girlmechanik
Novice Poster
I like my horses heavy! X
Posts: 37
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Post by girlmechanik on May 29, 2013 22:07:15 GMT 1
Hiya.
Basically every time I ride I over think it. I think about cars, bikes, motorbikes, pheasants ( grrrrr ), people, dogs, scary hedges, wind, rain, cows, pigs, riding on the wrong side of the road (long story!), scary delivery vans, napping, bucking (no history) etc.
I've tried deap breaths etc but I just can't seem to get over my own head an it ruins the first 10 minutes of every single ride!
Please help!
Thank you. Xxx
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Post by holi on May 30, 2013 15:56:08 GMT 1
I love the one I think I read on her - just shout out 'boring, this is boring, I'm boring, the horse spooking is boring' - I told a friend and she says it works!
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Post by lizpurlo on May 30, 2013 21:33:23 GMT 1
Yup, I'm another 'this is really boring' fan! But apart from that, remember that your constant thoughts become your reality. The more you imagine all your horrors, the more likely they are to appear. So try and focus on things going right instead, you and your horse coping happily and enjoying your hack. A wonderful book I can really recommend is 'For the Good of the Rider' by Mary Wanless. It has a whole chapter on 'Mindwork' which is really helpful for the sort of situation you describe, plus masses of fascinating information on symmetry, sitting well and so on - it's a wonderful reference book and very easy and enjoyable to read. Guaranteed to fill you with confidence and enthusiasm! Best of luck, let us know how you get on. x
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Post by specialized on Jun 1, 2013 16:37:04 GMT 1
Singing is always another good one.
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Post by alonerawnut on Jun 1, 2013 20:05:59 GMT 1
Maybe try focusing on little schooling exercises: stop by a particular lamp post, get a really active walk and then a really slow one. Leg yield to avoid drains or go around cars. Distract both you and the horse! I kept over-thinking my jumping position, so my instructor got me counting my canter strides out loud up to, over and after the jump - it distracted my over-active mind and helped keep me with the rhythmn!
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girlmechanik
Novice Poster
I like my horses heavy! X
Posts: 37
|
Post by girlmechanik on Jun 2, 2013 12:37:25 GMT 1
Thanks everyone. Will definitely try that book...that's a very me way to learn as I'm slightly bookish anyway lol.
But I did it yesterday! I got on (slight cheat, used the western saddle but still...) I went, we had a moment of trying to nap after we over took my partner walking with us...and we cantered off into the distance!!! I've never cantered successfully before ( two falls and even on schooling horses unconsciously pressure the reins so we slow down ) and I did it without thinking. I mixed it all up, deep breaths, this is boring and every time I thought something bad, just thought about something good!
I would never have been able to do that without the tips an tricks here so thank you so much!!! Xxx
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Post by lizpurlo on Jun 2, 2013 18:03:41 GMT 1
Woohoo, result! That's brilliant gm, well done - keep us updated on your progress.
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Post by bevnfurryfriends on Jun 5, 2013 2:20:07 GMT 1
Well done, I'm the same as you, always thinking about what might go wrong so I'm going to try this too - not sure about the singing though - don't think the neighbourhood quite deserves that!
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girlmechanik
Novice Poster
I like my horses heavy! X
Posts: 37
|
Post by girlmechanik on Jun 6, 2013 19:27:20 GMT 1
Well done, I'm the same as you, always thinking about what might go wrong so I'm going to try this too - not sure about the singing though - don't think the neighbourhood quite deserves that! I'm in the back end of beyond and there's not even the cows to hear me ATM! Everyone's in Appleby so I can! Lol. Xx
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Post by ruthp on Jun 11, 2013 9:08:40 GMT 1
I love the boring thing. Another trick I used when I was really anxious was to plan a really long journey in my head, and describe the route out loud to Bali. Sort of, "ok, we're off to Cornwall tomorrow so we'll go down the drive, turn left then next right....." Doing that sort of filled up my head space because I needed to visualise the route as well as verbalise it. Didn't leave any room to worry about riding, and all the things that might, but probably wouldn't, happen. Also the talking out load makes you breathe, so much more difficult to hold the tension.
I worked out that when I was really tense I focused too much on Bali, and didn't give her space to relax, so thinking about something else took the pressure off both of us.
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girlmechanik
Novice Poster
I like my horses heavy! X
Posts: 37
|
Post by girlmechanik on Jun 11, 2013 20:19:40 GMT 1
I've taken to singing (quietly, the sheep look at me odd!) mr bright side by the killers as its a nice upbeat happy go lucky song. The only time I feel massively stressed is when he naps. Which is when my partner strolls on ahead, we try to pass or turn back to find my other half. As the hedge/tree/fence gets closer I find myself giving in to him and I'm not sure if this is right or not? My old horse share owner just tells me to brave it out and duck the hedge and MAKE him do what I ask but I'm not that sort of rider tbh. So we're working on that as I'm wondering if I tense before I ask him and this tells him to nap. I'm going to try the this is boring one tomorrow when I ask to turn. And then go through all the suggestions and ideas from everyone until I find something that works. So thank you guys a lot! Xxx
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Post by ruthp on Jun 11, 2013 20:59:44 GMT 1
Yes, I'd bet you are tensing, and giving him the trigger to nap. And I absolutely don't say that as a criticism, it's an involuntary reaction on your part. I don't know what the quick cure is, but I do know that lots of positive experiences with your horse can eventually resolve it.
I only understood just how much I triggered reactions when my husband learned to ride. He started hacking out with me on my pony, Rosa, whom I'd had since she was six. When I got Rosa she wasn't great with traffic, but over the years she'd become more confident and by the time OH was learning she was fine with everything except big lorries and tractors. The horse I was riding didn't flinch at anything, so I forgot to mention to OH that Rosa might react. And guess what, she didn't! OH wasn't expecting a problem, didn't tense, and so Rosa didn't worry either and walked straight past the biggest, noisiest tractor you ever saw. BIG lesson for me. Doesn't mean I can always avoid that involuntary tension, but now I know that I do it, I can work in desensitising my horse to my daftness! I now occasionally deliberately tense up when there is nothing to react to, in a safe place, and try and keep my horse moving quietly forward. The most she does these days is swivel her ears towards me as if to say "Really, this again?"
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girlmechanik
Novice Poster
I like my horses heavy! X
Posts: 37
|
Post by girlmechanik on Jun 13, 2013 23:17:36 GMT 1
Thank you. I definitely need to think about this tensing thing. I know I used to do it a lot on my old share hence the falling off because I was so scared of cantering.
I may get an experience friend to try him. The other sharer has the same with him but we both went in to riding him knowing about it so maybe we both subconsciously remember that and cause it. Xx
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Post by holi on Jun 27, 2013 13:02:16 GMT 1
I now realise why I loved sj'ing many years ago - didn't have time to think of anything apart from 'where's the next jump'!
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Post by portiabuzz on Jul 24, 2013 17:26:09 GMT 1
just caught up with this, well done to you x
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