I need help badly!!!!!!!?

Question

Okay, so I just had a pony and I'm 12 by the way, and we just sold it :( and got a new horse, I wasnt there to pick it out. And it turned out to be a humongous horse! I am so scared of it probaly because when I was 11 and it was my first time riding without the lead, the horse galloped with me! it was sooo scary, anyway how do I overcome my fear of the new big horse???

Jt4204 first of all my grandma bought it for me, horses dont cost a lot all the time, we got sam ( new horse) for 1900, yeah its a good price!

And second of all (me) My grandma has a horse of her own, it rides fine! I'm just still scared from when another horse ran off with me! (galloped)

And third of all i rode it b4, but I am so scared I always want to get off, its not sam its me, I dnt know what to do!!!

Answer 1

It's not fun having a horse you're afraid of - been there, done that. I ended up having to get a different horse because the one I had was too high strung and flighty to be a trail horse. I now have a beautiful Tennessee Walking horse, I've had him now for 6 years and he's wonderful.
Why are you afraid of this horse? Is he the one who ran away with you - or are you just not used to a large horse after having a pony? My suggestion is to spend time grooming and getting used to the horse. Only ride him in an arena to start and if it makes you more comfortable, have someone lead him at first. Just walk, no trotting or cantering right away. You have to learn to trust the horse and he to trust you - however, you also have to be authorative and not let him get away with pushing you around. If you could afford a trainer (or if your Grandmother is comfortable with it) that would be a good idea. Start slow and build up your confidence. You'll do fine.....good luck, it could be the best thing that ever happened to you.

Answer 2

I know the feeling. This is a big step, first of all, tell your parents and family who have brought you the horse. Ask them to get you a riding instructor for the first few rides, that way, you will always have someone to rescue you if something was to happen.

Get to know the horse before you ride it. Lead it around, groom it and become friends with it. Ask an adult to ride it so you can watch it. That way, you can decide for yourself if you like it. Because you have just sold you pony, this will also be a bit hard, as you may be sad, and excited all at the same time. Try to get an adult to lunge you (preferably a riding instructor) that way, the horse can't go anywhere.
I had a horse gallop off with me when i first got my new horse, he also decided to roll on me (while on the lead) I thought of selling him, but I decided to give him a chance. I made sure I always had an adult with me, had regular lessons (mainly for him) and now, he's the best.
I understand that this is hard, and it will be until you ride him confidently. When you do ride him, don't be scared, (you will have butterflies perhaps) but this is natural. Make sure you "BREATH" and only go the pace you want, slow and steady!!!

Only ride for 10 minuets at first, and each time increase a few, until you gain your confidence and trust him and it trusts you. Remember, your new to the horse too, so what ever your feeling, teh hoirse will also have butterflies. :-)

I hope this helps. If you need any information, please contact me at [e-mail]

Answer 3

I certaily agree with the ones who suggested that you begin with company and in an enclosed area like a round pen. If you have to start back at the lead and in a walk, do it until you build up your confidence. One little success after another will quickly help you want to go on and do more. Maybe your grandmother would like to spend some time with you helping you, then after you get through that initial "learning to trust" time, she and you can ride together...even in an arena will give you more confidence as a step toward riding completely outside of an enclosure. It's really too bad that you didn't get to contribute more to the selection of your new horse, I'm sure that didn't help either. Just don't feel any pressure from anyone to prove anything, just because someone made such a nice gesture...like one of the other contributers mentioned, there is no time limit on any of the stages that you and your new horse need to complete before you are going to feel confident, so take your time, try to include your grandmother and enjoy the adventure. I'm very happy for you.

Answer 4

1st of all being scared is totally ok! When we got our first horse I was scared because of previous experiences but just spend time on the ground with the horse and get to know and trust him. Once you are comfortable start riding him. Try and use an enclosed area so that in the unlikly event of anything happening then he can't go anywhere. It's up to you if you want someone there or not. Start at walk and just do some schooling in walk - circles, serpentines etc to get comfortable riding in walk and to develop the horse with you at the same time. Once you are confident in walk start doing the same thing in trot and then work up to canter. Don't feel that you have to do this quickly - take several months over it if you want. The key to this is to stay at one place until you are comfortable with that and only then start to push yourself further. It's really important that you enjoy what you're doing.
Try and relax when you're riding and the horse will also relax - and what ever you do if the horse goes faster than you want - don't grip with your legs. Thats what I used to do as a kid and it just makes the horse go faster. Sit up, use your reins gently and stiffen your back, the horse should take this as a que to slow down. When you are going at the pace you want gently reward. Also talk to your horse, a gently 'steady' or 'whoa' helps to settle the horse.

Good luck and enjoy your new horse.

Answer 5

Make sure you bond with it first (someone already asked a question on bonding tonight so have a look at the answers they got).
Don't get on until you're confident as a new horse in new surroundings with a nervous rider is not gonna be happy!
There's really not much you can do unless you have friends with horses that you're comfortable with that you could ride or you could have a lesson at a local riding school asking specifically for a horse.
Even if the first time you ride it you have an instructor there to give you a lesson. I suggest getting someone confident with bigger horses to ride it while you watch just before you get on.
Your grandma shouldn't have bought a horse that you hadn't seen, ridden or discussed if you're going to be the person mainly riding it!
Good luck!

Answer 6

Find a good instructor that will work with you and the horse, either at their facility, or yours. In a controlled environment, with someone else "calling the shots" it can help to smooth the introduction period out a bit. Another thing, if you have access to a round pen, just ride him in there for a while until you get more comfortable/relaxed. I can tell you, even at my age, when I have one of my young and dumbs start gearing up for warp speed, I still get nervous about it because ya don't know what happens next. :O) But in a round pen, even if they do get worked up and silly, there's not far they can go. And from the sound of your edits, if it's a you problem and not a horse problem, the smaller confines of the round pen should help calm your nerves until you're ready to venture into the "great outdoors".

Answer 7

Hi there,
I would advise you to spend time with your new horse. Get to know him and become friends with him. You have to be the boss of the friendship, so it has to be on your terms not his.

Once you are super comfortable with your new boy on the ground, then move onto the saddle. Do this in a confined place like a round yard or small yard. That way he can not go any place, cause there is no place to go.

Then when you feel OK in the small yard move into a bigger one.

I would practise going from a walk to stop and back again, then walk trot stop. You get the idea. The stop is the important thing for you. You have to know that when you ask for a halt/stop, your horse will stop.

I would also talk to your Grandmother about how you are feeling and why. Then you can make a plan to move forward with your riding.

Best of luck with it.

Answer 8

When I was your age -- many years ago-- I had a pony who would do the same thing. Each time I rode her, she would run to the barn. She would even jump a fence to go back to the barn. I learned that if I simply slid off the pony she would stop. I always got off on her left side by just leaning forward, pulling my right leg over and sliding to the ground. Ask Mom and Dad if your pony is safe to do that with.
The pony will tame down with time and experience. It might just be a pony that your Dad or another man has to settle and train before you can safely ride her. But do keep trying to make friends with her with treats. She will tame down with time.
Good luck. Enjoy your horse.

Answer 9

You should do LOTS of ground work with him, so you can get to see his personality and pick up what his different reactions to different stimuli mean.

When you're ready to get in the saddle you'd feel most comfortable in a round pen, controlling your reins but also have an adult holding him on a lunge line and just start with walking.. you don't have to go big your first time :)

Keep the riding sessions short so you can just get a little taste of riding him without overstressing youreself..



Also, it always helps to keep this thought fresh in your mind: The horse can't go anywhere if it's head is turned in so if he starts to take off take one rein and gently but firmly turn his head to your foot. And I mean really turn it, if you do it enough he'll turn and slow down, then pull both reins as normal.

GL!

Answer 10

Hopefully you have someone you can trust to help you get used to your new horse. I would start out by riding him at a walk in a ring or on a lounge line. When you feel comfortable go to the trot, again in a ring or on a lounge line. Your last step is a canter. Now there is not time limit on how long this takes. You might do it all in one session or it might take you 2 months. Time does not matter, consistency does. You could also team up with a more experienced rider and watch them put your new horse thru his paces.
Good Luck and Congratulations!