CONFIDENCE IN A NEW HORSE

Being confident in a new horse doesn't come naturally.

Just like anything new and unfamiliar that you wouldn't feel immediately confident with. Remember, your horse is feeling the same, probably also dealing with new horses, new surroundings, new smells and nothing familiar to deal with at the same time, and no ability to understand why or what is going on.

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Please note that this post is here to offer you support and different ideas to think about. We are not claiming that our advice is right for all. You will know your horse best and should judge your own situation yourself. If you are having problems with your horse we always recommend you seek help from others around you or local professionals. Take or leave our advice as you please, these are simply notes and ways of thinking that have worked for us. :) 

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Try not to pre-judge your horse on their behaviour while they're settling in. Bare in mind how they must be feeling too and if you are ever worried, remember that you are getting the chance to experience them at their most vulnerable. This is likely to be the most unsettled they will ever be, and therefore the most flighty. Always think (as i've mentioned before) that they are the child and you are the parent, they don't understand like you do, you need to be the strong one, you are the teacher and the decision maker. If you don't believe in yourself, they won't either. Take control.

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Help them settle in; slowing down and working on your bond at the beginning is a great way to help them feel more secure and settled. In turn they will then be more likely to try harder for you too.

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Extra long grooms, in-hand grazing and wanders are great; talk to them, stroke them, play with their mane calmly. Every horse is different and maybe some of the advice in this post won't be right for you, but as long as you are taking the time to think about how they're feeling and what they might need to settle in, rather than just wanting to rush them into what you want to be doing, then you're on the right track.

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If anything does go wrong, try not to jump to conclusions and panic that the horse isn't right for you or let nerves take over. Remind yourself that you won't find issues as big once you know each other, once you know the little oddities your horse has or things they might do. And remember, you can make problems and you can make problems disappear. It's all in the way you think...

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So that's my bit!

With the rest of this confidence series I have written the majority of the posts myself, but for our last post i'm handing over to two of our brilliant DVR ambassadors that have the latest and freshest experience in new horses.

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Holly with her mare Cynthia whom she has now had for just over a year, and Daisy who has only had her new mare for under one month! Read on for some great advice from these two and if you'd like to  follow their journeys with their horses, links to their Instagram's can be found at the bottom of this post...

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From Holly:

The early stages of owning a new horse are filled with mixed emotions. The excitement (as I’m sure for many it will be fulfilling a life-long dream) alongside the daunting prospect of having an animal that is so heavily dependent on you for its wellbeing.

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Keeping confidence with your horse, new or old, is a turbulent ride. I’m sure many of us have lost our confidence when riding horses at some point along the road and had to regain it. There’s no worse feeling than having lost confidence in your horse – the best advice I can give is take it back to basics, do what you enjoy and build it back up, is there any rush?

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I spent a lot of time doing ground work with my horse when I first got her. Plenty of time grooming her, tidying her up (pulling her mane, trimming feathers, bathing) down to just spending time with her in the field whilst I poo picked… this time allowed me to get to know her, see her in her natural lifestyle with as little human intervention. I got to see her personality which over time helped me in producing her.

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1.) Take things slowly.

There's absolutely no rush to go out XC schooling the first week you get your new horse. Leave it for a day (or two) at least to settle in to their new environment and then start with some slow work. Taking them on a hack is a great way to start and build your confidence but make sure you bring someone else (preferably on horseback) along for the ride to make you and your horse feel more secure. Try out all the buttons (stop, start, slower, faster) so you are confident they're listening to you. You could also have some short schooling sessions to build up your bond and trust. Just remember, there is no rush. Take it as slowly as you like. 

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2.) Watch someone who may be more confident or experienced than you ride your horse first.

Watching someone else ride your horse and seeing how well he or she behaves gives you a lot of confidence. You'll put your faith in the horse more as you know they are able. It will also push you to ride your absolute best knowing someone else made your horse look really good! 

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3.) Get to know each other on the ground.

Take them for in hand walks, lunge, groom, teaching them tricks can be a really good way to improve communication as your horse thinks about really focusing on what you're asking. Anything to build up your bond; this will also benefit your horse a lot. You will trust each other more and will most likely be more confident when you mount.

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4.) Get an instructor.

They always make you feel safer and more confident as well as helping you ride better! If you can't get an instructor, having someone on the ground (a horsey friend) can also work great to let you know how you look, what you should be improving etc and to distract you from overthinking too. Getting someone to video is also a good idea as you can watch it back and judge your own riding. 

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Most importantly enjoy your new best friend!

Getting to know them is a challenge and can take up to a year, however it should also be enjoyable! Don't panic or rush things. It will take time but the end result will be worth the effort! 

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Click here to go to Daisy's Instagram