scared of riding in open order!

[cheekywelshie]

I've had this issue for a while - but it got worse when at my old yard i didn't realise someone was doing counter canter and almost caused them to stop! Those memories have come back now i started using the indoor at new yard.

My horse isn't as well schooled and gets on his forehand a lot and behind the leg- i feel i have to think about 2 markers ahead when thinking about a transition - but the trouble is now i'm afraid to ride in the school when there is another person in there, in case they change transitions in front of me - i know the rules, left to left etc, canter on outside track, walk inside, but i'm SO busy concentrating on keeping out of the way of others that i virtually neglect my own horse.

This happened in my lesson today. My instructor picked up on it instantly. The other person was very polite and stayed at one end of the school but I was still scared in case she came to our end! It's now got to the point where i can't focus - and is therefore a waste of a lesson. Yesterday i rode and there was another person there but she smiled, and that made me feel at ease a bit as well as the fact my sharer was there.

This seems to be mainly in the indoor school....doesn't feel as bad in outdoor.

I'm now petrified of next week's dressage test (intro) as i'll have to warm up with lots of others who may be chanigng direction every five seconds!

 

[Trubie]

I think its just a case of learning to be aware of others but also trying to conentrate on what you are doing. Ive ridden in open order in lessons with others and using the school for years. Ive just learnt to be aware of where others are in relation to me and if i can see them approach from the corner of my eye i look just to double check and then circle away.
Its like being in heavy traffic i suppose and knowing when and where to move to get where you want to without crashing, just keep practicing!

 

[diggerbez]

i feel for you...my 4 year old isn't very keen on horses coming past him and have had some hairy moments in collecting rings! all i can say is that it will get better with practice! when sharing at home it might be worth asking the other person to be aware that you are worried- worst they can do is say no!

if i share with someone its very rare that i go anywhere near them...there isn't really any need when there are 2 people in a 20x40...it might be that some of the people you are sharing with aren't great at sharing themselves.

 

[Charmaine18]

It took me a long time to get used to riding in the school with other people - now there are some people at my yard who I know to avoid riding with because they are not very good at sharing p), but most people are very nice and polite and will try to be considerate, especially if they know you're a bit wary. I will talk a lot to the other person in the school, which is probably really annoying for them when they're trying to concentrate on riding, but I'd rather irritate them a bit by letting them know I'm about to change the rein, and announcing every time I'm going to canter, than risk a collision!

Do you have a particular friend on the yard who will ride with you to help you get used to riding with other people?

 

[ester]

just a thought.... if it is going to stress you out warming up for the intro test..... is it feasible not to warm up for it? no point getting all stressed out before going in

dont think I can help otherwise. I have a very bendy pony with good ABS so I have always said to others I can get out of their way

 

[cheekywelshie]

Well I've only been there a week so I don't know that many people yet but I think, if the other person is walking I might just say I'm a bit nervous and then at least they've had a heads up. It takes me ages to get a 'good trot' and so that's why I get distracted, usually when I have it I realised I have to move, quick and then the quality of the work goes downhill!

My instructor says I should view it as a direction in terms of I should be thinking of change pace direction etc myself as my pony gets bored in the school we have to do transitions almost every 20 seconds else he goes flat.

I have a very different horse on the XC course

 

[cheekywelshie]

riding with someone else to get me used to it sounds a good idea - I'll see if I can find a willing and sympathetic partner!

 

[Natch]

Well, there may be somewhere you can ride without going into the school next week, and now about ringing them up and asking for the earliest possible slot, so others wouldn't be there anyway? bet all the other riders would love you for it!

You say you are scared in case they change transitions in front of you... so could you just make a habit out of circling away every time someone is within say 1/4 of the track in front of you?

 

[CrazyMare]

Keep trying to share the arena, you will quickly discover some people are rubbish at sharing - at my yard there are persistant offenders that ride AT you.

What might also help is talking to the other person, and just say 'can you let me know if you need the track' for example, when they might be doing shoulder in or leg yeild.