Motivation or lack of !!

[nic1]

Hey All, its been a really long time since I logged in here. Tawny and I have had our ups and downs, but on the whole things have been good.
Tawny has been the perfect little horse for me , but I've lost my mojo. I just cant get motivated to ride. It either means getting up at 5.45 to hit the yard before work, or hanging around late in the evening to get time in the school.
I've never been a brave hacker and this has gone completely out of the window.
When I do ride, I love it and feel cross that I don't make myself do more. Lately he has been a bit full of himself, all that grass I guess.
So we do have an issue at times with a bit of a lack of willingness on his part to want to do anything, and my confidence at a low ebb means I daren't push him for fear of what he will do.
Realistically i know I can handle what he throws at me, because its never really that bad.
But I think the less I have ridden the more difficult I find it to be brave and keep going.
Your thoughts please guys.

Nic x

[antares]

At those sorts of times I always think it's a good idea to set a few goals - pick something you would really like to learn or improve, either your horse or yourself (pref both) and think about the different exercises that you can do to help you to achieve your goal / s

For me this last few weeks I have been working on improving my horses right bend as it isn't as easy for him as bending left so we have been working in hand, on the lunge and ridden to try and make this easier for him. In my last lesson my instructor commented that there was hardly any difference in his way of going between the left and the right rein so great result and given me some good motivation to move onto the next thing which is improving our lateral work further

[merryberry]

Have you read Kelly's book Perfect Confidence? I also find Monty's Online Uni very motivating.

[nic1]

I do have all the books , and on the whole i have a great rapport with Tawn. Its me more than anything. I sometimes just need some support, but everyone is so busy doing there own thing. Tawn also has mild arthritis so i don't put him through lessons any more, we just tootle about. I just wish i could tootle more confidently :-)

[antares]

As I understand it is better for horses with mild arthritis to be worked every day - that would be enough motivation for me I think but you don't necessarily have to ride, go out for walks, do some long reining or groundwork and aim to ride 3 days a week and do something else the other days??

[portiabuzz]

One good tip I heard very recently is to print out a dressage test and practice one a week. I will be using this in winter when riding in the school is the only option.

[nic1]

That's a good plan and i have done that. I guess it's just making myself do stuff. There's always someone in the school or sometimes 3 people. Some aren't the most aware of other people riding and how wobbly there confidence is.
It sounds mad but I'm happier when I have the place to myself. I have lots of contact with tawn and we have a great relationship , it's my mindset that seems to be the problem ?

[portiabuzz]

Ha I know what you mean, it's nice to be just you and your horse isn't it x

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[portiabuzz]

I really want to ride but can't as my older pony has been lame and the other one is too young. So I'm raring to go. Wasn't bothered in winter but now summer here...

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[lizpurlo]

Hi Nic, great to see you back here again. I know exactly what you mean, and it's awful how weeks and months - and years - start to drift by and nothing much happens. I now have my goal, and it's working well for me - have booked the cob and me in for a two day course at the end of July, so I just HAVE to exercise us both every day now! Even if it's just half an hour's pootle round the farm - and I feel so much better having done it.

The other thing which works for me is getting involved at horsey events on foot, as a steward or general helper. Riding Clubs are always crying out for help like this, and watching other people hurtling round and having fun on their gees is a great incentive, I've always found, to go home and do something with mine!

Best of luck, keep us posted. xx

[nic1]

Hi, wow I can't believe my thread was still there. Just reading a post on the main but and they were saying it's so quiet now. And it really is . It's so sad, I used to love reading other people's tales.
Tawn and I have not made much progress. I do ride when I can which now the clocks have changed is only weekends. But we have a development. Tawns leading behaviour is awful. He has always been the easiest to manage walking in and out to the field like a star. This summer I've had issues with him playing up coming in. But now they are in at nights it's morning and night time.
We have been on the same yard for 6 years so nothing has changed or is new.
Have ordered a dually but in the mean time dreading bringing in and turning out. The kick in the teeth , he only does it to me. ?

[alonerawnut]

It sounds as though you could benefit from having one of the RA's out, to give you some support and help with your confidence. It's so much harder to find the motivation to go out and do more if you're struggling with just bringing in and turning out.
The RA could also make sure you're going to use the dually correctly and that you're keeping yourself safe. They'll probably be able to boost your confidence with seeing what stuff you're doing well and giving some tips on how to improve the stuff that's not going so well.

Whereabouts in the country are you?

[nic1]

Hi, thanks for your reply. I have had my horse over 10 years and he is an IH backed and trained boy. Only ever had me and his original owner.
I guess I'm thrown by the out of character behaviour. He is extremely greedy and the field has obviously become his favourite place this year as we never ran out of grass.
I put it down to napping to this field but he has never been a napper. Really out of character.
The only change I have made is putting him on turmeric paste instead of baking him turmeric treats. The turmeric is for his arthritis.
So I've baked the treats again and see if this has any effect.

[portiabuzz]

Lovely to see you Nic.. yes its gone rather quiet ..

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