The confidence ladder

If you’ve ever taken a confidence knock when riding, you’ll know how hard it can be to get back in the saddle. But riding’s so much fun and it’s meant to be the best part of your week, so how can you feel brave again? By climbing my confidence ladder, of course!

1. Back to the start

The first step of the ladder involves thinking about what caused your confidence knock. It might’ve been something obvious and direct, such as a fall, but it could be the result of hearing negative comments from other people on the yard. Acknowledging, processing and writing down the reason why your confidence is low can be really difficult, but it’ll help you take the next step up the ladder.

2. Set your sights

Now think about where you want to be. Whether you want to become a top rider or just enjoy the simple pleasure of hacking with your fave pony, set yourself an aim and plan how you’ll get there, breaking it down into lots of little steps. Make sure your goals are realistic, achievable and, importantly, measurable – otherwise, how will you know when you’re making progress?!

3. The thought process

Before you get started with achieving your goals, it’s a good idea to work on your mindset first. When you feel nervous, your brain sends lots of signals around your body that can make your muscles tense up and heart beat faster. Your pony can sense your nerves, so it’s important to try to stay as relaxed and calm as possible. Discovering methods that’ll help you deal with nerves is a big step in rebuilding your confidence. It might be through breathing techniques or positive affirmations (this is when you say positive phrases to overcome your negative thoughts), such as ‘I am brave’. Do a little research online and have a go to see what helps you the most!

Find out more of This Esme’s top tips for building your confidence in April PONY – get your copy today!