Why do some many people lack confidence while riding??

For me it has been a culmunation (sp) of 3 accidents - 1 out on a hack on a road - hit by car from behind, 2 in outdoor schools - whilst suprisingly on lessons - one i broke my leg - and the other broke most of me as Gingerwitch rolled on me 3 times whilst trying to get up (i so wish i fell off!) it took me a year of physio and a few ops to get me walking so to be back on a horse is an achivement in itself !

Couple these and with what i have realised since thinking long and hard about your question - i have an earlier post asking for help- is that i put my trust in folks i should not have - this includes two riding instructors and a group of so called friends on a very competative yard !
 
i think there are p'haps 2 things that have contributed to more conversations about riding anxiety
1- we live in a culture now where more people talk about their feelings generally - i know that i was scared when riding as a child - but the culture then was to be gungho & no-body admitted to nerves
2 - many more people from non-horsey backgrounds are now getting involved in the hobby [IMHO a good thing] & are perhaps more likely to have the common sense approach - "I got on a horse - we had an accident - it hurt - i am now anxious about getting on a horse"

also - riding is probably one of the least policed & supervised risk sports in the world - if you want to climb/scuba dive/race cars without supervision - quite simply you CANT until you have reached a level of compatence & had basic training - perhaps some levels of anxiety would be dealt with by better basic training - obs this is not aimed at those very compatent competitors/hunts riders who loose confidence because of terrible accidents
 
fear of having a horrible accident - no matter how great a rider or how quiet the horse there is still a risk of having a horrible accident and that is my worry, maybe as we get older you become more aware of accidents and how they would impact on your own life and that of others, family, friends or even your horse.

i don't like pushing myself out of my comfort zone, my fear is not of riding more of having an accident. i have had two small accidents in the last 3 years and have not recovered on a confidence level from either yet, neither accident would necessarily have been avoided had i been a better rider as they both involved my pony falling (not his fault either as he is not naughty!)
 
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Wow Starzaan, total respect to you for finding the courage to ride again and so sorry that you lost Cadbury :(

I knew Gingerwitch had a bad accident, but never realised just how bad, its no wonder you're still struggling with confidence, and how bloody insensitive of those around you to have treated you as they did.

Well I lost my confidence nearly 18 months ago after a bad accident, I broke my lower leg in 9 places and almost lost my foot, 2 lots of surgery and plenty of metal work and I can now walk fine.

Its taken me up until now to be comfy on a horse again and I would in no way describe myself as confident, but now with the right horse and the right instructor, a very patient and understanding friend, I am no longer afraid to get on a horse, I was so frightened at one point I can only describe it as a phobia, sheer terror would hit me, I'd feel physically sick and would tremble with fear.

My heart still races a bit when cantering now, or if my fella does a spook and jumps in the air, but it returns to normal within seconds - that I can cope with.
I dont think I'll ever put the demons to bed completely, but I think things will continue to improve and I'll certainly love riding again and will cope with the odd wobble I may face x
I love horses and my way of life to much to give up, its in my blood and always will be x
 
I have little confidence jumping because in my childhood experience jumping = falling off, and bigger jumps = harder falls (incl a nice broken arm at 5yo)! Early experiences sort of get stuck there despite later ones to the contrary! I'll jump Rosie pony happily because she just doesn't stop unless I've done something horrendous, and I'll jump my chestnut girlie because she'll tell me she's going to stop 6 strides out, then hold her head up to keep me on lol, but I don't like jumping what feels 'big' to me.

Horse falls I think are the scariest, and being flung from OH's pony as she fell, tripping from trot, on level decent ground, was v scary because there was just no reason for it.

Some are braver than others, too. I know people who are terrified after one fall, and those who'll carry on falling yet carry on getting on again.

Oh and a funny one - had a lesson with a 'new' RI recently as usual one couldn't come out. She remarked at the end of the lesson "at least you're nice and confident on her" with the tone of voice and body language that suggested she was surprised that anyone would be on that pony. Now I'll be randomly riding her as she leaps about, and suddenly wonder - is this more dangerous than I think it is? Weird, huh?!!
 
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I was a typical pony/horse mad kid that would jump on anything, gallop around the fields jumping all sorts...I then started to have lessons (at a very posh establishment) and I slowly started to lose my confidence.
Sounds strange I know but at first I used to get everything wrong...position, hands, heels down, jumping seat etc etc and it was getting to the point where I didn't want to do it anymore.
Don't get me wrong, the horses were amazing and the instructor was very good but I had spent so many years bombing around having fun I found riding properly hard...knocking my confidence in my ability.
I gave up horses when I went to college but afterwards thought I'd take it up riding again.
At first I loved it and I managed to remember most of what I'd been taught!!
However I had a couple of falls, nothing as horrific or dramatic as some of the other posts on this thread. First one was when I was doing walk to canter and the horse threw a huge buck, I came off over his shoulder and though the 3 wooden rail fence...just brusies, nothing broken. The next one was whilst I was mounting a youngster and he spooked chucking me into a hedge, again just a bruised coxex nothing major and the third time I was galloping my friends hunter when my stirrup leather snapped causing a rather painful roll across the field, just a couple of fractured ribs, again nothing major.
However I haven't ridden since, that was 13 years ago.
Trouble is, I can remember how much it hurt. The pain is vivid in my mind and hasn't faded with time.
The thought of riding makes me feel sick and my ribs, coxex and leg ache at the sight of my riding hat!!! I can't explain why after all these years I feel like this but it haunts me.
I keep my feet on the floor and have other people ride and compete my horses...I get the enjoyment of owning and looking after them, while the younger (bouncy) ones ride!
 
Interesting post.

I go through phases of being anxious due to napping and bolting. I'm generally an anxious person though. I think that the bit I struggle with is not understanding how to communicate better with my horse and down to the fact that we've not developed a strong riding relationship i.e. he doesn't listen to me as much when ridden but trusts me alot when on the ground.

I've got a bad back and have had arthritis so I guess I am more worried about the consequences of falling off - but more so failure.

Riding is the one thing that relaxes me and is a big part of my life so I wouldn't want to be without it. I've also always told myself that no one else would want my horse, so if I can't sort him out (with or without help) then he will have a poorer quality of life.

When it's a good quite ride, the feeling is amazing - it totally outweighs the hard work and slog to get there!
 
Inky_and_Sunny said:
I find confidence deteriorates when you have dependants. It's not so much loss of confidence and more realising if things go wrong people will miss you. You realise you are not immortal...

This is so true! thats how i felt and still feel. But on the up side i just brought 2 ponys, and making myself confident just being around them again x
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