Dont rush into anything just take ur time and when ur reaady get back on. Only think positive things, stay relaxed and try a lead rein then a lunge rope this way u know u wont fall off as easily and your horse wont go anywer u dont want it to. give it ago, you will feel great afterwards. x

You dont say why you have lost confidence, this can be the deciding factor, i.e. if you are ill suited to your horse, then it may be best if you do sell her and buy one that is more on your level, for instance if all you want is to hack out with your friends and have fun but your horse is the type that gets hot headed in a group and becomes strong and tries to buck etc, then you will not want to go out and will start to come up with excuses, perhaps its too windy, or I havent got time today etc, and then its a waste of time and money owning her. It could be that its just a winter thing, how long have you owned her, for instance some horses can be a nightmare when the winter comes, being stabled, having hard feeds, inconsistent attention and schooling can make such a difference, I have a horse that is like muffin the mule in the summer, my daughter takes him to the pony club rallies etc but, in the winter he turns into a horror, as soon as his feet hit the grass, he pulls and head tosses and tries to tack off, I can feel the energy coming through and it quite literally scares the pants off me, I nearly came off two weeks ago when he put his head between his head and bronked, then I rode him again and he was bunny hopping and spooking and I paniced and dismounted. This week, because the weather has been cold and windy, I have just been taking him out for walks instead, concentrating on ground work etc. I would never take him out for a hack with the others from the yard at the weekend in the winter because he would probably tank off at the earliest opportunity. With him, its a winter thing. Dont know why he changes so much. Perhaps having lessons with an instructor would help, you could discuss your fears and work on the problems. If something has happened which has really frightened you, then it doesnt matter how much you tell yourself that everything is going to be fine when you are out hacking, your heart will still be pounding and the horse will pick up these negative vibes and then play you up even more. You need to have a real heart to heart with your mum and explain WHY you are worried. The pony we bought my daughter 2 years ago was, thinking back, not suitable as she was a novice rider and the pony was young, so not a good combination, she certainly taught her to ride, due the constant bucking but, one day she said to me 'mummy sometimes she scares me and I dont want to ride her' and because she is my daughter and her happiness safety is more important to me than anything, we decided to put her up for sale, she now owns a wonderful 'school-master' who is so calm that she has gained her confidence again, she doesnt have to worry. Hope this helps, basically have a good chat to your mum, is it a change of pony you need or perhaps you need a break altogether and come back into riding later on.

Try to determine what caused you to loose confidence. If it was something your horse did, then learn a bit more about horse behaviour. Teach Yourself Horse by Heather Simpson is a good start, then try some clicker training so you and your horse can have fun together without the pressure of ridden work. Dont feel pressured to get back on till your ready, set little goals both of you can achieve safely and happily. Above all have fun!