confidence going down hill.

shaggy · 07-12-2012, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArabBossMare

It's normal as we get older for the center of balance in your body to change, especially in women after they have had children. I went through this, riding bareback everywhere and being willing to ride anything I was put on to having an actual panic attack when I went to mount up. It sucked... I love to ride but I was terrified to get in the saddle.

What helped me was mental visioning, just taking a quiet moment to sit and "ride" through the ride in my mind imagining it going smoothly and perfectly with good balance and good behavior from my horse. What also helped was some conditioning with myself to rebuild my core strength. These two simple things got me riding again, but it took a good trainer to yell at me enough (ha!) and keep me reminded that I was fine, to relax and to breathe. Minus a trainer a good friend that is there to spot you and just help keep your mind right will help.

A poorly fitting saddle for you or your horse can also make you feel insecure. Keep in mind that a saddle that you loved a few years ago can feel vastly different as you get older so it has to be comfortable for you AND your horse.

Great advice in prior posts as well, just some things I went through myself and still struggle through especially on a froggy brat that wants to test me. A lot of it is mental, just don't let it take over your thought process and don't forget to get out on the trails some too with your horse. It's the best way ever to build or rebuild a rapport and help with your own confidence and balance as well.

thanks so much for the advice. I like the idea of mentally visioning my ride!

Amore · 07-12-2012, 10:13 PM

Try to do some excersises while riding (touch your toes ect.) and have someone lunge your horse while you close your eyes and try to feel your horses movement. Good luck!!! :)

shaggy · 07-12-2012, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amore

Try to do some excersises while riding (touch your toes ect.) and have someone lunge your horse while you close your eyes and try to feel your horses movement. Good luck!!! :)

thanks!

englishaqh · 07-14-2012, 11:51 PM

It is natural to have different fears. It's just part of riding, I think.

Just realize that you are a strong rider and know that you can stay in the saddle.

Acknowledge that falling off is a possibility but don't dwell on that possibility. As a rider, you have to understand that risk is involved but chances are you'll stay in the saddle... that's usually how it is I assume, anyway.

And, it's kind of the same thing how some people find western more comfortable than english, and vice versa. Some people prefer bareback to other disciplines. It's a matter of personal preference. I'm the opposite but hey, comfort varies. Some people prefer a hard chair to a recliner...

Puddintat · 07-15-2012, 12:08 AM

I'm not sure if this will help or not. My instructor is all about thinking about what you WANT to happen not what you don't. (Read about the Law of Attraction) She says the mind is a powerful thing and can control a lot of things. Also, if you think a certain way you may start tensing up and your horse can feel it. For example, I'm very bad about looking for "scarey" things that may spook Dancer. I bet you half the time he wouldn't have been nervous if I wasn't nervous. Also, he is definitely a lot braver with my leasee who is more confident than me. I have noticed that if I start interacting with my horse with a positive, confident attitude things usually go pretty well. And if its hard to do at first, fake it til you make it!! I think this has helped me tremendously and I'm not as scared to ride as I used to be.

I hope this helps! Good luck!!

Radiowaves · 07-15-2012, 01:03 PM

That's the core of it.... It's what makes it all work and it's what makes it all worth it!

Great post...

Quote:

Originally Posted by azwantapaint

....
I talk to her like she's my best friend, reassure her when she gets tense, and let he know how much I believe in her.

.....Sort of like,"I won't let you fall, and I trust in you to to not let me fall either"type .
.....Don't grow yourself without helping your horse friend grow too.

Posted via Mobile Device

LoveHipHop · 07-15-2012, 02:19 PM

Don't worry about it!
Everyone gets a confidence crisis sometimes, just keep at it and it'll get better!
Maybe try getting a trainer too, or riding a schoolmaster to get your confidence back whilst trying on your own horse?
Best of luck, just keep going and this'll phase out in no time!

shaggy · 07-16-2012, 08:22 PM

Thanks for all the great advice everyone it makes me feel so much better and I had a great ride yesterday! With a saddle I might add! Lol Shaggy and I walked around a little bit and then I decided to try around the world (since one of mention doing exercise in the saddle and I had't done it in awhile! So it tested my courage a little lol) but I did it and Shaggy did so good to stand still! And then I tried a ground pole exercise I read in a Jumping excerises book I have where you put two or three poles down in a corner and ride over them. I put two down since that's all I have at the barn at the moment. Lol It went great also! Shaggy did so well going over them and I think the poles made him have to slow down and think around that corner! I can't wait to switch corners with the poles and see how things go!

countof3 · 07-17-2012, 12:44 AM

I like what NorthernMama said. I have to have my stirrups a little longer than would seem for me - I feel better seated into the saddle instead of on top of it. If my stirrups are one notch too high I feel it, I come up out of the saddle more and I'm unbalanced. I think the horse feels it too AND I also have noticed that my hands are unsteady as I try to keep my balance. I guess I just get completely out of whack and that is going to make the horse react too.

shaggy · 07-17-2012, 06:57 PM

True Countof3 and that reminded me I raised me stirrups up a notch and my balance was a little better!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search