Confidence is a funny game

Here are some older video links

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Ninja Training:  March 4, 2017: The wind was quite strong on Sunday and it started to rain. The Ninja hadn't been ridden all week due to the weather but some how my brain was projecting confidence telling me to get on.

 

Tacked up with no issues. The injections seem to be working well for his back this time. Mounted no issues, no tightness, no fidgeting, stood to have girth done up.

 

The walk was a little tight as we plodded through the muddy gate way but we were so...on walking on a ok rein length around the poles scattered in the middle of the field.

The walk wasn't as relaxed as I had hope and all of a sudden my brain confidence switch flipped to unsure mode. No real reason other than the stride wasn't as relaxed as it could have been.

 

Poles, thank god for the poles. From out of no where the brain switch turned back to confident.

 

The ground was wet and slippery but barefoot we had good footing so my brain said ask for trot. Then brain changed its mind ''don't rise its not safe stay sitting so you can feel what's going on'' We did the slight uphill and flat stretch then walked the slight downhill section to the field. Nothing bad happened so off we went again but now my brain was on overdrive ''what if we slip, what if he jumps at the fence tape flapping, what if the rain and wind gets stronger''

 

Back to the poles. Brain flips back to ''you can do it''

 

A few trot walk trot exercises round the square I had mapped in my head with a few turns on the forehand and then we walked back to the yard on a long rein pleased with ourselves

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Feb 6, 2017: Round Up of our first lesson in ages at East Soley with Peter Dove. Great to be back out.

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Feb 15, 2017: Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway.

Our session wasn't by any way perfect but the fact we trotted several laps without a melt down is a fabulous step forward for both of us. And this was at the end of today's 30 min session.

Confidence is coming from our core. We have only had two session with Peter Dove / Master Dressage. We are trying really hard not to pull back the hands. With confidence comes a softer allowing contact.

Today Alfie our other horse had a fabulous session with Nuno Baptista and I felt on top of the world after our lesson. So as soon as I got home I tacked up with the confidence I could ride the Ninja better than I had before

For all those out there struggling with confidence. Keep going.
Take small steps.
Don't push too far out of your comfort zone; it doesn't matter how long it takes to regain your confidence, as long as you make positive correct steps along the way.

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