I'm now a nervous nellie too :(

[cate-e-kins]

I'vd had my horse for about 4 weeks, at first he was fine but since popping a small jump last week he seems to have gone mad.

He wasn't ridden much in his last home as they were a bit unsure of him, before that he has done pony club jumping. Everytime I do an upward transition his head comes up and he feels like he is going to throw a massive buck.

Yesterday I got off him in floods of tears and wanted to sell him there and then to anyone, not even a good home.

I am going to do loads of grounwork with him, he's not nasty just excited to be doing interesting stuff again I think but it scares me silly. He won't float either yet so I can't take him for lessons.

Sorry to ramble on but I am here alone and really down. I have dreamed of my own hores for years and my dream seems to be disintergrating.

Any moral support appreciated!! Cate.

[KarinUS]

Everytime I do an upward transition his head comes up and he feels like he is going to throw a massive buck.
I am going to do loads of groundwork with him, he's not nasty just excited to be doing interesting stuff again I think but it scares me silly.

Sorry to hear you are having a tough time. Just take a deep breath and consider different answers to the 'why'.
It's highly possible that he doesn't throw his head up and threatens to buck due to excitement but for many other reasons.

Perhaps he is picking up on your nervousness, perhaps he is hurting somewhere or he is anticipating to hurt for some reason.

Is there any chance you can hire a freelance instructor to watch and teach you where you ride?

And yes, ground work will be a great idea. It will help you both gain confidence and hopefully you can work with him on his loading issues as well. If you do ride, don't force yourself to go faster or jump until you feel comfortable again.
There's no reason to put yourself in an upsetting situation! :o

[Alle]

Do you lunge him before riding? If my horse hasn't been out for a while (usually due to weather conditions) I will lunge her before riding her to let her get rid of some excess energy. Then when I d get on, she's ready to work.

But before any of that, what KarinUS said is very important...you need to find out if what he's doing is pain related. Has his saddle fit been checked? Can you get someone with experience to come out and check him out for you?

Don't lose faith yet. It's early days yet. Best of luck!

[Purdey33]

Hi, I can't offer much advice (sorry) but if you look at my 'I think I made a mistake' post, you will see that you are not alone!

I got lots of good advice, which you will too, and I feel a bit more positive now too :)

I will follow your posts and hope that things get better for us both!

Good luck cate-e-kins :D

[cate-e-kins]

Thanks guys, today was a better day, I did lots of Parelli stuff just yielding and he was really good. I then got on him and just did smaller circles of walk trying to supple him up, he is very stiff. Then we trotted and he was great. He seemed more relaxed today and was really loving!!

I am looking for an instructor but have decided that my motto is one day at a time, one bad day isn't the end of the world and that's just horses for you!!

Thanks sooooo much for the moral support, look out for more highs and lows from down under...!!!!! Cate.

[newnovice]

I'm in the same boat as you (and a few othes). Finally fulfilled my dream of a horse of my own and am now scared. All the advice I've read on this board has helped.

My instructor says to just get on and walk in circles until I'm bored to death of it. She (a professional dressage rider) says that that's what she does when she's scared/nervous - and she swears she still gets that way.

For the past couple of days, I've tried to only have positive thoughts - "I am a calm and confident rider" - as I think that calling myself a scared and nervous rider became a self-fulfilled prophecy.

I don't know if it's just in my mind or not, but using Rescue Remedy has helped.

The day before yesterday was great and yesterday not so good and the barn owner says, "You're going to have ups and downs, that's the way it is with horses". I'm sure she's right.

Good luck!!