Confidence is one of your key components in riding horses. You should be confident in yourself and the horse, to tackle any obstacle that comes your way. Beginners may not be that confident and that is okay. Most beginners in everything aren’t that confident. This tips are here to maybe boost your confidence a little bit. Remember, I am not saying that they will make you like amazingly confident. They’ll help boost your confidence. Remember, practice makes perfect!
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When you’re riding a new horse, don’t be afraid by what you’re instructor tells you about them.
Remember instructors or trainers want you to be safe on the horse. They’ll warn you about what the horse might do, but sometimes they do exaggerate a little bit. And even sometime, they don’t exaggerate, but horses don’t always feel like doing things. Maybe that horse usually throws up a tantrum, but the day you get him, he doesn’t act up one bit. That doesn’t always mean that you’re instructor was wrong, no – maybe she was correct, the horse just behaved today. Whatever the case is, listen to what she tells you and remember them as you ride. But, don’t be afraid that the horse is going to buck, or rear, or kick if I do something wrong. Keep yourself confident, and if you do do something that might make the horse rear, or buck, remember that your instructor will remind you. But that, also, doesn’t mean you don’t bother at all about that. Make sure you don’t spook the horse, but be positive, and with that positive and confident mindset, go off on your new horse. BE CONFIDENT, in yourself and the horse. For example, Wakker, will not do a jump if you come in skew. I have often come in to a jump skew, and Wakker did it. Only once, did he refuse and duck out. So the fact remains he will duck out if you do come in skew. However, he always isn’t in a mood of refusing, and often, though I came in skew, he did it smoothly. Edit from future me: Past-me had not ridden Wakker enough. He loves dumping people.
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Think positively
Thinking positively really helps you. Be positive that your horse will go where you want him to, do as you want him to do. Don’t think that, oh, he isn’t listening to me, how will I do this, he won’t listen to me. He will listen to you, and be positive about that. If he does refuse a jump, try again and again until he does it. Be positive that you will make him do it, and do not give up on that. As my brother says: when you are feeling assured about something, your body language changes, and – sometimes without you knowing it – you end up MAKING the horse obey you. So be positive, feel assured, and it’ll help A TON.
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Don’t listen to other people criticizing your riding.
At a yard, most of the times, people might be hanging around your arena, passing their remarks on your riding. Some people encourage you; others, discourage you. Some will quietly give you tips on your riding, that really help you. But some people, they’ll sarcastically pass remarks on your riding, and laugh at you if you’re failing at something. IGNORE them, plainly. Don’t listen to them, and don’t feel bad. They’re just bullying you, for some reason they find joy in that. I’m lucky I haven’t come across these people, but many others do. Hope fully you’re not going to meet one, but you may.
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Ask your instructor for tips.
I’m out of tips, that is all what I have to offer. But ask you’re instructor, he/she’ll have some more for you.
So that is it, and do not forget, whatever you do, that these are almost totally from my brothers page, www.flyingtothehorizon.wordpress.com . I edited them and added my own pieces, but the headlines and inspiration is from him.
Edit from the future me: Do NOT be me and don’t copy your bro’s writing. Just admit that you’re no good at writing motivational stuff.
So with that, see you next time!
Enjoy your weekend!