Fallen off :-(

S

ShireMum25

New User
Joined
5 March 2025
Messages
4
Visit site
I have a 19hh shire.
I have been practising trot as it’s so different on a larger horse. The stride is larger, the distance is greater, the seat is bumpier and I have only JUST got my confidence in riding alone and going to trot.
I find riding in the morning my horse is very sleepy and just wants to get in the field. Always stands near the gate to the ménage and shows no wanting to be there. Anyway today I got on as usual and we were doing a low plodding walk around changing direction and doing figures etc. I tried to go into trot and for like 5 laps of the ménage all I got was a fast walk. Eventually went into trot and it was great, the best yet that I’ve done in relation to rhythm etc. I gave a good scratch and praised my horse. Tried again but from a corner and I don’t weight very much so I find it hard to put my weight into my seat .. he went straight into canter after a big Kick and he didn’t go straight (haven’t done circles yet) and started going all over the school. I tried so hard to balance and get him to stop but my reins weren’t short enough, my neck strap just didn’t do much and I ended up fallen off around a corner. I am so thankful that I was ok, apart from winding myself, bruising my ribs and backside, spraining 2 fingers which are blue and sprained and having cuts on my knee - in the grand scheme of things and the fact my horse weighs over a tonne I think it could have been a lot worse!! I knew it that I was going to come off at the point I did so I took my feet out the stirrups and just went with it. It was so scary as it was a long way down and I wear a back protector for safety. I winded myself and was crying on the ground when my lovely friend who helps with livery came running into the menage and helped me. She told me to get back on him which I was reluctant to but I did for about 30 seconds before getting off of him again. But now I’m so scared that he’s just going to go into canter again. I’m not ready to do this yet with him. I’m really worried… it’s taken me a month to get to the point where I feel comfortable to get on, off and walk with him alone and then try trotting alone and now this has happened. I don’t think it was his fault, he’s a big softy and I think he’s read my aids wrong. He didn’t spook. I was kicking him to trot and because he wasn’t going to trot and it was early I just thought he was sleepy and needed a bit more leg to get him going but in hindsight, he’s probably thinking what is this lady doing kicking me so much she probably wants me to go real fast or something, I don’t know but I feel scared now and don’t want to trot again because I’m scared he’ll go to canter. Any advice please? And TIA!
 
Welcome to the forum.

I think you would have been better off putting this on your other thread.

Putting the two together I think it may be time to question whether you have bought the right horse. I'm sorry if this isn't what you want to hear right now, but safety comes first around horses.

Horse with a BIG trot

I rode from the ages of 8-15 then had a break after an incident. I started riding again at 34. I’m 35 now. I always wanted to one day own a shire horse. I purchased one and she is amazing, 19hh, perfect temperament and brilliant to control. VERY responsive and sensitive to the leg. I tried to...
forums.horseandhound.co.uk forums.horseandhound.co.uk
 
I don't think you are proficient enough yet to be riding your horse alone without a professional present and coaching you.

In your first thread you have said how she is very sensitive and sharp off the leg. In this thread you are saying you 'gave a big kick'. With more training and experience you will learn you never give a horse that is sensitive to the leg aids and quick off the leg a big kick. It rarely ends well as you have discovered.

I really think you may have jumped the gun buying this horse at this very early stage in your riding experience. Could you loan the horse to a good experienced rider for a few months while you concentrate on lessons on a school horse?
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Find an instructor and ask for some lunge lessons, so that you can concentrate on what you are doing while someone else controls the horse. You will find it a revelation
Click to expand...

This - on a school master in a controlled environment (in as far as that's possible with horses). It doesn't sound like you're ready to be free ranging with this horse. Why not spend some time doing groundwork, pay for some lessons on a school horse and for a competent professional to do some gentle schooling with the shire - not to sharpen him up but to desensitise him to the leg and get the horse used to his new job.
 
Playing devils advocate but I assume that the OP changed the horse's gender for identity purposes and likely just forgot. The other details appear to be the same. I would say this was still genuine but perhaps I'm naive. 🤷‍♀️

Agree with getting more lessons on this horse and having an instructor on hand every time you ride so that someone is on the ground to advise what buttons to press!
 
GrassChop said:
Playing devils advocate but I assume that the OP changed the horse's gender for identity purposes and likely just forgot. The other details appear to be the same. I would say this was still genuine but perhaps I'm naive. 🤷‍♀️

Agree with getting more lessons on this horse and having an instructor on hand every time you ride so that someone is on the ground to advise what buttons to press!
Click to expand...


That's a pretty big push to keep a ridden 19 hands shire anonymous.
.
 
Janique said:
is it the same person that bought a 19h Shire without trotting ?
Click to expand...
I know someone who hadnt yet learned to ride who bought a big Frieslander gelding on line from the Netherlands and kept him on luxury livery, much adored for many years but only occasionally ridden. I seem to remember I was once offered a ride on him but didnt want to. I have ridden horses who were high, 17 hands, but this was not just height, it was general bigness. But he was led out to graze in hand almost every day.
 
FieldOrnaments said:
Not the first transpony there's been

Buti haven't seen any ads for 19hh shires recently and that would certainly catch people's attention
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure I did a month or 2 back. The only thing I always question is if they are actually 19 hands, lots of shire horses are definitely measured up. I had a 17.2 shire, on the stick with shoes on, his owner had him back and insisted on telling me "oh no he's easily 18hands". Same person had a 19-something shire that went to GMP who said he's 18.2. (I digress)

Unfortunately the reputation of heavy horses as gentle giants belies the truth of them. They are generally lovely horses however they are still horses, and incredibly big powerful ones at that. There are still a number of dealers who insist on selling unbroken or green horses to novice first time owners to make money. That's how I came by Ace, experienced horsey daughter but parents wanted quiet plods and bought 3yo just broken clydesdales. Reading between the lines I think they got a little scared by him when he had a moment under saddle - he's never been nasty but has been green.

OP, if you want some support I am happy for you to message me with more details and your location and maybe we can try and offer you some help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top