I chickened out...

Kokopelli

Kokopelli

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Urgh I'm such a loser!! I chickened out of hacking him and decided to just give him a nice pampering session :(

Please give me a big kick up the bum and tell me to stop being stupid!!!
 
I just feel like I'm holding him back and he's being wasted on me, he doesn't enjoy schooling all the time and its not fair on him to just school all the time :(
 
Horrible weather today anyway hon. I'm sure he infinitely preferred his pamper session.

Take him for a walk in hand if you don't fancy riding. I'm sure he'd enjoy that just as much :)
 
Cheers MrsM, we have got the mounted games stuff somewhere I could dig that out, I think Andy will be good at it. Also got the polocrosse racquet coming soon which I'm sure he'll love :)

I didn't want to hack partly because of weather and the fact I just got out of a very stressful exam, but mainly because I had a bit of a moment the other day and my confidence has taken a little knock.
 
As Mrs M said, don't kick yourself, don't put yourself under pressure, wait for a nice day when the sun is shining and you feel like giving it a go. Mind you I'm a great one to talk, I've been trying to pluck up the courage to take my chap in the school, (I'll hack him out but following two very nasty falls in the past off other horses in a school, I realise that I have become really nervous schooling - perhaps we shoud swap!).
 
It sounds like you didn't chicken out but that today just wasn't right. You'll know when the time is right.

I had a bad fall out hacking in February and it took me until two weeks ago to go for a hack on my own again. I just didn't want to do it which was strange for me as I've always been a big hacker. One day I just decided I wanted to do it and we had a lovely time.

Don't beat yourself up, today wasn't right but the time will come, let it happen without forcing it.
 
Thank you everyone, I feel slightly better about myself. Tomorrow morning I'm going to have a quick schooling session before we go to Devon and I suppose if I feel happy I may go for a little plod around the roads
 
When the time is right you'll just know. Know that sounds silly but took me ages after my confidence was knocked, started hacking with someone having to walk with me all the way, and all of a sudden one day I just knew that I could go on my own.

And don't do it if you're not ready - I tried to hack my girl cos had been out on her a few times in company and she was fine and thought I should try to hack out on my own, got to the corner just a couple of hundred yards down the road from the yard, she went a little bit sideways and I literally jumped off cos I was too nervous to carry on. Shouldn't have done it because I knew I wasn't ready - when you are, you'll know. And baby steps all the way. :)
 
Kokopelli said:
Urgh I'm such a loser!! I chickened out of hacking him and decided to just give him a nice pampering session :(

Please give me a big kick up the bum and tell me to stop being stupid!!!
Click to expand...

I'm in a similar boat. My lad is new, he's been there, done it and got the t-shirt so knows his job. Ive had him nearly 2 months and only cantered for the first time on him the other night. Still done no hacking because I don't feel like we are ready yet... Just give it time. One day you will just get the urge to go and you'll know when your ready :) You will enjoy it so much more rather then forcing yourself to go!

And you definitely aren't holding him back. He looks lovely in your videos and it's obvious you adore him! I'm certain he loves his life with you and that's what it's all about ;)
 
Don't beat yourself up about this - from reading your post the other day it's perfectly understandable you've taken a bit of a knock to your confidence - be kind to yourself.

My sister said this to me once with regard to horses.

"Give every experience the best chance to be a good experience"

Especially crucial when dealing with a new or novice horse. But even now I always think of these words when I plan to do something with my horse. Do I need to go for a hack in a force 10 gale (no I don't) I'll go tomorrow when its supposed to be calm and sunny. I have recently moved yards - do I need to hack spooky horse on my own right now? (no I don't) I'll hack with other people until he settles and is happy in his new home. It's dark, wet and I am stressed and on my own - do I really need to school tonight? (no I don't) I'm not doing any competitions for a while why don't I school tomorrow afternoon when it's light and my friends are around. These might seem like excuses but I have done practically everything with my horse over the last 5 plus years and we have loads of fun but I am choosy as to when I tackle things.

So when it is windy and you are tired and stressed it isn't the best time to go out on a hack on a new horse. I know I wouldn't! So until you know your horse better and you feel up to it, make those other but just as important experiences good ones and you will soon get your confidence back. As Mrs Mozart suggested groundwork can be so much fun - mine will go over tarpaulins, duvets, stand on a block with his front feet, go under obstacles etc. (still afraid of big leaves though ;) )

Even if you end up waiting until a nice quiet balmy spring day before hacking on your own again - why worry? - don't set any agenda or timescales just do things that help you bond and get to know and enjoy your horse.

Good luck :)
 
well if its any help I didnt ride and had a bit of a confidence blip today aswell (but not on my own horse, long story) I just had some cuddles and held his lickit so he could get it easily and do you know what I think he enjoyed that more than being ridden just like I'm sure andy enjoyed having a fuss so dont beat your self up. As you said you had an exam so probabalbly wernt in the best state of mind to chalenge your self further. You are in no way holding him back just look at how far he has come in the short ammount of time you have had him and he will continue to do so at a rate that suits you both.
 
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