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The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

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Original poster

Help! I've lost my confidence. How can I get it back?

36 replies

frenchfancy · 16/01/2013 19:02

I was riding DPony in my group lesson on Sunday. She is normally not very forward going and needs to be convinced into a trot or a canter (she is fine once she is going though). I'm only a novice really (well 3 years but advancing slowly).

The trouble is on Sunday the instructor decded we would do some jumping. I got over the bar on the floor alright, but could tell DPony was starting to get agitated. Once the bar went up proper and it was my turn she just went for it at full throttle. I lost all control and bottled it. I didn't fall, but I cracked and ended up getting off in tears and spent the last 5 minutes just walking her round whilst the others jumped. Instructor was NOT impressed.

DD has been jumping with DPony today, and she was flying over the jumps. Basically she just loves jumping and gets over exited when she sees the jumps. DD hasn't jumped with her since the summer due to a broken arm.

I was hoping I could ride another pony next Sunday but I've just found out that I have to ride DPony. I am bricking it. I've never been so scared on a horse. How do I get over this?

I can ride tomorrow and Saturday for a bit on my own, that doesn't scare me, but jumping again does. Help!

OP posts:

Floralnomad · 16/01/2013 19:35

If jumping worries you so much why do it . I doubt there is anything anyone can say that will help you regain your confidence and your nerves will be transmitted to the pony which will only make it worse. Personally I'd tell the instructor that I didn't want to jump. Is it your pony?

Floralnomad · 16/01/2013 19:37

Forgot to say , who cares what the instructor thinks , you're the one paying the money !

Original poster

frenchfancy · 16/01/2013 19:41

Yes it is my pony. The problem is it is a group lesson, and we have all become friends. If I don't want to jump I think I will have to back out of the group for a few weeks at least.

Quite a small community here, and the instuctor is part of our social circle.

OP posts:

Floralnomad · 16/01/2013 19:46

Perhaps speak to the instructor before the lesson and see if she could put up a jump for the rest of the class and a pole on the ground for you .

horseylady · 17/01/2013 08:28

If you don't want to jump. Don't jump!!! Who cares?! Riding is all about enjoyment, not scaring yourself to death and injuring yourself.

If you do want to jump, I'd suggest a very low key, private lesson where you can go right back to the beginning.

If you want to carry on your group lesson (and I see no reason why you shouldn't) just miss out the jump and ride round to the back at your turn or ask the instructor to do a pole.

Good luck!

Callisto · 17/01/2013 10:10

Well firstly I would be bloody unhappy with the instructor. What a stupid attitude to take and hardly likely to encourage you to try again. Personally, I would probably have got you to do some gridwork and kept the poles on the ground. When DD has group jumping lessons the istructor never makes the children do anything they are not comfortable doing and is happy to put jumps up and down, run with the child or just let them sit out.

If you are lacking confidence jumping and your pony rushes the jumps then you need a much steadier pony that knows it's job and looks after you. If you want to jump why not book some private jumping lessons?

ponydilemma · 17/01/2013 10:26

Don't jump! I don't. Luckily nor do most of my friends (apart from the ones that hunt at the front!) so we just hack out and chat :-)

N0tinmylife · 17/01/2013 12:01

Why can you not ride a different pony next time? Something that was a bit steadier would be ideal if you are nervous. I would not be happy at all with the instructor, and would change to a different one, although it sounds like that could be difficult in your circumstances.

Maybe avoiding the group for a bit would be a good idea, if the instructor is likely to try and get you doing things you are not ready for, then get cross when it doesn't go well! I would say the problem was with them really, not you.

Original poster

frenchfancy · 17/01/2013 12:17

Thanks for all the messages. I admit I'm not keen on jumping and would prefer to just do walk/trot work. I have jumped before though, we did a few sesions about 6 months ago and I had no problem. It isn't the jumping that scares me so much as the horse rushing.

I'm going to go up and ride tonight and see how I feel. I might put a pole on the ground and try on my own. I always get on much better with DPony when we are on our own and not in group class.

OP posts:

Pixel · 17/01/2013 18:48

What if you ask your dd to help you with this?. It's lovely that the pony enjoys jumping and can 'fly' round the jumps with your dd, but in the long run it would be better if she could take them more steadily when required. If dd schools her to be more settled then you could start jumping her again if it is only the rushing that worries you. Or maybe the instructor could help you to calm the pony down? Trotting circles next to a small jump and only popping over it once the pony is calm will probably help you both.
I agree with others who say they would be annoyed with the instructor though. They are supposed to encourage you and boost your confidence, not humiliate you!

Original poster

frenchfancy · 18/01/2013 09:56

I did ride yesterday, and wasn't as scared as I thought I would be thankfully. Unfortunately I was hoping for a bit of time on my own to work, but 4 other owners had the same idea which meant I couldn't be as calm as I would have liked (everyone else riding is at a much higher level than me). There were jumps set up in the middle, but thankfully the others didn't start jumping them until after I had finished. I managed the bar on the floor a few times though.

pixel that is exactly what I would like to happen. Unfortunately the instructor has told DD to let DPony go if she wants to go. Up to this point he has been very good with both of us, but he is not great when people take a backwards step like me.

OP posts:

Floralnomad · 18/01/2013 10:00

Is it possible to get a different instructor? Does she come to you or do you keep your pony at a riding school? TBH she sounds a bit mad.

Original poster

frenchfancy · 18/01/2013 10:11

The stables is a one man band. DPony is in livery - along with about 5 others, then he has the riding school. Stables is about 5 mins from home, the next nearest is 25 minutes, so not really feasible to change.

OP posts:

catsharingmychair · 18/01/2013 15:58

It doesn't matter a jot if you don't want to jump - and the instructor (friend or not) shouldn't make you feel badly in any way!

I suggest one of four things:

a) Offer your fast jumping pony to someone else for this section of the lesson - let's see how they cope! You sit is out, holding theirs. Someone else may find this fun/a challenge.

b) Ask the instructor to jump on board yours and 'show you all how it's done'- flattery gets you everywhere- let's see how easy she finds it to sit a gallop towards a fence. Good learning experience for all to observe excellent speed reduction/pace & balance maintenance skills n'est-ce pas!

c) Swap ponies during the class with anyone who has a short fat hairy Cob (like mine) who ambles up to a jump and plops, which is really non terrifying..

d) Do as everyone here suggests and abstain from classes- perhaps mooting dressage as the class focus over the spring?

Floralnomad · 18/01/2013 16:03

Does your pony get used in the school ? I've only ever met one male instructor , he was a complete tosser and thought he was gods gift , he thought he could cure my TBs issues with being ridden round in circles, he didn't and he looked mightily stupid in the process.

Original poster

frenchfancy · 18/01/2013 21:53

Thanks guys you are making me feel much better.

The instructor does very occasionally get on a difficult pony. Unfortunately he is a horse whisperer type, and as soon as he is anywhere near the horses turn into ideal specimens and do exactly as he asks, so I have no doubt that if he got on DPony she would be perfect.

There are definitely others in the class who could not cope on mine, but I feel they would not keen on the chance to try.

DPony only gets ridden by me and DD2. We normally exercise her 5 or 6 times a week, but it has dropped down to 4 times a week with the bad weather.

OP posts:

50BalesOfHay · 19/01/2013 10:03

Sounds like she's a teenager dream for jumping and a nice Mum's pony for flat work. So let dd jump her and you do flatwork. The instructor need to respect your wishes

Original poster

frenchfancy · 19/01/2013 11:04

You are right she is great pony, she has a good balance of calm vs speed. She is 20 this year, so no spring chicken.

OP posts:

Zazzles007 · 19/01/2013 11:26

Hi there OP, I have read your thread and am coming to this a bit later than others. I have a somewhat different view. I see that you have said you would rather do walk/trot work at a more sedate pace. However you might find that learning to ride this pony at an even faster pace might help you.

Several years ago, I got a loan horse whose ability was far beyond mine at the time - taller, more educated, and with much bigger strides than I was used to. After a while, I realised that he was putting me off, as he knew so much more than me.

So I approached my instructor about this, and we did an exercise which helped me ride this horse's bigger pace. You start off in trot on a 25m or so circle, and then ask pony for as big a trot as it can manage - in this case, my loaner could do a proper medium trot. Then you do transitions from big trot to normal trot, ad infinitum. This exercise not only gets you used to the faster motion, but also it teaches you the control you need within one pace. In medium trot with a 16.2hh TB, we were flying, and it turned out to be the best fun.

And of course once you are used to doing this exercise in trot, you then progress to big canter/little canter ad infinitum. I did these exercises for 2 months, and in the end, I was absolutely addicted to the speed and the pace that this horse could do. It was great fun for me, and the horse really enjoyed it as well. This exercise is more about resetting your level of comfort with the pace that a horse/pony can go at.

Hope this helps.

Zazzles007 · 19/01/2013 11:28

PS I also agree with others though that pony should not be allowed to rush when jumping, however the above exercise will help you with your confidence at faster paces.

Original poster

frenchfancy · 19/01/2013 14:17

Thanks zazzles. I agree I need to get used to a bit more speed. I think my problem was the lack of control. It wasn't me that asked the pony to gallop, she saw the pole and went for it. I much prefer a small canter on the flat, and want to work more on that and build up the speed.

I think I may need to back out of the group lessons. I'm going to go tomorrow but I'll talk to the instructor and tell him I absolutely don't want to jump at the moment. If he insists I will stop the lessons.

DD rode her today, and she was still rushing the jumps even though DD was trying to keep her calm. Even watching her stressed me out, even though I could tell she was having a great time. I ride for pleasure and because it is a way of relaxing and de-stressing; it is not my all consuming passion like it is for others (I leave that to DD). This week it has just stressed me out. I have been on edge all week and every time I think about it I am on the verge of tears. It isn't much fun.

OP posts:

Floralnomad · 19/01/2013 15:27

If you're happy with walk ,trot and a controlled canter why should you feel obliged to do any more ? I gave up jumping my mare ,despite having been keen on jumping as a younger person, because my mare was unreliable and not keen on jumping and with the best will in the world you get to an age where falling off , or thinking you're going to fall off becomes unpalatable!

lovestruckfifi · 19/01/2013 23:14

Can you try jumping at trot? Also jumping small logs in the woods will help or lesson/jumping on your own. Just to catch up because it sounds like you want to stay in the group.

Original poster

frenchfancy · 20/01/2013 08:41

I would be happy to jump at a trot. DPony unfortunately has other ideas.

I've got a stomach bug today so I didn't go to my lesson. DD will ride DPony in her lesson instead and I will try and do some pole work during the week.

OP posts:

Plomino · 20/01/2013 23:30

If it makes you feel any better, I gave up jumping my first pony after having had her for about 15 years , because although I was used to her speed and bravery (lunacy), riding XC courses on a pony that used to travel at warp speed no matter what bit she was in, or what method of control we tried , was ok when I was 18 , and had no one to worry about but myself , but a very different matter after having had kids .

I took up long distance instead, which she then did at warp speed as well .

You don't have to jump if you don't want to . I know plenty of people who don't , and I don't consider them as novices in any way . It's supposed to be enjoyable and a relaxation , which I think in our never ending quest for improvement , it's easy to lose sight of . It doesn't make you a failure .

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