Corny Inspirational Horsey Quotes?

I apologize if I ramble on, I have an awful habit of that that I can't kick, so if it gets long you can skim and I'll bold the main part..



I've been having the WEIRDEST problem with my somewhat-new horse. Well, moreso with my confidence I guess.
I have a really great horse (a former lesson horse)..he's a 13 y/o very sane TB who's supposedly "been there and done that"..there are times he's a little jumpy but never does anything major.
Shortly after I bought him I fell off during a lesson (100% totally my fault, he was an angel) and got hurt, and ever since then I've been scared of him. Well, not scared of him, but scared of riding him. Which I know is something that can happen when you get hurt but the weird thing is..I'm not scared of riding. Throw me on any horse at all, a horse that's bucked me off, a greenie, a horse that's hospitalized somebody, or even just a sort of unstable horse, and I can ride him. And I know that because I've ridden horses that fit into all of those categories recently and would again with no problem..Any other horse I can ride, but here I am scared of this gentle-as-a-lamb lesson horse of mine.

So at first I was nervous riding him at all, but now I'm able to walk him around just fine and deal with his occasional jumpiness with ease, but I haven't been able to get myself to bring him up to a trot (that was the gait I fell off at =/ well sort of..haha)

And before you say I should be working with a trainer, I do have one, a great one at that, and I know this probably sounds totally stupid, trust me I know, but I just need to handle this particular issue on my own. I basically taught myself to ride and even to train pretty much on my own, and it's just how I'm most comfortable in this case. I know myself and where I am right now I would only cave under any pressure at all from anyone even watching while I'm riding..
And I know that as soon as I do it I'll be fine. I don't lack the ability to do it, not at all..and I've gotten back into shape since the injury so that isn't the problem. Once I can handle the trot I think I will be good as new and continue on with my training, but it's just getting to that point..

So I've set up a plan. Either tomorrow or..whenever the next day is when it isn't pouring rain (tomorrow's forecast is questionable), I'm going to put him in his western saddle (I rode western for years and am much more comfortable that way but wanted to learn something new and have been pushing myself to deal with this in the English saddle to get more used to it, but I think that turned out to be a crap plan since it's been months) and just do it.

But anyway, I'm ranting on..sorry.
To the point, I had this thought that what I could really use is some of those corny inspirational horse quotes that I could save in my phone and pull it out when I'm about to ride. I feel like a total sap but I think it would really help. So if anyone knows of any that might help in my situation, please pull them out for me..I sure am needing it, haha


Thank you all for your time..and wish me luck!

Hi Rockyxpony-firstly I would like to say I understand completely how you feel. I have had a LOT of issues with horses that I really just needed to work through without the trainer. Whatever happened when you fell off, I would recommend not being in that arena/field, etc. when you decide to move up your speed. And I know you probably know this already, but try to be calm and relaxed when you ask for the trot. Be aware of things like your hands, posture, legs, etc. And no matter how determined you are, if your horse is having a bad day, then it is not a good day for you. Most of all, GOOD LUCK.
Now for the actual quotes!(inspirational and humorous, because a laugh is good in any situation!):
This one isn't inspirational, but I thought it relevant to the situation
It is not enough for a man to know how to ride; he must know how to fall. ~Mexican Proverb
In riding a horse, we borrow freedom. ~ Helen Thompson
No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle. ~Winston Churchill

<FONT face=Georgia>Where in this wide world can man find nobility without pride,
Friendship without envy,
Or beauty without vanity?
Here, where grace is served with muscle
And strength by gentleness confined
He serves without servility; he has fought without enmity.
There is nothing so powerful, nothing less violent.
There is nothing so quick, nothing more patient.

If you google horse quotes you can find a tonne, or go around and steal them out of everyones signatures :)

“Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway”. John Wayne

These are my favorites. They may not apply to your situation, but I'll post them anyways, just in case. =P
This one is like my motto: "A canter is a cure for every evil." -Benjamin Disraeli
This is my newest find. It's a keeper! "Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire. It is a grand passion. It seizes a person whole and once it has done so, he/she will have to accept that his life will be radically changed." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Silly as it may sound, that quote served me well. After a horrific wreck a couple of years ago, it took all I had to start riding again. I was so afraid that I would actually come to tears as I mounted up. I kept repeating that phrase over and over. Every once in a while I still do.

Thank you guys so much =D
I've saved a lot of these..I really liked that poem DiamondJumper posted
I didn't get to ride that day but as soon as this rain lets up I'll be back up there and ready to go. I really hope this works..never in my life have I been afraid of a horse, not since I started riding at age 7. It's been such a frustrating thing to go through!
But I've taken the opportunity to really bond with him on the ground and the improvement we're making is really reminding me that I do know what I'm doing! Haha

Not necessarily horsey, but one that I had to repeat to myself a lot when I was first learning how to ride cross-country!
This is a paraphrase of a Nelson Mandela quote:
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it."

Great quotes. Can you put some music on in the arena when you ride and sing along? I read about singing and humming on the Jane Savoie website about getting over fear. It really helps me. Helps my husband too, in that I can't sing to save my life so when he hears me he can't stop laughing!