peterpony
Well-Known Member
Does anyone else suffer from nerves when riding? I can't help myself and most of the time it is completely uncalled for. My pony is extremely good and I shouldn't be like this at all. Any suggestions?
Nerves
- Thread starter peterpony
- Start date
sandr
Well-Known Member
Rescue remedy
Flibble
Well-Known Member
Sorry hard to advise as I dont know your age but I do have nerves.
Rescue remedy helps but so do other things:
imagining perfection rather than failure
breathing in and out slowly will slow your heart rate down a bit
and also quietly singing a silly song under your breath.
If you are my age getting your HRT rate helps too
Rescue remedy helps but so do other things:
imagining perfection rather than failure
breathing in and out slowly will slow your heart rate down a bit
and also quietly singing a silly song under your breath.
If you are my age getting your HRT rate helps too
Muddywellies
Well-Known Member
Dont force yourself. You are supposed to enjoy what you are doing. If you get more joy grooming your pony, then just do that. tho if you really want to ride, enlist in the help of a really kind and caring instructor. If you are on a yard you will prob get a load of busybodies telling you what to do, which will put you more on edge.
Barneykins
Well-Known Member
I think everyone over the age of 30 suffers with nerves. It is very common. I think it's because you dont bounce the same way as you do when you're a child lol. Try some relaxation tecniques, positive reinforcement etc or a BIG slug of rescue remedy
Kenzo
Well-Known Member
Nerves as in frightened of hurting your self or nerves as in lack of confidence, you have convinced yourself your not good enough therefore that brings on the nerves?
Good company always helps, just the fact that someone is there to help you be ist in the school or out hacking, just to take your mind of things, make you laugh and talk about other things, not someone who is constantly reminding you that your not doing something correctly, this wont help your nerves.
Being in the correct frame of mind before you get in the saddle is very important and will also help with your nearves, if you start to feel nervous or have that weird feeling in your gut, dont tack up until its gone away, instead switch to doing something else until your mood lifts, do something positive and rewarding (can be anything even just mucking out your stable!) but something that makes you feel back in control again then while your feeling like this, tack up and you will fee more in control of yourself in your own mind, which will then show on the outside.
I think the older you get the more you think 'what if' because you have more responsibilities in life, but thats just common sense, so thats a good thing in way, but so long as your horse is a safe and does what you want, then keep reminding yourself how lucky you are, that will also help.
Dont pressure yourself, nobody is perfect and quite frankly whod want to be?
Good company always helps, just the fact that someone is there to help you be ist in the school or out hacking, just to take your mind of things, make you laugh and talk about other things, not someone who is constantly reminding you that your not doing something correctly, this wont help your nerves.
Being in the correct frame of mind before you get in the saddle is very important and will also help with your nearves, if you start to feel nervous or have that weird feeling in your gut, dont tack up until its gone away, instead switch to doing something else until your mood lifts, do something positive and rewarding (can be anything even just mucking out your stable!) but something that makes you feel back in control again then while your feeling like this, tack up and you will fee more in control of yourself in your own mind, which will then show on the outside.
I think the older you get the more you think 'what if' because you have more responsibilities in life, but thats just common sense, so thats a good thing in way, but so long as your horse is a safe and does what you want, then keep reminding yourself how lucky you are, that will also help.
Dont pressure yourself, nobody is perfect and quite frankly whod want to be?
DIDIsDAD
Member
There are several books by Dr Alexander which describe relaxation techniques which mostly come down to laying flat on a hard floor and relaxing.
Some riders find singing helps - luckily the horse is probably tone deaf.
Some rider trainers suggest psychotherapy - if you do visit a therapist , he/she will seek to find if there is a deeper cause.
It is worthwhile to go to a psycho in order to better understand the problem in yourself
Your nerves will create tension in you , which the more sensitive horse can pick up on - some horses will then themselves become nervous. A good rider trainer can spot this in you from your posture. You will need to plan a course of rehabilitation based on little but often.
Only ride the horse on quiet days, when the wind isn't blowing and the horse is relaxed. Use the same routes. Start in walk and if you need company even think of someone walking alongside. Ride out only with a capable knowledgeable rider on a calm horse.
Get a human physio to check your pelvis and posture - you need to sit upright front and aft, and level side to side in the saddle.
Try to use a deep saddle with high cantle and pommel. Knee rolls help - but you must not grip. You must consciously try to relax legs, seat, hands.
There is no quick cure - but understanding the problem and being honest about it is first step to recovery. The nerves create the tension which can turn to anger. Anger is an absolute 'no no' in horse riding.
An ideal horse to get you back into enjoying your riding would be a school master from a riding centre but regardless, eventually, you have to get back on your own horse. It all calls for persistence.
Sadly you are not alone but many riders, who sincerely want to get back into the saddle do recover. But be patient.
Best of luck.
B G
Some riders find singing helps - luckily the horse is probably tone deaf.
Some rider trainers suggest psychotherapy - if you do visit a therapist , he/she will seek to find if there is a deeper cause.
It is worthwhile to go to a psycho in order to better understand the problem in yourself
Your nerves will create tension in you , which the more sensitive horse can pick up on - some horses will then themselves become nervous. A good rider trainer can spot this in you from your posture. You will need to plan a course of rehabilitation based on little but often.
Only ride the horse on quiet days, when the wind isn't blowing and the horse is relaxed. Use the same routes. Start in walk and if you need company even think of someone walking alongside. Ride out only with a capable knowledgeable rider on a calm horse.
Get a human physio to check your pelvis and posture - you need to sit upright front and aft, and level side to side in the saddle.
Try to use a deep saddle with high cantle and pommel. Knee rolls help - but you must not grip. You must consciously try to relax legs, seat, hands.
There is no quick cure - but understanding the problem and being honest about it is first step to recovery. The nerves create the tension which can turn to anger. Anger is an absolute 'no no' in horse riding.
An ideal horse to get you back into enjoying your riding would be a school master from a riding centre but regardless, eventually, you have to get back on your own horse. It all calls for persistence.
Sadly you are not alone but many riders, who sincerely want to get back into the saddle do recover. But be patient.
Best of luck.
B G
peterpony
Well-Known Member
I'm 42 and have noticed the nerves worsening in the last year. I'm not the best rider and am fine riding round the fields at the farm where my pony is or in a school but as soon as I'm faced with a different scenario I fall to bits. The singing definately works when hacking out. I haven't ridden an awful lot lately because of the weather, but Sunday I rode in one of the fields and nearly had heart failure when I saw another horse in an adjacent field. The pony was fine but it took me a good 15 mins to get some composure back. My first instinct was to get off however I didn't and persevered with myself just walking round doing circles etc. I just wish I didn't get so panicky
russianhorse
Well-Known Member
Yep, I know EXACTLY how you feel
peterpony
Well-Known Member
Strangely that has made me feel a little better. I just sit there sometimes wondering if there is something wrong with me. I think I just need to do my own thing for a while maybe
russianhorse
Well-Known Member
Ive decided Im going to try and bite the bullet this weekend and ride somewhere different, although Im already dreading it
Kenzo
Well-Known Member
You will also notice that is is a hot topic, so your not the only one that suffers from nerves, I think that will also put your mind at rest a bit.
Sprout
Well-Known Member
You are not alone in feeling like this, and it seems feelings of anxiety do increase with age!
Dont push yourself, wait until its a warm (ish) non windy day, when your pony seems chilled out, and you are feeling relaxed and positive with nothing to make you rush. Keep it short, and end on a good note. Gradually build from there, and if something happens that scares you, but you deal with it, then hang on to that positive memory and use it to help in the future.
This is always a difficult time of year, my ponies are all behaving like lunatics - roll on the summer when they cant be bothered to test me out!
Dont push yourself, wait until its a warm (ish) non windy day, when your pony seems chilled out, and you are feeling relaxed and positive with nothing to make you rush. Keep it short, and end on a good note. Gradually build from there, and if something happens that scares you, but you deal with it, then hang on to that positive memory and use it to help in the future.
This is always a difficult time of year, my ponies are all behaving like lunatics - roll on the summer when they cant be bothered to test me out!
mclelkat
Active Member
I know how you feel and its very frustrating when you just want to get on with enjoying yourself. I bought a six year old last year after a few years with little riding as my old gelding is now semi retired. I had forgotten that the last time I rode a relatively young horse was 20 years ago when I was 20 years younger! My new one really hasn't done anything wrong but she can put in a big spook and it dented my confidence, especially as I fell off a couple of times. It helped a huge amount when I found a compatible riding companion whose horse would go in front or behind and keep up with mine, without stressing. Her new friend reassured her and chatting along the way calmed me down. After a few good rides I feel much more able to cope on my own and we are both regaining our confidence.
The other thing I find helps is to keep reminding myself of all the wonderful miles I covered on my old horse. He could be a bit of a handful in his youth but it all settled down in time.
Sorry this is a bit of a long post but I hope its reassuring to know there are lots of us out there!
The other thing I find helps is to keep reminding myself of all the wonderful miles I covered on my old horse. He could be a bit of a handful in his youth but it all settled down in time.
Sorry this is a bit of a long post but I hope its reassuring to know there are lots of us out there!
peterpony
Well-Known Member
I suppose that fact that my pony is very good and has done a lot for my confidence, in a way makes me feel more inadequate. It's as though I've taken a huge step backwards and I don't understand why. I'm fine in a school or confined space or a field on the farm. He has really not done anything wrong either. Where's Dr Spock when you need him?
Flibble
Well-Known Member
Whoa Seleste I am looking in a mirror.
I bought my handsome lad 18 months ago as a 5 year old.
He is lovely but excitable he has not been naughty often but each time I have been bucked off and have slowly been running out of places to ride where I feel safe.
Have you ever tried to ride where 10 pairs of knickers.
I was last decanted on the Friday before Christmas and nearly had a nervous breakdown during the freeze. It didnt help that I got flu for Christmas as well. My new years resolution is to sell. But since then he has been a darling.
Went down to the yard to ride and was told I had to ride in the being bucked of arena and burst into tears - yep at my age.
I am back to firing on all cylinders now but desparately need to find someone safe to hack out with so I am going to PM Flibble's army. Thankfully HHO has given me contact with some very helpful souls.
I have now ridden in the arena of death and didnt get bucked off and feel quite guilty as my horse is mostly a saint just very very big!! I have also decided to have a couple of months of tons of lessons.
If I had bought my lad 10 years ago I wouldnt have batted an eyelid but I am now older and wierder and affectionatly known as Worried of Whitminster and my sister calls me Anxious Annie.
OH has no idea that the tearful decision to sell is fading into the ether!!
I bought my handsome lad 18 months ago as a 5 year old.
He is lovely but excitable he has not been naughty often but each time I have been bucked off and have slowly been running out of places to ride where I feel safe.
Have you ever tried to ride where 10 pairs of knickers.
I was last decanted on the Friday before Christmas and nearly had a nervous breakdown during the freeze. It didnt help that I got flu for Christmas as well. My new years resolution is to sell. But since then he has been a darling.
Went down to the yard to ride and was told I had to ride in the being bucked of arena and burst into tears - yep at my age.
I am back to firing on all cylinders now but desparately need to find someone safe to hack out with so I am going to PM Flibble's army. Thankfully HHO has given me contact with some very helpful souls.
I have now ridden in the arena of death and didnt get bucked off and feel quite guilty as my horse is mostly a saint just very very big!! I have also decided to have a couple of months of tons of lessons.
If I had bought my lad 10 years ago I wouldnt have batted an eyelid but I am now older and wierder and affectionatly known as Worried of Whitminster and my sister calls me Anxious Annie.
OH has no idea that the tearful decision to sell is fading into the ether!!
DIDIsDAD
Member
One contributor mentioned dismounting when a panic attack becomes too much. It is a good idea - far better than sticking it out and creating anxiety in the horse.
The horse doesn't care - the only person who thinks you are a chicken is you and that won't be news will it?
Get off, walk along at head height and talk to the horse. They
can be great listeners.
Your only problem will be getting back on again but with time you'll get to know where the good mounting spots are.
B G
The horse doesn't care - the only person who thinks you are a chicken is you and that won't be news will it?
Get off, walk along at head height and talk to the horse. They
can be great listeners.
Your only problem will be getting back on again but with time you'll get to know where the good mounting spots are.
B G
bushbaby28
Well-Known Member
slow and steady- take one moment at a time
also try the 'confident rider' series of relaxation cds as really really worked for me and hacking and has also helped my school work.
also try the 'confident rider' series of relaxation cds as really really worked for me and hacking and has also helped my school work.
mclelkat
Active Member
Its good to know we are not alone!