Ditch question

[JS65]

I have a fear of ditches, not jumping ones, but the ones down country lanes.

I moved 18mths ago and where i am is on the River Dee flood plains.
All the country lanes have big ditches on each side and i worry that if my flighty horse should shy, i will end up in a ditch upside down with a horse on top of me.
Is this a totally irrational fear?
Am i not giving my horse enough credit to realise there is a big ditch there?
Its ruining my hacking alone, as i tense so much on these lovely quiet and scenic lanes.

 

[PennyJ]

I think it's unlikely to happen, how many times have you gone out and come back unscathed so far?
I think your horse may have realised it's not the best idea to jump in one of them...

Good luck though, I hope you can work through your anxiety. I go miles out of the way to avoid riding over a railway bridge...

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Not sure this will help much, but once has a horse go backwards into a ditch, but we both got out unscathed and he never did it again!!!

 

[JS65]

SO i am to assume my fear is irrational?

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Slightly, you seem to have blown it out of all proportion. In reality most won't be stupid enough to fall down a ditch!! Obviously there is always the exception, to prove the rule!!

 

[JS65]

Thanks will hack out tomorrow with your words in my head!!! lol

 

[piebaldsparkle]

LOL I'm sure you'll thank me when your sat at the bottom of a cold wet ditch!!!!

 

[bex777]

I have the same fear...although my lad does not like big traffic and I have ended up in the ditch with him. Luckily both of us up the right way and me still on top.

It is one of those things I just have to crack on with...I do tend to hack the lanes on Sundays only (we are blessed with 8 miles of farm hacking) and then pray for the best!

 

[PennyJ]

A bit irrational...

 

[Lulup]

I don't think your fear is irrational but you are letting it take on too much significance - accidents are always a possibility but as long as you are sensible there is no reason to feel they are likely.
I would suggest that on a suitably quiet stretch of lane you turn your horse into the ditch and let her have a good look (presuming she is not likely to try and jump it from a standstill) so that she is aware of it and then just be sure that in the event of anything scray occurring you turn her face straight towards the ditch as this will swing her quarters away from it and will stop her backing into it.

 

[JS65]

[ QUOTE ]
LOL I'm sure you'll thank me when your sat at the bottom of a cold wet ditch!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Not funny!!