Nerves When Riding

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GypsyLady

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28 November 2007
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Carrying on from my earlier post, i feel ive progressed slightly. Im no longer feeling like im going to be sick when i get on Lady (my friends horse), shes a lovely horse.

I do work with her two on the ground, she also has a lighter cob. Ive gone out with her on walking hacks and enjoyed it. I walk around on her horse by myself.

There is no riding stables near me that teaches adults! With the last stables i was getting so happy that i even tried trotting without stirrups. Ok i was worried but i pushed myself.

My friend is being great with me, she puts a spare stirrup leather around her horses neck and offers to lead me if i want a trot. I have done a few strides of trot everytime im on her horse, and shes good as when she feels me getting nervous she goes back to walking.

My confidence on the ground is 100% i dont have a problem doing anything with her. We have a greater bond than my friend has lol.
 
aww glad your building up your confidence and it sounds like your friend is doing a great job too.

its always daunting getting on a new horse for anyone, but after a few times you build a bond/relationship and it just gets easier and easier.

keep on with it x
 
Well done on getting this far. Just keep taking small steps and building it up.

Could you get an instructor to give you lessons on your position to make you feel more balanced/secure, maybe on the lunge?
 
This may seem really silly but i hate corners when im trotting lol. Ive been trying to get an instructor as my friend said i can use her horse as im used to her.

I feel like ive progressed but hit a brick wall.

My biggest fear is falling off, i dont think of the horse bolting on me. I havent fallen off yet.
 
My biggest tip is to think what you'd do if you fell off. That is, roll yourself away from the horse. Once you've fallen off you won't fear it again.

Have you any tack shops nearby? maybe try asking in there re instructors? Or try the BHS website? (there's a list of instructors there)

And definately save up and have a horsey holiday. You'll be able to have a week's worth of lessons / hacks on safe horses and come away with confidence like you've never known
grin.gif
 
its not as bad as it looks falling off so dont worry about that.

as for corners just relax and dont tense up maybe put a cone in a corner and do a few small circles around it to find your balance.

as they say practice makes perfect
 
Not so long ago I got the eebie-jeebies about cantering in the school coz Sunny sometimes does a silly head tossing, pulling you forwards thing that worries me. My thoughtful and understanding instructor very cleverly got me to stay on a 20 metre circle just in a nice active trot then sit for 3 strides, rise for 5, sit for 6, rise for 3, sit for 2, rise for 4 until the time was right! Of course, every time I sat to the trot Sunny thought I was gonna ask for canter but then I didn't! By the time I DID stay sitting and gently squeeze, he was paying HUGE attention to me and he gave me the sweetest no-nonsence transition you could imagine! I think if you just concentrated on a nice active trot down the SIDES of the school and a neat transition forward into walk for the corners, picking up trot again after the corner, then eventually you would only be popping into walk for a stride or two and before you knew it you would have a nice little half halt that would balance your horse AND you and you would hardly notice the corner! Good luck! x
 
What exactly do you not like about the corners? Do you feel insecure, does the horse rush or is that where you fear falling etc?

Also is the horse suited to you? It's not too big/big moving? ie if you are struggling then the easiest horse would be one with a slow/flat movement so that when you trot you wouldn't be thrown around too much.

Do you rise or sit in the trot?
 
Then there is nothing wrong with just trotting in straight lines (hacks are very good for this) until you feel more balanced and confident in trot. Then you can start to work on corners.
 
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