Have you lost your confidence to ride? This is a very common problem. It may be due to an accident, hearing about an accident, or for no perceivable reason at all. However, whatever the cause, there is help for you!
First, don’t rush yourself and get on when you feel you are not ready, you need time. Just go out and pet and groom your horses. Just getting out there and grooming will help – and is your first step to getting back in the saddle. Also do lots of ground work with your horses with the saddle on, lots in the arena and taking them for short walks. This will help and also build a better relationship with you and your horses. Just putting the saddle (or bareback pad) on your horse will help get you confident again.
Once you start feeling more confident, go get your horse and saddle them up and then go and sit on a fence and have your horse come as close to you as possible. Then just love and pet on your horse. After you do that for a while (one day to however long it takes, give yourself time) just sit on your horse. I guarantee if you do it the way I am saying, you are going to start riding them in no time. But if you just go out there and do all this and then just sit on them for a while then when you feel comfortable have them take one step, then if you still feel comfortable have them take 2 steps and so on, until you can build up to more.
The biggest problem with fear is that it stops us from doing what we want. When you are in the house and you think about going outside and working with your horses I am sure that you feel fear right then, right? That fear stops you from even going outside. But if you set small goals and just plan on going out and grooming your horse then your fear will not stop you. Just don’t think about riding until you think about it and there is no fear. Once you get out there with your horse you will want to start doing more. It is just that first step out the door.
Finally, Let me stress that you need to wear a HELMET!!! I am a big believer in helmets and think that everyone should ride in one.
Follow these steps, and you’ll be up and riding again in no time!
If you would like my help I do clinics and private clinics all over the US. If you are interested please contact me.
