TOO SCARED TO RIDE MY HORSE (update) Saddle on

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yaddowshad

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Hi everyone.

Went up the yard saddle in hand, put the saddle on the 18hh felt ok at first then started to feel a bit anxious, then again he is 18hh and with a saddle on even bigger.

I just messed around doing the girth up and checking all was in order, I gradually calmed down after telling myself that i wasnt getting on him therefore there was nothing to worry about.

It was a very weird feeling, one of anxiety and then of anger for being so stiupid as I had no intention of getting on him.

I think i was anxious because people were commenting about how big he is and of course thought i was going to ride him. I had to ramble on about just seeing if the saddle still fits him blaa blaa blaa.

In all honesty he is huge and I can see why he attracts the interest, ive just got to ignore this and just get on with it.

Ive been looking into buying a new saddle that offers more support and security and a pair of jods that apparently stick you to the saddle, but im starting to wonder if the retailers are playing on my lack of confidence, maybe more lessons would be better?

Any how I think today was a step forward as i actually stuck the saddle on him, I havent done that in 9 months.

Tomorrow I will lunge him (lightly) in all his kit, start preparing him and me for the big day (whenever that will be) to get on him.

What a difference a day makes.
 
Well done! Baby steps will get you there.
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You have made a good positive start today, well done!!

Don't worry about what other people think, they are not you. Just take each step at a time until you feel happy with yourself and confidence will start to come back!


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That's brill - well done! Quite agree that baby steps the way to go.

And I think sticky jods and a new saddle won't do anything like as much for you as extra lessons which develop your balance and confidence

Keep us posted!
x
 
well i hope you keep us all updated on your progress
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as other have said, well done and little steps will get you there! dont be put of by what other people say/think!

and castlemouse i love your sig
"success is a journey, not a destination"
very true and inspirational!
 
Good on you for facing your fears. I agree that baby steps is definitely the way to go. Good luck with it and let us know how the lungeing goes.
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And as for what other people say... try not to worry about it! They don't know your situation and it's not their horse.
 
very well done. you should be feeling very proud of yourself!!!. like the others hve said, it doesnt matter what other people think or say. would be lovely to see some pics of your horsey!! i bet he's a handsome lad.
 
Havent been on here for a while hun so not too sure of the background. All I can say is a big well done. I had a complete confidence crisis with my last horse - it got so bad that I actually sold her - the worst decision of my life.

Sounds like your doing great - dont listen to the others on the yard pushing you - go at your pace and youll do fine
 
Good for you! Just take away the pressure though, don't feel stupid if you don't ride but tack him up 20 million times!!! lol

It's the pressure that get's my nerves going, the pressure to do something you don't want to do/perform a certain way/you should be doing this/your horse could be doing that. As soon as I ride alone I do tonnes more things because I don't feel pressured to do so, so don't pressure yourself. It's your life you lead it your way.xxx
 
The more time you spend with him, the better he will be and you will learn to trust him.. his height wont be an issue.
Try and see him just as any horse, forget about his size.. You can have a lovely softie at that sze and a pain in the butt at 14 hh.
I have a 17.3/18 hh, and I did see him as big to start with, but he is far more trustworthy than any other horse I own and I would trust him with my life..
Just work on building up a relation ship with him.. and take it form there
 
Oh, you should be proud of yourself. I am a member of the 'Too Scared to Ride My Horse' club but with encouragement from this lot on here, a little bit of courage and a lot of determination I am conquering my fears. I don't pressure myself to ride and decide on the spur of the moment, more or less. Also, I have a mouthful of mints to take my mind off things ... and they work every time?!

Take little steps. In the beginning I rode mine up the road, literally 100 yards, turned round, came back again. A positive ride. I have slowly increased the distance I go and am now hacking out relatively normally.

Good luck and keep us posted. One thing I will say, no doubt you will feel like you regress at times. I do this but hang in there, take a deep breath, positive thoughts and you will move forward xx
 
well done

As regards to the tack and johds etc, I dont think they will make any difference, I used to do this, buy loads of things to think it would, but it didnt, Even down to not riding till I had matching tack! (excuses)

I now ride in missmatched tack if needs be, because the riding is the good bit, not what the tack does. Just a thought.
 
Well done!
Anxiety is bloody awful.
The best thing you can do is to train your brain not to give a stuff what others may think of you. Nobody's perfect, we all make mistakes - especially when it comes to horses - thats how we learn. You go at your own pace and in time I'm positive you will overcome your fears.
 
well done you.....

Baby steps are wonderful things and something that I am doing after being ditched at the end of Jan.

I bet you feel really pleased with yourself that you stuck to your game plan and it all went well. Well continue with those pats on the back.
 
Well done!
Big step for you - I know i couldn't even reach to put a saddle up that high hehe, I'm only 5ft tall!

I didn't sit on my hoss today........ but I did get a leg up on an unbroken 3 year old and leaned over his back for a customer .... albeit Donnie who is a total donkey!!

Still pleased with myself though.... Dunno when I'll try again though..
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Good for you. Take it one step at a time and remember somedays those steps will be backwards so dont get discouraged.
As an aside my lad is 17.3 ( 18 in his shoes) soft as you like and, like all big horses, easy to ride . Big horses soon appear normal size. I keep measuring Milo to make sure he hasnt shrunk lol
 
Well done! The first step is always the toughest.

Each little step you make is a building block on the way back to confidence,

You are really brave facing your fears.

Onwards and upwards!

Gem
 
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