BUILDING CONFIDENCE AFTER A FALL

Psychological strategies and progressive exercises for riders returning after falls Every rider falls eventually. This is not dramatic pessimism; it’s just statistics. Whether it is a simple loss of balance, a spectacular spook, a refusal you were not expecting, or something more serious, the moment you hit the ground, something shifts. What was once unconscious…

BylizzieMay 6, 20260Comments

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ASKHQ: HOW TO STOP COMPARING MYSELF TO OTHER RIDERS

Q: I watch other riders and think everyone else is so much better than me. How do I stop comparing myself and feeling inadequate? A: Comparison is called the 'thief of joy' for good reason. It's also remarkably unproductive. You're comparing your internal experience (all your doubts, mistakes, and struggles) with other people's external appearance…

BylizzieMarch 5, 20260Comments

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ASKHQ: CAN YOU LEARN TO BE CONFIDENT?

Q: My trainer says I need to 'just be confident,' but I don't know how to make myself feel confident. Can confidence be learned? A: Absolutely, confidence can be developed systematically. While 'just be confident' isn't helpful advice, understanding that confidence comes from competence, preparation, and experience gives you a roadmap. Build competence: Genuine confidence comes…

BylizzieMarch 4, 20260Comments

Country-Life jump at Kyalami Park Club showing a filler underneath the fence - HQ Magazine

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ASKHQ: SCARY FILLERS

Q: My horse is generally very forward going and happy to jump. However, the second you introduce any type of filler she is a nervous wreck. How can I help her with this? A: With these kinds of issues, the best advice is to go back to basics. The first thing to do is revisit simple…

BylizzieNovember 17, 20250Comments

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ASKHQ: NOVICE RIDER BUYING A HORSE

Q: I'm a relatively novice rider looking to buy my first horse. Any tips on what kind of horse I should be looking for? A: Depending on your budget and confidence, generally, a schoolmaster (a horse who has a great deal of experience) is a good choice for a novice rider as he will be…

BylizzieAugust 26, 20250Comments

Horse Channel Horse Training

REBUILDING YOUR CONFIDENCE AFTER A FALL

Getting back ‘on the horse’ after a fall or near-miss can be a scary experience. To compound the issue the equestrian industry is, at least generally speaking, a ‘tough love’ environment when it comes to coping with a fall, encouraging a ‘get straight back on’ approach after an incident. And yet, as much as ‘the flesh’…

BylizzieMay 19, 20250Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Training Know How Lifestyle

BUILDING TRUST – HOW IN-HAND CONFIDENCE TEACHES SELF MANAGEMENT

Text: Skye Littlefield Horses are herd animals, and we know that they rely on their herd to alert them of potential dangers, especially when they themselves are not paying full attention to a situation. Alongside this, they are flight animals, meaning that they’d choose to run rather than to fight, and their powerful bodies are built…

BylizzieMay 2, 20220Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PERFORMANCE, PART 2: GOAL SETTING

If you want to excel at anything, you have to learn how to manage your thoughts and feelings, both the good and the bad. Excellence is not normal or natural, and cultivating excellence in anything requires hard work and sacrifice. Physical talent is not irrelevant, but it is less important than self-discipline and mental strength.…

BylizzieFebruary 26, 20210Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Training Know How

ASKHQ: CONFIDENCE WITH PEOPLE

Q: How can I make my new rescue mare more confident around new people? A: Building a horse’s confidence, particularly a horse who has had difficult past experiences, takes time and patience. However, the reward makes the work worth it! The first step should be to introduce a calm, horsey friend to your new horse, preferably over…

BylizzieFebruary 23, 20210Comments

Ask HQ Horse Channel Horse Training

ASKHQ: COMBINATION CONUNDRUM

Q: What can you do to help a horse who likes to run out in combinations? A: First ask yourself: why is my horse ducking out; what can I do to change this; is my horse sore; do I have enough confidence to jump; and does my horse have enough confidence to jump? The first thing to…

BylizzieMay 4, 20200Comments

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