Riding a nervous and moody horse is very difficult for even the most self-assured riders, let alone amateur riders who are not very experienced and lack self-confidence. There are so many things you have to learn before deciding to begin the difficult but rewarding journey of being a successful rider.
If your horse gets a little spooky while riding, try to avoid making a big deal out of the issue. If you respond by punishing your horse or even worse by stroking him and convincing him that he’s okay it’s only going to teach him that his spook was understandable.
If you punish your horse by pulling on the reins or thrusting him, then your horse will grow to correlate times when he is terrified with physical pain, which will only make his even worse. By striking him lightly and with affection whilst also soothing your horse also shows him that the situation was worth spooking at.
Instead, in these kinds of situations, you have to remain calm and ride confidently forward when your horse spooks. If you’re anxious, you will only be contributing to your horse’s anger. These tips are very important when your horse shows signs of being nervous and agitated.
One of the cases where the horses tend to be a little bit moody is presented in the video below. A naughty pony named Ruby is shown riding along with his owner. Although they have been practicing for a long time and they usually make a great pair, the day when the video was shot she wasn’t in the mood to jump. Watch the video below for more!