How do you get your confidence back after a bad fall?

C

cat1

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For the six months i have been breaking in a 4year old mare. I have been thrown off countless times, knocked out,kicked in the face and other injuries although thankfully nothing major.
However then she started rearing. I put this down to separation anxiety as it only ever happened when she was away from other horses. Once the rearing started i felt (for my own safty it was time to hand over to a more professional person, a man who was not as light and easily walked over.
Now my confidence has taken a real hammering. I am to start riding her again but i am worried incase she thinks i am a easy touch and that she may start her antics again putting us back to square one. Any advice tips suggestions or similar experiences?
 
confidence will come. currently have the same sort of thing with my fatty. He does bucking bronko with me but no one else, started to take it personally, had V bad episode bout month ago, even booked some lessons which i have had not had for 2 years.

you have to overcome it. it's the joy thy give us that makes us get on with it again
 
I know the feeling too!!! My mares antics have knocked my confidence and I am going to get her general health investigated properly as she never used to be like this.

I took some lessons at Catherston last summer and this helped me to have the confidence to ride her more forward but I stiil worry when she gets tense.


The difference was I was in an indoor school with help on hand and this really helped. Also there was someone who could take over if she was difficult. It would be worth you getting help in a really good training centre. Or a livery yard with an indoor school for a while. Or continue having lessons with the professional who schooled her as he knows the horse.

It will take a while to get your faith back in your horse.
 
Oh dear, poor you.
Trouble is, you need to sort it out yourself otherwise she'll know she can be naughty with you. Set yourself small targets but then don't quit til you've got them. Perhaps just start with a lesson entirely in walk, or lunge her...or hand walk her or long rein her along the road...away from her mates. Make each new step tiny, but don't quit til you get there. And have strict, consistent stable manners rules - make her back up when you enter the box, 'over' when required and walk smartly beside you so she learns she can't take an inch...lots of praise too though when she's good.
The ones with the most character always make brilliant horses so it's worth persevering.
Sorry about the novel
S
 
just keep riding, and dont push yourself too quickly, i lost my confidence after a horse bolted with me and i literally couldnt stop, took me a long time, and i had a blood blister on my thumb by the end of it... im still kinda scared of going fast in open spaces... just persevere, and have someone with you just to reassure you, it will come in time!
 
Hi, I think you're a brave person just to tackle getting back on. But all I can suggest is go back to the ground work, make sure you've got complete respect and submission from the ground before you get on. Thats not through beating your horse into submission but ignoring bad behaviour and over praising good behaviour. Make your horse feel like everything good they do is completely out of this world, you'll be amazed at how quickly they respond to this. Make sure the horse isn't barging you around etc etc. Then when you do start riding again take baby steps. Little and often. Always finish on a good point and stay within your comfort zone. Keep us posted on your progress. If things go well and work, your horse will do anything for you because it wants to, not because it has to. GOOD LUCK.
grin.gif
 
It sounds like an absolute nutter - no wonder your confidence is knocked.

Admit defeat - and let someone else do her.
 
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