny little steps so you feel like you can deal with things, like 'today I will trot a 20m circle on each rein'. Circles are great if they are being naughty and getting into a good trot on a tightish circle always helped me feel more in control. slightly shorter stirrups might help too. Other people being afraid in your vicinity is catching and will not help.

Don't forget to be proud of how far you have come, and don't forget that some days are better than others! I wish you lots of luck, or perhaps I'll send you some nice inner strength instead!
 
QuoteI did actually try to give up at one time because some people said they couldn't understand why I was riding at all. But it didn't 't take long for me to realise that the desire to enjoy riding was actually a bit stronger than the fear.quote

^^^^^this totally. When you do overcome your nerves, there is no feeling like it!
 
I think everyone experiences some fear at some point :) It's important not to try and fight through it alone! Do what makes you feel safe, take tiny baby steps and if you go outside the comfort zone go back a stage and build up again. And most importantly look for help: maybe it's a friend walking with you on foot, maybe it's a coach, maybe it's a book by a favourite author (I recommend Michael Peace). Don't give up OP!
 
Orson Cart said:
i can't speak for the others (we may inadvertently all be talking about a different course!) but this is the one I was contemplating:http://www.horsebackcombat.co.uk/Rider-Confidence-Courses.html
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I did this course last week.. amazing!

OP, what are you actually scared of? You need to work this out, is it falling off? getting feet stuck..rearing.. what is your fear?

I am on the up with my confidence and a few things have been key

1. Ride first thing in the morning, yes its ***** getting up early to ride before work, but its better for nervous riders as you can't talk yourself out of it all day, and your nerves don't build like they do waiting till night time
2. Get a good helper, this is key, either OH or paid for help, just get someone that can be your support on the ground
3. Do it again, again, again, again, ride every day for a while,
4. Set yourself goals for the ride, do the same thing till your bored, even if its get on, ride round once, get off, then twice etc
5. Do some in hand work to build trust both ways, horse agility is great as it de-spooks as well
 
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Despite my fear after my last fall, I just get on with it as I love it so much, but I am fussy about which animals I ride these days, and ensure it is one of the two that I completely trust.
 
I think if I was a nervous as the OP I would stop riding the horse and invest in some riding lessons on very slow steady horses and get someone else to ride the horse. It can be much fun for her atm.
 
alainax said:
You mentioned you had a novice sharer, the horse may be having its own confidence knocked if surrounded by people who are not working with her correctly, or worse, learning how to take the piss.

How about getting a confident more experienced sharer to allow the horse to be worked correctly, and give you the breathing space and time to take things at your own pace while knowing things are not being done to the detriment of the horse?
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I second getting a more experienced sharer, who could help take the pressure off you... maybe even give you some helpful tips, but I imagine they are hard to find.

You and your pony haven't been together that long too, so you're still getting to know one another - so of course you'll have your ups and downs.

I'm a sharer, and the ponio's owner lost her confidence with him. He never even did anything bad, as he's a fab boy (just spooky but not silly) but she also had a bad fall with her previous horse who was unsuitable and it took her a long time to recover (physically and mentally). She will occasionally ride him once every month or so, but has weekly lessons at a riding school on schoolmasters and is building up her confidence again. In the meantime i'm keeping her boy ticking over and she lets me take him to shows (should add she's been riding for years whereas i'd class myself as a competent novice).

At the end of the day though, consistent lessons are the key for every rider and even then we'll all still have our ups and downs.

Wish you all the best OP.
Also noticed you live in/near Edinburgh too :)
 
There's been some amazing advice on here from people with very similar experiences to you, OP. I can't pretend I know exactly how you feel right now but I've been in a similar(ish) but lesser state of nerves.

I came back to riding after a 10 year break and went quite swiftly into my first horse share. Monty is generally safe as houses in the school but a *lot* livelier out hacking. As I'd done pretty much all my previous riding at a riding school, I'd probably been on about 4 hacks in my entire life. That was fine - we went out with someone else for a while until I knew a few of the routes.

Then Spring came and Monty decided that hacking with his mate was super fun but hacking by himself was totally scary (not just me being feeble, he was an idiot with his owner too). So me, not very experienced and not very confident, started to dread hacking solo. He isn't dangerous, he's just constantly on the alert for something to plant and goggle at. Or leap sideways at. I'm a bit pathetic when it comes to difficulties and so I would make any excuse to avoid tackling it.

But you know what? Totally got through it! We had a fab hack last week with only a single spook and then had a super fast gallop round a field.

It's so easy to get disheartened. I really did identify with lots of the things you said about feeling despondent but it's all about baby steps. Your horse sounds a bit unsure and stubborn but not naughty, so just keep persevering! You will have to push yourself a bit to actually get on and do it but no-one's expecting you to suddenly be belting round like you were in your teens. A lap of the school or a couple of hundred yards up the lane and back is progress!
 
Hi - I too had lost my confidence and it has taken about 2/3 years for it to come back, not how it used to be but actually very different rider in all ways now , for the better
It has been a long journey and it has been with the help of several methods/techniques -

18 months ago I started on the following journey

1 - I actually stopped riding for 3/4 months , It removed any pressure from me and my boy to ride , I only ever use to take him out of field when I felt brave enough as didn't even want to lead him out to feed him !! I then restarted by having a lunge lesson as well as simulator lesson at a riding school in the new forest that was nowhere near me but had been recommended - the teacher was very good teacher , she understood how I was feeling and it was after this I decided that I wanted to start riding my boy again
2 - I also did lots of groundwork/inhand work with him , long lining and some IH lessons, which where great and greatly improved my confidence and trust in him.
3 - Found a lovely lady on google , Jo Cooper - www.equestrianconfidence.com who has been helping me over the past few years and her methods are NLP and TFT (thought field therapy) and OMG its has been excellent , I am now back riding my boy in the school confidently and has far as hacking out is concerned I am now hacking out on my own , only do two routes but I feel so much more confident now . Before I always had to rely on someone to walk out on foot with me , so a lot of thanks to a very good friend as well

I totally understand all that has happened to you and how you feel , I too would shake, cry and feel sick whenever I thought about riding ....I thoroughly recommend Jo Cooper , she is a rider herself so completely understands horses and riders and can relate to peoples feelings . All the work is done over the phone - so please call her or PM for more details on it - even if it just for a chat first with Jo, she will really understand the process and how it would help. Jo will be familiar with the reasons why you are feeling like you do

Good luck and dont give up
 
OP I know how you are feeling:( my daughter sold her pony a few months ago so my pony and I both had to get used to hacking out on our own, he is only 5 and had never hacked on his own and I am a 49 yo who doesn't have the courage I used to have. I came on here for advice and some lovely people replied with really encouraging words, hence we are now hacking out on our own 5/6 days a week! We do sometimes have spooky moments but overall he is a joy to ride. Like others have said talk/sing out loud, start off with some very short rides and gradually increase the time. You can do it. Enjoy:)
 
I so sympathise Chotty! well done for trying again after such a nasty injury. You will get there, you obviously have the determination and the character to get there, so keep that in mind when things feel tough and difficult.

I know something of how you feel. I am 51 years old and i don't bounce! After several false starts with horses that were too much for me, I now have the world's most saintly horse who I love to bits. But I still find myself being terrified of hacking alone (having fallen off my last horse and got concussion doing that). I worked out today that it was not so much fear of hurting myself but more that if I came off Bilbo I feared it would mean that I couldn't have a successful partnership with him and might have to give him up, which would be awful as I am so fond of him… and also that if I couldn't get it to work with him, who is really the kindest most gentle horse to ride that I have ever known, then my riding career would be over.

Hopefully now I have identified that I can change my thoughts, those are the things that are really holding me back! Perhaps there is something similar in there for you.

In practical terms, if you can afford it, have as many lessons as you possibly can - and / or get some lunge lessons on a schoolmaster. The more confidence you have in your own balance and ability to deal with all the movements of the horse, the more confidence you will have when riding on your own. And I am sorry, but you will have to kindly let your sharer know that you need to terminate the agreement. You and your horse need someone with confidence and skill right now.

I do hope it all works out for you - remember you are amazing and you don't have to do anything you are not comfortable with, work on extending your comfort zone when there are others around then work well within it when you are alone. Good luck xx
 
ok so you have been successful in getting to the stage where you are cantering independently and you have now got frightened again by the incident with the girthing.

So now you are frightened of walking a lap round the school on horse - what do you now think is going to happen if you do this? What has changed?

I think in your situation where you are more frightened than nervous you really need the right horse to help you gain your confidence a horse that is confident enough to not rely on you and also genuine enough to not take advantage of your nervousness. If this is your horse then great but if not then you may need to rethink about if you and your horse are the right team or if your horse needs some training to bring her up to this standard.

With regard to your sharer has she also lost her confidence too if she is lunging rather than riding?

A good instructor that specialises in rebuilding confidence should help. Kelly Marks has a good book called Perfect Confidence which might be useful reading.

Slightly more alternative there are some CD's you can buy for example hacking with confidence which you can listen to - I got the hacking with confidence after having an nasty accident on my pony due to a rogue driver and along with my instructor who at first had to walk out with me I got back into hacking out on my own on the roads again. Pony totally not affected by the accident and was as confident on the roads as he has ever been it was just me.

As for giving up because you are going through a nervous phase often people who have become nervous remember the good times when they were not nervous and it is that feeling that they want to recreate and is why they continue even if they are not enjoying themselves that much at the moment, hopefully you will get back to the level where you feel confident to ride independently again.
 
Hi everyone, thank you all again for the replies, and sharing your own stories and advice!! I have taken what a lot of you have said on board about how confidence will come and go, and that I shouldn't be too hard on myself. I have come a long way from the start and don't intend on giving up just yet!

So last night, I asked a lady on my yard if she would hang around outside of the school while I rode, just so I knew someone was there. She kindly agreed, and ended up giving me some pointers and instruction! Got on, horse decided she didn't want to go in the school, had the lady walk in with me, then she napped again when walking down the long side of the school where the lady was standing. I didn't feel nervous ( :D!) and tried to consciously get annoyed and strict with B as I knew I could get her forward. The lady noticed that I was actually slightly restricting B with my left hand in which I hold my r-stor in, so when trying to bend B to the right to encourage her to take a step forward, I was actually preventing her bending properly, and so she walked backwards even more! She tried it twice more when walking down that longside, but once she realised I had my bossy pants on she didn't even think about it! I walked round the school singing to myself, and then the lady told me to do some trots on each rein, doing some 20m and 15m circles! Ended up getting a really nice trot out of her on each rein, no napping, and even the yard owner came over to watch and commented on my position and how good I looked!!

I genuinely think my horse is the right horse for me, as she hasn't actually scared me at all, it's just I doubt my own abilities at times. She has put up with me for the past 7 months being a shaking mess to where I am now, and only now is she getting a bit cheeky. I think she actually knows that I'm a lot more confident than I was, and now is the time to start testing the waters to see what she can get away with! I could well be wrong, but for just now I'm happy with her, but may well invest on some extra lessons at my old riding school with whom I trust, on one of their schoolmasters.

Still thinking about my sharer and what to do. She hasn't lost confidence with my horse, but tried lunging her as he wanted to try it and treat her like she would if she were her own horse, so mixing up what she does with her on her days. She just doesn't actually know how to do it, and I'm not really sure I want someone making their mistakes and experiencing their learning curves with my horse... Especially as I need my horse to stay the confident one as many of you have pointed out!

I have a free evening tomorrow so am going to go through all the links and recommendations for books/therapies/cds/courses that everyone has sent me :)

Thank you all again! You have all given me a good kick up the bum to realise I can actually get over this!

X
 
It really upsets me when people are so dismissive of others who have lost their confidence. I really hope they never lose it themselves and find out how debilitating it can be. How heartbroken it makes us when cannot do and enjoy what we love most. The fear can be absolutely crippling.

If you don't understand or simply cannot, then don't post. There is nothing helpful in saying "don't do it, then" or "sell him and buy a Shetland instead". OP, you do not have to justify WHY you have lost your confidence. Sometimes it's because of an accident, a fall or riding something that is too much. Sometimes, it just decides to leave of it's own accord!

There are many success stories here, and you should all be proud of yourselves for overcoming your troubles. OP, you will get there. But it does take time. It just doesn't happen overnight. Go slowly, and at your own pace.

Set yourself achievable goals. There's no point in setting a target that you simply cannot reach. For instance:

- Today, my goal is to tack up, get on and do one lap of the school on each rein.

This may seem like nothing, but to some of us, the mere thought can leave us in a cold sweat! For a while, my only goal was to go and fetch my saddle from the tack room. That was it. Simply because the walk to the tack room would make me feel dizzy and sick, I was so nervous. But if all I was doing was getting the saddle and bringing it back to the stable, it soon became habit and I didn't think twice about it. So then, when that thing is no longer an issue, build on it.

Go and fetch saddle. Tack horse up.
Fetch saddle. Tack up. Get on.
Tack up. Get on. Lap of school in walk.
Have a lesson. Go for a hack. Do a dressage test. Start jumping.

5 months ago, when I was still at rock bottom, I was at 'fetch saddle - finish' stage.

I'm now jumping very small courses with our first at-home show (jumping and dressage) this coming weekend.

Whatever you do, and however quickly or slowly you are able to do it, never ever forget - you CAN.
 
Embo said:
Set yourself achievable goals. There's no point in setting a target that you simply cannot reach. For instance:

- Today, my goal is to tack up, get on and do one lap of the school on each rein.

This may seem like nothing, but to some of us, the mere thought can leave us in a cold sweat! For a while, my only goal was to go and fetch my saddle from the tack room. That was it. Simply because the walk to the tack room would make me feel dizzy and sick, I was so nervous. But if all I was doing was getting the saddle and bringing it back to the stable, it soon became habit and I didn't think twice about it. So then, when that thing is no longer an issue, build on it.

Go and fetch saddle. Tack horse up.
Fetch saddle. Tack up. Get on.
Tack up. Get on. Lap of school in walk.
Have a lesson. Go for a hack. Do a dressage test. Start jumping.

5 months ago, when I was still at rock bottom, I was at 'fetch saddle - finish' stage.

I'm now jumping very small courses with our first at-home show (jumping and dressage) this coming weekend.

Whatever you do, and however quickly or slowly you are able to do it, never ever forget - you CAN.
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This was really inspiring :)
 
chotty said:
I'm sorry, but when did I say I get no enjoyment out of my horse??I'm nervous after a bad fall a few years ago, where I fractured my hip and had a severe head injury - before that, I loved nothing more than riding! I came back to horses as I missed it so much, and I love having my horse and slowly but surely becoming less nervous (until this week). I have enjoyed riding and gradually getting more confident every time I ride, up until this week where it seems to have gone backwards, and I don't know why! But I suppose that this little bump in the road means I should forget about it and sell her??
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I used to talk to myself, people out on the tracks may have thought I was mental but it helped distract me and keep me/horse calm. The worst thing about being nervous is the horse picks up on your nerves and becomes nervous themself so its a vicious circle. Dont beat yourself up about it, take things really slow even if its just a plod around the school or up the road.
 
I sing, talk to K, he thinks im completely nuts but hey ho keeps my nerves and i think he likes my strangled cat impression!
(i was jumping and 'wooowing''/ ''whoooppping'' around the school on sunday lol!)

I talk to myself alot..
 
in my opinion you should start completly from scratch! I had the same problem after a loaner left and my horse was extremley naughty! shes never been able to be lunged but I took her completley back to the beging; just walking her round the school if i can't get her to walk on make her stand there until shes bored and must walk forward! It took us a few months for her to get cantering without chucking me off, but I really found circling or doing pole work at walk got her thinking! also when i couldnt ride her (i.e weather or day off) I would still keep her thinking in the end she would get used to your touch being a good thing that comes before reward. I tried rushing things and took her out for a hack where I ended up getting kicked in the arm! again like your mare she does look as if something is wrong with her but its really just her personalitly. If nobody is at your yard and your feeling a bit nervous maybe walk her around the school a few times first to get her used to it, if you dont want to break her into a trot DONT nobody is pushing you to do something your not ready for!! Maybe have a few lessons on her. Pudding is still naughty but everybody gets on her, shes a changed horse she just needed to restart a bit, have a go at riding different horses from naughty ones to school masters. I'm sure your horse will eventually get to where you want her. I was very nervous of my horse when I bought him, I pretended to learn to ride again and now I will do anything on him!
why dont you get someone who is very experinced to come and ride her, or send her away to be trained?
hope this helped!
 
Do not give up my confidence was trashed and I have been having riding lessons and working with 2 year olds and every day I'm fighting shadows and demons, stop the negative thoughts in their tracks and get some professional help, not that you can't ride but find someone to help teach you to calm down and surround yourself with supportive people xx good luck don't quit xxx
 
And thank you, OP for this thread, lots of advice that will help me on my journey, I am considering working with jo cooper who has been mentioned earlier in the thread, I have spoken to her before and I am considering NLP therapy
 
chotty said:
Going through yet another confidence crises this week, after coming on so far with B! Had her for 7 months now and my confidence has went from 0, where I would literally be shaking even just mounting, on the leadrein, to now having lessons walk, trot and a bit of canter (she even did a cheeky buck in canter that I laughed at!!) and short hacks accompanied by another livery and her horse.

This week though, on 2 occasions I've been back to how I was 6months ago! Had my non horsey mum come up with me, who is admittedly quite nervous on the ground with horses. Have ridden a few times with just my mum and me there, which was a big step in itself having someone 'non-horsey' there on the ground. The other night was a disaster though! I have a new saddle in which the girth straps are very very stiff, so after mounting, I asked my mum to stand at my horses head whilst I tried to get the girth up another hole. My horse tried to itch her face on my mum, which resulted in my mum thinking she was trying to bite her and getting very nervous letting me go. These nerves then rubbed off on me, and It all came flooding back! I have no idea why, because my horse never actually did anything other than take a few steps forward, following my mum who had backed off! Anyway, I managed to get a few laps round the school following my mum on the ground - something which I did months ago and thought I was past :(

So last night I went up with my boyfriend, who isn't horsey, but is confident enough. Tacked up, had the same issues with the girth straps (going to get them changed) and then asked my horse to walk on. She napped and refused to walk on as boyfriend was still standing at her side. Asked him to take a few steps with me, and she walked on quite happily. As soon as he stopped I battled to get her walking on again without him! If he walked on ahead of me then she was fine!

I know I was nervous and tense (first time at that yard riding her in the dark with floodlights, last horse very spooky so I was half expecting her to be like that, as well as what had happened with my mum) so that's why my horse was reluctant to walk on without my boyfriend, but I ended up crying, arguing with my boyfriend who kept telling me that I had to go round the school at least once on my own, and getting off feeling so deflated and angry at myself.

I wasn't riding with a stick last night, which would have probably helped, but I was so tense that I almost didn't want to walk round on my own! Why am I being like this after coming on so far!? B hasn't done anything to make me nervous, but I feel like I can't ride without someone horsey being on the ground, who understands what I'm feeling and can give me instruction. Been having regular lessons, but had to cancel last one as found out a friend passed away the morning I was due my lesson, so cancelled at last minute.

I hate relying on my horsey friends to babysit me, especially as they have their own horses/are at other yards and have to go out of their way, but I honestly feel like I can't ride when they're not there!

I can't even lunge my horse now without a battle as my novice sharer tried lunging a few times without me knowing, and let my mare get away with running in at her and refusing to go back out etc. Not her fault as she didn't know what she was doing, but now B has a different attitude to lunging and just decides she doesn't have to do it, so ends up being a battle of wills to just get her going round a couple of times nicely.

I'm going to get her checked for ulcers, as problems with girth and napping I know can be signs, but I just want to know how other nervous riders get to the point where they can ride without having someone there on the ground? Life would be so much easier if I could do that!! I thought I was almost there, but maybe I need to just get on and do it one day? Sharer rides her on her own no problem.

Sorry this thread is so long! Needed to just let it out, as horsey friend was suppose to meet me today but has been called into work unfortunately, so now I won't ride today as no-one else to be there on the ground :(
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Been there got the t shirt so I have empathy. It's a process and can take a while. First of all what are you nervous of, her, what may happen with any horse, being on your own?

My girl didn't like being on her own and it was a confidence thing rather than a naughty streak but trying to hack her out on my own was a nightmare so for a while I didn't. My OH would walk with me or I'd hack out with someone else. On her own she would nap so my confidence suffered so it was a vicious circle. With time, patience and rescue remedy we got there. She now trusts me but still back off if we go out alone.

Forgot to say, I had a sharer and that's when she started napping so no disrespect to sharer but I would not have a sharer for now. She needs to trust you and not get mixed messages. By all means get some help from a professional and have people walk/hack out with you.
 
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I can sympathise.

I have done the horseback combat course and it was amazing. The NLP is great, they get you to play movies of what's scaring you in your mind and rewind it and then replace it with movies of things that are great about riding. It sounds odd but coupled with the achievement of being reared with and fallen down with it's great.

When I had broken bits and shattered confidence although I had my own horse I went to a local riding school and got on a school master to prove to myself that I could do it. Sometimes taking yourself from your usual environment can help as any unhelpful associations can be broken (such as I got nervous here and had a fight with my bf here)

Thirdly it may be worth getting someone to ride your horse for a couple of weeks, recharge your batteries and go back when your passion for horses is burning a bit more brightly again.

Worked for me and I've gone from someone who wouldn't eat for 4 hours pre ride incase I ended up in hospital needing surgery and had a mortal fear of canter transitions (dumb I know) to competing, jumping and considering hunting.

Tincture of time is also most helpful.

Good luck!
 
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I am in a similar situation to you....really nervous of my new pony, can find every reason not to get on etc., and hate myself for it, particularly as he hasn't done anything. I decided to hand my worries over to a good instructor who specialises in nervous riders. She does something with him before I get on which always gives me tremendous confidence....and she gives me a little task to achieve between lessons...such as one lap of the very small school, before that it was get on and off on my own! IMHO your sharer should be someone more confident than you..it should help you see it can be done, and give the horse the confidence to do it..then you get on and feel the benefit! This thread should convince you that there are so many nervous riders out there and we all feel the same but still want to do it...people just don't seem to admit it face to face, not in my yard anyway. Have fun and remember confidence isn't linear, it goes up and down....keep posting!
 
chazza44 said:
I can sympathise.
Worked for me and I've gone from someone who wouldn't eat for 4 hours pre ride incase I ended up in hospital needing surgery and had a mortal fear of canter transitions (dumb I know) to competing, jumping and considering hunting.

Tincture of time is also most helpful.

Good luck!
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I loved this, particularly not eating for 4 hours before riding, super admission..thanks for sharing! As for canter trans...I have those in my forward plan for late 2015, after lots of 'tincture', NLP, Rescue Remedy, St John's Wort etc. etc!
 
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