Hiya,
I took my children for their first pony riding session yesterday, a half hour ride as a fun thing to do while we are on holidays. My youngest son was too young to get on the pony so my husband stayed with him to watch while I decided I'd ride for the half hour too. Neither of us have been on a horse before. When it came to getting on his pony my son was afraid. We all encouraged him for about 15 mins or so but no amount of talking was helping him to get onto the pony. The rest of the riders that were in our group (a family of 5) and riding school staff were waiting on us to go with them and were becoming visibly annoyed with having to wait for my son to mount his pony. We decided not to push it any longer and to leave the pony trek till another time.
I could see my sons fear in getting onto the pony and didn't want to cause him more stress by insisting that he keep trying. He was annoyed and crying that he didn't get on. He was so afraid wee pet but annoyed at himself. He's a good kid and always wants to please. How can I help him overcome this feeling of doing things to please others and help him to know that it's ok to opt out of something at anytime if he doesn't feel happy doing it? And not to worry about what others think? I said to him it was his decision not to get on and that was ok but he was really upset about the whole experience and myself and my husband were annoyed at the way the trip had went! Wondering if I could've done anything different, and how I can help him with his fears? xx