Both had a month off

[LittleD]

We haven't ridden for a month, front shoes came off had to wait for farrier, then her teeth needed attention, had to wait for dentist!!!

Now its time to get back on and do it and to be honest I am really nervous! We were doing so well together a month ago and now I feel that all my confidence issues have come back. Has anyone had to have time off riding and how did you cope with your nerves when you got back in the saddle?

[toddsmum]

Hi after having my daughter I had a lot of problems and had to have a long break from riding and when I went back to compete I found I had totally lost my nerve.
This was very unusual for me as I generally sit on most things.
All I can say is relax and make sure you have someone around whom you are confident in and once you are back in the saddle you will realise that it isn't so bad after all.
It is important that you trust the person on the ground as this will help you to be more confident.I'm sure you will relax when back in the saddle.
Good luck and enjoy:)

[pedantic]

Rather amazed at why people dont have a farrier and dentist prebooked from last visit, like insurance, unless you have one of those horse's which are never going to get sick or have an accident ect, not many of those around.

[LittleD]

Toddsmum, thanks for the reply. You've just joined us haven't you? Welcome aboard!
As an instructor I'll bet you've seen lots of confidence issues, I do try to relax but you know sometimes I take a look at my riding position etc whilst in the saddle and can feel the tension in my legs, they don't hang relaxed at all the back of my thighs are really tight, just as if I'm expecting the worst to happen. I know a relaxed body has less chance of falling off like someone once said to me imagine you're a poached egg on a spatula and then imagine a you're boiled egg on a spatula which one would stop on longest? Somehow this didn't help a great deal!!

[LittleD]

Pedantic,

Would have booked farrier if I had known she was going to lose both shoes in the same week, they had only been on for 2 weeks, would have booked dentist after her last treatment had I known he was going to book a last minute holiday lasting 3 weeks!!

[toddsmum]

LittleD;hi thanks yes I have just joined.Great site.
It is very easy for someone to stand on the ground and tell you to relax but it isn't them feeling nervous.
Have you been riding very long?
I found after my time off that I felt like I would never regain my confidence and had been told by lots of people that you lose your nerve after having a baby.I was devestated but it did come back and it was something that came back gradually.
Sometimes the thought of it is worse than the actual doing and hopefully you will get on and feel that too.

[Lexter]

Hi. I am currently having some time off due to Leckie having back problems and now becoming lame. I must admit that I am nervous about the thought of getting back on him and doing some work with him, especially when I have lunged him and he just bucks like mad when first asked to do anything! I am just hoping that this is a sign of wellbeing and that he is glad to get out of the stable for a while. Meanwhile, my nerves are shot to pieces. Must admit though I did walk him round the yard for a while and he was like a big dog just following me everywhere. Will let you know when the big day arrives as I miss riding him but I know that when the big day comes I will be terrified. All the best, just remember the good rides that you have had and hopefully you won't be to nervous.

[pedantic]

Shoes flippin mud pulls them off when they run round like nutters in the field.
I book my dentist 6 months in advance so he gets checked/treated twice a year.

[The Flying Irishman]

I have just got back in the saddle after 3 months due to my horse having back problems and just like you I had a massive loss of confidence. I imagined that my previously safe horse would become this mad thing but guess what he didn't. So now its me who has the issues and what I do is I force myself to do all the things we did before and for every one that we accomplish without mishap then thats a little bit of confidence back for me. In the end I figured that before the break I was perfectly confident so whats changed, I am still a capable rider and he is still the same old horse. Try not to think about it and just enjoy being back in the saddle

[pedantic]

Dont beleive it, just come back from ginger nobhead, he's lost a front shoe, bet he's been running round with the others, only been on 4 weeks, it's the blasted mud they stand in at the gate not helping matters :mad:

[pedantic]

Whooooo hooooooooo, farrier came this afternoon and put new shoe on :)

[harryhorse11]

I know exactly what you mean, at my last yard I couldn't ride and so it was 8 weeks, I've just moved to a fab new yard and rode once and now i'm off sick just getting over flu:( so it's another few weeks, mind you my horse is so laid back in his new home the nerves about getting back on aren't as bad as they were:)