Oh No - nervous nelly's back!

3OldPonies

3OldPonies

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OMG this is daft, I'm sitting here at my desk rapidly becoming a bag of nerves - why - it's nearly home time and that will mean only one thing - time to have another go at sorting out my pony's napping.

I feel so stupid (once again), I've been riding a friend's 16.2 ish monster of a horse - no probs, once I've managed to get on that is, but put me back on my own 14.1 chap and hey presto the nerves are back!

I know I have to get over this, which is why after last night's mini bronking and spinning session at the gate we are going to have another go at walking sensibly up and down our lane.

If anyone has any suggestions for how I cure a) the napping and b) my nerves please speak up!

If not, then thanks for taking the time to read my nervous nelly vent, I just felt that I had to let go somehow and writing to the forum seemed like a good way to at least let some of the nerves out!

Anyway, the clock is ticking round, so time to clear up and go for it!
 
3OldPonies said:
OMG this is daft, I'm sitting here at my desk rapidly becoming a bag of nerves - why - it's nearly home time and that will mean only one thing - time to have another go at sorting out my pony's napping.

I feel so stupid (once again), I've been riding a friend's 16.2 ish monster of a horse - no probs, once I've managed to get on that is, but put me back on my own 14.1 chap and hey presto the nerves are back!

I know I have to get over this, which is why after last night's mini bronking and spinning session at the gate we are going to have another go at walking sensibly up and down our lane.

If anyone has any suggestions for how I cure a) the napping and b) my nerves please speak up!

If not, then thanks for taking the time to read my nervous nelly vent, I just felt that I had to let go somehow and writing to the forum seemed like a good way to at least let some of the nerves out!

Anyway, the clock is ticking round, so time to clear up and go for it!
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It is NOT daft. Not at all. It is, in fact, eminently sensible . . . means you have a sense of self-preservation - without which the human race would not have survived. What you have, is a virulent case of the "sensibles." After all, only a nutjob would willingly get on half a ton of animal, whose idea of "scary" is a crisp packet, and who has a brain the size of a walnut!

Give yourself a break. Try and separate the two issues . . . you need to sort your nerves out first -wiser people than I can tell you how to do that . . . and THEN you can sort out the napping. While you are being "sensible" horsey will pick up on that and nap . . . after all, if you are being sensible, why should he be rash?

Hope that helps.

P
 
Put on a neck strap. Ride 'im forwards. Don't take any crap. Remember; you CAN ride. It probably feels far worse than it is. Go for it.
 
Rescue remedy helps my worst wobbles and second the singing. Also my instructor suggests laughing whenever my mare naps or spooks as it helps keep you relaxed. Good luck :)
 
Good advice from Cortez. Everyone deals with it differently. I have my moments. I also have my cowboy up moments and just have to get er done. Seriously I will spare you the insanity of my "what's the worst that can happen" checklist. Suffice to say by the end of it I am laughing, to myself obviously, and this usually lightens my mood.

Back in the 90's when that cute little mantra of "no fear" was going around for stupid sneaker adds I think, a bunch of us had the pin on the back of our helmets along with various saint medals. Yeah I know. Anywho, thinking about that No Fear pin somehow gave a sense of false security. Besides, you'd look pretty silly riding like a scaredy cat with a No Fear pendant proudly displayed! Mind over matter!

Terri
 
Rescue remedy is great, and singing does really help, is there anyone who could walk out with you, that`s a great confidence booster, for you and the pony. Good luck, keep us updated!
 
I had a lunge lesson on a riding school horse as my lower leg was too far back and I needed to fix this. A happy side effect of this was a week later I was on the road on my horse when he went completely loopy, spinning, small rearing, flinging himself from side to side running backwards. Through it all my lower leg was solid and didn't budge and kept me in the saddle.

So, OP, I recommend a lunge lesson for your nerves. It certainly was a hugh help with mine.
 
Pair of spurs, a schooling stick in each hand, a big growly voice and someone on the ground for moral support. Protective clothing is a must, no short sleeves either. My daughter has the worlds worst napper but got there in the end and now they can go anywhere together, so you will sort it, might hurt a bit but will be worth it :) When pony naps spin it round and round six to eight times then ride it forward, you have to be a bit of a bully!!
 
I love this thread! I too have a nappy mare she is 16.2 and backs up, spins and does mini rears! So will be soaking this up :)
 
I found a strap on the front of my saddle worked wonders for my nerves. As does a very loud voice for shouting at naughty horse. A stick used repeatedly in a more annoying way than to cause pain, that worked a treat. Like tap, tap , tap , tap until horse does as told. I keep in my head that as long as my heels are pushing down and a little forward, my seat is light and I have something to grab, it's not at all easy for horse to get me off.

A day out hunting sorted me out in the end - despite being terrified the whole time, I stayed on, I didn't die... so I must be able to ride! Sometimes you just need to push yourself right out of your comfort zone to realise you are actually a decent rider and you can get that naughty pony to behave.
 
There's a thread on chronicle of the horse forum (COTH ) in the dressage section about riding with fear.
I'll try to paraphrase it.
You acknowledge your fear, tell it you know it's there but you say to it you can ride along with me, on my shoulder (one poster pretended it was a bird perched there) but I'm not going to let you affect my riding.
The thread explains it better.
I can't post a link as I'm on a phone.
I tried it and liked it :)
 
Thanks everyone for your suggestions and support, I'm feeling a bit better already having read through all your replies. I'll deffo be giving some of the ideas a go.

Unfortunately last night I completed flunked it and didn't even get on as someone had arranged for a rather noisy boisterous person to visit the yard as I was getting ready to go out, and that upset the applecart before I even got the saddle on!

BUT, I am not going to give up. Tonight I shall be riding my friend's horse in their school, so that will be a positive thing to do. Then at the weekend when I have more time (I've come to the conclusion that a weeknight when I'm in a hurry isn't the best time to not be stressy about this) I'm going to get on my boy and if we just sit there or ditz about all morning, this is going to get sorted.
 
3OldPonies said:
I know I have to get over this, which is why after last night's mini bronking and spinning session at the gate we are going to have another go at walking sensibly up and down our lane.
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Only thing I would suggest is you don't walk up then turn round to come back down the same lane (if that's what you meant) appologies if I have red it wrong :o

Cortez said:
Put on a neck strap. Ride 'im forwards. Don't take any crap. Remember; you CAN ride. It probably feels far worse than it is. Go for it.
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Ditto this.

I went through a stage with my now 6yr old to the point I used to get off, but in the end enough was enough I had to bite the bullet & do it. I ended up trying a different tactic with him, when he napped instead of fighting him as it made the situation worse or getting off I would just sit there for a few minutes then put a bit of leg on if he felt he was going back I would just stop & sit there again he ended up getting bored & gave up. Every now & again he tries it on, but with a growl & a slapped bottom now he carries on.
 
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