Category: Training Guide and Information

1. Coping with Nerves

   Posted on 11:14am Friday 24th May 2013

   I work with lots of nervous riders, having had two major injuries and being determined to beat the associated fears, i work through each riders personal problems with them and find the right route out the other side.

    

   Being nervous is a common issue, but your nerves needn't be the end of the line for you.

    

   The first and main point to address is WHERE the issue stems from. Can you pin point the EXACT issue?

    

   For example: "I am scared to jump", this is so common, but is it the “jump” that is really the issue? Usually it is not the jump, it is an association with jumping itself. Perhaps you had a fall, you have immediately associated jumping with falling off, falling off resulted in a fright, and possibly pain, so your immediate response is :“i am scared of jumping”, when actually the correct identity is “I am afraid of the pain and being frightened like that again”.

    

   So when trying to analyse your reasons for being nervous, look deeper than the surface, it is there you are more likely to find the root, and from the root you can rebuild your confidence.

    

   So, staying with “I am afraid of jumping”, don’t push yourself too far too quickly, begin with poles, enlist the help of a trainer who understands your fears, begin again on a horse who is schooled and easy to jump, and finish the session when you are enjoying it and WANT to keep jumping, then you will want to do it again, if you go too far and get a fright, you will reaffirm the negative thoughts and convince yourself that your initial fears were warranted, reinforcing the nervousness.

    

   The same principles apply to schooling, hacking and handling. Little and often is the key.

    

    Riding should be a pleasure not a chore :)

    

2. Loose Schooling

   Posted on 9:35am Friday 24th May 2013

   Loose schooling. What to do when your horse thinks it is play time, not work time...

   First question..

   How big is your arena?

   If it is possible to section a small area off inside your arena, then I find that helps enormously.

   Have you done any ground work with your horse, something along the lines of listening to your body language, along the lines of natural horsemanship? Horses are constantly evaluating your body language, even if they don't appear to be looking at you, they are very much aware of what you are communicating to them.

   If you can section off a smaller area safely, then one of the best and easiest ways to begin is to change direction frequently, this tunes your horse in, and allows you to control the pace easier, once you are changing direction, you should be able to begin to use your usual "aids" as on the lunge to ask your horse what is required of him.

   To ask your horse to change direction, position yourself towards the front of the horse (never putting yourself in danger) and make yourself "big" I.e. bold body language , hands raised but not threatening, and purposeful, once your horse turns, return to being "behind" him, I.e. your hips to his hips, as if lunging, then repeat to turn again.

   It may take some practice, but once you have the basics established in a small area, it becomes far easier to apply the same principles once in a larger area.

   My horse gets wound up by others nearby: If the other horses are galloping around, then it is even more important to gain your horses concentration, so again, frequent changes of direction and if possible transitions.

   If you cannot reduce the size of the arena, then poles placed around the track, especially the side your horse chooses to show off, at intervals can also be useful, a set of trot distance poles, a set of canter distance poles and single poles around the arena are also useful to gain your horses attention.

   Should you have the time, daily “schooling” in the arena can help take the excitement out of them, as it becomes a little more work time rather than play time.

   I hope these ideas help and you can gain some good work from your horse, loose schooling is a great exercise for the horse as they have to rely on their own balance rather than balance on the rider/handler.