How to stop getting nervous before lessons?

[HorsesHavingFun]

Before every riding lesson I always get really nervous, I'm not even that sure why! I'm fine the night before but the morning of the lesson I get so nervous! Any ideas on how to overcome nerves or am I stuck like this?!

 

[dafthoss]

Your own horse or at a riding school?

I get nervous before going to new instructors after a bad experience in the past. Mainly I worry that they won't like the pony or that they will tell me in useless and not good enough for him. Never had it happen, have had some one doubt my aims with him (then they saw him jump ). I'm fine after the first one though.

For me it's just getting to as many new people as possible and looking back at how far we have come since I got him.

If your at a rs is it the not knowing what horse you are riding? Or something else?

 

[Shysmum]

Rescue Remedy - works a treat

 

[HorsesHavingFun]

Own my own horse, instructor comes to yard to teach me

 

[pogface]

Focus on all the positives from the last lesson. Are you riding your own or a school pony?

 

[Wildforestpony18]

Rescue Remedy - works a treat

Another vote for rescue remedy ^^ I used to take it at shows and it really did work!

 

[Ali2]

Are you happy with your instructor?

I only ask because I used to get nervous before clinics, especially where there'd be an audience. I went to a clinic with a new instructor on Friday and was a little nervous but, having watched her work with the lady before me for 5 minutes I was feeling pretty positive. After the session I was beaming. She makes total sense. I am actively looking forward to next month

 

[TrasaM]

I think I always get a bit keyed up before a lesson but once I'm on I don't think about it anymore as I'm too busy doing what I'm told - or trying to anyhow I try to distract myself beforehand by thinking about something other than what's ahead or how tough the lesson will be or what might go wrong

 

[HorsesHavingFun]

Yeah my instructor is great and makes complete sense, and I'm normally okay when we get going, but just wish I didn't get so nervous!! Thanks for all the replies

 

[Theocat]

Tell your instructor! You'll probably find you can have a laugh about it and that will cure the problem.

 

[Jobi-Wan Kenobi]

Ditto Rescue Remedy, certainly doesn't do any harm

 

[maccachic]

Best thing I found is visualisation, go over and over a perfect lesson in your head and you have a much better time on the day. I didn't find rescue rememdy or homopathetics worked for me.

Cut coffee before as well I found this makes nerves worse, but I do think some nerves are good it makes you concentrate better.

 

[Skib]

Had a bad time in lessons myself, so got really interested in how adults fail in riding lessons. Mary Wanless has some very wise writing on this. I cant rival her but briefly -
It is hard for a competent adult to revert to being a student under the authority and facing the judgement of another adult. And particularly conflicting when you need to take authority and make decisions of your own when riding a horse.
Then, if you are a conscientious student and were a high achiever as a kid, your mind may be on the RI and be distracted from the horse - the conversation and communication is normally private between your horse and yourself. And if your RI is assessing how much progress you have made since the last lesson, that's akin to taking a school test.
The best thing is to discuss the nervousness with your instructor - because no one can absorb new information, or ride well when they are tense. A little time alone with your horse at the start of a lesson, or structuring the lesson differently - revising things you know well before facing an assessment of progress or tackling the new stuff may well sort it out. This isnt personal, it is a common situation when teaching adults and a good trainer will help you work round it.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Are you normally nervous about things in life generally? Personally I always feel excited about my lessons but I am not generally nervous about anything.

 

[Orthe's Daystars]

Used to get very before lessons but now I LOVE them. In fact they are the 2 best parts of my week.

So lucky - my instructor is based at our yard and is also a good friend - she knows exactly how to get the best out of me (distracts the nerves by making me laugh) always finds SOMETHING to praise & leaves you looking forward to the next one. She does all this for a very reasonable rate and without a qualification to her name - just years & years of experience and a real love of what she does. Yup we all know how lucky we are

 

[Coldfeet!]

Rescue Remedy was recommended to me a few weeks ago, I got it off the shelf in Tesco, WOW. Its a miracle in a bottle I was just nerveless!

 

[HorsesHavingFun]

Thanks for all the replies Can't quote as I'm on my phone but:

Ffion Winner - Yep, I get nervous about everything! I have anxiety, which is the main reason probably!!

And I would like to try Rescue Remedy, but tbh I've no idea about it and would be worried I'd do it wrong!

Thanks everyone

 

[AmericanPiebald]

I also get nervous before a lesson which is weird, considering how much I enjoy them and get out of them.

I remind myself of how many lessons I have survived already, and bearing this in mind, it's a bit silly for me to be nervous

 

[ellijay]

Try learning Emotional Freedom Technique. (EFT) I was taught it when I suffered from anxiety and use it to help me at shows and any other time I feel anxious. My Mary Wanless riding instructor is also fab at helping me relax and I can honestly say I love and look forward to my lessons with her which is a first. Good luck.

 

[skinnyminnie]

You can't go wrong with rescue rem couple of drops on tongue
If its really that bad just think its an hour of my life, that's how I cope its dentist this time in an hour I will be back home on sofa

 

[ShadowHunter]

I thought i was the only one!

I get nervous before lessons, literally shaking (partly the weathers fault) but i dont know why because i look forward to them all week and get all excited and once im on board i forget all about my nerves

I love going and then being able to work at the stables for the rest of the day but i am really nervous for about 30 mins beforehand.
Saying that i get nervous before everything in life, starting to think i may suffer from anxiety :/

 

[FfionWinnie]

Thanks for all the replies Can't quote as I'm on my phone but:

Ffion Winner - Yep, I get nervous about everything! I have anxiety, which is the main reason probably!!

And I would like to try Rescue Remedy, but tbh I've no idea about it and would be worried I'd do it wrong!

Thanks everyone

Maybe its something you could address as a big picture then, have you had any counselling for your anxiety?

 

[HorsesHavingFun]

Ffion - Yep, currently going through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy so that should help overcome the anxiety. Thanks for the advice

 

[ebonyallen]

I use ~Rescue stuff, not really sure if it works but take it all the same. I have a lesson depending on the weather once a week, most of the time I am fine and then for no reason will get on and become really nervous and do not know why. Ebony has never given me any reason to feel like this but every so often it just takes over. My instructor says that some times she still gets nervous before one of her lessons. Hope you manage to get on top of it.

 

[HorsesHavingFun]

Thank you Want to try the rescue stuff now!