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Post by staffsmum on Apr 18, 2007 8:21:13 GMT 1
I think age is a factor but also if you have had a bad experience where it could of been worse! My confidence was knocked badly when my horse bucked me off on the road and i was unconscious for half an hour and when I came round air ambulance was there and I was surrounded my paramedics, they though i had serious spine and head injuries because I wasn't wearing my hat (I was in the accident but my friend removed it because she thought i was dead ) It really made me think "What If", you do really have to put your demons behind you, I was fearless on my last horse, I used to ride him on my own through Worcester City centre, waiting at traffic lights next to juganauts, never bothered me. Now I quiver in fear at a tractor, I am going to get hypnotherapy! ;D
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karenandco
Advanced Poster
Advanced Poster
there is never a quick fix,
Posts: 452
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Post by karenandco on Apr 21, 2007 10:37:05 GMT 1
i think age is a factor, as when i was younger i would ride anything anywhere at anytime, and funny enough i think because i never had anything really bad happen i carried on like that until recently, in my younger days, i used to ride donkeys through the village where i lived, not a care in the world, and infact one of the donkeys would never leave the yard being ridden, so we used to walk it down to the other end of the village, get on, and let go. then it would canter across the main village road without stopping, and go home, and this was great as far as we were concerned, well now i have Tod, and it is other people that have reminded me that i'm not so young anymore, and i would brake rather than bend, and all my responsibilitys (children, other animals etc etc) and although at first i resisted it the little seed had been sown, now it is a mighty oak tree, and through out all of this, i don't think it is Tod's fault, he has never known me to be nervous at all, and now i think i pass on my nerves through the saddle, reins and generally all over, sorry it started off as a short reply, and ended up a book karen and co
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Post by Cameo on Apr 28, 2007 22:50:07 GMT 1
I think age IS a factor for many people - and I don't necessarily think this is a bad thing! There are many more issues to consider when we are a bit older - and I think as many people have pointed out: - We have more awareness of the "what might happen"s
- We perhaps are less bendy, supple and bouncy than we were when we were younger - and our mind is also subconsciously aware of this too!
- We may be out of practice as well - if we have taken a break from hurtling around cross country courses then our muscles are less prepared to act and react correctly
we often have more responsibilities - what would happen to our children/mortgage/horses/ pets/ jobs if we seriously smashed a femur!? After children, I believe our priorities change - call it hormones or whatever - but we move to "protect" mode - and that includes by default, protecting our own bodies. That said - confidence is a great confidence-giving thing! A yeeehaaa on a "safe" horse is as great as it ever was - it is the unknown quantities that we worry about! After all - we spend all our lives ( hopefully) gaining greater awareness!
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Post by Cetan + Molly on Apr 29, 2007 18:47:07 GMT 1
I agree, age is definitely a factor. As children we're not so aware of the risks involved in riding. Through the passage of time we encounter accidents and bad experiences, or even just hearing about other people's accidents can sometimes knock our confidence to some extent, as we become aware of what could potentially happen. I don't have children but I did have a five year break from riding then went on to buy a 'green' horse based on my previous experiences. Unfortunately I soon discovered I'd lost my nerve and my confidence had evaporated! We have made slow progress but I can't imagine I'll ever be as carefree a rider as when I was a teenager.
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