Uuuurrrggghh somebody get me some BALLS!!

[smanf]

Sorry if anyone notices that I am starting to sound like a broken record, but I am getting so frustrated with myself. I have had my (very green) 5 yo since November and he is all I have ever wanted in a horse, and I hope that we will have great times in the future.

I am no Olympic dressage rider, but no novice either. I have been riding for 25years, had my own for 20, and sat on a buck or two in that time . But at the moment I keep bottling it and getting off my new boy if he does the slightest thing, which I don't need anyone to tell me is no good!!

I don't want a dobbin, I love horses with a bit of spark about them, but I have managed to manifest this thing in my head that he is going to go into one and deck me. Yesterday I took him in the school (having been loose lunging him all week to try and give him some interest during this terrible weather spell), all he did was spook at a traffic cone that was in there, spin round and do the tinyest of rears. It didn't even unseat me and I know I should have told him NO, and pushed him back round, but that was it, I was done for, shaking like a leaf and had to get off, I loose schooled him for the next 20 minutes.

He has been known to leap sideways at the odd gremlin from time to time, but again, this hasn't actually unseated me and doesn't particularly bother me, I just put it down to him being a daft youngster, but it does put that seed in my brain 'what if next time...'

The lady I bought him from had only had him 3 months and was petrified of him, leaving me thinking "but WHY?" She assured me he had never 'done anything' but that he was just too much for her and that she should never have bought a youngster.

Sorry if this is a completely pointless thread, and it is probably only me that can sort my stupid head out, but just wondered if anyone might have any positive thoughts...

Here is the little terror on the snow

 

[Cortez]

Why don't you get some professional schooling on him? A couple of weeks to get the basics cemented, and then a few lessons, that should give you a clearer insight to his character and let you get to grips.

 

[Crazycob06]

Sounds like me and my mare a few weeks ago! We ride out with a friend and sensible horse and have lessons and it makes so much difference! I now can deal with anything she does when by myself because I learned her ways while I had the extra confidence of someone being with me! Do you have any one to ride with?

 

[Luci07]

go and find a sympathetic trainer, one who will help you build up your confidence. I am not brave anymore, I sadly waved goodbye to my gung ho attitude a while ago and my cocky "I will ride anything" finally disappeared under the weight of numerous hospital stays from riding other peoples nut jobs.

I too have a youngster and he does all that yours does plus more. Even my YO says he is uber sharp. However he does not scare me as we have built up together and bottom line is, he never would try to hurt me and his standard prey response is to leap around. I do have lessons, I have had my trainer sit on him, I have wiped out previous goals and had different objectives set. It took me most of last summer to make him into a steady hack and I did that by hacking out, a lot, with the best riders and the calmest horses who couldn't give a toss if he was pratting around. Then my dog which he initially took great exception to but now means he does not bat an eyelid if anything comes crashing in or out of the woods. I also have lessons focusing entirely on me as a rider. Means you don't focus on what your horse is doing as you as so busy focusing on yourself. I now have a pretty good dressage horse and hack, good XC and getting there SJ. He dumped me on a pole the first time we started but with time and repetition, at my pace and his, we really are getting there. I was thinking BYEH classes at the beginning of last year but we realised he would never cope with the atmosphere so he won't start BE till this year.

So, baby steps, good help, and maybe some good lessons just to look at you and how you ride would help. I would heartily recommend Jon Pitts "Fit to Ride" if you can get on them. Huge eye opener and a massive foundation for my youngster.

 

[Goldenstar]

You need to get some help for a while , either lesson on the horse or someone to ride the horse for you for a while or both .

 

[smanf]

I sadly waved goodbye to my gung ho attitude a while ago and my cocky "I will ride anything" finally disappeared

Sounds familiar lol!

Thanks so much for the advice everyone. Now to find myself a trainer!! Yet again though, I supose the weather will put the KY wash on that idea for the time being!! I think I am just going to have to be patient and try not to worry too much until the weather improves.

 

[Bernster]

I agree about getting someone knowledgeable to help you. Lots of options and help out there, but I'd recommend you go for recommendations from those you trust and/or well respected organisations and check out people's credentials.

Now this suggestion might seem a bit bonkers and frankly I would have said so myself beforehand, but I've just had a hypnotherapy session from someone my friend recommended. I needed xc balls, having massively lost my confidence cross country.

Long story short, had the session on Friday, hunted Saturday, jumped the first rail we came too which I would NEVER have jumped previously and did all the jumps from then on, apart from the very bogey ones which I didn't want to do (the session focussed on me having the confidence to do jumps I judged to be the right ones, if that makes sense). My friend was amazed at my change in attitude and is going to book a session herself.

So have a think about different routes, investigate em and see which you think is best suited to you. I tried clinics, instructors, xc course, confidence weekend etc., but none have had the impact that this one session had for me. They might all have helped of course, who knows!

 

[smanf]

I agree about getting someone knowledgeable to help you. Lots of options and help out there, but I'd recommend you go for recommendations from those you trust and/or well respected organisations and check out people's credentials.

Now this suggestion might seem a bit bonkers and frankly I would have said so myself beforehand, but I've just had a hypnotherapy session from someone my friend recommended. I needed xc balls, having massively lost my confidence cross country.

Long story short, had the session on Friday, hunted Saturday, jumped the first rail we came too which I would NEVER have jumped previously and did all the jumps from then on, apart from the very bogey ones which I didn't want to do (the session focussed on me having the confidence to do jumps I judged to be the right ones, if that makes sense). My friend was amazed at my change in attitude and is going to book a session herself.

So have a think about different routes, investigate em and see which you think is best suited to you. I tried clinics, instructors, xc course, confidence weekend etc., but none have had the impact that this one session had for me. They might all have helped of course, who knows!

Funnily enough, this keeps crossing my mind, but I thought I was just being mad myself.

Tbh, it isn't just horseriding, it seems to be everything these days, I even bottled out of going down a hill on a sled in the snow the other day, for fear of hitting a tree!! Maybe it's just part of getting older, but I am damned if I am going to let it beat my riding!