But sometimes we forget about the impact these situations can have. We have all been through a time where you dread putting your foot back in that stirrup. You have an urge to get on but an equal feeling of terror! And you don’t have to have had an accident to feel this way. Sometimes it just happens. And we are all different, we’ve had different lives and we have different personalities.
And we all then hear the classic get on with it, or you need to be doing this or you should be doing that. But don’t let anyone make you feel small for being nervous- after all we’re trying to have a conversation with half a tonne of animal, and a prey one at that!
So we’ve put together a few things that help us get through these wobbles...
1. First of all, don’t be hard on yourself. We HAVE all been through this no matter what anybody says
2. Do what you love. If it’s hacking go for an adventure, if it’s dressage, go dancing and if it’s jumping, go flying. Don’t believe people that say a horse is wasted if it’s not doing a particular job- quite frankly the horse couldn’t care less, they want the same as us, love, friendship and to be healthy!
3. Set yourself goals and then break them down. Use small targets each week to help you reach them. Things don’t change overnight, but if you work hard at the small things each time you ride, you will get to where you want to be.
4.Have someone helping you on the ground; a good instructor or better yet, a bloody good friend. You need someone who will encourage without pushing too far. Someone that will tell you to go for it when you need confidence but also someone who praises where you’re at!
5. Give your horse the same treatment- they need their confidence building too, to take on the tasks we set for them! Have a friend for them too, a good lead horse on cross country or out hacking can work wonders!
6. Be true to your emotions, there’s nothing more unnerving for a horse than someone pretending to be fine when their not! They feel everything so if you’re nervous admit it to yourself and your horse and be congruent. Fear acknowledged is fear halved. You can work through it together.
7. Do some groundwork. It can help to teach your horse respect, subtle cues and it can be so useful for building a positive relationship. This in turn can help you to build trust in each other, so when you say it’s okay, they actually believe you and vice versa.
8. Ride as much as you can. And as many different horses as you can! You should feel at home in the saddle not on holiday. Riding regularly really helps to combat nerves and riding lots of horses can really boost your confidence.
9. Assess the situation: why are you nervous? Is it fear of the unknown? Or fear of the known? If it’s because your horse has a behavioural problem ie bolting, rearing, broncing, this needs addressing. But if it is fear of the unknown, then we have to think rationally and figure out, what is it I’m actually afraid of?
10. And finally try to ride first thing in the morning. Get up. Get ready and go. Don’t give yourself time for over analysing and over thinking. Ride with a fresh clear head.
Enjoy your horses. Enjoy every moment. Be present. They let us share in a world beyond the ordinary. Be crazy. They help us to realise dreams we never thought possible. Be thankful. But they also trust us, to take care of them, their health, their well being, their life, so most of all...Be kind.
