Moral support and a kick up the bum needed please!

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saddlesore

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As some of you may know i broke my ankle a couple of months ago when my 5yo got a fright out hacking and splatted me on the road. Have been on a handful of times since and decided to venture out on my first hack today before *the fear* set in even worse.
Was out with sensible nanny horse and my horse was being very good until we met a flapping scarecrow at the side of the track made with strips of plastic. Horse became VERY tense and snorty - which reminded me of last hack
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- and i totally bottled it. Got off him and walked past it. Got back on when i got back to yard. (couldnt get on whilst out because ankle too sore to mount from the ground).
Was i a total woose? How do i get past this? My confidence has really been dented
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Don't beat yourself up about it just take your time, do things you are comfortable with and build your confidence slowly. Most of us have been there - certainly me!
 
Hi (:

No, you're not a total wuss, it's normal to be wary after such an accident..and obviously if your ankle is still sore, you are going to feel less up to the task of battling with a horse mid-spook.

However, a youngster needs their rider to give them confidence and to help them past all the scary bits of nothing that are definately going to eat them. Trust me, I know.

So I guess you need to find a balance between being there for your horse/pushing yourself and.. not pushing yourself too hard until your ankle isn't sore anymore.

The trick is not to dwell on the past. If you think to yourself "he's going to do it again" the chances are he will. Whereas if you think "he can do it, he will get past without spooking" you'll automatically give off positive vibes that will help him through his fear (:

Hope this helps (: x
 
Don't beat yourself up for a start! You did brilliantly getting on again after such a nasty fall, so well done you.

I rode Archie for the second time today after a six month break due to a fall and I have been worrying and at times have said I would never ride again.

My aim is to begin on a high and end on a high so I recommend you get him in, groom, etc and when you are completely happy yours has his happy, sensible head on today, then saddle up, starting on a high.

I rode, literally, 100 yards up the lane and back again and then down a bridleway in the opposite direction for a couple of hundred yards and back. I then came back, ending on a high.

Today, again I got him in and groomed, etc, to ensure he had his sensible, couldn't care less head on and saddled up. I did a quick circle round the forest, just walking and popped him back in the field on the way home.

He had a couple of frights, birds flying out at him but I talk to him to make sure I am breathing and push him on. I keep a contact and use my legs to get him thinking about what I am asking him to do rather than him being able to think too much is what is going on around him.

I would not hesitate to get off if I was worried, in fact that is my action plan - better to get off and avoid any kind of incident than stay on and have the life frightenend out of you.

Perhaps someone could lead you from the ground or walk with you until you are a bit more confident. Take things really slowly. Perhaps walk your route in hand so you know what you might encounter.

I really, really hope you overcome your fears and enjoy once again your horse.

xxx
 
thanks guys, I really appreciate the support, i just feel so annoyed and disappointed with myself
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I should have said that i've asked 'non wussy' people to hack him out too so that he is gaining confidence from them too because i know if i tense up i'll make things worse. Its just so hard when you have visions of the same thing happening again
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thankyou so much - and well done to you for getting back on. Its so hard isn't it
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thats a good idea to walk in hand first, think i might try that once my ankle is up to it.
Meant to say Mrs M - you are puting me to shame lol! You had a nasty accident and you're going to go hunting! Can i have some of whatever you're on please
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Kick up bum coming ... did you get that!

Don't think about what other people are doing or up to, do things at your own pace. If that means walking on a lead rein for the next few months then so be it.

You sound just like me, too hard on yourself, so just chill out a bit, don't push yourself to ride until you really feel ready (it would be handy if someone keeps your horse ticking over for you) and you will find when you are ready the nerves will start to subside.

Do plenty of bonding - grooming, bathing, walking in hand for a nibble of grass, whatever gets you tuned in again. I did this with Archie, I groomed him to within an inch of his life and bathed him, got to know him again after all the time I couldn't spend with him cos I was so poorly.

I kept thinking about riding before I was ready and the nerves gave me palpatations. I posted on here too and was told to chill and bond and do things when I felt ready, not when I thought I should be ready (if you see what I mean). Honestly, you will get through this, trust me, I know how you feel.

Please, pm me to tell me more about you and your horse, I would love to know but don't want to hijack your post!

xxx
 
[ QUOTE ]
thankyou so much - and well done to you for getting back on. Its so hard isn't it
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thats a good idea to walk in hand first, think i might try that once my ankle is up to it.
Meant to say Mrs M - you are puting me to shame lol! You had a nasty accident and you're going to go hunting! Can i have some of whatever you're on please
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[/ QUOTE ]

Lol, I'll be doing with my eyes shut
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. I just work on the basis that I'm too old to waste any time
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, and the more I do with her, in time the easier it will get
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That's the theory anyway lol
 
Hun your doing brilliantly. Remember a couple of weeks ago you didnt even want to get on never mind go for a hack! Its just going to take a little time to build that confidence back up. I wish I was closer and Id come help you out and bring Taff for some support (he's the most sensible of the two!).
Have you hacked anything else out since the 'splatting'? Maybe a few wee hacks on a sensible ponio would boost your confidence before you tackle your boy again?
 
lol at splatting
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no i havent ridden anything else - maybe that would be a good idea. When i got back to the yard one of the liveries said her horse had a flakey at the scarecrow the other day (its new) and she decided to sit it out and the horse started broncing and rearing so that made me very glad i got off! I just hope it'll get better in time, perhaps i'll take a hip flask next time
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Thanks everyone - its much appreciated
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I am also going through my wobbly confidence phase. You have done so well to get back on and hack out in the first place and yes it is better practice to stay on and ride them past scary objects but I am far more confident from the ground so if you have to get off for now then do just that! I know if I stay on and get to the stage where my legs are shaking I have to get off because my horse can definately (sp?) feel my lack of confidence no matter how many times I repeat in my head "if Im relaxed then he's relaxed, if Im relaxed then he's relaxed ..." lol. Its very difficult while trying to talk calmly to him as well! Confidence will come back with time whether it be a month or a year
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Just keep going and things will get back to normal eventually.
 
Your confidence really will come back if you keep at it - I can say that now, cos it's happened, but it's taken me 18 months to get my jumping confidence back after a fall
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I tried confidence workshops, hypnotherapy, but nothing worked, just perseverance in the end. At my worst I couldn't get myself into the ring to do 2'3, last Sunday I finally jumped a 2'9 course and am still smiling - a year ago I really didn't think I would ever do that again, but now I can't wait to do it again
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Just take it at your own pace and don't let anyone try to get you doing more than you're comfortable with - good luck
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