Who is yours?

[fluffypony]

Although at the moment I would be nervous of riding pretty most anything, even the most half asleep bombproof 3 legged cob, I often feel silly/ashamed of being nervous of riding what I do have to ride. Just because, I suppose most other people wouldn't be!

He is small (13.2) maturing nicely ( 10 this year) can be ridden in a headcollar in an open field, can be ridden by my non riding 9 year old daughter off lead, in the above field in trot back to me. He will hack alone ( although yes, slightly on his toes) and in company (although yes, quite keen to have a blast!) and is ok in traffic apart from very large things.

So, he is pretty good really, considering he has done little work for a long time. He is prone to being lazy and stubborn and I think if asked to do more, especially schooling wise, he will object a bit stroppily and being half arab his hot blood does show up occasionally in being slightly more reactive/sensitive than some others. Ie. - if he is anxious you really can't miss it

But still....he sounds harmless and easy really doesn't he? so "what the " is my problem? When I read about other people being nervous I imagine them up on these huge 4 yr old 16 handers, prancing about, and feel totally that its understandable! And yet there's me, not wanting to get on this generally very kind little pony.

So I just wantd to ask you about yours really. Are they something most people would think easy? Or genuinely a bit of a handful so therefore the nerves are very valid! Or a mixture? How old, how big, what are their *nerve related* pros and cons? ;D Would love to hear more about who it is that sets your butterflies off?

[nic1]

My horse that started all my confidence problems is a 16.2hh ex steeple chaser. Sold to me as a safe family horse???
This is not what Jim is, and now only the very foolhardy want to sit on him. I absolutely love this horse so he has a home for life but won't ride him again.
Nic
x

[em&ed]

I would quite happily go to a riding school or trekking centre and would ask the same question I always do/did ... "is he good?" If I was told "yes, he's good" I'd get on and end up cantering round the school (safe environment) or down bridleways etc...

I think part of my fear is now I've got my own horse it's the unknown - coz I don't know how he would react in different situations. Hacking is deffo my demon and I have hacked him out 4 times (sounds pathetic) he has been good-ish. So I must give him credit where it's due and say he has not done anything too bad to scare me... up to date - but I have only had him 11 months, so still getting to know each other, and maybe the scary stuff is round the corner - see there I go again
He is far more green than I realsied and really friendly / bordering excitable - wants to go over to all horses and say 'hello' - has dragged me all over and I have had leading problems - so naturally I assume he will be the same when ridden - BUT i don't know for sure... and I think deep down, that is my problem and of course the less you ride, the less confident you feel - catch 22

[Bridle]

I dont know.. Its what you think that counts....... have you ever had a bad accident oon horse to relate to your nervousnous?

[julz]

I seriously don't think that bad or even mild accidents relate to nerves.... I had a bad accident 14years ago, and just had surgery to replace what i lost/broke... I'm not nervous..... and havent been due to the accident, yes i do have/had some nerves but it's not related to the accident. Have met blokes who nearly lost thier lives due to hellish motorbike accidents, they didn't become nervous to ride or drive one on the road again...

[kya]

15.2 connemara. Rising 6 in June. Very green but kind. On his toes in company but one of those types that stops and thinks rather than taking off. Brilliant to handle. I wouldn't call him a confidence giver, too young.

[julz]

Wow....He's beautiful........!!!

[kya]

Rare grey picture (following bath). Thanks Julz. X.

[em&ed]

Yeah he's lovely - looks like butter wouldn't melt....

re Bridle's comment: I too have never had a bad accident (touch wood) but I can get really nervous, for no apparent reason

I think this is the type of thing that Kelly's been researching for her new book.... what is it that makes people feel nervous?

[wozzer]

I have no real excuses for being nervous when riding Lincoln. He has his moments, but he's just being a horse ;D

Emined - I do understand about the "unknown" the "what ifs", etc - that's me. I don't think it matters what the horse is like, it matters that we are all lacking in confidence for one reason or another.

I don't jump any more - fallen off too many times, been knocked unconcious, etc. Broken an arm, had a head on with a car on the road, etc. But, still riding! ;D ;D ;D (very carefully, of course LOL!!)

Don't beat yourself up more, fluffypony - it doesn't matter that we have the most reliable horse/pony in the world, it can still be a scary hobby because of the "what ifs". And probably, I wonder, it is the "what ifs" that scare us all the most

PS: Kanga - Blue is absolutely gorgeous - I'd have bought him too! xx

[karenandco]

hi,

this is mine, he is about 11yrs old, section D, 14.2hh and thinks he is a thoroughbred

[yatva]

I have a thoroughbred mare of 16.1 aged 13 who was given to me as 'bombproof' and she was when I first got her as she was half starved and grateful for attention and food. (6 weeks ago) She is now an opinionated madam and looks as if she is going to be quite the handful ! My problem is that I rode only one horse for 14 years, and to me he was just perfect, with other people he was known to rear and run away, but never did with me, we just fitted together so well, even though he was not bombproof, nothing he did worried me. Then he got colic, twisted an intestine and I had to euthenase him and was grief stricken about this especially as it happened on my son's 21st birthday ! I still miss him dreadfully. I then got an arab of '13' who turned out to be 17 and he is the sweetest creature alive, he is easy to catch, comes when called, and is just generally co-operative. He however, likes to buck in company when cantering and scared me. I had him two years and then gave him to someone else who adores him and doesn't mind his 'buckling' as she calls it. I have since discovered he is a dream to ride out on his own and is no longer scary ! I then got the mare, who was in desperate need of a home, who had been hacking out once a week for three years, but she is not suitable for competition, not sure why as she has no unsoundness issues at all, perhaps it is her temperament that is not suitable. We are muddling along, I have ridden her out twice in company and once in her own paddock as I am too nervous to take her out on her own as yet. The rest of the time has been spent grooming, cuddling and lunging. She rears and runs away when saddled, I am not sure whether this is because of a cold back or out of mischief, as she has done it while tightening the lunging roller too. She then runs away and stands at the bottom of the field and looks terribly smug, but is then easy to catch and mount, strange creature ! I have persuaded my friend to bring me a dually halter from Germany after reading about them on your site and am going to do some groundwork with her soon (procrastinating again !) But I suppose I need to give her a couple of years too before I decide that she is not for me, maybe she will be.

[kya]

I really think we have to stress to anyone buying a horse, that the horse you buy is not the horse you end up with. Mine changed radically with some condition... note picture of Blue. Yatva, you are having a superb learning experience if nothing else well done.

Blue on arrival in March of last year, very underweight... husband is 6'5 by the way.

[oneofmanysues]

Fluffypony you are not alone so don't think you need to feel ashamed! If anybody's read my thread of a week or so ago ('Help - almost lost it completely' or something like that), Silco is only 15 hands, native type and normally the most lazy thing imaginable. She loved her 6-weeks box rest for lami last winter because all she had to do was stand still, yet even so I felt completely irrational about being nervous long before her recent behaviour when she actually gave good reason for me to be nervous. I'd post a pic if I knew how...

I spoke to Sue Brown yesterday and she's hopefully going to come and give us an assessment. I'm really looking forward to it!

[seabiscuit]

Brannock is a 4 year old 15.3 hh chunky welsh D. I've had him since he was 18 months old and have done lots of groundwork with him myself. He's very bright, quick and genuine, but is hyper playful. He went to Rosie RAs to be started and was perfect, and I couldn't wait to start hacking on him. But the first few times I rode him he bucked me off and since then I haven't been able to do much.

We moved yards last week to a great place with a lovely indoor school so I'm hoping to get my confidence back again. I see people riding out on their 5 and 6 year olds, and yet I'm now nervous to mount mine even though he's not that big. He hasn't even bucked me off for a while, but I think it's knowing what he can do that makes me nervous to push him. I really need some balls!!!! I used to have them when I was younger....it's strange how you get worse with age! No one should be ashamed of being nervous and lacking confidence, no matter what horse they have - I used to wonder why people were worried but now having been on the other end of things I can completely appreciate it. At the end of the day horses are living beings themselves with their own minds and interests, and we are extremely lucky to be allowed to ask them questions!