I used to ride Skip out all the time. She did fine, ok with highway and surprises........day or night!

Problem is.....I really haven't taken her out to ride for a couple of years and I'm a bit scared to as I'd be riding by myself! Same time.......she's the kind of horse you can leave in the pasture and jump on bareback! But.......she does get a bit antsy taking her out of her familiar environment now, which is understandable!

I really do need to do something with her though. Not just for my benefit, but for her as well. Just not sure how to go about it!

Any ideas?

ground work in the arena? take her for a "trail ride", but with you on foot. could help your confidence in her and hers in you, and you can see if there are any issues you need to address before you mount up.

After that, litter up your riding area at home. Put down a narrow folded tarp (which you can expand later), some barrels, landscaping logs, a tire or two, even put a few "scary" plastic bags on your fence posts. Now ride in there like you are on an obstacle course. If your horse reacts to anything, work at it, right there in the comfort of your own riding ring or pasture if you don't have one. What you want to do with this is to expand your horse's comfort zone once again. It has only shrunk from lack of use and should go back to what you remember pretty quickly. Now don't let your lack of confidence become the problem either. If you ride around looking for boogers your horse is going to pick up on that and start looking for them too.

Be confident and a good leader so that your horse will enjoy following your guidance.

William (historyrider)

History's obstacle course is good idea. I'd also take her a little past her comfort zone every day. Just ride out a little further each day and after a while, she'll be familiar with the new territory.

Can you find some people to trailride with, maybe on weekends?

Thanks guys!

I love taking Daniel out on hand walks.. he seems to really enjoy it too.. keeps his mind sharp and willing as wel i can introduce the scarry things easier from the ground versus the saddle..