Nimrod
15th Aug 2006, 06:26 PM
I badly need some good advice, it's long, I have thinking about posting and how to tell the tale! I've been riding weekly in private lesson for a year now. Never hacked as they don't do them from my stables. Have been doing well, usual problems with canter but have become OK at cantering and happy with it. Have not been a very nervous rider (a bit) but have ONLY been in the school. A friend also rides at a different stables and is more experienced though a beginner (she can jump), she's a confident and sensible person. She has been given the opportunity to ride 2 horses (both older) they are dales X and beautiful to handle on the ground. I went over and met the owner and groomed, she was a very nervous rider and confessed she hates it. We went for a ride, it was OK. I felt very nervous, she felt worse! My horse spooked once but I didn't sense he was going to and it was over in a flash. So not really a problem. Owner gave tack to friend and said we could ride whenever we wished. I went out with her last Friday and my horse gpt very spooky and started to spook at everything after we had seen two horses being ridden in the field next to us and he doesn't like other horses. Then he stopped dead and I got very scared, he turned round and tried to make off and I managed to stop him. My friend said to turn him around and try to ride through the spook (don;t know what the spook was about) but I got off, against her advice. I walked him back home (I felt fine on the ground). My friend totally understood and was fine about it. I really want to take this opportunity but I think he needs a confident rider to get him to stop being so spooky, he is very good to handle. On Saturday I went on a hack at a school and had a fantastic time, walk, trot, canter but the horse was bombproof and didn't feel the same bag of nerves under me so it didn't teach me anything (but don't regret it). I felt very happy and loved it so much. What do I do? Should I try again on Mr Spook, will I get better and if so how? Will he get better, if so how? Should I consider myself too inexperienced to handle him? His owner described him as a 'plod' but I wouldn't and she doesn't like riding either of them but rides her other horse (she has 3). I don't wamt to do anything stupid, for my own sake and for the sake of Mr Spook. I would be prepared to try anything you suggest and I am keen to work through it if possible. Thanks for reading!!!