The Nervous Rider and Horse Groundwork Techniques
March 10th, 2010 | 
Author: If you are having problems with overcoming your fears of riding or handling horses, have you noticed that your horse has become a bit herd bound? This is because your horse actually now feels safer with other horses than with you. Every horse knows its place in the herd and has a strong leader to look up to, so obviously that is where your horse would like to stay. This is a perfectly natural herd instinct.
So how to overcome this? You need to become the herd leader again. If you are feeling too nervous to jump on and ride out your fears begin on the ground with regular groundwork exercises. This will give you confidence around your horse and as your confidence increases, your horse will begin to look at you as the leader again.
Get back to the basics and take control again.
Exercises to do:
Get your horse’s attention.
Leading your horse correctly.
Simple backing up on command.
Working with the pressure method to have your horse move to where you want them to.
Click Here to go to the videos section to see some of these exercises in action
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Hi
Thanks for your advice, I am a nervous rider because every time i go for a ride on my horse she tries to buck me off. My horse is a 28yo quarter horse and she has started to get really nappy and moody when riding. I bought 2 years and the first i rode at my house i fell because she bucked me off and has been doing so ever since. She has made me nervous because when i lunged her a few weeks ago she kicked in the arm. there was no damage just a bruise down my whole arm. She is my best friend i am too nervous ride her because she doesn’t like people ever on her back. She has also gotten into biting people when doing up the girth. My family think i am overreacting and they won’t help me they say “Whip her” but i don’t like whipping her hard and everytime i do i end up on the ground or on her neck.
Please reply, I would really like you to answer my story
Am I overreacting?
Hi Emily101,
I believe strongly that every interaction with a horse should be a 2 way conversation. You ask your horse to do things, and your horse is smart enough to try to communicate to you. Obviously they don’t speak english, so we need to try to work out what they are saying by their actions and reactions.
I think your old girl may be trying to tell you that she is sore somewhere. Usually at that age it may be arthritis or her back is out. You could try an equine massager, which can be expensive, however I personally swear by it. Horses get aches and pains just like we do.
It may just be time to turn her out. This does not mean ignore her. If she is your best friend then you can still spend a lot of quality time together.
What do our other readers think and suggest? Let me know.