Let's hear it for the confidence givers!

P

PRELover

Active Member
Joined
13 May 2010
Messages
30
Location
South Gloucestershire
Visit site
I had a bit of a sentimental moment as I was riding my new horse last night - I would not be sat on this young hooligan and chasing him on, without the help and patience of a wonderful confidence giving pony - she's very well known on HHO, she's the wonderful Genie owned by Miss_C. Thank you Genie (and you too F!). :)

Genie helped me overcome almost crippling nerves, so I though it was high time we all gave tribute to the amazing equine teachers that have restored confidence to those of us that had lost it.

Now's the time to tell the world about the saint who saved your riding career! :D
 
What a fab post!

My girl is my confidence giver - she has her moments, but after I can think 'that was ok, I coped'!! She is my best friend and an absolute mummys girl, not to mention gorgeous too! I am biased, but she has let me develop such a bond with her and increased from being in tears of nerves just walking down the track with her, to starting jumping with her, and enjoying working on our dressage. We are now hoping to do our first clear round next week, and progress to novice dressage this winter. We have both come from absolutly nothing and have built this up together. She is my legend!
 
My saint would have to be my old share mare Nelly.

After a terrible bolting accident, I completly lost my nerve. Gave up riding as I just couldn't bring myself to ever sit on a Horse again. Friend rung me and asked me to come and see her mare, I ended up getting on and then I shared her for 2 years! She put up with a lot! she gave me my confidence back. I now have my own Horse but still have the occasional ride on Nelly. She's currently teaching 2 people how to ride, aswell as taking her owner round 1.10 courses and XC courses. She's a star!

nelxx.jpg
 
Hi Everyone I am new so hello, Back in May my mum bought a part connie 15.1hh, he is the most amazing horse. He instills confidence in everyone, handling and riding, I thought I would never jump in competition again having lost my nerve, but two lesson on this star and I was flying around (small) x country courses he is much slower than I am use to,l but who cares he is sooo much fun you cant help but smile when you ride him.
 
majors said:
Hi Everyone I am new so hello, Back in May my mum bought a part connie 15.1hh, he is the most amazing horse. He instills confidence in everyone, handling and riding, I thought I would never jump in competition again having lost my nerve, but two lesson on this star and I was flying around (small) x country courses he is much slower than I am use to,l but who cares he is sooo much fun you cant help but smile when you ride him.
Click to expand...

Yay, connies are the best (mine is 1/2 connie and I think it adds so much attitude and ability!)
 
I need a confidence giver but can't seem to find one :( through I had one til it started rearing (with my Instructor not just me) so he had to go :( now in the process of saving pennies and just having riding lessons, but still very fearful, any one no a good place to find a large confidences giver, needs to be big as I am 5'10 tall and not slim
 
What a lovely thread to start,op.
I'd like to acknowledge our lovely Gem.She is 21,our first pony and has given my daughters so much confidence in the 3 months we've owned her.My 8 year old has gone from jumping tiny little jumps when she was at riding school to clearing 2ft 6 on her.She is absolutely bombproof in traffic,won't bomb off in open spaces,hunts like a dream and isn't bothered by cows,sheep,alpacas or anything else.She adapts to her rider andlooks after absolute beginners,but can really pull out the stops for a more experienced jockey. We'd never sell her,she has a home for life with us.If only I could find a smaller version of her for my youngest daughter.
 
I would like to say thank you to George :)

My confidence was pretty iffy when I got him, and then I had a few falls from him and so nearly gave up and sold him :( but losing him would of broken my heart so with my instructor and some good friends George and I went back to basics and he was with me every step of the way :) and slowly but surely we built a great bond and he looked after me, and best of all he taught me the joy of jumping and galloping across a stubble field.

He really has given me so much, so cheers George :)
 
My very first horse was my confidence giver, Velvet, a gorgeous black Irish cob. She was very patient as her novice owner got to grips with her, looked after me through two pregnancies and came with us when we moved country AND taught my little girls to ride. She was amazing, patient, gentle, calm, sensible, but a right madam when she was in a mood! She was one of those rare animals that would plod for a frightened novice and then really step up through the gears for an experienced rider. She fussed over and nannied me and the children and always got us home safe. She was also the most serene animal I have ever been around. We lost her almost two years ago, and while we now have the most gorgeous Highland youngster, I am still crying as I type this. We all miss her terribly.
 
My lad was my first pony - straight out of a riding school, bought my little cob and learnt everything he was willing to teach me. Starting with the fact that I was hopeless and he was young and cheeky. But over the next decade he gave me confidence to try just about anything. I've shown him at county level, jumped xc and sj, dressaged a bit, hacked for miles alone and with friends, played games, done gymkhanas, dares :p I've done everything I ever dreamed with him :D

1-5.png

otecc.jpg

games.jpg

pickup-Copy.png

catch-Copy.png


We used to give pony rides to kids at the village fete, he's taught friends to ride, nannied silly horses out on hacks, my mother hacks him out and I can always trust him to behave like a gentleman. I've had very nervous friends ride him who initially refuse to pop over a 12" cross pole, jumping 3' spreads by the end of half an hour. He just does his best to give you what you want.

at the village fete:
mane.jpg


Because of him, 2 years ago I bought my three year old (now 5), backed him, broke him and now have a fabulous young horse who shares J's "can do" attitude (even when I can't!).

jump1-2.png


I also have a yearling now too. I'd never have had the confidence, if it hadn't been for J. Our competitive career may be coming to an end, but everything Fergie and Darach achieve is all because of J.
 
Last edited:
My first pony was a real horse in a zillion: re had to ride past a working quarry and he'd just plod past it even though there was noise, rocks being split in a machine right next to us, blasting etc etc, plus mega huge lorries everywhere, and he'd never turn a hair.

First horse was similar: a lovely sweet person who always looked after people, even little kids could ride him safely.

Next horse: very quirky, frightened me *****less!! Was a sweetie pie for 99% of the time but his 1% ASBO outbursts were either rearing, exploding, or bronking - or usually all three at once!! So I had to make a difficult decision and he's now out on loan to someone that loves him to bits and thinks he's fab!

Current horse: on loan from my trainer. A mare (I've never got on particularly well with mares, dunno why - up till now that is); and by golly she's far more forward-going than anything I've ever ridden, BUT she's safe, sweet, and a really nice kind girl and in the few weeks I've had her has done so much to restore my shattered confidence. A lot of people think that you need a "plod" to restore confidence but this lovely lady is proof that this isn't the case - what you need is a good honest, kind "safe" horse very often rather than the proverbial plod.
 
My welsh beastie is one of these depending on the rider! If you are a tiny novice she is an angel :)
if you are a bit nervous, not too good she's an angel..and then the better you get and more confident you become the more she starts to mess about! And when she's 'finished' with you you're a better rider for it :) 'n she generally then behaves as a rule but has her moments!! :D:D:D
 
My current horse is my ultimate horse, my horse of a lifetime. I was ready to give up horses when he came into my life, and he has given me the confidence to canter, gallop and jump again. I never thought I would manage to go to a show or a funride, but we have done them all. He is my angel with four hooves :)
 
Surprisingly, it's the Nutter Ned who gives me confidence!
I'll happily go and jump Ned, but I get nervous jumping Archie now, who'll just pop over anything!
We both give each other confidence :D

Two misunderstood, lonely creatures :) I know I couldn't be happier!
Dressage0211.jpg
 
Thanks to all of you guys for responding to my thread, I didn't realise it would be so popular!! I know I'm not alone in having had my confidence restored by a wonderful horse but it is so nice to hear similar stories! :D

LaurenBay, JFTD and Annielusian - your horses are all beautiful! :)

indiat - I'm so sorry to hear that you lost your saint, I know how it hurts to lose your best friend as I had to have my lovely TB pts a few years ago.

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite - I know exactly what you mean: Genie is certainly no plod and can have 'welsh' moments when the mood takes her, but she brought me back almost to the level of confidence I had when I was at college riding just broken babies and jumping 4' plus! I can't even begin to express what I owe her and I know that Miss_C knows how lucky she is to own such a super, super star! :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top