Lost your confidence? Don't give up!

CarolineJ

CarolineJ

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Joined
11 April 2011
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350
Location
West of Thurso, east of Tongue
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I took this photo today:

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Three and a half years ago my confidence was so shot to pieces that I couldn't even get my foot into the stirrup to mount because I was shaking so hard. It has been a dream ever since we moved here to be able to ride on this beach (it's at the bottom of our fields) and today I finally did it :D Only at a walk (and a tiny, tiny bit of trot and about 8 strides of canter at the end when I was sure he wasn't going to bomb off), but it's another small step towards the flat out gallop through the surf of my imagination :)

So to every user on this forum who fears that their nerve has gone so badly they'll never ride again - it will come. Give it time, stay within your comfort zone, even if that's just walking up to a horse, giving it a pat on the neck and walking away again, and eventually you'll get to the day when the longing to go and do it is greater than the fear.
 
what a lovely place and view(from the ears). I think we all have been in that lost confidence place sometime, I know I have after a bad fall. It is trying to get that mindset back again. I agree if you just do a bit at a time and its positive confidence will come back. Our great RI use to tell my kids if things went a bit hairy , ok lets finish now on a high. She always made sure the lessons for them ended good. But good luck.
 
That looks amazing, well done :) My confidence is completely gone and I don't think I'll ever want to ride again, but this gives me hope, thank you :)
 
More like this please!! The more success stories the better during these times of despair! Thanks a lot and very well done to u. Tis my dream also to gallop through the surf on my new boy one day (and jump a 3' course; ill report back in 10 years ;)
 
Wow - well done you! I would love to gallop on a beach but not sure my nerves would take it. I so agree with you about taking small steps. I know I'll never be the most confident rider in the world but so long as I am enjoying myself I am happy!
Where is this btw? It looks stunning.
 
WHOOP! Really well done you! I too have had a massive crisis of confidence, only just started cantering a little after a year, but even the thought of riding on the beach still fills me with dread... and you CANTERED!
 
This was just what I wanted to read! I am getting on my lad tomorrow after 9 weeks box rest, he still can't go out, and I was nervous of him before the box rest. Hoping it goes well for us tomorrow. I'm having a big glass of wine before I get on! Good job OP... very inspiring!
 
Thanks all - 8 hours later I still have a massive grin :D

Nickijem said:
Wow - well done you! I would love to gallop on a beach but not sure my nerves would take it. I so agree with you about taking small steps. I know I'll never be the most confident rider in the world but so long as I am enjoying myself I am happy!
Where is this btw? It looks stunning.
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It's Armadale Bay on the north coast of Scotland, I live on a small croft overlooking it. The beach is about half a mile long and because the public access to it isn't that obvious (though it's signposted) there's very rarely anyone on it, summer or winter. There's an even better beach about 7 miles further west called Torrisdale - it's a mile and a half long and again, mostly deserted.
 
Thank you for posting this. I'm currently laid up after a nasty fall off a friend's horse. The first time I've bitten the dust in nearly 20 years :(

I've a rising 4 homebred 17.2 gelding, which is my dream horse, and now I'm frightened to get on him even though he is an angel and he wasn't the one who decked me. :o

I'm getting long in the tooth and the fall has confirmed that I no longer bounce like I used to. Your post has given me the shove in the back to pull myself together and get cracking with his education. Thank you.

I'm looking to retired in Scotland in the next few months, and your beach looks very inviting :D
 
CarolineJ said:
It's Armadale Bay on the north coast of Scotland, I live on a small croft overlooking it. The beach is about half a mile long and because the public access to it isn't that obvious (though it's signposted) there's very rarely anyone on it, summer or winter. There's an even better beach about 7 miles further west called Torrisdale - it's a mile and a half long and again, mostly deserted.
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Would you like to employ me as a full time groom and hacking buddy? All I want is a stable to sleep in (I'm not fussy :p ), a field for my horses and access to that beach :D
 
JFTD said:
Would you like to employ me as a full time groom and hacking buddy? All I want is a stable to sleep in (I'm not fussy :p ), a field for my horses and access to that beach :D
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LOL! You'd be more than welcome if I won the lottery :D

Just to whet your appetite, this is my non-beach hacking - there's around 50 miles of this to the south before you hit another populated area:

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Torrisdale, 7 miles west of me, a mile and a half long:

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Or over in Caithness there's Dunnet, 2 miles long (but a bit busier, we counted 14 people on it one sunny August bank holiday Monday!):
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The pay off for the fantastic hacking (at least for North Sutherland, things are better in Caithness) is it's very hard to get lessons, saddle fitters (£75 a visit because of the mileage), equine dentists, back specialists etc. etc. - most of them come up twice a year and spend a few days in the area at their normal rates, but if you need them outwith those times it costs a small fortune. The local vets are good, but the nearest specialist equine practice which could do surgery is 110 miles away.
 
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