Rana
Well-Known Member
Sorry, this could get long!
I currently share a friends horse, 1 day a week. I've been riding her for the past few months, and was getting on brilliantly with her - she was safe, ploddy, exactly what I needed, and my confidence grew. She was always quite nappy, especially in the school, but gave me a lovely safe feeling.
She has now moved to a new yard, and is a lot more forward going than she was. She's also even more nappy. She constantly feels like she's going to tank off with me, has p'd off a few times, and bucked several times. Not quite the horse I got to know! I also don't particularly like the new yard - it's very busy and competitive.
I'm quickly losing my confidence with her. To the point, where I rode her on Saturday, got on, walked her up to the arena, walked a circle, got off and burst into tears
Fortunately my OH was there, so he hopped on her and rode her instead. She bucked with him, tanked off, and napped. He didn't enjoy it, but did stay on and wasn't overly bothered.
So, ultimately, I want to give up sharing her - she's too much for me now she's moved, and I don't like the yard. I'm also short of money and time, but I could find both if I was enjoying her. I don't want to let my friend down, especially at this time of year, but I am shaking and feeling sick at the thought of hacking this horse on Saturday.
What do I do? How do I tell her? I know she won't understand the problem - we had a brief conversation about it a few weeks ago - she said "What's the problem? You can canter, can't you? She'll only take you back to her stable".
I have mentioned that I don't like the new yard, and why, so should I use that as my reason? Would it be more diplomatic than just "I don't enjoy riding your horse"? Or should I just be honest and say that I've totally lost my confidence (she is likely to try to reason with me that the horse won't do anything etc etc, and talk me out of it)?
I have other horses I can ride - surprisingly, both are more forward going and sharp than this mare. I can cope with bucking, going sideways, jogging, rearing, forward, active horses. I can't cope with being tanked off with, which is what this horse does. So I haven't lost my confidence completely, it's just with this one horse.
Advice please - I don't want to fall out with a friend, there's no share agreement in place, but I really don't want to ride this horse again. OH might ride her instead if owner wants a months notice.
I currently share a friends horse, 1 day a week. I've been riding her for the past few months, and was getting on brilliantly with her - she was safe, ploddy, exactly what I needed, and my confidence grew. She was always quite nappy, especially in the school, but gave me a lovely safe feeling.
She has now moved to a new yard, and is a lot more forward going than she was. She's also even more nappy. She constantly feels like she's going to tank off with me, has p'd off a few times, and bucked several times. Not quite the horse I got to know! I also don't particularly like the new yard - it's very busy and competitive.
I'm quickly losing my confidence with her. To the point, where I rode her on Saturday, got on, walked her up to the arena, walked a circle, got off and burst into tears
So, ultimately, I want to give up sharing her - she's too much for me now she's moved, and I don't like the yard. I'm also short of money and time, but I could find both if I was enjoying her. I don't want to let my friend down, especially at this time of year, but I am shaking and feeling sick at the thought of hacking this horse on Saturday.
What do I do? How do I tell her? I know she won't understand the problem - we had a brief conversation about it a few weeks ago - she said "What's the problem? You can canter, can't you? She'll only take you back to her stable".
I have mentioned that I don't like the new yard, and why, so should I use that as my reason? Would it be more diplomatic than just "I don't enjoy riding your horse"? Or should I just be honest and say that I've totally lost my confidence (she is likely to try to reason with me that the horse won't do anything etc etc, and talk me out of it)?
I have other horses I can ride - surprisingly, both are more forward going and sharp than this mare. I can cope with bucking, going sideways, jogging, rearing, forward, active horses. I can't cope with being tanked off with, which is what this horse does. So I haven't lost my confidence completely, it's just with this one horse.
Advice please - I don't want to fall out with a friend, there's no share agreement in place, but I really don't want to ride this horse again. OH might ride her instead if owner wants a months notice.