ASKHQ: STRUGGLING WITH MY HORSE’S TRAINING

Q: I’m really struggling with my horse’s training. I’m too embarrassed to admit to anyone that I’m having trouble, but I can tell the other liveries at our yard judge me when my horse plays up. I don’t know what to do and feel like giving up. Do you have any suggestions?

A: We’re sorry to hear you are struggling at the moment! We all go through this at points in our riding careers, and admitting you need help is really nothing to be ashamed of. Here are a few tips for getting you back on track:

1. Get your horse checked out by a professional– To rule out pain as the cause, the first ports of call should be your vet, physiotherapist, dentist and saddle fitter. Having a professional support team behind you will help you feel confident that you’re being fair to your horse and, hopefully, also provide you with a clear set of steps that you can take to move forwards.
2. Book some lessons– Once your horse has been given the all-clear from a pain and health perspective, enlist a qualified riding instructor to help you. Being supported by someone knowledgeable and experienced will help you feel more confident. You can either take some lessons or have the instructor ride your horse for a while to iron out some of the schooling issues.
3. Talk about it– It can be very tempting to put on a brave face at the yard and pretend everything is fine, but this doesn’t help you to get the issue resolved. It can be really beneficial to talk to a horsey friend, whether at your yard or elsewhere, who has gone through something similar. You might be surprised to find out how many others feel the same way as you!

We hope these tips help you to start enjoying your riding again. This is a common problem; you shouldn’t judge yourself for feeling this way. We believe that when you start reaching out to others about your difficulties, you’ll find that many of them have had or are having similar experiences that can help you get through this patch and return to the sport you love!