No motivation to ride

Hazkirbo

Hazkirbo

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York
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*bit of a whiney post, but would also appreciate some advice*

As the title says, I’ve absolutely no motivation to ride. As well as some personal issues, my horse has been in-and-out of work since the start of the year. First he had an abscess so was off for a little over a week, then he went absolutely psycho (due to late summer turn out & refusing to stay in the winter field) so was off for about a month. Then when I brought him back into work he wasn’t happy in the mouth at all. Dentist was on holiday so we ended up getting vet out 3 weeks later. Turns out his canines are coming through. In the meantime he was hacked out in a hackamore, but no schooling. Vet says bit would make no difference to the uncomfortable-ness of teething so I could go back to bitted (I have)

Fast forward to now, where I’m trying to find the motivation to bring him back to work. I just really can’t be bothered. I’ve cancelled 4 comps we were supposed to compete in (which isn’t the end of the world), but we’ve achieved none of our schooling goals either. My instructor is on holiday, so no lessons (not that he’d be fit enough to do anything interesting with his grass belly)

So fed up, any sort of kick up the bum would be great.
 
ok, *kick*

Not sure what good it will do. I had the same feeling and am still finding it hard to get up into the saddle, once there I love it. My problem is that I only have a retired horse and a mostly retired horse , so its only plodding about the lanes for me. I am looking for a new horse but no luck. In the winter when I felt like this ans my horse wasn't right, I turned him away and gave myself some time off and him too. We both feel better for it and are now starting to plod about again.
Maybe some lessons will help, or just give yourself some time off and just not worry about it. The horse wont. :)
 
Hugs, we've all been there.

Sounds like both you and horse have got a bit unfit and have lost focus. So either take some time off and then come back to it with a fresh approach, or set aside any thoughts of competing for now and just concentrate on getting him back fit. So set yourself a routine and stick to it religiously for a bit even when you don't feel like it. You have to push through your own mental resistance a bit and trust that with time and structure you will get your mojo back. Go out hacking and gradually build up his pace and distance - you can monitor each ride with one of those distance/speed travelled apps.

Then see where you are in a month with a view to picking the lessons back up and cracking back on with the schooling.
 
I keep mine at home and lack of motivation seems to be common in that scenario.

Everyone is different so some things might work or not - but worth a think about
- banning yourself from riding for 2 weeks, nothing makes me want to ride more than not being able to, after a self enforced break I can't wait to get back on
- get the OS maps app on your phone and try to find new hacking routes - schooling when unfit is (IMHO) largely pointless - so bring the fitness back up while enjoying the sun, new exploring (lovely bluebells around us currently) - be present and in the moment and enjoy birds, seeing wildlife, scenery, etc. as you would if you were walking a dog
- agree to hack with someone else - often when I can't be bothered I'll text my neighbour, she says yep and off we go - we then both have a conversation about how we weren't going to ride that day but now we are out its really nice. I hate letting people down so maybe agree to meet someone a X time on Y day and then you have to go!
 
DabDab said:
Hugs, we've all been there.

Sounds like both you and horse have got a bit unfit and have lost focus. So either take some time off and then come back to it with a fresh approach, or set aside any thoughts of competing for now and just concentrate on getting him back fit. So set yourself a routine and stick to it religiously for a bit even when you don't feel like it. You have to push through your own mental resistance a bit and trust that with time and structure you will get your mojo back. Go out hacking and gradually build up his pace and distance - you can monitor each ride with one of those distance/speed travelled apps.

Then see where you are in a month with a view to picking the lessons back up and cracking back on with the schooling.
Click to expand...

Agree with DD here, either don't bother until you start to want to, or just saddle up and hop on each day until you're back in the swing of it :) Even if you just start with a 20 min amble down the lane.

I rarely struggle with motivation, but I think it's partly just about forming a habit - I have 2 in work and almost always ride before and after work, in all weathers, i just tack up without really thinking about it because I know I'm going to be pleased I've done it afterwards and I've got stuff I want to achieve with the horses. Yes, there are occasions when I feel ill or I've had a terrible day, and those days I just have pony cuddles and then go home, but that's pretty rare.

The other thing is, (and I hope this comes across the right way) we never know how much more time we have with our horses... try to enjoy every moment whether that's riding or just being with them. You never know what's round the corner. Come into sharp focus this week as YO's horse suffered a bad injury and has been pts. We're so lucky to have these lovely creatures in our lives :)
 
Sell him, get another hobby. Think about the luxury of not riding or mucking out in winter. I say sell, get yourself a nice little once a week share horse if you miss riding at some point in the future :)
 
Thank you all!

I keep him on a livery. There’s only 3 of us there but the yard regularly holds competitions and clinics so seeing all those on and not being able to join in is getting me down. Think I’m going to do lots of hacking & give schooling a rest.

Completely agree with you never know what’s going to happen & I enjoy every minute of it. Like my dad says, I’m very lucky to even have a horse and shouldn’t take it for granted.

I could never sell him, he’s too special for that. Even if I gave up riding completely he’s stuck with me unfortunately�� I’m getting a friend to ride a few times a week for me,though.
 
sounds like a good plan. you might like to check out the Non-Ridden Equine page on facebook too. its run by Vicki Jane Yates. has ideas and suggestions about what to do with horses other than riding.
 
There is lots of other stuff you can do other than ride. Why not explore something else with your horse, and just accept a break from riding? Inhand stuff in the school, agility, juping, longreining, inhand hacks to graze together and explore what plants he likes. All of this will help with your bond, and make riding better when you do get back to it.
My guys have the year off progressing this year, between surgery, wedding, visitors and garden work I just can't do more, so we are spending the year working on our relationship, revisiting old training games, walking, grazing, and hacking for the one who is ridden (though she has to get used to me riding in a train as well before August).
Next year I'll crack on with one starting to drive and the other starting to ride, when I know I have the time and the enthusiasm because there is no other big stuff and I'll have help at home more than when I'm living alone!
Be kind to yourself, horses aren't just there for riding, they can offer so much more and they enjoy the chance to do other stuff too.
And you can always offer to help out at the competitions, that always gets me fired up to start working!!
 
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