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Post by mrsmartiepants on Mar 26, 2007 16:02:11 GMT 1
I went to a dealers/showjumpers for workexperience (6weeks aprrox it was ment to be), I had been there before etc, helped jump the BSJA ponies, ride the recently broken in ones etc. Got asked if I wanted to help rebreak a 13.2hh mare who was "unbreakable and unrideable" has been from home to home. Decided to give it a go with help of the people their. Had some bad parts and some good. Mainly good, in the end was cantering in the school, hacking perfect in company and ALONE ;D Did XC jumps, tyres, logs, ditches, steps you name it she tried them. Took her into jumping paddock could do a 2ft6 double, 2ft7 single and a 2ft-2ft3 course of jumps no problemo. She wouldnt really settle with anouther rider but we had broken her in and she was confident with lots of praise and encouragment. This place I was at was also a riding holiday centre. It must of been 5weeks after we had restarted her. One day I took her at the back of a 3hour ride and she ended up leading all the "bombproof" horses and ponies past a big scary roadworks site that we stupidly came across....... ;D Next day went on a hours hack with her, tried her 3rd in the ride and they were doing little logs so took her out for some fun and experience. Ended up going at the back because her shoe sounded a little loose, didnt want it to come off and one of the other ponies canter over it, probably wouldnt of happened but you never know. It was our last gallop, she had been amazing, so good doing everything I asked of her. Pony in front tanked off with rider, she wanted to aswel so I held her back but she didnt like anyone pulling on reins (had to use seat and legs no hands) so she started to buck, rear, spin then started to chuck herself to the floor, eventually I came off but before I hit the ground my hat came off and rolled down the hill I landed straight on my head and was knocked unconcious and she jumped over me catching my neck and back. Got to in an air ambulance but missed it as was out cold Think the main thing was I couldnt get straight back on as no riding for 4months so by the time I was able to it had been so long. Noone rode her after that but she was the first one I got back onto, just had to for her sake and mine, just walked but it was fab. I am confident in my own horse but sometimes I do get very nervous, like before I got Smartie I was a nervous wreck. Still get panicy out hacking, dont think its ever going to leave. Found out little pony was pts in the end we were going to buy her aswel until I fell off
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Post by amarche on Mar 26, 2007 16:41:27 GMT 1
there's some really sad and poignant stories in here but I kind of get the idea that it's no wonder we all have confidence issues! Wendy, I'm off to try and amazon the feel the fear book, I suffer with panic attacks and I had a really horrible (non horsey) related confidence crisis this morning so your post and article really hit home for me. thank you so very much for that!
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Post by wendyihts on Mar 26, 2007 17:16:28 GMT 1
No worries, amarche. Glad to help. 'Feel the Fear' is one of my favourite books - it's so friendly and comforting! I might go and drag it off my shelf and have another read too. The other thing I did when I was starting the business whilst recovering from the anxiety and learned helplessness was I had a play list of really uplifting tunes and I would play them to myself a lot. Remember that Kelly started such a thread a few months ago and lots of people suggested great personal anthems?
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Post by cobloopy on Mar 26, 2007 17:22:38 GMT 1
I learnt to ride properly about 5 years ago. I had riding lessons at a school and bought my first horse a couple years later. I then ahd a break and restarted a year ago buying my second horse about 4/5 months ago. My confidence issues are mainly about hacking on roads any busier than quiet ones. If there are vans, lorries etc i'm a mess. I hate it - mainly as drivers are so ignorant and rude and many seem to take great pleasure in spooking horses as they go past. Nothing has really casued it and I hope that I will be able to resovle my fears quickly before i affect my horse!
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Post by fluffypony on Mar 26, 2007 19:24:52 GMT 1
I dont think I have anything truely awful either really that causes nerves to be honest. I find that confidence on and around horses relates directly to how confident I am feeling about myself in other areas. I am one of the people that literally can't get on for fear at times. And if I manage it, I am lightheaded, stiff as a board and normally not breathing ;D I have some odd specific fears from childhood. I started riding aged about 10 ish. The school I went to wasn't too hot on safety standards and I had a few falls and witnessed a few that were quite nasty and could have been avoided. Bolted with on hacks, a rearer breaking it's riders pelvis etc. All rather scary when you are a kid. So, because most of my fears are related to memories of a riding school as a child helper ( although I also have many good ones) they are a little odd and some also related to confidence I lacked as a kid when the other helpers were outgoing and brave. I don't like schools, and busy yards especially when there are likely to be other people watching you ride. This terrifies the life out of me I am also scared of standing on a yard with a tacked up pony/horse, especially if I can't see over their backs Well...that sounds absolutely ridiculous. They themselves don't scare me but I suppose it's the old memory of waiting for my lesson at the riding school next to my big lesson pony, in the school, with people watching! nasty. I would now rather hop on bareback in an open field for a quick ride than get on tacked up in a school. All the waiting about and preparing to ride scares me. Hopping up unplanned when I feel the urge to is safer. Spooking is another main fear. I fear them being fearful and doing something sudden, which is a bit of a vicious circle isn't it I sound like a right twit ;D
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Post by mrsmartiepants on Mar 26, 2007 19:30:05 GMT 1
fluffy pony does that mean you wont be test riding Smartie at all
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Post by fluffypony on Mar 26, 2007 19:44:20 GMT 1
Um....no ta!
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ajb
Olympic Poster
Posts: 968
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Post by ajb on Mar 27, 2007 15:25:12 GMT 1
What a good idea this section is!! Confidence is such a fragile thing not only with horses but in our other lives as well! I had always been a slightly nervous rider but had longed all my life for a horse. Ridden as a child, through my teens and parents would never buy me a pony - "you'll grow out of it and we will be left with it" I am now approach 52 and I never grew out of it!! I had a short break (boys came into the equation) from about 18 to 25 and then started riding a woman at work son's horse - oooh it all came back to me! Started having "proper" lessons at the local equestrian centre and announced my intention to husband that I wanted a horse (we have no kids from choice!) Up to you but I am not getting involved he said!! Bought 1st horse who will always be THE ONE of my life - he could buck for the olympics but he took me from being a nervous ninnie out of doors (indoor school have alot to answer for IMHO!!) to hunting and eventing. We just clicked and although I still had the occasional wobble I felt we could go anywhere and do anything. WOW pride comes before a fall to cut a long story very short the 1 horse on livery became the following: 1 horse for me, 1 horse for husband, 1 weanling plus weanlings mother plus 1 livery on my own (rented) yard. Husband's horse could nap for Great Britain - never let your other half have a horse of their own unless they really know how to ride - we nearly landed in a divorce court!! Eventually we put him out on permanent loan. The weanling was fantastic to look at BUT had the temperament from Hell! Its mother (sold to us as "too slow to race, does get a bit strong" I got back under saddle, did everything right and she got stronger and stronger and stronger, eventually bolting over 2 T junctions on a main road and colliding with a church wall! At this stage my bottle almost completely went - I wonder why!!
Anyway its taken 8 long years to get back to being almost normal again. In the intervening years my old boy has had to go to Rainbow bridge, the lunatic mare went back racing again and was eventually pts as she was too bally mad even for the trainer and jockey! The yearling who I thought was going to be my one for life, despite his horrible temperament, was sold to go eventing, a mare I bought developed Weil's disease and can no longer be ridden but I have a lovely boy on permanent loan! I never compete now - which is a shame but I just cannot put myself through the nervous nelly bit of it. I enjoy lots of lovely solo hacking, fun rides etc BUT I still consider myself to be a nervous rider!!
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Post by kya on Mar 27, 2007 17:30:36 GMT 1
God Wozzer... what an experience! All the wonderful calming advice you give. You are all heart. I'll get my story together later. Too whacked right now. Some of these brave stores are wobbling my confidence rather than improving it, but I can't stop reading.
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Post by kya on Mar 27, 2007 17:45:56 GMT 1
God I don't have anything to tell by comparison. I have a nervous disposition in general which I don't think helped my riding. I had a horse at 13 who was a first class bolter but looked after me out hunting and was a great hack and Chase me Charlie champion (we lived in England for 4 years at this point). I did have two spectacular incidents: one hitting my leg off a concrete gate-post when my horse bolted through a gate cracking the top of the bone, and the second when she fell on me on a concrete farm road pinning me down for several minutes.
My parents moved 8 times, so owning a horse became economically and physically impossible. I rode intermitently when I had the chance, and took a few lessons about eight years ago in an indoor school where I found some of my aids agai. I was by then was a confirmed terrified rider.
I came into some money unexpectadly and bought 7 acres and built a house in Waterford. Went out and bought two yearlings, who kicked me around for a couple of years, but I loved all of it. I had given up on the idea of a riding horse, when I went to view Blue with a friend. He was 4 and totally unsuitable and here we are a year later. Hacked out solo from the start and let the process lead me. Not sure what I'm doing, but being on his back is when I feel completely myself. I'm lost in the experience.
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Post by kya on Mar 27, 2007 18:20:09 GMT 1
Fluffy pony... that sense of being undermined and judged in a riding school situation, destroys more riders than you think. It's dreadful. I feel that even when I'm tacking up my own horse at home- still after all these years!
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Post by swallowsmum on Mar 28, 2007 12:04:49 GMT 1
im not a nervous rider as such. but my main problem is that i compare myself with other riders and feel inadequate.
i had a horse on loan for 2 years when i was 17 and after the loan finished i was devasted. and did nt really return to riding properly until i found swallow at 29.
i have battled with my nerves regarding jumping. its only lately with the help of a good instructor that im begining to improve. is nt it funny how age effects you? things i did when i was a child now amaze me! im also quite nervy reagrding traffic.my yard is near some busy roads which i avoid at all costs.
i think my fears have developed through a adult understanding of "what could happen if......" its not that my horse scares me or worries me, its more of a fear of the things i can't control ie traffic etc.
help! i need a shrink!
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Post by amarche on Mar 28, 2007 22:28:10 GMT 1
I think its just that as you get older you don't bounce too well.............!!
(even though I have a nice padded bum to land on)
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Post by swallowsmum on Mar 29, 2007 11:14:51 GMT 1
yep, your right amarche. i don't bounce too well these days!! (im sat here with a broken finger from last weeks non bouncing incident!!!)
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