Things are getting better :)

[seabiscuit]

I'm a bit scared about saying it out loud just in case it all comes falling down around my ears! Since moving my horse to a different yard I seem to have found my misplaced confidence. He is happy and settled, and nearly every evening for 2 weeks now I have been hacking out! both alone and with his field friend. sometimes we don't go very far but it always goes well. He hasn't attempted getting me off at all and every day he is learning about steering, stopping, walking off the leg etc (he was started last autumn but since he came home I lost confidence when he bucked me off a few times, so wasn't really ridden over the winter).

I set myself a target of being able to go for hacks by the end of this summer, I've beaten that target already! I feel as if the last 2.5 years have been worth it.

Just thought I'd share!

[iceberg]

That is brilliant, well done. They say a change is as good as a rest, so maybe your belief in horsey being more settled at new yard has rubbed off on both of you. You are happier and so is he. Well done.xxxxxx

[nich]

well done - it's great that you have found the key to some of the issues. it's amazing how much influence the environment can have.

[kya]

God, that sounds terrific. Don't worry about things going pear shaped, if the do, you'll get right on with it. Well done!

[Casper]

That is really fantastic - you must be sooooo chuffed. Well done to both of you.

[wozzer]

Brilliant - very well done both of you ;D

Onwards and upwards for you now - keep us posted and good luck! xx

[seabiscuit]

Well pride comes before a fall! Not that I've fallen, but I nearly did. For some reason Bran wasn't very happy tonight and when I tried to school him in the outdoor schooling area he would not stop jogging about and swinging around. Eventually I took him into the indoor school and he wasn't a happy bunny, shaking his head about and twitching his neck (he tends to do this when annoyed). So after being so happy for a week, I felt downright miserable again. I ended it all on a good note by walking him around the school until he started to calm down. Pants.

Think a few things may have upset him, like his field companion walking past us in the other direction when we left the yard. May take him for an in hand walk tomorrow, at least that's something I know we can do without a fight.

Thanks for all the good wishes, makes me feel a bit better

[angblue]

Don't let tonight get you down hon
They are a bit like us & have off days when they can't concentrate on something, I'm sure he'll be much better tomorrow.
If you feel a bit woozy tomorrow just remember your first post on this thread when everything was great ;D
Enjoy tomorrow whatever you do

[em&ed]

yes, it was just a blip and at least he was just a bit annoyed and didn't try to get you off!

well done for regaining your confidence

[iceberg]

Well you didnt jump off him and give up (I would have!) so well done. We all have grumpy days, so perhaps it was horses turn?
Try again soon, I bet it will be fine.xxx

[seabiscuit]

Thanks again guys. It has highlighted to me how long it takes to rebuild confidence, and how quickly it can be shattered! Also it's strange how we always pinpoint the bad things that have happened even when they are few, and "forget" the good things..

[em&ed]

yes seabiscuit yoyu are quite right - I think we all focus on the bad stuff and forget about the good stuff... maybe that's another exercise we can try...? Think about the nice things that make you smile that you have achieved with your horse... I'm not asking for a list as that was on another thread - but just take a bit of time out and ask yourselves why do you lurve your horse ;D

[seabiscuit]

Also I'd like to advocate that if you have a bad day with your horse, going back to doing something you both enjoy is an excellent way of making you both feel better...after Friday's shenanigans on Saturday we both went out for an in-hand walk for half an hour, and found a new ride that we can do. Both of us enjoyed it, Bran was exceptionally good considering it was completely new territory. So I feel ready for a ride again now!

[wozzer]

Good. Well done for that. Let us know how you get on hun. xx

[Casper]

That's great Seabiscuit. Let us know how the ride goes x