Slowly but surely I'm getting my confidence back - it's not fear of falling off, it's fear of what happens after falling off! I am 23 going on 93 (I will write a post on riding with injuries - hopefully it'll be helpful and maybe reassure a few people too!)
My accident left me without my favourite breeches.
Well, I still have them, but they resemble something out of a horror movie...they're shredded! (I had to have them cut off, which broke my heart, but I am very thankful to be okay!)
They were my euro-star breeches which were a birthday present from my Mum, and I lived in them!
It's taken me a few months to find another pair I like (I didn't realise quite how picky I am!) But I finally have a replacement pair! (Until I can get my hands back on the pair I lost along with my favourite Spooks jumper -but that's another story!)
Here they are, Cavallo Grey Corvina Breeches with Swarovski Crystals and they are beautiful!
They are a great pair of everyday breeches and in my opinion, worth every penny!
True to fit
Comfortable
Full Seat
A little extra sparkle
Smart looking
Available in different colours!
RRP - Around £115-£125 depending on colour & style (UK)
I've been riding since I was 5, and in the 18 years I've been riding I've had my fair share of falls and confidence issues.
It's only recently I've had 3 life-threatening, serious falls which have knocked me physically and emotionally.
When I was younger, i'd fall off, laugh and get back on, no problem - and even recently when riding Aragorn when I landed on my feet, I laughed it off, got back on and in the space of 5 minutes I fell off (landing on my feet again!)
It doesn't take a serious, life threatening fall/accident to affect your confidence.
It could be anything from your horse spooking, refusing, bolting, bucking, rearing...
I was competing my horse (who is now retired) at a competition, at the penultimate fence, he was unable to get his feet under him and I ended up in the public viewing gallery with him on top of me. After hours of scans and tests I was allowed back home on the agreement that for a week I wouldn't do anything stimulating as I'd knocked my head - badly. No reading, no writing, no TV no nothing.
In my heart I knew if I didn't get back on a horse soon, I wouldn't get back on at all. So, two days after being strapped down in hospital on a spinal board, against the doctors orders and against my mum's wishes, I decided to compete at a show I'd qualified for (we won our class but that's not the point!)
People have different ways of dealing with confidence issues, for some people getting back on as soon as possible is the best way of dealing with a confidence knock, and for others taking some time off is more effective.
For years I had issues with indoor arenas, and it was only when I moved to a yard where my trainer didn't want to teach in the pouring rain outdoors that I HAD to go indoors again. The more I did it, the less of an issue it was.
Last month I had two serious accidents in the space of a week.
(Bentley vertically reared and I smashed my back on the arena fence and a week after Aragorn got a pole stuck between his legs whilst jumping and landed on me) - If you knew Bentley you'd know that, more likely than not he'd have at least 2 bucks and a rear whilst warming him up and I'd usually ignore it and carry on. The same with jumping, if I fell off, i'd get back on and do it again. But it did knock my confidence. I started to panic when I got to the part of arena Bentley reared up in, and if Aragorn knocked a pole i'd just say "that's enough jumping today" - There's no shame or embarrassment in admitting when something's knocked your confidence, don't ever feel like a problem isn't big enough to be a problem.
If your confidence has taken a real knock, don't feel like you have to rush yourself to overcome the said problem to prove to yourself and others that "I can do it" - It doesn't matter how slow you take it, because confidence is shattered in seconds but takes weeks, months even years to build.
Don't feel under any sort of pressure to get back on or do something you don't feel confident enough or ready to do, because not only will your horse sense your uncertainty, you will also not fully enjoy your achievements!
Don't look at riding as a constant competition between others, it doesn't matter how big someone else is jumping or how fantastic someone else's medium trot is, set your own, achievable goals and feel proud of them!
Find a trainer you trust - one that gives you confidence and doesn't try to rush you or your horse
Take your time! You have all the time in the world
Go back to basics - Go back to doing what makes you and your horse confidence, regain your trust in each other before tackling problems and progressing
Breathe - We are all guilty of not breathing when something causes us to worry!
Set your own achievable goals - Sometimes having things to aim for gives us focus, meaning we worry less!
Enjoy yourself - There is nothing wrong with taking a step back and thinking "this is scaring me and I'm not enjoying myself anymore"
Hello all! I have been so unorganised with keeping my blog up to date - apologies!
A few people have asked me for tips on equine photography.
Here's a little background info! I started working as a live music photographer, my first paid job was when I was 14. I loved it. I was exposed (no pun intended!) to a huge variety of music and artists, got to travel a lot and met some great people! But after 7 years I decided I needed a change.
A friend asked me to accompany her to a show she was competing at - and, by chance, I took my camera. Although I don't do it as often as I used to, I do it as much as I can!
Here are my top 10 tips for those of you who, like me, like taking photos of your horse or anything horse related!
10 Tips
1. Practice! - It seems obvious, but it's so underrated! I taught myself how to use my camera and it's only through constantly practicing that I learned how to get the best possible photo! Practice taking photos of your pets - whether you are lucky enough to have your own horse or if you ride at a barn/stables - ask people if they would mind if you took some photos from them! (You might even get a few clients!) With animals, you need to be quick, accurate and safe (e.g not using a really bright flash!) Take your camera / phone everywhere - you never know what you might capture!
2. Capture the moments that are often overlooked - simply meaning, some of the best photos aren't set up or posed. If you're taking photos at a show, capturing expressions etc look so much better when they're real!
3. Know your speed! - Make sure you know the shutter speed of your device! If it's slow, make sure you're prepared otherwise you might miss the moment!
4. Patience pays! - If there are horses in a field, have your camera ready and watch and wait. (Not only is it fascinating to watch horses being, well, horses, but you also capture things that you can't create!)
5. Perspective - Try things from different perspectives. It keeps things interesting!
6. Capture relationships - Whether it's between horse and horse or horse and rider, there's something special about capturing relationships.
7. Think Outside The Box (Screen!) - This links in with number 2. When i've been asked to photograph someone's day at a show, their favourite photos are often the unusual ones. Try taking photos of tack, or boots, or even a portrait style photo of a rider!
8. Take as many as you can! - I found out the hard way, you can never take too many photos! Sometimes I look back and think "I wish I had ONE more like this" especially if you are taking action shots, keep your finger on the button! You can always delete the ones that are no good!
9. Smile! - If you're taking photos for someone, don't be afraid to get them to move about or change their position (or smile!)
10. It's not all about the camera! - If you don't have a camera, don't worry! I almost always shoot in colour - you can always make a photo black and white, but you can't make a black and white photo colour! If you are taking photos for someone else, it is always better to give them their photos in black and white and colour - different people prefer different styles!
