LOOKING AFTER NUMBER ONE

If you’ve had time off riding for some reason, the following advice from instructor, biomechanics and rider confidence expert Sue Gould-Wright will get you back on track.

1 After some time out… If you’re getting back in the saddle after a long break and perhaps feeling anxious about it, you should:

Choose a steady, calm horse whom you can trust, perhaps from a riding school. Even many high-level riders have an old faithful schoolmaster in their yard for those times when they need a confidence boost.

Consider having a session on a mechanical horse first. It’s a great way to get a feel for riding again without the potentially unpredictable nature of a real horse.

Set yourself small, achievable goals to begin with, even if that starts with getting on a horse and sitting there at halt. Pushing yourself too far, too quickly, can cause more issues in the future.

2 After a traumatic experience… If you’re restarting after a fall or other traumatic incident, you should:

Make sure you’re physically fit to ride. Your horse won’t thank you for being brave and ‘just getting on with it’. If the fall has made you crooked and stiff, it won’t be comfortable for either of you and may leave you feeling even more vulnerable.

Ask yourself whether you’re emotionally fit to ride. So many athletes these days use performance or confidence courses, so why shouldn’t you? Set yourself up to succeed before you even put a foot in the stirrup.

Analyse what happened to cause the fall or incident. Perhaps you overfaced yourself and/or your horse; maybe you didn’t have the skills to complete the task you set or you didn’t deal with the situation properly. If there are gaps in either of your or your horse’s knowledge, ask for help. There are many very skilled trainers out there for a whole range of issues.