Rapidly losing confidence.

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SueandBaqi

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I've owned my arab gelding for 5 years, four of which were spent in the middle east just pleasure riding in the desert. We bought him home last year and he has readjusted very well to the climate and environment. He works well in the arena and indoor school and is a gem hacking along roads. However, when we get onto tracks where we could have a trot and canter, I am so nervous I just want to get off. I am not frightened of him, just scared of what he might do. He has a tendency to get very excited, starts shaking his head and throws a buck. I am 63 years old and don't bounce so well now. I am beginning to think I should throw the towel in but I do love him and enjoy riding so much. Hacking in company helps me but doesn't help him. He doesn't seem to like being with another horse.
Any helpful suggestions PLEASE ???
 
Why does he get excited? Are these places where he knows it's a place to trot and canter because you usually do? Or are you thinking you ought to trot and canter so you tense up? Or do you happen to.hack at times when he's just more likely to be fresh (ie weekend mornings before turnout)?

I'd do lots of hacking in walk only (or pay someone to do it) so that he breaks the mental connection between tracks and getting excited. Once he's chilled, I'd introduce short stretches of trot - a few strides at a time and never in the same place twice in a row- and then canter, and build up gradually.
 
Use a lead role as a neck strap, have it loose enough so you can hold it with one rein, might help with the confidence?
 
not sure whether its excitement or stress. He feels like he is in the fight or flight mode and its very stressful for me. Catch 22 I think! I will persevere at walk for the time being but may pay someone to take him out for a blast as well.
 
If you're trying to calm him down out hacking, going out for a blast is unlikely to help. If you are happy in walk, just do a small much of that as you need to until he starts to calm down.

What are you feeding him?
 
I haven’t cantered on a hack for ages; for the same reasons as you it sounds OP. No one says you have to; stick to walk if that’s what you prefer, just chill and enjoy the scenery!
 
point taken. Feed-wise he is only on fibre beet and hay as he is recovering from a fractured jaw after a paddock fight so I don't think he is getting fizzy from high energy feed. Also, I forgot to mention that previously I have hacked him out in a bitless bridle because of his injury and managed to keep him under control so I think the problem is mine rather than him. Getting very deep now, sorry.
 
SueandBaqi said:
not sure whether its excitement or stress. He feels like he is in the fight or flight mode and its very stressful for me. Catch 22 I think! I will persevere at walk for the time being but may pay someone to take him out for a blast as well.
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Going for a "blast" is the last thing he needs, well he may enjoy it but it will not help you when you next get on, getting someone to ride him properly, to school him out hacking so he becomes more settled is more helpful and may really help but they must know what they are doing, why they are doing it and remember they are schooling him for you not there to have fun.
 
Mrs G said:
I haven’t cantered on a hack for ages; for the same reasons as you it sounds OP. No one says you have to; stick to walk if that’s what you prefer, just chill and enjoy the scenery!
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This !
There's no law says you have to canter.
Enjoy what you do 😊
 
SueandBaqi said:
I've owned my arab gelding for 5 years, four of which were spent in the middle east just pleasure riding in the desert. We bought him home last year and he has readjusted very well to the climate and environment. He works well in the arena and indoor school and is a gem hacking along roads. However, when we get onto tracks where we could have a trot and canter, I am so nervous I just want to get off. I am not frightened of him, just scared of what he might do. He has a tendency to get very excited, starts shaking his head and throws a buck. I am 63 years old and don't bounce so well now. I am beginning to think I should throw the towel in but I do love him and enjoy riding so much. Hacking in company helps me but doesn't help him. He doesn't seem to like being with another horse.
Any helpful suggestions PLEASE ???
Click to expand...

I have only been riding a year and am the same age as you.. I don't have my own horse...yet! Have fallen off twice , concussions and fractured ribs so know exactly what you mean. I think going hacking on your own in itself adds to your tension and lets your mind work overtime. My humble advice would be to just have a relaxing walk along the tracks where he expecting to trot /canter and if you feel yourself getting a bit tense sing ( no one will hear you anyway)...If you sing you are breathing and hopefully less tense...Don't throw in the towel..Keep doing the things that make both of you happy

Shirl
 
I had a lesson on Saturday. Took Him into the school (first time in there and it's in the middle of the yard with plenty of distractions) and he felt like an unexplored bomb in walk. I expected a very forward trot but knew I couldn't avoid it. Did some transitions, got him listening but still tense, asked for trot and....

... very slow trot with no impulsion because that's what I'd asked for.

Trust your horse. Only push yourself slightly beyond your comfort zone and only when you're ready. Take your time and enjoy your lovely horse at whatever speed the two of you are happy.
 
As well as having a neck strap, may I suggest investing in a body protector / air jacket if you don't already have one....I have 2 explosive TB's and I am of an age where I don't bounce as well as I used to... I now always ride in a Hit-Air and it make me feel so much more 'safe'....I'm just as likely to come off, but if that did happen the jacket acts as an inflatable roll cage and it doesn't hurt as much as it could...It's all in my mind!!
 
SueandBaqi said:
Also, I forgot to mention that previously I have hacked him out in a bitless bridle because of his injury and managed to keep him under control so I think the problem is mine rather than him. Getting very deep now, sorry.
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Is he definitely over the fractured jaw? If I have read your post correctly your post reads "previously I have hacked him out in a bitless bridleW which indicates to me that you are no longer doing that but riding him with a bit. If so you need to make sure he is not in any pain from his mouth which might cause him to bomb off now. I'm wondering if you are holding him in to tight a contact when you get on the tracks which is hurting his mouth and this is why he is fighting against you as you describe. Maybe an EDT (qualified Equine Dental Technician) can reassess his mouth for you?
 
I know you said he doesn't seem to like company but if you can find a very quiet laid back companion who doesn't react to what he does that can be a huge help. The more you do it the more he'll get used to it. Stick to the roads for now and when you're feeling a bit more confident, take him to the tracks but only walk. Just because you can trot or canter there doesn't mean you have to. I'd focus on keeping yourself calm (as Shirl said, singing is excellent) and that will probably help him too.

My sharer's been having some trouble with my horse making decisions for her and just setting off in canter in places where he knows he can canter so I've been taking him out and making sure we walk where he thinks he should go. Even after just a few rides he's getting the idea that he doesn't do it EVERY time so yours will adjust too.
 
As others have said above.

No one says you have to canter on hacks. Some hacks we only walk, some we trot, and very occasionally, we canter. If we canter, it's never in the same place twice. I can't stand horses that expect to trot/canter in the same place every time and then get their knickers in a twist if they can't!

Take it slowly until you have your mojo back, and enjoy riding him in whatever way you want.
 
hopscotch bandit said:
Is he definitely over the fractured jaw? If I have read your post correctly your post reads "previously I have hacked him out in a bitless bridleW which indicates to me that you are no longer doing that but riding him with a bit. If so you need to make sure he is not in any pain from his mouth which might cause him to bomb off now. I'm wondering if you are holding him in to tight a contact when you get on the tracks which is hurting his mouth and this is why he is fighting against you as you describe. Maybe an EDT (qualified Equine Dental Technician) can reassess his mouth for you?
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Absolutely this - in cold weather fractured areas can be very painful and his behaviour could easily be a pain response.
 
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