Lorien Stable: Trainer's Notes
Welcome. Enjoy.
For discussion of this article, or any other topic, visit the Message Board.
Today's topic is Confidence while Riding.
A loss of confidence is a pretty common obstacle. You're not alone.
It's very important, when you're battling with your confidence, to stay
within your comfort zone. If that means that the most you do any day is
groom your horse and go home, then so be it.
We work with horses for fun. In this day and age, we do not need them
for transportation, for plowing the fields, for hauling the cargo; we
have cars and planes and tractors and trailers.
So, we do this for fun. There's no kind of deadline,
though we
often push ourselves like there is. When you're trying so hard that
it's not fun anymore, you need to take a step back and look at your
priorities. :) Why do it if it's not fun?
If you're pushing yourself hard to try to do something that makes you
tense...Tension is extremely counterproductive. Tension makes your
riding more stiff, and also will indicate to your horse that there's
something to be afraid of--there isn't, but your horse will now be
tense, too! So you'll be riding stiffly and more likely to lose your
balance, and your horse will be on edge, more likely to spook or get out
of control.
Now, look at it this way: you're battling a *temporary* loss of
confidence. You will get over it. You just need to take a step back
for a little while. It happens to so many people--there's no reason to
be upset or feel foolish. Just do only what you actually *want* to do.
If that's just to hop on and get off, fine :) If that's just to pet the
horse's nose and go home, fine! Do what is *comfortable*.
As you feel safer within your comfort zone, it will be easier to push
the boundaries. It's hard to imagine, but you probably will get out
there one day and find yourself happily doing much more than you did at
first...just do what feels right, and don't make yourself tense trying
to do more. Stay relaxed; do what's fun. It will all be fine :)
There's no deadline! You have all of your life to enjoy horses. You
don't have to be unhappy around them now, or make it worse for yourself.
Just...be happy!
