Regaining confidence after a fall?

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tanyajade

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Hi,

As the title suggests, I've had a fall. Well, two in 3 weeks! My horse spooked both times and had me off. Luckily, the worst injury has been a twisted ankle. I think that's pretty light considering.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to regain confidence with her, without constantly thinking she's going to spook, which will make her spook!

It's a viscous circle, I need to ride more, but I'm scared, which makes her scared, how do I break it?
 
When I had a massive set back last year after loss of confidence I found lunging before riding a great help! A GOOD instructor aswell is key.

tanyajade said:
Hi,

As the title suggests, I've had a fall. Well, two in 3 weeks! My horse spooked both times and had me off. Luckily, the worst injury has been a twisted ankle. I think that's pretty light considering.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to regain confidence with her, without constantly thinking she's going to spook, which will make her spook!

It's a viscous circle, I need to ride more, but I'm scared, which makes her scared, how do I break it?
Click to expand...
 
get someone to lead you out , lead her out in hand and most of all dont panic , all is not lost it is just a tiny blinp relax and give both of you time , also maybe spend time bombproofing ?
 
showpony said:
When I had a massive set back last year after loss of confidence I found lunging before riding a great help! A GOOD instructor aswell is key.
Click to expand...

This ^^^ when i had 2 scary falls with my boy (later diagnosed with ulcers) it took me a long time to be confident with him. but lunging for 5-10 minutes before riding, my fabulous instructor & YO being there as well as taking things slowly... it takes time, and i totally sympathise with you. Only ride when there's someone around.

Is there anything you can think of thats causing the spooking? if you can determine that, maybe you can sort out the root of the problem too...
 
How long have you had her? Is this typical behaviour for her? In the school, hacking, alone?
Look at her feeding, turnout, eye sight?
After these maybe warm her up on the lunge first, then straight in to work. Keep her busy, transitions, turns, poles etc.
All these should give you confidence too if they're covered.
 
Thank you everyone. She is quite spooky in general to be honest. I do now lunge her, and I've been doing it around blocks etc to get her used to stuff being around. When she spooks, it's the way she leaps to the side, I'd prefer a buck or rear!
I've had her 6 months, she's getting worse lately, but I think that's my fault.
I've changed her feed recently to a calmi chaff, nuts & a calmer.
She's 10 so should really be over the spookiness.
How can I 'bombproof'?
 
A positive mental attitude is a real asset, most people visualise the worst happening, that transfers to their attitude and then their actions. Imagining things going well can go some way to actually making them! It seems a disgustingly blase and simple thing to say, but I really believe in it. I went through a scaredy phase about 10 years ago and all that kept me going was a logical, positive outlook :) hope that helps a bit.
 
Ranyhyn said:
A positive mental attitude is a real asset, most people visualise the worst happening, that transfers to their attitude and then their actions. Imagining things going well can go some way to actually making them! It seems a disgustingly blase and simple thing to say, but I really believe in it. I went through a scaredy phase about 10 years ago and all that kept me going was a logical, positive outlook :) hope that helps a bit.
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I know, that totally makes sense, and I'm a believer too. It's just very difficult when your heart is in your mouth trying not to anticipate another fall, which I'm sure you know :( I'll keep trying. I might try meditating or something!
 
Lessons with a good instructor, body protector to help you feel abit more protected and what about looking into a Rs-tor??

Take things slowly and always end on a good note, good luck
 
I had a bad fall about 5 years ago and it took me a long time to gain my confidence but if I had done what I started 2 years ago, I would have got it back quicker.

I took to the school and got lessons from a good instructor and for hacking (Darcy is a spinner) - I started long reining her out, watching what she spooks at and getting her to gain her own confidence out on a hack.

She still isnt the best to hack out but I know now when she is going to try something.

Take your time, you will get your confidence back :D
 
What makes long reining so beneficial?
I couldn't ever take her out on her own hacking, she'd be tap dancing all over the place, people would think Riverdance was in town!
 
I think slow and steady wins the race, take your time being comfortable again. Get an instructor who may be able to give you some of your confidence back. Don't put yourself under pressure to be what you were pre fall, straight away, it takes as long as it takes. Do invest in a Bp or air jacket, or both. Can you anticipate the spooks, do you know what causes the spook? Is it the time of year, turnout, feed? I wish you luck, confidence is easy to lose but can be a ****** to get back.
 
henmother said:
I think slow and steady wins the race, take your time being comfortable again. Get an instructor who may be able to give you some of your confidence back. Don't put yourself under pressure to be what you were pre fall, straight away, it takes as long as it takes. Do invest in a Bp or air jacket, or both. Can you anticipate the spooks, do you know what causes the spook? Is it the time of year, turnout, feed? I wish you luck, confidence is easy to lose but can be a ****** to get back.
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Thank you. She can go past a chair, say, 10 times, and on the 11th time, she'll spook at it. I have to idea what she spooked at the first time she had me off, it was something outside the paddock. The second time, it was a black step (that she'd already been past several times).
I've only had her for 6 months, so it's hard to say whether it's the time of the year. She's worse now than when I first got her, but I think that's because I'm more tense after my first fall.

I'm glad you've all been through the same thing, and managed to pick up the pieces again. It just seems like a million miles away at the moment :(

Thank you for the encouragement :)
 
tanyajade said:
What makes long reining so beneficial?
I couldn't ever take her out on her own hacking, she'd be tap dancing all over the place, people would think Riverdance was in town!
Click to expand...

I find that long reining takes the pressure of both you and the horse. You are not tense on her back and also, you are not on her back if she spooks. I found that it helped my confidence alot, DArcy gained more confidence herself getting long reined without me been a stiff plank on her back and things got better (she will never be bombproof) but much better.

You will get there.
 
Connie by any chance?? Sounds just like my chap - I find loads of circles , figures of eights , transitions help - he is much more likely NOT to spook if his mind is busy.

tanyajade said:
Thank you. She can go past a chair, say, 10 times, and on the 11th time, she'll spook at it. I have to idea what she spooked at the first time she had me off, it was something outside the paddock. The second time, it was a black step (that she'd already been past several times).
I've only had her for 6 months, so it's hard to say whether it's the time of the year. She's worse now than when I first got her, but I think that's because I'm more tense after my first fall.

I'm glad you've all been through the same thing, and managed to pick up the pieces again. It just seems like a million miles away at the moment :(

Thank you for the encouragement :)
Click to expand...
 
Rescue remedy helps both you and can be given to your horse. You can get it in any chemist and is a natural herbal remedy. Start with that but get some help to stop going round in circles. Richard Maxwells books are great and will help with de spooking !!. Mine are being a tad silly at the moment so I hope she improves .
 
Horse riding is all about enjoyment and wanting to go riding.
I believe it can take 2 - 3 years of ownership to get used to a horse.
I would suggest that you take your horse off all hard feed and only feed your horse 20 minute soaked hay. If it is the feed causing your horse to fizz up then this will resolve the issue.
Hack your horse out for at least 3 hours a day every day so that your horse gets enough exercise as this will get rid of excess energy and get your horse used to things.
If she does not start to improve after 6 month then get you need to consider selling her on and getting a more suitable horse that is more laid back and does not spook.
 
I got thrown off my boy a record 4 times in one day.
I gave up riding and spent a few months steadily gaining confidence in handling him. I also bought a very unelegant Australian stock saddle........which was brilliant..i could sit any of his tantrums out on that. Ive had the same horse five years now and he is now the sort you can leave for months and throw (now back to an English) saddle on and go for a hack.
 
Second the good instructor. If you can't get a good instructor, a good friend will also work to help take your mind off things. Get them to talk to you - or shout out random instructions (transitions / changes of rein etc) so that you both have something else to concentrate on. Oh and singing. I am a recent convert to the magic of singing!!! If you sing, you HAVE to breathe. If you are breathing it is harder to get tense. If you are less tense the horse will be too. Best of luck :) x
 
I lost my confidence a little while back after a REALLY silly fall in the school. It shook me up and I found I got really nervous out hacking. I made sure I hacked out with friends and I bought a neckstrap and held onto that when we went anything faster than a walk.

Eventually I got it back and now we're unstoppable :D Good luck, I know how bad it is :(
 
I sing out loud (badly) - I listen to the Schooling with Confidence hypnosis mp3 (not in the saddle, though!) - I shoulder in or overflex in the Spooky Corners (you physically can't do the sideways teleport if you're bending in that direction already!). And if I've any doubts at all I'll lunge the pants off her and only get on when I'm sure all the silly has been worn out!
 
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