Feeling a bit scared!!

[izzy18]

Been out for a hack at the RS this weekend as usual. Only difference to normal was, it was really, really windy, and we were on an exposed field about to canter! The horse I was riding is a real sweetie and usually very steady. This time though, he seemed really giddy and fresh. He jumped sideways and did a couple of mini bucks, I stayed on and was OK, then we had a little canter, everything seemed fine, then we had LOADS more sideways spooks and mini bucks until we eventually left the field! :eek:

I've only been riding a couple of years but have always felt reasonably confident when riding, probably because nothing very dramatic has happened to me before! After the hack though, my legs felt wobby, my hands were shaky and I was convinced it was going to happen again the next time we cantered! :o He tried it on again before we got back, but only once. Not sure whether it was the right thing to do, but I told him off when he played up, then when he was behaving, spoke quietly to him and praised him... :confused: It's what I do with my dog!

I'm sure to people with more experience than me, what happened was really minor, but to me it was quite scary as it's not something I've experienced before. Half of me was grinning and quite giddy as it was quite exciting and I stayed on, didn't lose complete control etc., but the other scaredy cat bit of me keeps thinking I might have fallen off and broken something!!

The RI was great, kept an eye on us, shouted instructions and made me feel good about myself for staying on etc. For the horse, I guess it was a combination of high spirits, the weather, being in a different part of the field and having passed where we would normally have cantered (it was way too boggy)? I sat up, kept my reins short and tried to relax, which seemed to work, sort of!

Anyway, I'm feeling a bit apprehensive about riding again as it's knocked my confidence a little bit I think. I'm in the school next week, so hopefully that will break me in gently to getting back on!

Just feeling a bit delicate I think and feeling the urge to share! OH doesn't understand as he doesn't ride! Feel a bit better now for writing it all down...:D Does what happened just seem like high spirits on the horse's part, and is there anything else I could have done to improve things? I've decided I may as well make the best of a scary experience and try to learn from it!!

[julia gulia]

I'm going to give you my opinion here... focus on the positives....you handled everything fine...in fact...it sounds like you handled things brilliantly!! You remained in control and helped the horse to feel safe. Every time you overcome a situation like this? pump yourself up (to dwell on the what ifs serve no logical purpose and will dent your self confidence ) Allow the experience to empower you....you had a potentially scary situation but you reacted well and handled things so that both you and the horse were safe. It is another matter entirely as to whether you should have been cantering in the open fields in such windy weather....if your horse is already on his toes...then next time? you might suggest that you all leave the cantering for another day.... I personally don't see the point in setting you and your horse up for failure...set yourselves up for success by riding in situations that are more likely to produce a positive outcome.
So....congratulate yourself...you done good!!!!!! But be prepared to speak up next time....speak up for you and also for the horse you are riding....he/she is your partner after all and partners watch out for each other!!:)

[Skib]

really windy, and we were on an exposed field about to canter!

Don't know you or your horse - But high wind makes horses buck etc. I didnt know that to start with, went out with a teacher on a horse that bucked throughout and finally got bucked of myself. Now, I dont ride when it is windy.

and having passed where we would normally have cantered (it was way too boggy)?

Yes, in winter when horses repeat the same hacks on limited tracks they know where they usually canter. You can expect a bit of jogging then as they anticipate. Espoecially if they are heading home in bad weather.
Whereas high winds are something I avoid, managing to calm and settle a horse that wants to canter in the usual place, or when heading home, is part of learning to ride. And part of training a horse, which is more difficult if you are on a riding school horse.
From the riding point of view, one thing you can fdo is to anticipate the place where the horse might start to jog or offer canter. Prevention is better than cure. Be guided by your teacher who knows you and the horse. I had to ask my teacher when it first happened to me. You can surreptitiously shorten your reins, but stay relaxed and in walk. If the horse offers more speed than you want, direct the movement to circle or bend his head to one side.

From the training point of view, I go out with an escort so we can do what we like. It is quite good to make the RS horse vary its own routine, e.g. trot where it normally walks or canters. Or even walk. Do some sitting trot too, so the horse does not take your sitting as a cue to canter. And if you do canter in the normal place, I might canter twenty paces, then trot twenty and then let her canter again.

But the fact is that we know a dozen other clients are going to ride that same horse on that same route. I cant cure the horse of its habit, only make sure that she is listening to me, and doing what I want, rather than dictating to me.
It is easy to sit there and relax and enjoy a ride in the country, but while you are thinking how nice it is, the horse is taking the decisions? If you insert a bit of direction now and then - like make your horse go to one side of the track or the other, or change speed, it will be more prepared to heed you when you get to the canter spot.

I expect you can guess from this post, that I love hacking. I find it very interesting and I hope you will stay safe as regards bad weather, but find it interesting too.

[NoviceNic]

I choose also not to ride in high winds like this and am shocked that your hack wasnt cancelled. :confused: I know we all have to experience every situation with horses to gain experience. But to hack out in open fields in this weather. :eek: Well Done for staying on and feeling positive. You did good. :)

[Chinarider]

WOW well done for staying on in a tricky situation, everytime we face something like this we SHOULD feel our confidence soar !!! It doesnt quite work that way for me for some reason :o

Hope your lesson in the school next week confirms to you what a good rider you are, so you feel confident for your next hack :)

[izzy18]

Thanks everyone! One thing I love about NR is that whenever I post anything, I always get lots of constructive feedback from lots of different points of view. Makes you get things in perspective. I feel a lot better today and more positive. I think I'll feel even better once I get back on the horse and get my confidence back.:D
To be fair, the rest of the hack was pretty sheltered. I should have mentioned that the RI didn't choose to go that way originally; our usual route in windy weather was unexpectedly barred and we were the first hack of the day. She knew that going across the field wasn't ideal and did manage the situation the best that she could once we started having problems. I have known the RS to cancel hacks when the weather is too bad. It's a fine line sometimes I suppose. I've known people complain when the hacks are cancelled, so I suppose sometimes the RS can't win!
Thanks everyone for all the feedback; I'm trying very hard to look at it as a positive experience and feel good that I stayed on! It's that niggling little negative 'what if?' voice that's a pain in the a*se isn't it??!!:mad:

[cazrider]

I agree that to canter on a RS hack in the weather we've been having is not a very safe thing to do. Full marks on keeping your horse under control. I wouldn't canter across a field on high wind on a horse I didn't know.

However, But high wind makes horses buck etc. I didnt know that to start with, went out with a teacher on a horse that bucked throughout and finally got bucked of myself. not all horses buck in wind. They might get a bit "joggy" or excited, but Sennie is just not bothered by wind. When we tried him there was a near hurricane going on, and he obligingly cantered quietly across a field with a couple of plastic bags flying past him. He doesn't like rain much, but wind doesn't bother him. I know he's probably the exception, but they are about.

I hope you do get your confidence back Izzy, and put it down to one of those experiences, I'm trying very hard to look at it as a positive experience and feel good that I stayed on! Exactly how you should look at it.:D

[Afellpony]

I've been lucky with my ponies and high winds. I suppose as all mine have lived out, they get used to the wind and so dont bother bucking etc.

[rohan]

Well done You

feeling scared is what can keep you safe you handled it so well,the shakes are caused by adrenalin. Hope that helps.