Nervous

[Goldie'sGirl]

Hi
As you may have been able to tell from some of my other posts I am a bit of a wimp! When I am around horses and someone is there I am fine, and I am usually also fine on my own with a horse. But sometimes I am not. I really like horses and can't get them out of my head, I love being around them most of the time and I can never wait for my lesson. But, if a horse tries to kick me or bite me I get really worried and scared. I just wondered if anyone had any advice on how to be more confident around horses and help me not to be as scared.
Goldie'sGirl :p

[Est]

I think the more practice you get the more confident you feel (with most things, not just hungry horses!).
I went to a riding school as a fairly novice rider/handler, and they gave me a horse that was known to nip (they kindly warned me :rolleyes: ).
By the time I reached the mounting block, the horse had bitten or snapped at me *17* times (I counted)! I was a quivering jelly and nearly disgraced myself in the lesson by crying :(
But now, after having my own two horses for nearly a year, most horses won't even try it on because I am a lot more confident and they sense it. If they do try to nip or lift a leg I square up to them and say, "No" firmly, and they back down. But most times they wouldn't even try - they sense it's not the thing to do!
I found the main thing was keeping my body language assertive - standing tall, keeping my shoulders square, and making firm, confident movements. Before, if I was a bit nervous of a horse, I would do my tortoise impression and hunch up a bit ("Don't bite me please!") and sure enough they would nip or kick out at me!
If you can fake the confidence even when you're not really feeling it, chances are you'll fool the horse and they won't bite or kick after all, so you'll feel genuinely more confident. :)

[horseXgirl_]

I think you just have to show the horse that your not gonna let it push you around.. try not to act scared if they try to bite or kick, because horses pick up on emotions very well and will take advantage of you if your nervous. Be firm with them.

[PromiseMe]

Hi there,

You're not wimpy! Its human nature. If you weren't scared when a horse tried to bite/kick you - that THAT would be odd.
I LOVE the mare I ride, and look forward to seeing her every time. And enjoy being with her, every bit of it. But when she acts all bitey and tries to slam me into the stall walls; I get scared too!

Just show the horse that you're boss! Don't take any mischeif from them, let them know its NOT OK. And when you work around them, be confident - stand tall, broad shoulders, confident and sure movements (like if you're touching them - make it obvious and firm; dont be shaking and soft) Show them that you're not afraid! (which youre not!)

Good luck. Stuff like that comes with time and experience! :)

[dancing-horse]

Like *EST* said, the more practice you recienve aorund horses, the more confident you feel. I have to deal with nippy, kicking and bucking horses and the biggest thing you have to remember is that you are in charge. When your riding and your horse canters when you ask for a trot, theres an immediate response where you slow him to a walk again and ask for the transition. You may tell him while your doing this "Im in Charge, not you, you have to listen to me" . Even if you don't say anything, your response to slowing him down is enough to tell him he did something wrong and he needs to listen to you. This is the same on the ground for any animal. Like all animals, horses can sense excitment, happiness, fear, sadness and all the emotions that us humans have. You need to make sure that when a horse goes to bite you, you have a confident feel about you and your ready to tell him off. Give him a little whack with the lead rope to tell him that he wasn't supposed to do that. If you don't sort this problem out now, it can be grounds for bigger problems in the near future with all aspects of horses and riding them.

[Eli_Jay]

"RIDING: IF IT WERE ANY EASIER< IT WOULD BE CALLED FOOTBALL" I really love that, dancing-horse!
I am also a 'wimpy' rider, and on occasions I have disgraced myself by crying in lessons :cool: but its all a learning curve(at the risk of sounding cliched)
It's getting to know your horse, like if a horse i don't know bites me I'll be worried and upset and scared. If one of mine bites me, or someone else in my presence, they get a smack and are told off and thats that! (actually, they're pretty good horses, cursitor nips when the girths done up)
I hate using my crop and if a horse misbehaves I'm more likely to get off than to yell and whack... but I'm working on being assertive.
You don't sound particularly wimply anyway, you sound like you've got your head screwed on properly and you're not willing to be stupid - which is fair enough :)

[Goldie'sGirl]

Hi
Thanks for all the replies,Goldie is usually a little angel and really soft. But I went to another riding school for a while and I hated it so left after two lessons. I am going to see Benji at half term and I shall try the things you all said. So, thanks again
Goldie'sGirl :p