seoirse
Well-Known Member
Sorry this is long.
For the first time in my riding career Im having a proper confidence crisis. Ive been riding over 25 years (and Im in my 30s!) and have been having regular lessons almost all of those years. I sadly lost my fantastic horse last summer after owning him for 10 years, he was only 14 so it was a horrible shock as I thought hed be around for a lot longer! I dont think riding just one horse almost exclusively for 10 years has done my riding much good really either especially as the old boy was quite a tricky chap, but I got used to his ways and we were a great team.
Anyway, I got a new horse last November. I actually had him from a friend whos gone to live abroad, Id always admired him so when the opportunity came up to take him on I jumped at the chance. All went fantastically for a few months and I was starting to get really excited about the future with this horse then sadly he mysteriously damaged his neck in the field. The day he did it in January I brought him in in the dark, tacked him up without paying too much attention to what I was doing as I was in a rush, got on him and thought he seemed a bit odd and stiff, asked for trot after a few minutes of rather stuff walking in the school and he exploded, tried to ditch me, leaping about, rearing and spinning. I got off immediately and got the vet the next day, by which time he was looking lame and doddery as he had so much internal swelling by this point it was compressing his spine. After box rest, then field rest and rehab he is now back on form. His neck is stiff but improving, weve got lots of stretches and exercises to do and he is able to work nicely in the school now for short periods and seems to be improving almost daily. However, I am now terrified of riding him! Ive enlisted the help of a guy I know locally who is a super horseman and who rides my horse really well. As I said the horse is coming on loads and every time I ride its positive and nothing bad happens. He is a super horse, and very sensible, but he is prone to the odd bounce and squeal out hacking, or if things get exciting. Previous to this neck problem these little moments of high jinks didnt bother me in the slightest but it scares the crap out of me now. I dont really know why. Ive been thinking of going to see Claire Golding http://www.empathyrider.co.uk/ as she is quite local to me and Ive heard some good reports about her. Its really getting me down. I love riding and its making me miserable that the thing I love doing the most in the whole world is scaring me and for no real reason either? I keep trying to get a hold of myself and tell myself I KNOW the horse is better, I KNOW he only tried to deck me because he was in pain, I KNOW he can be a bit of a t*t from time to time but I also KNOW I can deal with it! I can ride after all. My old boy used to try and deck me all the time, and succeeded half the time too especially in the early days, he was a delinquent, but I wasnt scared of him? Perhaps its just age? Im in my 30s now and maybe just not as brave as I used to be! Im so frustrated. Anyone else experienced this and managed to restore their confidence? If so how did you do it?!!!
Tea and scones and jam and cream if you made it to the end!!!
For the first time in my riding career Im having a proper confidence crisis. Ive been riding over 25 years (and Im in my 30s!) and have been having regular lessons almost all of those years. I sadly lost my fantastic horse last summer after owning him for 10 years, he was only 14 so it was a horrible shock as I thought hed be around for a lot longer! I dont think riding just one horse almost exclusively for 10 years has done my riding much good really either especially as the old boy was quite a tricky chap, but I got used to his ways and we were a great team.
Anyway, I got a new horse last November. I actually had him from a friend whos gone to live abroad, Id always admired him so when the opportunity came up to take him on I jumped at the chance. All went fantastically for a few months and I was starting to get really excited about the future with this horse then sadly he mysteriously damaged his neck in the field. The day he did it in January I brought him in in the dark, tacked him up without paying too much attention to what I was doing as I was in a rush, got on him and thought he seemed a bit odd and stiff, asked for trot after a few minutes of rather stuff walking in the school and he exploded, tried to ditch me, leaping about, rearing and spinning. I got off immediately and got the vet the next day, by which time he was looking lame and doddery as he had so much internal swelling by this point it was compressing his spine. After box rest, then field rest and rehab he is now back on form. His neck is stiff but improving, weve got lots of stretches and exercises to do and he is able to work nicely in the school now for short periods and seems to be improving almost daily. However, I am now terrified of riding him! Ive enlisted the help of a guy I know locally who is a super horseman and who rides my horse really well. As I said the horse is coming on loads and every time I ride its positive and nothing bad happens. He is a super horse, and very sensible, but he is prone to the odd bounce and squeal out hacking, or if things get exciting. Previous to this neck problem these little moments of high jinks didnt bother me in the slightest but it scares the crap out of me now. I dont really know why. Ive been thinking of going to see Claire Golding http://www.empathyrider.co.uk/ as she is quite local to me and Ive heard some good reports about her. Its really getting me down. I love riding and its making me miserable that the thing I love doing the most in the whole world is scaring me and for no real reason either? I keep trying to get a hold of myself and tell myself I KNOW the horse is better, I KNOW he only tried to deck me because he was in pain, I KNOW he can be a bit of a t*t from time to time but I also KNOW I can deal with it! I can ride after all. My old boy used to try and deck me all the time, and succeeded half the time too especially in the early days, he was a delinquent, but I wasnt scared of him? Perhaps its just age? Im in my 30s now and maybe just not as brave as I used to be! Im so frustrated. Anyone else experienced this and managed to restore their confidence? If so how did you do it?!!!
Tea and scones and jam and cream if you made it to the end!!!