Quite pleased with myself today

[gem]

I'm the first to admit my confidence is nowhere near what it once was. Saffy's not a spooky horse but when she spooks you know about it :rolleyes: Today I intended to do some pole work and work through our dressage test once or twice. Got in the arena, walked half way around, she spooked at something in the corner and I found myself being carried across the arena at a higher speed than necessary. I hate feeling her tense up like she does before she spooks, she's like a coiled spring.

Anyway my first thought was to just stay working on a circle at the top end of the arena, which we did for a while. We attempted the poles, which she completely destroyed. I was quite angry with her because she knows exactly how to do trotting poles, she just wasn't picking her feet up. Getting the farrier out for a trim to make sure it's not just her being dense.

I decided to stop being such a wimp and gradually expanded my circles to the point where she was having to pass closer and closer past the scary corner. I then took her large and we had a bit of jogging (Saffy jogging is enough to cripple anyone with laughter) and eyes on stalks but we made it past the demons!! Did it a few times in each direction then stepped it up a gear. By the end of the session we were cantering past *that* corner with only minimal staring :lol:

Bit of a self indulgent post, I know, but I'm just very pleased I actually confronted a problem that I would usually just avoid and then worry about.

[Laura T]

I know exactly what you mean about avoiding scary corners, things in the school. I often find myself on a 20 m circle in the middle to avoid the spooky edges. Well done for braving it out, and look how great you feel about it now! You have inspired me to stop avoiding the scary end of the arena where the jumps are stacked!

[gem]

:D I just need to try and remember the positive feelings next time she finds a rustling tree terrifying! Glad I've managed to motivate some people, I get soo much motivation off this forum so it's only fair I try and give some back.

[My Crazy Clan]

well done.

[Catg]

Well done Gem, hope the test goes well x

[Loony]

Aw thats great gem! I'm a bit like you, if I think a horse is going to do something I don't like, whether it be spook bolt buck etc, I try and avoid doing it. But sometimes I push myself to get through it and feel so much better about it!

[XenaWarriorPrincess]

Well done!
See im the opposite, i will push them past it as many times as it takes for them to stop gawking as it really bugs me when they do that, plus my YO would shout at me for avoiding it!! :lol:
We have one mare in every year at work for pre-training, and every day she spooks at the same hedge on the same side of the school, its funny to watch as YO canters up and down there about 100000 times every morning but by the end of the 6 or so weeks its only about twice before she settles!!
xx

[Smoke on the Water]

Well done! It's a great feeling when you accomplish something like that. You should be really pleased with yourself!

[Cinders]

well done! you and saffy are doing so well together :)

I always used to be nervous when a horse took a dislike to a certain corner or object and try and avoid it! But now i try not to even think about it and just get on with it as often the more you think 'oh no their going to spook' the more likely you are to make them spook lol I often find if you just carry on like nothings there they quickly get over it :p x

[gem]

:D Thanks everyone. I really hope I can get my confidence back to what it once was. It's daft. She's probably the calmest horse I've ever had but I sometimes felt safer on Rookie because I expected her to fly off whenever the fancy took her :lol: With Saf it's more of a shock. She's an absolute star though. I got some phone numbers for baby-sized clear rounds today, Badminton here we come!! :lol: