Bronked off - is it time to give up

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

That's how it felt to me today - like once he started the bucking he was gonna keep on till I came off! I know he had been spooked to start with but I kinda think there was a bit of naughtiness and over reaction there too.

Sometimes when the rider is trying to stay on, their legs clamp on to the horse, instead of using balance, which encourages the horse to continue to buck.

It probably is down to the time of the year really but as a rider you need to be aware of any warnings that he gives you and react accordingly. Tammytoo's advice looks good to me.

 

[kinnygirl1]

If you'd picked yourself up and led him back to the yard I'd say give up. But you remounted and trotted him past the gardeners. What was different about your attitude then? Was it a 'you damn well will' kind of attitude? If we could bottle that we'd be laughing
Did he know they were human? I often ask obscured bods to reveal themselves and say something. It can help.
IME horses tend to look for things while schooling that they don't bother about on hacks. Like kids in supermarkets, if you like.
Just keep riding like you did when you remounted Good luck.

Adrenalin lol- that's what got me back on - and the thought that if I didn't do it then there was no chance I would do it tomorrow - I love my boy, don't wanna give him up, but I don't want to risk serious injury either as I have a young family who need me to be more or less fully functional!

 

[1Lucie]

I Am nervous type rider and loose confidence v easily! Yesterday my horse napped and reared a number of times yesterday on hack. Scared cr&p out of me to be honest , coz he's normally a chilled boy! But I rode him (nervously) again today and he was absolute diamond!! Unfortunatly it is nature of sport!! Don't let it beat u !!

 

[kinnygirl1]

I got bucked off my 20 year old last night.

Came to me with the habit but it was the first time he 'got me', came completely out of the blue having been an angel the rest of the ride.

Now propped up on the sofa as I've torn the ligaments between my collar bone and shoulder on one arm so that's that arm in a sling, and chipped a bone in my other wrist so that's the wrist in a splint.

Wouldn't be so bad but I'm supposed to be signed off on Wednesday from my last horsey injury of a spirally fractured and dislocated finger.

Horses hey!

Aw No! Hugs to you and best wishes for a speedy recovery! I feel very lucky to have got off with a swollen knee and brusised shoulder!

 

[TandD]

When I say I pushed past the scary gardeners, all I really meant was that I kept my leg on and coaxed him with my voice and tried to keep his attention on me not the scary stuff- he is really not the sort of horse you can kick in the ribs - would have parted company even sooner had I done that. I want him to trust that if I say its ok, it is ok. That went well, huh?

i think this is your problem, you focused on the scary object! you made a point of it being scary. your horse sounds like he takes confidence from his leader!

you worried attitude over the gardeners would have transmitted to your horse, who in turn would have worried, so therefore he would want to remove what was worrying him - you!

instead a good plan would be to note the scary object, then think of not being scary.....
concentrate on a schooling exercise...20m cirlce, followed by a change of rein, followed by a serpentine....thinking all the time about shape, rythm, tempo, your position, your effectiveness of aids etc.......
ignore the noise/distraction and focus on what you are doing, being prepared for a spook (not concentrating on a spook), but carrying on as you were before hand.

 

[kinnygirl1]

I Am nervous type rider and loose confidence v easily! Yesterday my horse napped and reared a number of times yesterday on hack. Scared cr&p out of me to be honest , coz he's normally a chilled boy! But I rode him (nervously) again today and he was absolute diamond!! Unfortunatly it is nature of sport!! Don't let it beat u !!

thanks - well done for getting back on today. That took guts! x

 

[kinnygirl1]

i think this is your problem, you focused on the scary object! you made a point of it being scary. your horse sounds like he takes confidence from his leader!

you worried attitude over the gardeners would have transmitted to your horse, who in turn would have worried, so therefore he would want to remove what was worrying him - you!

instead a good plan would be to note the scary object, then think of not being scary.....
concentrate on a schooling exercise...20m cirlce, followed by a change of rein, followed by a serpentine....thinking all the time about shape, rythm, tempo, your position, your effectiveness of aids etc.......
ignore the noise/distraction and focus on what you are doing, being prepared for a spook (not concentrating on a spook), but carrying on as you were before hand.

Thanks - yes sometimes he does seem to take confidence from his leader. Funnily enough we were mid serpentine when it happened. Niavely (sp) I thought that the little spooks he had done were as bad as it was gonna get so was taken quite unaware by the rodeo!

 

[kinnygirl1]

Sometimes when the rider is trying to stay on, their legs clamp on to the horse, instead of using balance, which encourages the horse to continue to buck.

It probably is down to the time of the year really but as a rider you need to be aware of any warnings that he gives you and react accordingly. Tammytoo's advice looks good to me.

Yes - that is probably me - gripping on for dear life! Yes I should be more aware- I knew he didn't like what he could hear/see but stupidly thought it would be nothing more than lookiness. I will defo be more aware in future. Thanks

 

[SillySausage]

Aw No! Hugs to you and best wishes for a speedy recovery! I feel very lucky to have got off with a swollen knee and brusised shoulder!

Thanks! I didn't even think I'd done anything to my wrist, the triage nurse made me have it x rayed when he saw how big it is!

I have a bruised knee and back to boot!

I'm very nervous about getting back on him now, and like I said I've had him 3 and a half years with no problem, but I couldn't get back on afterwards because they thought I'd broken my collarbone. So, well done you for getting straight back on.

 

[kinnygirl1]

Thanks! I didn't even think I'd done anything to my wrist, the triage nurse made me have it x rayed when he saw how big it is!

I have a bruised knee and back to boot!

I'm very nervous about getting back on him now, and like I said I've had him 3 and a half years with no problem, but I couldn't get back on afterwards because they thought I'd broken my collarbone. So, well done you for getting straight back on.

Ouch! I know what you mean -I have had stan for 2 years with only 1 other bucking incident which was I think at least 18 months ago. I think reading some of the other replies on my thread perhaps I have just become complacent and wasn't responsive enough to his fear.

Ps - only really got back on due to shock and adrenaline I think. If knee will bend I want to get back on tomorrow but dreading it! Let me know how you get on when you are mended - perhaps we can help each other through it! (an I've been bucked off support group, lol)

 

[Hetsmum]

Ouch! I know what you mean -I have had stan for 2 years with only 1 other bucking incident which was I think at least 18 months ago. I think reading some of the other replies on my thread perhaps I have just become complacent and wasn't responsive enough to his fear.

Ps - only really got back on due to shock and adrenaline I think. If knee will bend I want to get back on tomorrow but dreading it! Let me know how you get on when you are mended - perhaps we can help each other through it! (an I've been bucked off support group, lol)

I am one of those very lucky peeps with 2 horse angels who I really really trust. Ok they get excited and bouncy and i have the odd buck - yeee haa - kind but very very tame. I have however been in exactly your situation before. As an instructor though my advise to you would be to say 'well done for yesterday.' Give yourself a big pat on the back for getting back on - adrenaline or not - YOU DID THAT! Focus on what you acheived before you dismounted. It went well didn't it? You have owned your horse for 2 years and this has only happened twice........so I think it's fair to say this is not normal behaviour. Horse has probably had too little exercise (most have due to the bad weather lately) and he is a little more on his toes than normal. Tonight when you go to bed try to close your eyes and imagine all the GOOD experiences you have had with your horse. All the times when the schooling has gone really really well. Then tomorrow if you feel fit lunge him first (unless he is the type to get wound up by this) and let him get a bit of steam off. Then if you feel able - ride him. Even if it only for 5 mins and you don't get out of walk, have a go. I find what help is if you have a friend talking complete rubbish to you......TV gossip or anything to keep your mind calm. GOOD LUCK........keep thinking positive thoughts!!!

 

[kinnygirl1]

Thank you so much for this Hetsmum! Esp your kind words cos I know I got back on but so angry with myself now for riding in such a way that this was allowed to happen - I think from what others on here have said, I was not sensitive enough to how my boy was feeling and that caused the problem. Yes I will try and focus on some of the lovely positive things we acheived before the awful weather came and disrupted our schedule.

 

[Tammytoo]

This horrid winter has a lot to answer for! I've not been able to ride for 2 months because of the weather and being flooded out - 5" of snow on Wednesday flooded us out again! There may be a few more posts like yours as people start getting their ponios back into work. I have to admit I'm feeling a bit nervous about getting back on - there will be lots of lunging and in-hand work going on!

Don't think we've met (I'm east of York) - I'm a happy hacker these days and haven't competed for ages.

 

[Burmilla]

Well, if we are talking age and not bouncing and feeling nervous for our old bones and anxious brains - I'm pushing 70, and have a tall slender and very bouncy Arab, who is a really lovely chap with a good line in massive spooks n spins! I've come off him twice in two years, hung on to the reins, scrambled up a bank and clambered back on! I've ridden all my life. I think of giving up most days, especially this last slippy slide cold wet winter. I make lists of good/bad things for doing so. I'm still pushing on atm. Keep going, KG! Make a list of what you would miss if you did stop now and see if the list is long enough to do so! Good luck, and very well done for getting straight back on!!

 

[meesha]

I found the best way to get over nerves was to replace them with another emotion - its no good thinking I am confident, I am confident when you are not. Instead of getting worried or trying to pretend I wasnt worried I got angry - told the horse that he was not getting the better of me, that he cost me alot of money and could flippin well just get on with the job and that one hour a day (if that) was really not alot to ask out of his 24 hours of leisure time !!

It worked for me as being cross made me determined and I then just got on with it.

Just to clarify I dont mean yelling and shouting ... I mean very calmly telling him to" get on with it ..I am not standing for any messing" then lots of praise when said pony/horse does as asked politely.

.. think we have all been there with nerves