I get nervous riding in open fields!tips?

[kt with Hanni]

Hi,

Had a very anxious moment earlier as I went riding with two others at our new yard where most of the riding is off road - something I have to admit i've been dreading. He is perfect on the roads but gets excited in open fields and on grass. Anyway he was actually really good behind the other two walking along the side of the field very forward going but ok...tried a trot and he wanted to go faster but when I asked him not to he did respond. However when we had to walk across an open field he got very excited and wanted to buck...this is what he tends to do. He isn't strong but the bucks really put me off and make me nervous and I always anticipate it... The other two were well behaved so he calmed down. In the end nothing major happened and he was actually very good (don't think hes been ridden in a field by previous loanees for the last two years) Anyway I did feel great after the ride although I do still feel nervous. I really want to have a canter but I don't want to go through the 'yey lets go buck'. Hes 21 and I thought he may have calmed down.....He is completely the opposite if you want to school him - then he wont do a thing and acts very lazy. I think what i'm asking is do you think this open field excitment will wear off after a while? and what can I do to make myself feel less anxious - thus not pass my anxieties onto him? When I ride on the road I feel completely relaxed. Trying another open field ride tom... Thanks.

[wozzer]

Hi KT - did you know that Kelly has created a new section on the board today called "Perfect Confidence" (after popular demand from many DGers who have confidence issues, including me).

I am sure lots of people will have loads of suggestions and help for you ;D

[kt with Hanni]

thanks Wozzer have put this post on there.

[arabmania]

LOL is he responding to your adrenaline rush?
wicked cycle i know!! been there! ;D

We ( me and my daughter) used to work this by singing!
Our favourite was 'there goes my first love' by drifters!
It calmed us cause we were smiling and relaxed and neddies ears were locked on us (no doubt thinking what the hell!!!! lol) but it worked for us!
We did this with our rescued, notorious bolter, come bucker, come everything else!! Im sure he enjoyed our singing more than he did thinking about the fact he was excited/scared!

[caustic]

I am a bit agrophobic in open spaces too! I also find the singing thing works when nervous, today I found myself humming along to the smurfs cartoon theme tune when taking my horse on first hack out from new yard/area! No idea why but it seemed to be a good rhythm to walk out forward to. I'll get my hat...............

[holi]

I read a book once (can't remember who wrote it) but he said to imagine you were in a school - don't look at the horizon but visualise a smaller area and ride with that mind set - school as normal and concentrate on 20m circles etc. If riding around the field put yourself on a fenced track and ride that.

[emy]

will post on the confidence forum

[marianne]

how about putting your horse in front? My mare's a lunatic at the back in open spaces but stick her in front and the brakes come on :-)

[Kerryf]

Would you feel ok going out on your own in an open field? Is there less chance of your horse getting over-excited in an open field if he is alone with no other horses to 'razz' him up? That way you can only walk if that's what you feel happy doing, then trot when you want should you feel up to it. You can control the pace instead of worrying what the other riders want to do. My friend sings on her pony as he can nap like a b*gger, but her favourite is 'There was an old lady who swallowed a fly' rofl ;D It works though as it stops her anticipating his napping sessions!

[giftgirl]

i used to (and sometimes still do) get nervous catering in open fields, beause i was always saying 'what if?' and anticipating what wasgoing to happen, but once i actually got into it it was good fun:D what i preferto do is canter/ gallop down the very edge of the field, along a fence or hedge, like a fence in a ring or a track. that always made me feel more secure, which passed through to gift
also, gift gets more excited when she is behind, as she is always wanting to go faster and over take, but my sisters pony gets upset when in front as she cant see the other horses, and she tries to look behind her and slow down, so i suppose it really depends on what your horse is like.
hope that helped, and good luck!
xx

[kt with Hanni]

Thanks. See Hannibal was perfect thread :-)