accident on new horse

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happybear

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Hello everyone,

I bought my new horse just over a month ago, he's a 6yo 16hh ISH with the sweetest nature on the ground but still green, so I bought him to bring on and do a bit of everything with. We've done lots of schooling, hacking round our fields and on the road and he hasn't put a foot wrong so far, until the other day.

We were hacking round the fields with 3 others, 2 in front and 1 behind us, just walking. They were all relaxed and we'd been riding for about half an hour when the horse behind us spooked and rushed forward into my horse's bum. Before I had time to react my horse had bolted. He bolted (top speed!) around 150-200m down the field and there was nothing I could do apart from try and sit it out - unfortunately I was unable to stop before we reached the end of the field, where you can go either left or right. I wasn't sure which way he would go - and he went right and I went left... :eek: I landed heavily on my lower back on the left hand side (I was wearing my body protector). I ended up in hospital for x-rays and didn't do any serious damage, thank god - just badly bruised and stiff. Having trouble walking and sitting at the moment but getting better slowly.

So now I'm a bit worried - I really don't want to lose my confidence on him but it was really scary. We've hacked round the fields loads of times both on our own and with others, walking trotting cantering whatever with no problems, he's spooked at a few things but never taken off. I know I can't be sure it won't happen again, and the previous owner said that he'd bolted ONCE before in the 9/10 months she'd had him when he had a very novice rider on him who spooked him with her position - he reacted badly to her lower leg and she landed heavily in her seat and then he bolted. Maybe I didn't give this enough consideration. I think he may have issues with other horses behind him, as he's been a bit unsure when we've schooled with a friend and she's cantered past.

I'm not really sure what my question is so maybe a bit of a pointless post! I know he's still babyish and things will take time, and of course I know that any horse, however unflappable, can bolt if the situation arises. I think that maybe coming face to face with it so soon after buying a new horse has made me slightly anxious. :(
 
Poor you. He did very little wrong, would you not be very scared if you were walking round a field happy then person behind you ran into you. He is just young and all horses are naturally nervous creatures. It was just a very unlucky accident. At least he only bolted and did not rear up backwards with you. Just take a few days off, ride him in the school a few days. Then go out for a gental hack on your own. But not in the same place first time out. Then crack on as if nothng had happened, it was just unlucky but he did very little wrong. If you want some reassurance use a bit stronger bit out hacking.

Hope you recover ok :) don't loose confidence. It happens to all of us.
 
Firstly glad your ok but also don't panic that isn't bolting if it was true bolt he would have gone through the end of field. So he did only run off with you.
You have a young green horse who is doing exactly what i would expect- having something run up his bum would be perfect reason to run off. My 13year old tb would do the same. Also the same thing with horses cantering up behind you- its a natural instinct to run with the herd, if one runs yours is likely to also want to run.
If you are nervous tho i would ask a confident friend or instructor to ride him for you or ride with You, be aware of insurance etc if someone else rides him knowing last time he did this- i doubt it will be something he repeats unless put in exactly same situation. I would concentrate on schooling with others especially with them behind you to get him used to that in safe environment.
Hope your not too sore.
 
I know you don't have that option in most parts of the UK but over here we take almost all of our youngsters at around 3 years old to work cattle. They get fully desensitised to being bumped and bashed into from all angles. Perhaps you could recreate a different, but just as effective, type of desensitisation programme to follow.
 
Hi happybear - I don't really have any advice but just want to say I really sympathise as I came off my new horse this week and got concussed. Have had him 2 months. He is 8 but very very green, more so than I realised when I bought him, and his biggest issue is hacking alone. I have ridden him once since, yesterday, when I had a lesson with my instructor who is really helping me to maintain my confidence. I have also invested in an RS-Tor (though it didnt keep me on when he bucked!) and a sticky gel out seat saver. And very sensible of you to have been wearing your body protector (I was too, and jolly grateful). Did you hit your head at all, and if so do you need to replace your hat?

Just realised thats a bit waffly, but hopefully you know you are not alone facing your concerns and by all means PM me if you want to have more of a chat about it for moral support! :)
 
You can hardly blame a young horse for that reaction given those circumstances. He didn't go far after all did he? I really wouldn't consider this a bolt, just a reaction and the best thing you can do is get back out there and keep practicing. Preferably with a companion who doesn't try to use your horse as brakes.

Glad that you weren't hurt.
 
I'm sorry your horse frightened you, but he wasn't bolting, just responding to something that alarmed him. If he were bolting he would have gone straight through the hedge and carried on. I think you should just put it down to experience. You had to make a judgement about which way he was going to turn, and you made the wrong one. Many horses will behave like this given the right situation - a sudden loud noise, a dog or child running up behind, their instinct is to put some space between them and what has alarmed them. I hope you recover from your bruises soon. Try and forget about it. Perhaps some work on desensitisation may help?
 
A tanking off at top speed due to spooking, not a full on bolt. He had some sense left or he'd not have turned but would have gone through the fence. Instead he negotiated a tight turn, so, sense and balance, he's looking out for himself. Try to remember that and not be so afraid. Next time try not to get into a situation where there's a tight turn. Next time ask (even if that means pulling on one rein with both hand or something else drastic) for a shallow curve rather than leaving it until there's a tight turn. If there's room, given the speed he's going, try to get him on a circle and keep him there until he slows down. If you can't circle, instead of trying to totally stop him tanking off and losing that battle, think instead in terms of what are the dangers approaching? eg tight turns, slippery ground, obstacles to jump, downhill slopes etc and decide the best route through them and try to influence the pace enough and help him out with your riding so that he has sufficient balance to negotiate the dangers, whilst paying attention to maintaining a secure riding position yourself. All this is more useful than sitting there hauling ineffectually on the reins and achieving nothing. When there are no dangers ahead that's when its safer, if necessary, to compromise your riding position and horses balance a little whilst you do whatever it takes to attempt to slow down.

To desensitise him to being bumped (assuming he doesn't kick) have other horses come from the side so he can see it happen and past his bum close enough to bump him a little. Progress to having them approach from behind and shove past a bit. Not enough to hurt or cause real fear, but to get him to realise there's no danger and even if it happens to him he's to stay in walk as you ask.

He needs to have more trust in you as his rider and then he'll react less to what other horses do. It will come with time and experience, but for now you must screw up your courage and be the brave one in the partnership or your nerves will make him more spooky.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies.

I 100% agree with everyone and don't blame him for taking off at all - he was really frightened and so of course I understand this reaction, totally natural. He never tried to throw me off or anything and I have a feeling that if I'd managed to stay off and come to a stop then I wouldn't be so shaken up - I think it's the fall and hurting myself that's worried me, if that makes sense.

I did think it was a bolt because he was frightened, but I completely get what everyone has said so thank you. He had to turn because the hedge at the bottom of the field is a mixture of large trees and bushes probably about 10ft tall so a totally solid obstacle, would this make a difference at all? As in, I don't think he would have thought he could go through. If it had been a true bolt would he have just gone in to it anyway?

I'm not sure how you reply individually to posts (new to the forum so apologies) but in answer to the few questions:

tobiano - no, I didn't hit my head at all which I am really thankful for - just nice and hard on my bum/back! Sorry to hear about your fall, too. Well done for getting back on so soon - I will be as soon as my back is better.

amymay - from what I've heard they just spooked but didn't tank off after him. The other riders got off pretty much straight away I think and walked down to the end of the field where I'd fallen.

Sugar_and_Spice - thank you for the advice on what to try if it happens again.


Thanks aswell everyone for the desensitisation advice - hopefully I can work on it, we don't school with others often and usually when we're hacking nothing like that has ever happened and he's either at the back or the other horse is further behind him. So maybe just getting him used to it in a safe environment like the school would help. I'm not in a rush to see results fast, he's young and we need to get to know each other better.
 
I'm the first person to comment on bolt and runoff but still you were out of control. Also I'm going against the grain to say your horse overreacted. Now was it from the initial issue or was it because you clamped up, froze, and made the situation much worse.

I agree that he probably needs to be somewhat desensitised to bumping and brushing. You might want to do this in an arena. You need to give him confidence that it's ok to be young and not sure but that you have him. Some horses need much more confidence from their riders than others.

Terri
 
Poor you HB. You don't even have him 5 minutes. He is still very new to you and you are very new to him. Neither of you has settled with the other and you haven't yet had time to form a relationship with each other. You can't possibly have built any real trust between each other yet. I bet he got a big fright too.

So, deep breath, stay in an arena or area you feel completely safe in for a while, get back on and give yourselves time. He doesn't sound like a bold horse. It's just growing pains. Best of luck!!
 
To answer your second question HB a true bolt he would have gone into the solid obstacle they have no self preservation or thought in a true bolt.
You just need to take it back to basics for a while and build your confidence back- my boy bucked me off 6 months ago cantering in school after being in over night. I have now cantered back in school although took 4 months but i still havent done so if he has been in overnight. I was uninjured but havent come off for 10years so took me by surprise!
 
Horse had done this before with a novice. It's fine to talk about trust and relationships but sometimes you just have to be the one being confident for your horse. That is it plain and simple.

I start horses and if reacted to spooks, hops, little take offs and anything else they do when not confident, they will remember that and take it with them. Freezing up, tightening up, and clamping all send messages to a horse to flee and that this is definitely something I need to go away from. Some horses are not big reactors and they make life much easier. So if you want to classify that as trust and such fine fair enough. But best to drop the lables and get to work doing all you can to be the confident rider he needs.

This is not meant to be mean it's just plain speaking.

Terri
 
I think its just one of those things.
Green horse.
New home and owner.
It can be easily sorted.
He just needs to be given confidence.

But are you the person to do it?
Understandably you have now lost some confidence.
But he needs you to reasure him and be confident to say to its ok, don't panick.
 
Equilibrium Ireland said:
Horse had done this before with a novice. It's fine to talk about trust and relationships but sometimes you just have to be the one being confident for your horse. That is it plain and simple.

I start horses and if reacted to spooks, hops, little take offs and anything else they do when not confident, they will remember that and take it with them. Freezing up, tightening up, and clamping all send messages to a horse to flee and that this is definitely something I need to go away from. Some horses are not big reactors and they make life much easier. So if you want to classify that as trust and such fine fair enough. But best to drop the lables and get to work doing all you can to be the confident rider he needs.

This is not meant to be mean it's just plain speaking.

Terri
Click to expand...

Hi Terri,

Thank you for your comments, I don't see it as mean.

I have always thought of myself as being a confident rider and am never bothered or unsettled when a horse spooks as I totally agree with you - how can my horse expect to be confident if I'm not. The other day was my first fall off in years and first tank off in a while though so perhaps I think I am more confident than I am, just because I haven't had any accidents. Every other time he's spooked I've just reassured him that there's nothing to worry about, but this time he'd tanked off with me before I'd got the chance, it was instantaneous following the bump from behind. I should have reacted quicker but you know what it's like when you're walking around chatting to your friends... :o lesson learned there!

As I said in an earlier reply, I think it's the fall and being hurt that's knocked my confidence rather than my horse himself. So hopefully I can build it back up, and we are due to start lessons next week if I'm better.
 
smellsofhorse said:
I think its just one of those things.
Green horse.
New home and owner.
It can be easily sorted.
He just needs to be given confidence.

But are you the person to do it?
Understandably you have now lost some confidence.
But he needs you to reasure him and be confident to say to its ok, don't panick.
Click to expand...

Hi smellsofhorse,

Thanks for replying and for your views. Hopefully I can regain my confidence - I am itching to get back on him when my back is better. Up until now I have reassured him when he's spooked, and so hopefully I will continue to do so after this set back, but if not I'll obviously have to be honest with myself and admit if I can no longer give him the confidence he needs. But I know it's early days, I haven't even ridden him since! Thanks very much.
 
Dizzydancer said:
To answer your second question HB a true bolt he would have gone into the solid obstacle they have no self preservation or thought in a true bolt.
You just need to take it back to basics for a while and build your confidence back- my boy bucked me off 6 months ago cantering in school after being in over night. I have now cantered back in school although took 4 months but i still havent done so if he has been in overnight. I was uninjured but havent come off for 10years so took me by surprise!
Click to expand...

Hi dizzydancer,

Thanks for answering :) Back to basics sounds good to me. Well done for making progress, I totally empathise.
 
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