Manufactured in Britain
Your cart is empty

Building confidence and getting back in the saddle

Confidence, something I think everyone will struggle with at some point in their life, (and perhaps even in the saddle). After a wonderful summer of competing my horse Daisy in national and able-bodied Para championships and classes, I spent five weeks in hospital, not riding and building up strength on a new treatment. But since coming out, I’ve found it really hard to get back into the swing of things comfortably.

And so, I bring you my three top moments where I’ve needed my brave pants but, but have obviously forgotten them.

1. New arena surface is completed at home

Me- ‘More space to work Daisy in and do some exercises to help with training!’

Daisy- ‘Yay! More space to run off with tiny human on my back!’

-Luckily, the new surface is a dream to ride on...and if Daisy’s antics do turn into a success I’ll be sure to report what it’s like to faceplant too! 

 

2. We also had a delivery of Jump 4 Joy fences that have brightened the arena beyond belief, it really does look fantastic now with so many vibrant colours and tempting show jumps. I was keen to celebrate by popping a few fences and testing them out, Daisy however was in favour of a celebratory buck after every fence we jump. 

Me- ‘Time to put the fences to good use and get show ready and master everything ready for our first competition back.’

Daisy- ‘OMG OMG OMG there’s a fence lets gallop full pelt and buck after!’

 

3. I thought I’d take Daisy for a stroll round the village to chill her on a hack…this was a great idea until we came across not only a drone, but a drone with a screamer on it...something that projects a high pitch wail whilst it’s flying!

Me- ‘Let’s take Daisy for a hack around the village, let her be a horse and enjoy a change of scene.’

Daisy- ‘Christ did you see the size of that bull?? There’s a drone flying right at us where do I go?! Can we jump the dyke mum?’

 

And so I began panicking and worrying that I’ll never get my confidence back, it wouldn’t have bothered me back in the summer, but now I’m sat like a lemon in the stable. Needless to say it took a few moments before I took a step back and realised a few things…

-my horse is stabled in the winter *

-we have a new school and set of Jump 4 Joy showjumps that seem to fill Daisy with excitement 

-Daisy is VERY fit and healthy…whilst me? Not so much!

-That drone was quite scary

We can all be so quick to fall into the ‘comparison trap’, comparing yourself to friends and competitors, and even yourself and what you’ve previously achieved or overcome. After a quick pep talk with myself I concluded that, at the end of the day the only person you need to focus on is you right now, because that’s where you’ll start to progress from. So long as I’m doing my best, and most importantly having FUN, even if it’s doing small things, that’s all that really matters. I’ll keep doing this, doing whatever brings fun so I can enjoy the journey with my horse. It can be far too easy to compare yourself to people who have a full-time groom, 24/7 turnout or time to exercise their horse daily like clockwork. We can only ever be the best version of ourselves, and with that in mind, that’s good enough for me.