HELP Why have my confidence issues returned?

[kittyb]

So for those of you who have spoken to me on here before you'll know that earlier this year I was suffering from severe confidence issues due to my new horse that was doing his best rodeo impressions bucking, broncing, spinning, rearing and bolting and eventually managed to get me off (flying backwards at about 25mph and hurting my back really badly). I finally bit the bullet after a few months and decided he wasn't the boy for me (he is now in an experienced home with a strong man!!) and replaced him with the sweetest little gelding who has been a complete angel.

So over the last few months my confidence increased dramatically, from being a shaking nervous wreck to happily hacking alone and starting to train towards competing.

However, since having a couple of weeks off riding with a bad chest infection I seem to have started struggling with my confidence a little again. This especially flairs up when doing rein back as my old boy used to step back a couple of steps before sticking his head down, bucking and then bolting for the hills.

My sweet boy is the most genuine type and not even at all spooky so its definitely not anything I could be picking up from him

I'm obviously a little irritated with myself as I thought I was over my confidence issues. Do these kind of issues ever go away or does everyone get them from time to time?

Any tips for overcoming them when they do flair up? I have been having lessons and my instructor says I tend to tense up and close my hips as soon as I feel at all nervous and I don't want it to effect our chances when we compete

 

[cheeryplatypus]

It will be because you've been ill. You aren't feeling yourself and so your body wants to protect you from further damage so to speak. It's quite normal. Often our nervous patients are worse when they've had other things going on. It's never just about the dentist/riding/pony etc its about how you're feeling about yourself as a whole. Take it slowly and give yourself a break. Your confidence will come back again as long as you don't fret too much about it. Are you completely better now or still tired etc?

 

[kittyb]

cheeryplatypus I am better now but have lost a fair bit of muscle strength so you could be onto something there. I have no core muscles at the mo at all!