How do you learn to relax enough to ride a powerful horse?

I think my biggest problem is when i get him working and then think "wow" i then suddenly panic and block with my seat or resist with my hands and he basically tells me off! either a bronc or a plunge - its no more than him telling me he cant do what i have asked and as soon as i relax we are fine again, but the more often it happens the more i worry that it will. Having just moved yards and now riding in an outdoor arena with lots of russling bushes and pheasants around us he is a little more on his toes than normal (used to an indoor) and he hates the rain - pity as all it seams to do at the moment is pour down when we are schooling.
 
The move of yards will probably enhance the situation :( just give that part time and once you're used to the outdoor situation (and the blasted rain stops!!!) it will ease off.
Maybe the next time you feel yourself start to panic, just try and think to yourself "relax" and imagine you and him working really well together. Try thinking of a song in your head - my old RI told me it would help me to settle into a subconscious rhythm and keep my mind focused on something other than my nerves!
K x
 
also having the same issues at the moment

moved my new horse in at home. obviously hedges, birds, cars, people, leaves. all terrifying as of corse u know they can kill a horse especially the leaves. ive found the best way to calm the big skippy mare down is to make her think. relax and do some really good work. we bend, trot, canter, lots of shapes and lot of listening to me. if a point on the hedge is scarey we move toward it calmly and confidently.

she is getting so much better since i decided to take this stand point. she is happy and working really well.
 
I think the breakthru' came for me when I moved from a cob onto a 17 2 powerhouse when I realised that he was just a horse like any other horse... as soon as I treated him as such it all became obvious...

Blitz
 
If you think about it - every horse is obviously powerful but that doesn't mean that they cannot be ridden. People have different perceptions of 'powerful' I guess too. Mine can spook for a few strides and is 'strong' in that moment but isn't uncontrollable - unless a tractor is present :(

He'll settle down soon and will get used to the outdoor school aslong as you continue using it. Walking around a few laps each direction should help as well as you can identify the 'scary' parts and use more leg on the approach.
 
i know how you feel i love my horse to bits but i have become to nervous to take him out. its so silly as i ride him in the outdoor school and he is so good but when we are out i feel his power and i get scared. i do feel ashamed to admit this thou and i will work on it.
its silly as i love to hack and when i was in ireland i use to ride anything so i am not sure what to do with myself :mad::mad:
 
Hey Gingerwitch I know just what you mean! Some time ago I was having a lesson at YRC on my horse & she really switched on the power & instructor asked me to do something, can't remember what I just remember saying 'just let me check I can stop her first'! That was the first time I realised what horse power was, it's not speed it's energy & it felt great. I think riding 'power' is to do with having the confidence to use it to advantage but often it's taken me so much of my energy to get the power I'm too shattered to do much with it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top