Hi everyone!
I've just picked back up with lessons this year after riding tons as a kid. I'm having a great time overall and learning so much!
Because I'm very tall and not as thin anymore, there's only one horse at my lesson barn that I can ride. This is kind of a blessing because I get to build up a relationship which I have been doing the past few months!
While I love the lessons and the horse, I've found myself getting more nervous before lessons because he typically spooks once during our lesson. I haven't fallen off him yet, thankfully my seat is still pretty solid, but he's a very big boy and it's honestly really scary! Especially because I'm very aware that I'm not a bouncy 12 year old anymore.
I think my trainer handles everything really well and I like her, but I'm wondering if there's any other advice you all have on how to handle this because I know my own fear and anxiety makes it more likely he'll spook. Here's what we're doing so far (all at my trainers instruction):
Before every lesson everyone hand walks their horse around the arena. I make sure to take note of areas where he's tense and stop to let him settle down in those areas. It's almost always a particular corner where the squirrels tend to run around.
When I notice him tensing, I jiggle the inside rein to try and get his ear on me, and I take a deep breath and try to sit extra calm and deep.
I try not to let him avoid the scary areas and I've improved a lot on my steering and not letting him get away with avoiding things he doesn't want to do. If he turns and I can't intervene, I circle him and make him do it again.
After he spooks I make sure to walk him past that area and trot him one more time before the end of the lesson. Trotting him after he spooks is the scariest part because I feel more vulnerable to falling. I'm worried he's going to associate spooking with an easier lesson and start doing it MORE.
Anyone have any tips? Pic of the man himself attached :)