Dealing with the Timid Rider

kait18 · 03-15-2012, 03:10 PM

Kevin but if you don't give advice and let them go back alone you might have bigger problems...

kevinshorses · 03-15-2012, 03:13 PM

You're right I probably wouldn't invite her anymore. If she tagged along then that's up to her and I wouldn't have any liability.

ls6firebird · 03-15-2012, 03:27 PM

Im glad people didnt have that outlook when I was learning to ride

Joe4d · 03-15-2012, 03:46 PM

You need to either go out on trail rides to help and teach her, or you need to go on trail rides to enjoy yourself. Because your not going to be able to do both. If you go with her just head out with the mindset you are on a teaching ride. I wouldnt let her tagalong and be responsible for her on days that I want to ride and enjoy myself.

Country Woman · 03-15-2012, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kait18

i would see if I could get her out to groom her horse while grooming yours and casually talk about things then bring up things your scared of ... and elaborate so then it encourages her to know that you guys aren't perfect but you work through it... and eventually ask her what about you?? Do you have any fears or anything with your horse?? But doing it casually will bring a good conversation while working around them from the ground.

If you really have no fear you could make a white lie and say when I first started riding I was scared of water crossings... but my horse loved it and when I trusted her to get me through it I realized it wasnt so bad... something simple like that.

Then whatever fears she brings up offer to help her overcome them.

A situation like that might be best then you wont have to suffer shortening the trail ride and she wont have to be scared to ride back alone...

If she is just nervous in general about her horse see if you can help her in a round pen...like join up type thing that could inspire her to trust her horse a bit more when she realizes he will follow her...

One thing for sure is no one is benefiting by turning back... you guys lose trail time and she loses more and more confidence in eiter herself or her horse

I agree with Kait

kevinshorses · 03-15-2012, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ls6firebird

im glad people didnt have that outlook when I was learning to ride

I don't mean to seem grumpy about it but I wouldn't take responsibility for someone elses child unless I was in charge and a liability waiver was signed. If this girl follows your instructions and her horse does something to get her injured you could lose everything you own. That's too steep a price to pay in my mind for me to teach someone to ride a horse.

ls6firebird · 03-15-2012, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinshorses

I don't mean to seem grumpy about it but I wouldn't take responsibility for someone elses child unless I was in charge and a liability waiver was signed. If this girl follows your instructions and her horse does something to get her injured you could lose everything you own. That's too steep a price to pay in my mind for me to teach someone to ride a horse.

i hear ya. That's definitely a good point. Im not saying your wrong at all. But some people took that risk on me when I was young, and I know what it meant to me to have an older friend to look up to, so I will take that risk to help younger kids who want to learn

soenjer55 · 03-15-2012, 06:23 PM

Put her on a difficult horse. Then, she'll either be too scared to bother you guys again or she'll buck up.
Naw. Just kidding, that's a little mean.
She just needs to realize that she's not going to die. Which means she has to go up that steep hill and see that the horse will be fine, and to cross that river and realize that even if it is deep, horses can swim. She's inexperienced, therefore afraid. Besides, she's pretty lucky to have the horse she does as a beginner, because my first horse would have galloped through the river and up the hill whether I was okay with it or not... lol.
The best thing for this, I believe, is to just keep taking her on trail rides, and enjoy yourselves- if she's scared of climbing up the hill and acts like a brat, but sees that all the experienced people are calm and collected, she'll start to think about it. It will take time, but in the long run, it's worth it. I went through the exact same thing with my little sister- I was the daredevil, who galloped everywhere, while she cried when the horse trotted. She still doesn't really like to go fast, but she's a good, comfortable rider now, because we spent the time to get her over her fear, no matter how annoying she was. (And trust me, she was ANNOYING!)

kevinshorses · 03-15-2012, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ls6firebird

i hear ya. That's definitely a good point. Im not saying your wrong at all. But some people took that risk on me when I was young, and I know what it meant to me to have an older friend to look up to, so I will take that risk to help younger kids who want to learn

I'd have a long talk with her parents first. After all they are the ones that would decide to sue you or not.

Country Woman · 03-15-2012, 06:46 PM

You would have to get the girls parent ok and sign a wavier

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