New loan nerves!

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Dream2own

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I am starting a new share agreement and I am nervous! I've been riding on and off for years but the last couple of years it has been general happy hacking. I have struggled with confidence due to anxiety issues and always liked to play it safe with horses.

My new loan is a beautiful horse who is very intelligent and needs correct riding. By this I mean he is not a kick along. I will be having twice weekly lessons for a while to gain confidence and won't even dream of hacking out until I have built a bond and improved my riding to a confident level.

As a novice happy hacker how long do you think it would take to "relearn"?

I would love to really develop my riding and improve my confidence and feel this is really achievable with my new loan.

Any tips on building a bond and developing my riding greatly appreciated!!
 
Ohhh, exciting :)

My only advice would be guided by the owner, sounds like you are being very sensible - if you are not happy about doing something just say/ask for help. Just take your time and enjoy :)
 
I agree with LJR. Just take your time and do some lessons in the school to get a feel for the horse and what he responds to. I found that brought on my riding and confidence massively. Enjoy ;-)
 
I am a sharer and a sharee (complicated and not entirely sure which one means which!) The best thing you can do is keep talking and listening to the owner and to keep taking things at your pace. I'm sure the owner wants you both to be safe and would rather you build slowly than push too far too fast to impress her.

I'd be thrilled if I had you as a sharer, just because you sound like you want to do it correctly. I just turned down a prospective sharer because when my horse got a bit strong with her in the school, her reaction was to turn him at a fairly low fence, beyond which was an open field. She said she wasn't bothered by him being strong and knew he'd stop if turned at the fence. Err, I didn't so I don't know how she did!

As it happened he did stop, but I couldn't guarantee it and I'd told her to turn a circle and reduce it if he got too strong. I wasn't bothered by the fact he got strong with her, he always does this to test a new rider, but I was bothered by her lack of judgement, appalling seat, (she was like Mr Bounce on his back, no wonder she couldn't stop) disregard for what I'd told her, and by the fact that she had no problem with being carted off with and was desperate to come back for a hack through open fields the next day!
 
Oh wow annagain! Some people amaze me.

This is why I want lessons and to get to know the horse. I am used to riding school horses and happy hackers so I want to learn how to ride correctly in terms of how to react if he gets strong etc. it's things like that you don't learn on plods but I want to improve not learn bad habits ambling round fields.
 
I think the most important thing is to listen to the owner and have good contact with them, as well as knowing when too much is too much for you. There is no harm in realising the horse isn't right and ending the share early.

I have 2 sharers who are just starting to take on my boy, they're lovely girls who really want to learn and have taken in everything I've said so far. They love the horse, the horse likes them and they really do want to do well with him and get to enjoy him.

I think you'll do really really well, especially if you're not afraid to ask questions and ask for help if you need it. Sharing is a great step up from ordinary lessons, and if it doesn't work out, then you don't have to worry about selling the horse on or when to send a loan horse back!
 
I've had a few shares before but this is the first time I've shared a horse who is responsive and can do do all three disciplines! I think with regular lessons and working hard myself in between I could learn a lot and have a really great relationship.

I'm very excited. If a little daunted!
 
Just remember to breath!!! Relax, enjoy and learn. Sounds like you are going about it the complete right way. Also go at your pace. Not someone else's.

X
 
Well I had a lesson and realised how unfit I am!! Clearly hacking mindlessly for hours isn't good exercise 😀

How long did it take people to get there fitness back?
 
You'll be surprised at how quickly it will come back - I'd say a couple of weeks as long as you're riding regularly and have a base from hacking. Never be surprised how stiff you can be after doing something different though, even years in! I did a fun ride on Sunday. It was open field after open field and even though I ride 3-4 times a week, we don't have that sort of opportunity to be standing up in our stirrups and cantering / galloping for that long with little rest (prob about 30-40 mins in total over a 90 minute ride) I was aching like I'd never ridden before on Monday!

I imagine the boys felt it too, but A just has to canter at least in those situations and once he's going M has no choice but to keep up! They've had until today off to recover but they'll be ridden tonight.
 
I'll be having at least two lessons a week and will practice what I have learnt in between.

It's amazing how hard riding properly is! Hopefully it'll become second nature like driving!!
 
OP you sound to be just like how I was when I got my first share - nervous but oh so excited. From what you've said you seem to be have a good head on your shoulders and are being sensible in your approach. My advice would be to listen and learn from the owner, be like a sponge! When it comes to riding, and 'relearning' (I did this too - and still am!) be open, honest, ask questions if you don't understand, and try not to get too disheartened when something doesn't happen straight away.
And most importantly - enjoy!

Oh AND re. building a bond - don't rush anything! If you're not ready, don't do it. Take your time. I spent weeks just doing ground work (natural horsemanship) with my loan and as a result we have a really good bond and I love him as if he were my own.
Good luck x
 
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LHIS said:
OP you sound to be just like how I was when I got my first share - nervous but oh so excited. From what you've said you seem to be have a good head on your shoulders and are being sensible in your approach. My advice would be to listen and learn from the owner, be like a sponge! When it comes to riding, and 'relearning' (I did this too - and still am!) be open, honest, ask questions if you don't understand, and try not to get too disheartened when something doesn't happen straight away.
And most importantly - enjoy!

Oh AND re. building a bond - don't rush anything! If you're not ready, don't do it. Take your time. I spent weeks just doing ground work (natural horsemanship) with my loan and as a result we have a really good bond and I love him as if he were my own.
Good luck x
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What did you do groundwork wise? I'm new to all this so want to do the best I can but feel nervous doing stuff I'm unsure of around people who know what they are doing!
 
My pony had started some training in natural/intelligent horsemanship, so I carried on with this. I started by working my way through the exercises in Perfect Manners and Perfect Partners books (written by a lady called Kelly Marks - I happen to think she's great and the techniques work with my pony - but appreciate each to their own!). By doing this I got to know my pony, he got to know me, we developed a really good bond and trust, I learnt his foibles and how he would react - something that helps greatly with my confidence now I'm riding him.
 
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