I feel like such a failure

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FestiveBoomBoom

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Another person who is suffering from nerves at the moment, I could do with some advice please

Basically I've had my horse for a year. He has been off ridden work since June last yr following injury after niggly injury. He is 16.3 and although rising 7, he acts more like a 5/6 yr old, no wonder with all the time off he's had! I've been lunging him over the past couple of weeks but only in his bridle as I was in the process of getting a new saddle. He had been absolutely fantastic on the lunge, really really well behaved but then last week I put the new saddle on him for the first time and took him to the school to lunge and oh my god, he bronked, bucked, took off flung himself around and nearly fell over - for a good 10 mins. Now I know I can't blame him, he's young, been out of work for ages, hasn't had a saddle on in months etc so really he behaved exactly the way I thought he would. I've found an instructor who is going to be bringing him back into work for me because he basically needs to be re-started and I just don't have the confidence to do it alone. She is starting this weekend, I told her about the incident and she was fine, agreed that it was normal given the circumstances. Now my problem is, I told her I would lunge him every day this week to get him used to working in full tack again -

I really should be up at the yard now but I just can't bring myself to do it. I've lost my nerve riding and now I don't even want to lunge him because the thought of him bronking and bucking very close to me just makes me feel sick. Should I just call my instructor and tell her I need her help now, with lunging never mind riding! But will I sound like a complete loser because I'm now scared to lunge my horse!?

Thanks if you got this far.....
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I think you're being very honest and that takes courage. Certainly give you instructor a ring and ask her to help you with this - she'll appreciate it much more than being left with un unlunged "hooligan" (in the nicest possible way) to deal with.

I think this weather and lay offs are causing so many people problems - you're not alone.

Good luck with it.
 
You are absolutely NOT a failure. I hate horses larking around on the ground, it scares the life out of me. Call your trainer and tell her exactly what is going on. She is the professional and she will know how to deal with it. It might be a good idea for him to go to reform school for a while, to get him back on track and best for you to not watch his silly behaviour. I had a problem once and the girl I employed was completely un-fazed and said "they get bored of being silly after a while" and of course, she was right.
 
Oh, I feel for you!!! See my post needing a calmer for my mare who was off work for 8 months!!!

Can't even lunge her now, and she was already a handful before!

Edited to say: Mine is only turning 5 this year...
 

I agree, get help now if you need it. And remember, once she gets him going and he remembers what it is all about, he will be a lot different. Once he is in full work, he lose some of the energy! She won't think you are a loser, just tell her you are not used to handling him when he is like this and you would feel happier if a professional was doing it.

Plenty of horses go bonkers on the lunge, not just youngsters! but most of them are totally different under saddle. So don't let the fear get carried away.

When you do start to ride him, make sure its in an environment you feel safe like a school and have an instructor on the ground to coax you on, it will make a world of difference. I'm sure most people have had a wobble at some point in their riding careers. :-)
 
Thanks for the replies!

Have just sent her a message explaining the situation. I'm sure she wont judge me, she is lovely. I can't help judging myself though! I'm sure she will sort him out and he is just reacting to things that he hasn't experienced in a while but I'm so nervy these days, I hate it!
 
Don't beat yourself up, I have just had a similar problem but I sent mine away for a bit as I needed some space to think, she has been away for 6 days (yes I'm counting) and I'm starting to really miss her. If you need help then you need help, if your instructor judges you then it may be time to find another one? Don't beat yourself up it is the situation not you or your horse.
Take care xx
 
Hi, have alook at my forum entitled 'to scared to ride my horse', I have had some excellent responses and i already feel alot more positive.
 

Yep already read it
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I agree, there is some very good advice on here. I'm just frustrated with myself because I suspected he would behave like that the first time he worked with a saddle on again and so it didn't come as a surprise but it still scared the cr@p out of me and now I don't want to repeat the experience! Although I know I must in order to progress with bringing him back into work. It's mind over matter I think, but easier said than done!
 
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Have a hug and a hot choccy hun.

Might be a daft question, but what happened when the saddler fitted the saddle? Another possibly daft question, is it possible the horse has become cold backed?

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Thank you
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Mmmm chocolate makes everything better!
Basically, when I bought him last yr I had a saddle fitter out who sold me a saddle which in hindsight wasn't right for him and I really don't think she did a good job fitting him. He never went well in it, although didn't misbehave as such, he just never moved well and felt tense through his back so I suspected he might be slightly cold backed.

When I had the ok from my vet and physio to start bringing him back into work, I decided I would get a holistic semi flex saddle but I bought it second hand. I then took a template and sent the it off to the saddler who made it for it to be adjusted, along with some pictures of my boy from the side and above so they could get an idea of his shape. Unfortunately I couldn't get him to come up as he is based Birmingham way and I'm in Scotland. So this new saddle hasn't actually been fitted by a saddler. There is no way I would use the first saddler again as I really don't think she did a good job and there is only one other person in my area and I havent heard good things about them either
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I can't help but think he was just being a bit of a monkey and was a bit full of it. If he continues to do it I will see if I can get saddler up. He does come to Scotland just not often
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