Took a real knock to my confidence yesterday :(

[Casey76]

I was out for a walk with Tartine and my friend S with her horse Valentina who is being rehabbed after being rested for a puffy fetlock.

We'd walked the exact same route on Saturday, and had a lovely time, despite it being my first hack for months - but Tartine has been ridden out quite a lot more and she was much more relaxed.

In fact we'd done the most scary bit, coming through the village, and we were walking along a single paved track when I saw a couple of walkers with umbrellas in the distance. I shouted an alert to S, and she took Val in the front thinking that she would be easier with it, but as soon as they came within 20 feet Tartine was having none of it, and she spooked and spun round. The lady walker (who had a huge blue and white golf umbrella) recognised almost straight away that Tartine was scared and put her umbrella down and told her husband to put his umbrella down too.

It took a couple of minutes before before I could get Tartine pointing in the right direction. Then we were just walking off again when Tartine spooked at something, that set Val off, and amidst of the spinning round we had a jump to the side and a shoot off. I think we actually bounced of Vals side, but all I can remember hearing is the scrabble of hooves on the tarmac thinking "this is going to be bad." In the end I ended up back on the side of the road I started out on, though I was a good few feet into the field (thankfully cut and being rested).

I was literally shaking, and S asked me if I wanted to get off and I said "yes." Normally I would consider getting off a failure, but on this occasion, my adrenaline levels were so high I could hardly see straight. After a few minutes and my heart rate had come down to acceptable levels, we started walking, S very kindly saying that we could walk for as long as I wanted too. So we went into the wood and up the first hill, got to the top, and decided I was still a bit too wobbly to get back on, and walked on a bit further until we came to a handy log and I got back on. Tartine realy was a good girl, and carried on as if nothing had happened; and I did great until we came back into the village, and the more tense I got, the more tense Tartine got, so just before we turned up the road to go to the yard (which has a lot of concealed gateways), I chickened out, and told S I'd have to get off again, and walk the rest of the way.

As it happened we were almost at the yard when a car came past and drove through apuddle with a splash, and Tartine spooked and shot forward, so I'm really pleased I was leading, rather than riding for that. Then on the lane to the yard, we came across another two walkers with umbrellas, though these were just normal umbrellas, and she walked past them with hardly a blink.

I'm so upset with myself, as I've been doing really well with hacking recently, though I'm still more comfortable going out just as a pair rather than a 3 or a group.

I'm really pleased S made me continue the ride (as we hadn't met the half way point when it all happened), and even more pleased she "made" me get back on. And I'm really pleased I managed to finished, even if I did chicekn out for the last couple of hundred metres.

 

[Sukistokes2]

That sounds really scary, well done for staying On! I saw a young woman thrown and end up with a broken leg at a sponsored ride because of a small umbrella on a pram. They are scary things. I have just spent time trying to get my youngster used to them. I often wandered about the yard with one up and shake it, whether it works out on a hack who know but worth a go. I also do balloons and flags.

 

[calmgirl]

Do what you have to do to feel safe. Absolutely no problem. Get on and do a bit more. No one will worry, you are out there doing it!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Getting off does not equal a being a failure. I've always thought that if you ask the horse to stand for you to dismount (and they do so) and then they stand when asked for you to remount (even if you've walked miles in between) that the horse has done exactly what was asked, so how can it be a failure? You both got back in one piece after all.

 

[fattylumpkin]

Getting off does not equal a being a failure. I've always thought that if you ask the horse to stand for you to dismount (and they do so) and then they stand when asked for you to remount (even if you've walked miles in between) that the horse has done exactly what was asked, so how can it be a failure? You both got back in one piece after all.

This exactly

 

[Casey76]

Thanks all

I think I've too long been surrounded by these ultra confident riders who are all "must stay aboard at all cost."

There is one lady who I sometimes go out with, and she is forever telling me to relax my reins - not that I strangle my mare when I'm riding, but I do like to ride with a contact, a feel on the mouth, even when hacking, rather than on the buckle. I can tell you now, if I had been on the buckle during that second spook, I would have been halfway across the county and definitely would have parted company.

 

[TBM03]

You aren't a failure at all, that sounds like you made the best and safest decision which in my book is success. I was always taught that if I feel like I am in danger then it's best to get off, you just get back on when ready. I can sympathise with the confidence knock back. Only you can do you, doesn't matter what others may think, that's their problem.