Rupert2006
Well-Known Member
I bought my first horse after a long break of owning my own horse - he is a 14 year old TB. I bought him last May. We have built up a good relationship, he is an angel to handle on the ground, albeit he was a bit nervous in the beginning, as was I - I hacked him out without any problems and he was always good in the school. However, recently he has become more on his toes - in the school he just wants to rush about and it took me a while to bring him back to me. Out hacking yesterday, the first time for a while, he was a total nightmare, spinning around and jogging practically all the way around. Now in my heart I know that he is a good horse - but he is making me realise that i think i have lost my confidence a bit - when I was shopping for horses, I got bolted with on this crazy horse and we nearly came a cropper and now all I can think about is that my horse is going to bolt with me. Although he has not really given me a reason to think he will - but the more he pisses about and throws tantrums the less and less i want to ride him. I know that probably he needs to be ridden more out hacking to solve the problem of him being a git - he naps before we go out - I spent ages the other day just trying to get him to move! I wonder if he is just scared? I am really confused and it feels like a vicious circle - I want to just be able to go out on a hack and relax - and maybe pop a few jumps in the school without having to control a nutter of a horse! I feel so much like giving up - I am not a crap rider but my confidence seems to have abandoned me and I feel really angry and disappointed with myself. I am thinking of selling him although I love him dearly - but I want a horse that will boost my confidence, not take it away. He seems to take a lot of his confidence from his rider - so are we on a losing thing here? Thanks for reading.