My suggestions may not sit well with you but what the hell, here goes. First, it’s really hard to shift the issues away from the horse and back to yourself. I’ve been riding since I was 10 and I’ll be 60 this year. I am much more confortable with self examination than I used to be. I am trying very, VERY hard to learn that the culprit in my relationships with my horses and other humans is largely myself. Often the culprit is my BODY and my ingrained HABITS. Siiiggghhhh. It can depress you or enlighten you.
#1 Think outside of the box. I suggest trying to find a non-traditional trainer to work with. Someone who mainly spends their riding time on the trails, not in the arena. However, tons of trainers, even those western types or NH types spend most of their time in the arena, outside of the arena they ride at the walk. You need a guru who understands the horse pyche and human psyche AND doesn’t want to suck you into endless groundwork or dressage work without ever actually getting outside and working at real trail riding. What the heck am I trying to tell you?
Address your own baggage. Your fears and issues with riding outdoors. First, begin to look at yourself, very hard to do, be honest and struggle thru that. Find a relaxed trainer who really does outside riding in groups. This may be a sort of trainer who fox hunts and has worked with lot’s of “Outside” riding issues, an endurance rider with Human training experience, an NH trainer who really rides outside and forward, maybe does endurance riding.
#2 The first hurdle to get over is the the problem between the reins and the saddle. I’m not saying that your horse doesn’t need training and work, I’m trying to say that the rider is the first step.
I have a young horse (yes he’s 8 now) who has dropped me hard ton’s of times, I’ve been hurt, I’ve been shook up, I’ve gotten very tense and nervous about riding him, he’s stumped me and made me really examine myself and my ingrained riding habits. I don’t have the agility and confidense I had when I was younger. But, I’ve years of horse riding behind me and 48 years of trail riding behind me. I know I wouldn’t get the help I need from an arena riding trainer. Most of my revelations have been on my own but I have gone back to lessons recently with an old friend who is an actual outdoors, crosscountry, foxhunting, sort of rider.
Working with her and doing some work with NH trainers has expanded my own thinking and personal riding tools. I’m making good progress with “Fruit Loops” ( my silly, nervous, powerfull and anxiety ridden endurance horse) and my own issues in this creaky, stiff, suddenly frustrating body. I had a great ride today in 26 degree, windy weather, out alone and thinking asnd thinking as we went. Walk, graze, trot, canter, graze, walk, really walk, canter departures, walk, should ins, stop and drink. Build your own tools, ride with thinking helpful friends, work with riders who are real cross country trail riders, think things thru and examine your own body issues. The average trainer won’t fix things for your, find some good help and open your head to new ideas.
Get out and explore outside of your normal box. read, think, experiment and find the right person to help with out of the arena riding.
Bonnie
