Low Horseriding Confidence :-(?

Question

Hiyaah Ive Been Horseriding For Over A Year Now & I Absoloutley Love Love Love It !

Trotting Is My Favorite...

But I Have A Great Fear Of Cantering Can Some One Please Comfort Me By Telling Me All The Great Things & Tips To Do It Perfectly

Because Ive Had Some Bad Experience

At My Lessons I Was Constantly Put On Small Lazy Ponys Because I Was Just New & Most Of Them Were Too Fat & Lazy & Sometimes When I Asked To Go Into Canter They Would Go Into A Running Transition (Fast Fast Trot) Then They Would Run About The Arena & Not Stop

Or Mostly Buck Me Off

My Instructor Told Me It Wasnt My Fault & They Just Need A Bigger Push

Then Another Time I Went Into Canter But As I Came Around The Corner THE PONY FELL!! & I Went Flying (The Pony Was Fine)

But These Experiences Have Really Made Me Scared Of Cantering But Ill Do Jumping & Everything Else

I Just Need A Confidence Boost

I Cantered My Friends Horse Perfectly The Other Day

But Im Still Scared Going Into It !!

Thanks x*x

Answer 1

OK i have 2 horses (Buck-o and Comanche) when i ride them i love cantering the most. Its really fun.  The wind in your hair ( well underneath my helmet lol ) but my old horse Sadie bucked and reared me! I'm not scared it really doesn't hurt falling off.(bucko bucked me and i forgot to hold on to the horn!) keep your helmet on when you ride and ride western if you don't already , so if the horse bucks them hold on to the horn and grab the reins.  also don't ride pony that falls. try it again on a horse that isn't known for bucking.  also it helps if you start to canter after you make a turn.

hope i helped

Answer 2

I think perhaps it is time to find a new riding stable, though accidents happen, the number of problems you speak of is high and concerning.  I would never place a beginning rider on a horse or pony that is difficult to get to canter and I do not allow beginner riders to ride horses or ponies that 'run' into a transition, this is annoying, jarring and tells me that their training is lacking or nonexistent, there is more to a good school horse than being small and lazy.  Some amount of challenge is neccessary to create a confident, patient rider, however, confidence should not be sacrificed because a school horse lacks training.  Instructors HAVE to work with their school horses continuously to make sure their training is proper and the horses are not allowed to become lazy.  You need a trustworthy mount with a smooth, easy transition and a calm, steady canter to overcome your fear, I am afraid that you may not get this where you are at, you need to talk to your current riding instructor about your problems, perhaps they just don't understand the extent of your fear, I had a rider several years ago with a similar problem but didn't realize it until her parents came to me, in response I partnered her with a higher level haflinger pony, my rider was confident enough to deal with her challenges at the walk and trot, but the mare had an amazing transition and canter.  There was never any question for my rider as to whether she had applied enough leg to get the desired result of an upward transition because you could feel it coming, the mare would sink down in her haunches and her front end would rise up and just when you thought she might rear she would crest like a wave hitting the beach and you would find yourself riding this wonderfully smooth, rocking horse canter.  After a month of steady work her favorite gait was the canter and she was confident enough to go back to riding the rest of the horses that filled out our ranks of schooling animals.  Your instructor needs to be given the opportunity to correct this problem but if they cannot then you should probably begin to look for a new stable to learn to ride.

Answer 3

Never "expect" to fall off when you get on a horse. Just get on thinking you are going to have an awesome ride and you are going to do fine. If you get on thinking "omg I hope I don't fall" then most of the time any horse can feed off your nervousness.  As for the bucking and rearing, don't ever depend on the saddle horn for your safety. Most riders lock up and grab the horn and don't think about riding through the incident. The horse will catch on so quick that you are scared and they may keep doing it. If instead you take control and keep cantering through bucks (yes cantering because if you stop the horse wins) or go right back to work when the horse rears, then you will be in control completely and your horse will respect you so much. As for the horse falling, that is very rare and don't worry all experienced horse people have had it happen once or twice but don't worry it wont happen every time you ride! Hope this Helps, Have Fun!!!

Answer 4

i have been riding for years and years and i love it too but when i first started riding i had real bad falling off problem.  every time i got on a horse i would be bucked or reared off.  when i cantered it would always get out of control too. but through the years i have learned that you need to give the horse a strong cue and not to be afraid.  horses can since when somone is nervous and most of the time it will make them nervous too.  So feel confident before you tell your horse to canter then immediatly collect yourself.  i hate this saying but it is so true.  practice makes perfect.