Firehorse
Well-Known Member
i've always been just an average rider, happy hacker rather than competitor. Choosing the safest horse rather than the frisky! Adrenalin shooting through my body at anything slightly scarey!!
7 months ago I had a problem with my then new pony. He decided to tank off with me, downhill, absolute flat out (and believe me, he can shift!), oblivious to me on his back yanking on his mouth. It was due to a downgrade in bit. In hindsight, I should've accepted he needs a dutch gag and left well alone. But i wanted him in a less harsh bit, so had to try for my own peace of mind. Then he did it again the very next time i rode him out, but this time I managed to stop him halfway down the hill, but then he had a spectacular tantrum and reared. So i jumped off and lead him onto the safety of the roads and plodded home. And since then, I've been too scared to ride him in the same area again. He's been up to tricks ever since, wherever I take him, despite being back in the original dutch gag. As soon as his feet touched grass, up he went, then off he went. Altho he would stop at the end of the track.
So, for 7 months, I've been cacking it everytime i went onto the hill. Avoiding certain places, doing loads of road work and a fair bit of schooling at home. A few weeks ago, I gave myself a huge kick up the backside and told myself, what with summer coming, this problem has to be sorted. And sorted NOW!. So, i did a lot of this imagery. Picturing us walking calmly on the hill, with 100% control. I'd do it before I went to sleep every night and before i went to ride. Then I got a plan in my head, that every time he got stupid, I would simply turn him onto a circle, so he cant run off. Teaching him that rearing would no longer be followed by a gallop. And I only ever had to do it once! The first time i rode out with that plan fixed and trained into my mind, thats what i did. I whipped him round and made him face the wrong way, stand and wait. Since then, its like he just cant be bothered anymore! He still gets fizzy, as thats just him, but he hasnt reared in about 5 weeks now. And 5 times in a row, he has been in 100% control on one of our canter tracks, even walking the full length of it 3 times. Then the next step for me was to bring him home along the same track. I'd been bringing him home on the road, as he always speeds up towards home and has taken off a few times on the hill towards home. So, with a big deep breathe, having put it off for so long, I took the plunge and did it. Rooted firmly behind the large backside of my friend's calm Dales. And with the image and plan in my mind. And what did he do? He plodded along like butter wouldnt melt, the entire length of the track! And he got one very huge cuddle after that.
Its been such a big achievement for me. I wasnt gonna let this beat me, but at the same time, didnt really believe in my abilities. I have still yet to take him back to the place where he first tanked off with me, but I will do it. Thats my plan for this summer. If it keeps going as well as it has, then there's no reason why he should tank off again.
My point of the very long post (sorry!), the power of the mind if truly amazing. It is that alone that has got me and my pony back on track. He must've picked up a change in my riding and attitude, because thats the only thing that has altered. Either that or someone has found a twin of my pony and swapped him.
And i just want to say, I know how many of u hve confidence issues. If i can do it, so can u. All you hve to do, is want to do it. Bring on the summer riding!
7 months ago I had a problem with my then new pony. He decided to tank off with me, downhill, absolute flat out (and believe me, he can shift!), oblivious to me on his back yanking on his mouth. It was due to a downgrade in bit. In hindsight, I should've accepted he needs a dutch gag and left well alone. But i wanted him in a less harsh bit, so had to try for my own peace of mind. Then he did it again the very next time i rode him out, but this time I managed to stop him halfway down the hill, but then he had a spectacular tantrum and reared. So i jumped off and lead him onto the safety of the roads and plodded home. And since then, I've been too scared to ride him in the same area again. He's been up to tricks ever since, wherever I take him, despite being back in the original dutch gag. As soon as his feet touched grass, up he went, then off he went. Altho he would stop at the end of the track.
So, for 7 months, I've been cacking it everytime i went onto the hill. Avoiding certain places, doing loads of road work and a fair bit of schooling at home. A few weeks ago, I gave myself a huge kick up the backside and told myself, what with summer coming, this problem has to be sorted. And sorted NOW!. So, i did a lot of this imagery. Picturing us walking calmly on the hill, with 100% control. I'd do it before I went to sleep every night and before i went to ride. Then I got a plan in my head, that every time he got stupid, I would simply turn him onto a circle, so he cant run off. Teaching him that rearing would no longer be followed by a gallop. And I only ever had to do it once! The first time i rode out with that plan fixed and trained into my mind, thats what i did. I whipped him round and made him face the wrong way, stand and wait. Since then, its like he just cant be bothered anymore! He still gets fizzy, as thats just him, but he hasnt reared in about 5 weeks now. And 5 times in a row, he has been in 100% control on one of our canter tracks, even walking the full length of it 3 times. Then the next step for me was to bring him home along the same track. I'd been bringing him home on the road, as he always speeds up towards home and has taken off a few times on the hill towards home. So, with a big deep breathe, having put it off for so long, I took the plunge and did it. Rooted firmly behind the large backside of my friend's calm Dales. And with the image and plan in my mind. And what did he do? He plodded along like butter wouldnt melt, the entire length of the track! And he got one very huge cuddle after that.
Its been such a big achievement for me. I wasnt gonna let this beat me, but at the same time, didnt really believe in my abilities. I have still yet to take him back to the place where he first tanked off with me, but I will do it. Thats my plan for this summer. If it keeps going as well as it has, then there's no reason why he should tank off again.
My point of the very long post (sorry!), the power of the mind if truly amazing. It is that alone that has got me and my pony back on track. He must've picked up a change in my riding and attitude, because thats the only thing that has altered. Either that or someone has found a twin of my pony and swapped him.
And i just want to say, I know how many of u hve confidence issues. If i can do it, so can u. All you hve to do, is want to do it. Bring on the summer riding!
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