Hi everyone
I've not posted on here for ages, and have just checked through lots of hacking threads, so please bear with me if you've read through all of this before and sorry for rambling!
I have just progressed onto loaning a RS pony who is much more forward going than the last one I had, in the school and when hacking. In the school, I'm fine, I'm up to jumping small fences and although nervous, it doesnt stop me enjoying it.
Today, we went on a long group hack - about 8 horses. The RI's told me that this week he has been squealing every time he is about to canter - and has then literally gone for it. I'm not normally so nervous hacking, but today I got on him and wanted to stop straightaway (I didn't). He was like a different pony - I felt I was constantly fighting against him tanking off - a couple of times he tried, but I managed to calm him down. He's very sensitive to me tensing up and as I was nervous, this didnt help. Before we went for some canters, I tried to sit back, relax etc...which was OK, but when we cantered, I just held onto his mane and hoped for the best (still trying to sit back in my seat which didnt seem to have much of an effect!). The second time, he actually decided to tank off and went into a very fast canter/gallop on a narrow woodland track and overtook the lead horse, he did stop as he doesnt like being too far from his friends, but I was shaking.
After a long ramble, my questions are these:
How can I build my confidence up? Is it just doing lots of hacks on him?
I get nervous in open spaces on him as I feel out of control sometimes and I end up holding the reins in all sorts of strange ways as well as holding the mane. I really want to get out of these bad habits but I dont know how to, any tips?
My aim is to gallop up a big field on the farm and I just get so frustrated with my nerves. I know I can stay on but its that feeling of being out of control I don't like. I know there are lots of you who feel nervous too, is there anything you've done which helps? I'm wondering if he's too much for me, but I'm determined to overcome my nerves, just wondering how to!
Many thanks!
I've not posted on here for ages, and have just checked through lots of hacking threads, so please bear with me if you've read through all of this before and sorry for rambling!
I have just progressed onto loaning a RS pony who is much more forward going than the last one I had, in the school and when hacking. In the school, I'm fine, I'm up to jumping small fences and although nervous, it doesnt stop me enjoying it.
Today, we went on a long group hack - about 8 horses. The RI's told me that this week he has been squealing every time he is about to canter - and has then literally gone for it. I'm not normally so nervous hacking, but today I got on him and wanted to stop straightaway (I didn't). He was like a different pony - I felt I was constantly fighting against him tanking off - a couple of times he tried, but I managed to calm him down. He's very sensitive to me tensing up and as I was nervous, this didnt help. Before we went for some canters, I tried to sit back, relax etc...which was OK, but when we cantered, I just held onto his mane and hoped for the best (still trying to sit back in my seat which didnt seem to have much of an effect!). The second time, he actually decided to tank off and went into a very fast canter/gallop on a narrow woodland track and overtook the lead horse, he did stop as he doesnt like being too far from his friends, but I was shaking.
After a long ramble, my questions are these:
How can I build my confidence up? Is it just doing lots of hacks on him?
I get nervous in open spaces on him as I feel out of control sometimes and I end up holding the reins in all sorts of strange ways as well as holding the mane. I really want to get out of these bad habits but I dont know how to, any tips?
My aim is to gallop up a big field on the farm and I just get so frustrated with my nerves. I know I can stay on but its that feeling of being out of control I don't like. I know there are lots of you who feel nervous too, is there anything you've done which helps? I'm wondering if he's too much for me, but I'm determined to overcome my nerves, just wondering how to!
Many thanks!