Hey,

Just an update on my horse/rider confidence building.
I have been riding a few times and helped out at a race stables. One of the horses tried to back into me because he didn't like the rain and wanted to turn his backside to it but with a firm hand I held him steady and I have been leading horses to the practice ring...Yikes! Also I'm doing some work on the lunge. So I'm feeling a lot better, I'm still not confident enough to go strolling up to any old horse but I am feeling like there is hope for me and my friendship with horses. I'm kind of in love with one of the horses he is so gorgeous but a bit of a wild one so I'm loving him from a distance at the mo LOL! I know I'll have cracked it when I can get up close to him without getting scared.

Riding again on Friday...Can't wait!

For anyone who has lost their confidence I say just get back to being around horses I was soooooo scared a few weeks ago and slowly I'm starting to feel confident again. The only way to overcome it is to actually be in contact with the beautiful beasts!!!
Will update with my progress

Thanks for all the advice and sharing.

xx

That is brilliant news!! I am so glad you just went for it and got stuck in as like you said there's not much else you can do tbh! Its just a matter of understanding them I think! One thing that I read whilsy trying ot get my confidence back which really helped was that horses are flight animals, any sign of danger and they will run but this does not mean they wish to hurt you at all! So staying calm and solving the situation will not end in them trying to hurt you either! This made me realise that just because they may be a bit flighty in say wind of spook at something and take off they arent trying to hurt you, They are just doing what is natural so there is no need to panic!!

Keep us updated on your progress and add some pictures!!!! We all love pictures here

Helloo.

I was exactly the same, after a fall i totally lost my confidence, and basically was wasting the horse, so stopped riding for about 4-5 years, like you i kept up with the horse world but never really got hands on with it until a year ago. Like you i learnt on basic riding school horses, but really all they do is learn the basics, and when you get to 'real horses' its kind of like ohhh dearrr, abit daunting, but seriously when you spend time it becomes the norm. Like someone else had said, i used to hum and sing when leading the horses from the feild or brushing, and when they span around or slammed feet down during grooming i used to get all nervous. It takes time but its worth it.

Advertise yourself maybe to help out with someones ponies? start small work your way up, i know families normally want help mucking out, grooming etc.

Dont over horse yourself, do it at your own pace, and just simply enjoy it

Another update.
So riding is still going well I'm getting more confident.
On the horse/rider relationship I'm making progress. One of the horses tried to give me a cheeky nip Whilst I was leading him from the stable on Friday but a firm but fair yank soon told him he can't mess around with me (even though I was a tiny bit scared).
I have been in the stable with a couple of horses tacking and untacking; at first it felt very claustrophobic to be in such a small space with such a big animal but I am gaining in confidence every time.
No doubt I will experience a few more nips and such like but things are just getting better and better

I will post some pic's on next update.

Thanks again for the good advice
x

Glad to hear its going so well!
Also another good and handy tip is to one day when you are with one of the horses i.e leading, grooming, tacking up, schooling, take a look at how your body language is. Body language is a very big part on how the horse will react to things you do. For example, I was given this tip whilst free schooling at a yard I used to work at when my nerves were at there worst and the yard owner told me to stand tall and raise my arms and tense up, the horse sped up, then she told me to relax and lower my arms and almost slouch, the horse practically went to a standstill!! It really is amazing when you stand and watch yourself or others just to see what you or they are doing and how the horse is reacting to their body language. It will help you to control how you come across to the horse too!

Hope this is something else you can use along the way