Need to help my friend and her horse. (Bit Long!)

[Loubiepoo]

Since my horse died recently his best horsey mate seems to have changed, he has become unsettled and nervous when out hacking alone, spooking at the slightest thing and a bit unsettled in the stable. We have put him a new friend in the field with him that comes in and out at the same time and moved him to a stable where he is close to other horses. There is no one else on our yard for him and his owner to ride out with though as the others are retired or summer riders, so to speak! So they've been going out alone. The problem is the other day he spooked and my friend (his owner) fell off him. She badly hurt her back and couldn't get back on and has now lost her nerve to get back on him at all. So now both of them are feeling insecure and unconfident. The horse needs to build his confidence up again, but she is too scared to get on him. I am not the most confident rider and don't want to lose my nerve either if I get on him and he does something silly. What can we do?!? Any ideas for helping either of the gain their confidence again and get them back to being the happy combination they were?
Thanks!
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[isabella]

get a experienced confident local rider to ride the horse which will build up his confidence and if you know anyone with a safe sound horse that your mate can ride for a while to give her the confidence back to get back on her horse again

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[Happytohack]

Sorry to hear that you lost your horse. How about if your friend rides and you go along too on a bike? This can do wonders for a horse that is used to always going out with another horse and you and your friend can chat which should help her relax. If you just aim to go out for very short distances to start with and slowly build things up, she should get her confidence back. Good luck.

 

[JHawes]

It would make sense really to go back to basics and work in the school with a competent trainer to build their confidence before hacking out again. Their lack of confidence may be due to a basic insecurity in the saddle. Then if posibe ride out with the same person with them either mounted or on foot. Start off staying close and not out for too long untill confidence has rebuilt.

Hope this helps. Shame I am not closer or I would offer a hand. Jan

 

[Loubiepoo]

Thanks for your replies, unfortunately we haven't got any other safe sound horses close by, I am looking to buy one though!!! Neither can I think of any very confident riders! I have suggested to her about going down to my trainer and her old trainer and she seems quite positive about that, a nice safe indoor arena where they both know and can start to feel ok on each other. I suggested going next weekend, but she says her back won't feel better by then, I just hope its not going to become an excuse to get back on even when it is better.

I'm not sure about the bike thing, I think he would probably spook at that too, two of us walked out with a fairly confident rider on him today and even then he was still spooking at cars going past.

I have suggested she starts trying to lunge him to try start to re-build the bond and will then gently suggest going down to the trainer.

I think also the sooner I can find a sensible horse to go out on and help her the better.

Its just really sad to see neither of them happy when they used to be such a confident, unfased pair! I really hope they can get it back on track.
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