Confidence ... such a fragile thing ... did i do the right thing?

[HorseHelen]

ive recently started riding lessons again since libby went out on loan almost a year ago now ... (still miss her!) ive been having a semi private lesson every 2 weeks and they have been great. but on monday i got put on a new horse, TB, and he just felt like he was ready to explode underneath me, had a few trots and had a go at a canter but decided to pull him up as it just felt out of control, and he doesnt like people hauling on his sensitive mouth so i didnt feel able to stop him really, with just my seat. so i asked to stay in walk the rest of the lesson so the instructor swapped me onto something else which i trotted and cantered on because he felt safe and i had ridden him before, i feel like such an idiot now though, a real wimp, but the thing is if it was my horse and they were playing up then obviously i wouldnt have given up and i would have worked through it but because im paying to enjoy it and i wasnt enjoying it, i decided this was what i wanted to do. to make me feel even worse my OH got on him and cantered him no problems whatsoever :eek: oh the shame. did i do the right thing? :o

[Cortrasna]

in a word - YES:D:D If you weren't feeling safe or happy on the nag then what will you learn??? To feel nervous and a failure? Don't think thats what riding or riding lessons are supposed to be, do you?

Plus - one horse might suit somebody but NOT somebody else - obviously this one didnt suit you - no big deal - ride the ones you feel safe and happy on - press the reject button for the others!;)

[Riley Roo]

Ditto this ^^^^^^

If you don't feel comfortable, why push it? Although to feel uncomfortable sometimes may help you improve your riding - perhaps see if you can ride the TB near the end of a lesson once you've seen it's not completely bonkers and help build your confidence that way?

Is definitely a testament to your riding that your RI chose you to have the TB first and not someone else :)

[YASMiN___X0]

I think that, in this situation, you did the right thing. Seeing as you've only recently started lessons again, your confidence won't be as built up and you're probably still settling back in to riding "properly" and on different horses. Riding horses out of your comfort zone won't seem as scary in time :) and, by then, they might not even BE out of your comfort zone!

[HorseHelen]

thanks for all the replies ... i think in future im not going to put myself under pressure to do things im not comfortable with because otherwise my enjoyment will go. will ride the horses im happy with unless my confidence gets better :) i just still feel really silly about the whole thing, ah well

[horses4eva888]

You did absolutely the right thing, better to admit you felt uncomfortable on that horse than to stay on him, not enjoy the lesson and risk loosing your confidence :)

[HorseHelen]

You did absolutely the right thing, better to admit you felt uncomfortable on that horse than to stay on him, not enjoy the lesson and risk loosing your confidence :)

i know, but slightly embarrasing to be shown up by my OH who promptly got on said TB and did it ... oh to be young and fearless again, i fear i may be getting old :D