lost confidence !!!!!!

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debs_07

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hi i am wondering if anyone could help me with some tips on how to regain my confidence. i used to be such a confident rider and now feel so nervous when im about to mount and am convinced somthing bad is going to happen. i get all these horrible thoughts which makes me nervous and make my horse nervous .. i know the sinario of if im nervous my horse will feel it .. but i just cant stop .. ive been thinking recently about hanging my riding boots up .. but then i think NOOOO !!! why should i ??? please if theres any1 out there that can offer some sympathetic advice please get in touch thanks
 
ive lost my confidence before and i took it right back to basics. i even stopped riding for a while and just enjoyed being around flint, as this was his safest way. it comes to a build of trust, if u can trust ur horse then the trust in urself shud come with it
 
I am in a similar situation. I used to be so confident but now I am really nervous but is generally only with certain horses. I find what helps me is a confidence giver, a really nice quiet horse that you know wont do anything. get your confidence back and then move on to other horses. It works for me.

good luck
 
I know exactly how you feel - I lost my confidence after a bad accident which meant I could hardly walk for the best part of a year, let alone ride. When I did start riding again, I was a totaly nervous wreck but I am now getting more and more confident and enjoying my riding again. TFT (thought field therapy) might well help you if you are really very nervous. Have a look at www.jocooper.com. She charges approx £50.00 but it has helped a lot of people on here (including me) Also, use some Bachs flower remedy rescue remedy before you ride. Another thing I did was to only do what I felt happy with - some days I only went out for 10 mins, but I didn't let myself be pushed into going further or faster than I felt happy about. Take it a step at a time and you'll get there - there will be a lot of people who will understand exactly how you are feeling.
 
I totally lost all of my confindence last year on my cob, i just couldnt do anything, sooooooooooooo and this sounds really stupid as i was 22 at the time, but y intructor gave me this lucky stone as she called it! lol it worked wonders with me! its all in the mind!!

When i got my new horse a few months ago, we had a funny few weeks as i jumped on him and expected him to do things like my 15,2 cob, and he didn't bearing in mind he is a 17h thoughbred x!

I scared myself abit but have just stared from the beginning getting my flat work spot on,, and working on the simple things and in the last few weeks!! wow we have come on in leaps and bounds.

Good luck to you and STAY POSITIVE!!
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xx
 
Hi Debs,
This is a really interesting question and one which I can totally relate to. I feel like my confidence has plummeted since getting my 6 y o KWPN. He is much bigger, younger and sillier than my DalesX and I often wonder what he is going to do before I mount. I used to love riding by myself but now I always want someone around. I used to get on my old mare and do whatever I wanted and I trusted her to be good but with my new boy I am having problems and although I really love him I do wonder if I should pay for him to be schooled by someone more experienced.

If you find any confidence giving tips which work please let me know because I really need them! Good luck to you from Annie n Oliver x
 
awww cheers !! i thought i was the only one ... i did have a bad fall from a nutty chestnut mare i had a few months ago ... i then bought a small pony off my friend to help gain my confidence back , i did .. but felt i was too big for him ... so i sold him to a little girl who is having endless fun on him . the horse i have now i have only had for 4 weeks ... and when i went to try her out she was gr8 ... i bought her and when out on her the day after with a friend walking at the side of me ... without any problems ... i thought " this is the one " but suddenly she has started spooking and i k nnow that it is me that is suddenly getting more and more nervous .. its such a depleting feeling as when i was younger i was an apprentice jockey working for the famous Jack berry over in lancaster !!! arrghhhh ... im not giving !!! i am having lessons which a well know horseman called Tony Dampier over in Bolton where i am based . and he is starting me and her from scratch, as she is only 6 . hes coming again on friday .. cant wait !!! anymore tips and stories welcome .. thanks for your kindness i am new to this forum xx
 
As you have only had your new horse 4 weeks - its is very, very early days for you and for her (especially as she is young). You have both got to learn to trust each other and this can take time, especially with a mare. But if you are patient and take things nice and steadily, you will end up with a lovely partnership. I bought a new horse 5 months ago and I now feel that we are really starting to bond and get to know each other. Another thing to think about is that horses are usually far more spooky and jumpy at this time of year anyway. Go for the rescue remedy and good luck!
 
I know how you are feeling and i am sure it will come back, like the advice suggest, take it step by step (even if you feel you are going slightly backwards) it really doesn't matter what you do as long as you are happy. You are certainly not alone. A phrase i refer to, which i find helps me out is.....

"FEAR MAKES THE WOLF BIGGER THAN HE IS"

Silly really but makes me laugh!

Best of luck and just take it easy x
 
agree i had a welsh cob for 14 years and after she died a break for a year even though ive had my new horse 3 years and 90% of the time she is perfect i still feel my confidence is fragile. takes a long time to build but easy to lose i use rescue remedy and try and pretend i have someone with me as psychologically my pride wouldnt let others see im scared and once the horse senses youre not sure it affects them try and work out which situations are most scarey and break them down into chunks. would agree most horses are quieter in summer .good luck
 
will deffo try the rescue remedy .. seems to have popped up a few times over the last few days ... thanks every1 for your replys

ill keep you all posted

take care xx
 
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