Horse refusing and i'm losing confidence

[piaffequeen]

Where do you live-like someone else said-if you gave a location someone may know of a great place. I lost all confidence in jumping and cantering because of one dressage trainer who decided one day-that she was bored and said lets jump in this lesson. I was fine but stated I did not want to do anything but crossrails. Fine. Trainer told me that my horse used to jump and got “a little excited” but just half halt and she’ll come back down. She set up 4 ground poles to trot over and then a small cross rail (18 inches) Well-my lesson horse came around the corner-saw the ground poles and jump and decided to go into MACH 3. I was half halting and finally just hauling to get this mare to stop. This horse broad jumped the ground poles and cleared the standards (crossrails) proceeded canter quietly away after the jump. I got her stopped and just dropped the reins. I was literally shaking. The trainer came over and said that was fantastic. Great form. Then she made the comment I probably should have put in some kind of bit to slow her down. I dismounted and told her she was fired.

It took me a long time to get over my fear of cantering and I still have minor panic attacks-but I probably will never jump again.

Please for your sake find another trainer even if you have to cut back on the times you ride. There has to be a barn out there that will cater to you and bring you back your confidence!

[Bogie]

I agree that you should probably find another barn/trainer for all of the above reasons.

However, let me add one:

When you are getting back into riding it’s important to ride different horses. Riding a variety of horses teaches you a lot. One of the best experiences I had was as a working student where I rode everything and anything.

Your teacher should not have you riding the same horse every week but should be mixing it up and having you ride other horses.

[otisrider]

You’ve gotten lots of good advice. I just want to echo the sentiment that I find lessons as an adult quite different than as a kid (altho I took a much longer break). As you said, the response time seems to be longer and being yelled at isn’t something that I pay my (as opposed to my parents’!) hard earned money for. You should insist on someone who is willing to work with you rather than a one size fits all. If the trainer doesn’t seem to listen and respond, then you’re going to get over this in spite of rather than because of him.