Nervous about riding other horses?

J

jsr

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Is it my age? Me? Or do others feel the same?

I've had my lad for over 7 years now and he's certainly not classed as a novice ride, and at 42 I've been riding since I was 3 so I wouldn't say I'm a complete dunce at riding either! He's tested me to my limits but we have great fun together and I'm unlikely to ever get bored of riding this horse!! We regually do XC, I drag hunt him and I'm often found gallopping over the beautiful beaches we have here or across the acres of fields we have access to at the yard. So I certainly wouldn't say I'm a nervous rider, and alot of people I know say they envy what I do with him.

So why when asked yesterday to get on a friends horse did my legs turn to jelly and I made excuses to not do it? She is a very nervous rider and had watched me fighting with my lad in the field (he's super fit for first meet next saturday and we're having a few bouncing and bogging off moments!!:rolleyes:) so when I came back she asked if I'd get on her mare because she was nervous (the mare is very quiet and doesn't do anything as far as I know) and she wanted me to work her in so she could see she wasn't going to do anything and relax before getting on. I've got on other liveries horses for fun when in the indoor and always felt so nervous and wanted to get off immediately!

So why am I so nervous, do you think I should force myself to get on with it and ride as many other horses as I can or do I stay with the mad cob I know who scares most other people, and then worry about it when I need to find a replacement for him ...which I can't help be think about cos the thought of trying horses I don't know sends me loopy!!!! Lol!!!!

Anyone else feel like this or would you leap on anything? Maltesers all around.:D
 
Before I got my own, I'd ride anything (no choice, if I wanted to ride!). But when you get your own and only ride that one you become so familiar with their ways I think it can become daunting to try a different horse.
 
I try to ride as many horses as possible as I feel it helps me with my youngsters. Some of the horses I ride are known to be a bit tricky / green but I wouldn't actively seek out a "difficult" horse to ride. I also find that some people seem to talk their horses up and make them out to be total nutters, I usually decline to ride those ones - mainly because I think you need to know the honest position before you get on a horse as some of them take a bit more reading - at which point the owners quite often backtrack and say "oh well he's not that bad" etc.

I don't ride anything over 15.2hh, unless I know the horse to be relatively sane, as I am small and slight. I enjoy riding new / different horses and feel like this keeps me learning (I have been riding for over 25 years) as each horse is different.

Sometimes I think that in my thirties perhaps I shouldn't be so cavalier about hopping on other people's horses, but then I think that if I always thought "what if" then I'd never do anything with my own horse either! Horses are inherently dangerous due to their size and unpredictability - even the safest schoolmaster could trip and put you over their head unexpectedly at an inopportune moment.

I have found that my nerve isn't as strong as it was when I was 17, there was literally nothing I wouldn't ride in those days. I hope that by continuing to ride multiple horses I can keep it from declining any further!
 
It's probably just your age and the fact that you know what horses can do when they go to the extreme however you feel comfortable/confident on your own (even if he does test you) because you're just used to him maybe?

I'll jump on anything (within reason) providing I don't know what the horse is like, strange as it seems, I prefer not to know the bad points, so then there is no preconceptions of how you think the horse is going to re-act, just go with the flow and deal with it when it happens...if it happens, like you would on your own horse.

But I do think when your young, you don't weigh things up like you do when your older and more responsible, safety comes as a priority, I mean if you get injured, how do you work, look after your family, horses etc, so it's only common sense to change the way we think about riding other peoples horses, not really loosing your nerve, it's just be sensible! :)
 
I don't think it's just age. I owned my first horse when I was aged 16 to 21, and after a year or two of only riding him, started to lose confidence in riding other horses. I think the trick is not to stop riding other horses, right from the start.

Now I'm 55, have a horse again, and I'm even nervous about riding my own! :rolleyes: My imagination's just too vivid these days, and my bones more brittle...
 
I am a total weirdo and have no problem riding other horses, however, I always feel nervous riding my own :confused:

I have come to the conclusion it's because she's my responsibility, it's up to me to ensure she gets the work she needs and up to me to ensure she's a sane, safe horse - can I use the word sane with a Welsh Sec D :p

My mare is a pleasure to ride, hard work at times, but she's still learning and doesn't do my heart any good when she throws a 6ft leap spook into the mix, but she doesn't go anywhere and is as good as gold whilst you get yourself together again.

But I still feel nervous - odd.
 
I'm mid 20's and before I did my back in would ride anything - the only things I will refuse to ride are confirmed bolters (not just horses that bog off with you!) and horses that have reared over backwards.
 
I'm in my 30s.

I discovered (in my 20s) that I didn't enjoy riding other horses when I went to have a ride on a horse in Spain.

I know what my own horses are going to do. I know what buttons to press. I know I can trust them.

I work full-time and have bills to pay. I can't afford to end up wrapped around a jump pole
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I'm happy to ride my own lot or any horse that I have an emotional investment in.
I also enjoy riding horses that are a dream to ride, mannerly and uncomplicated. LOL, doesn't everyone !
However, I do get offered rides on friends horses that have a few issues because people think I'm able to cope with them. Trouble is, I don't want to really. Its not fun, I don't want to impress anyone and if the owner is watching, the issues are often down to them and its difficult to ride through naughtiness without the owner worrying about their baby.
And probably, my friends seem to think I'm a better rider than I am. T'isn't so, they're just very gullible or desperate for someone daft enough to risk hitting the deck.
 
There are very few horses at our yard i'd want to get on i'm definately a complete coward now i'm older. Strangely I trust my mare completely even though she is a bit of a loon and not many people would want to ride her. In fact I bought a steadier gelding and don't feel nearly as safe on him yet even though i've had him a year already and he's a poppet!
 
Im the same age as yourself and I will ride anything the worst that can happen is to break your neck and having survived doing just that cancer life is to short. By the sounds of it your are an experiences rider and would anticipate most horses "quirks" just do it it might give you more confidence to rider other horse in the future should you be asked again
 
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