Nervous Riders

[Mithras]

Do you think nervous riders are bad for horses? I am still looking for a sharer, one woman came up to ride and I am not sure about her at all. She came highly recommended by people at the yard, I watched her ride in the school then let her go for a short hack. All seemed well, my mare is very quiet and easy and well schooled, though can be a little hesitant as tends to see things in bushes - though she only snorts and halts if not pushed on.

Anyway, first day of share, she had arranged to ride out with her friend on the yard, didnt text me back that night as I had asked, but the next day said it had been fine. But she had not gone beyond the end of the drive because my horse "was spooky" and "terrified of dogs" - not that they had met one, but they might have done!

Err, I hunt in winter!

I think its a no-goer. But what is it with people who think horses are machines? Why dont they buy a motorbike and go out on that instead? To avoid uncertainty, after thinking about it for a bit, I told her I didnt think it would work out because I thought nervous riders were bad for horses, and I didnt want my horse learning bad habits. She said she thought my horse was "too spooky for most people", "too big" (she's 16.1) and "difficult". Even according to the friend, my mare never put a foot wrong!

Instead of blaming the horse, why not just improve your riding and ask the horse to do what you want it to? Most horses are happy to comply, they prefer an easy life!

 

[Tufty]

Is there any way that you could ride out with her on another horse and help her to understand your horse a bit more. Maybe she just needs the reassurance and then maybe you could ride out with her on your own horse and her on another to see how you handle your horse.

 

[Blizzard]

I disagree with Jella.

You are looking for a sharer, not someone to reassure and teach.

I think she has a nerve blaming the horse when it was clearly her, and personally I would not think my horse was in safe hands and wouldnt want her riding it.

 

[Mithras]

Not really, would have to organise another horse to ride and the point of a sharer is to get a bit of extra exercise for her when I'm away with work. I know shes a showjumper, but my mare has to be one of the quietest horses you could imagine. She just doesnt do anything, and has a lovely big shoulder that really keeps you right in the saddle. She's been everywhere, done everything and the only spooky thing she does is snort and halt to warn you if you dont push her on.

I'm just surprised and dismayed by the attitude. She said she had broken and schooled youngsters in the past, though a while ago.

I've had a few comments from people about my horse and how she used to buck with people in the past (has to be the gentlest buck in the world and only if she's not on the bit), she's spooky, (I dont find her spooky), etc. A bit of a wake up call, makes you think how many good horses must get ruined and get bad reputations from the inadequacies of riders.

 

[ihatework]

Nervous riders can be really bad for some horses. I have the same trouble with my horse. I find him the easiest most straightforward animal on 4 legs and yet you can put a quite capable rider on him who is nervous, if they are tense and hang on to his head then he thinks its funny to rip the p*ss out of them!

 

[Blizzard]

Lance does the same, he is good as gold for me, yet thinks it hilarious to take off broncing at a gallop with my novice stepdad.

 

[bex1984]

As someone who used to be the most nervous rider on the planet EVER, I was definitely bad for my previous horse - he picked up on my nerves and we made each other worse. With my current pony, if you're nervous he'll look after you, if you're cocky and confident he'll have a bit of fun with you and see what he can get away with!

 

[jumpingjack]

I had exactly the same problem with someone who came and tried my mare to share except she didnt make it as far as the hedge before exitting the side door.
I think my pony spooked which i had said she may do as she is only 6 but she's not nasty or anything but she fell off and then went back to tell everyone how my horse had an attitude problem and was badly schooled as when you squeezed with your thighs she stopped.. haha was very unimpressed that rather than going to catch horse she was too busy slagging it off to anyone who'd listen - problem was she was telling the wrong people as my mare is the sweetest most genuine horsey going and was schooled originally by my YO!!!

Needless to say she wasnt invited back

 

[Shilasdair]

Send her to me!
My old mare would soon sort her out....the last a******e that wanted to loan her didn't make it out of the yard gates before my horse 'became terrified of the JCB and refused to go on, spinning, dropping a shoulder and dumping rider'.
I popped on her, buckle end, no leg aids, horsey giggled, walked up to JCB bucket, and rubbed her nose on it!
End of that sharing agreement as my horse clearly didn't think much of her!
So if you want the sharer to be 'sorted out' send her to me!
S

 

[Mithras]

LOL! Theres a lot of it about though. Prospective sharer, when trying her in the school, had announced after sitting on her for 2 minutes, that she was very easy and she thought she "went better" for someone who had a longer leg on her (I'm 5 feet). Its very rare when horses back you up, but shortly after she said this, my mare started propping and napping, something I have never known her to do, turned out she had managed to get her tongue over the bit, again something she had never done before! Quite bizarre.

I think there are a lot of people out there who like the idea of riding but are really very nervous indeed and who just talk the talk. My mare's breeders told me a funny story of a lady who arranged to come and see her after responding to their ad. She turned up, took one look at her, and said she was "too big". Err, what did she expect of a horse advertised as 16.1?!!