Get back on that horse?

arizonahoney

arizonahoney

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 May 2010
Messages
1,767
Location
London
Visit site
Hi there, everyone!

What would you do next?

The background:
I've been riding someone's new horse for them, because they themselves were too nervous to ride it. Now, this horse seemed sweet enough, but on Tuesday night, it spooked at a rabbit while I was cantering, turned around 180° and bolted over some very rough ground, resulting in me falling off. Felt a bit winded and bruised of back, but was not scared or anything as soon as I had retrieved said horse and checked it was OK.

This morning I rode my regular horse by himself, who can be pretty spooky, although I'm used to that. He saw some cows in an unexpected place, spooked (in a walk) and then I fell off again. Didn't hurt myself but was shocked / upset / embarassed to find myself on the ground again, especially as I have never fallen off this guy before, despite his rather neurotic temperament.

Do you think that I might have been feeling more wobbly than I thought after fall #1? Or that being bruised already, I was less (physically) able to react when the spook occurred today?

Any tips for confidence building greatly accepted! And pizza for anyone who made it this far...
 
It could be that you anticipated falling, as we always loose our confidence a bit after a fall, even if with a different horse. Therefore you were more likely to fall when he spooked if you see what I mean!! Also when you are bruised on your back this would, I imagine, affect your ability to move with the horse. I could be wrong, but this is what I think. I know after a fall when I hurt my back, I was worried about falling again onto bruised back and did feel the muscles in my back were more affected with position etc on horse. Don't give up though, we all have these days when confidence is knocked.
 
I know how you feel,ive lost some of my confidence,after my horse spooked then bolted with me last year,like you I hurt my back and did NOT get on him and NOW I am very wary. I sit on him and try to get my confidence back,it is very hard. Hope everything goes well with you!!
 
I nearly fell off my horse in walk, striding out, rein at the buckle (!) when he did a 180 turn and I very nearly hit the deck. I was nice and relaxed and have never fallen off him in 10 years!! It was a close call though. It coul dbe that you wre feeling a bit wary or it could be pure coincidence.

See how you fel about getting on the horse, if it worries you then maybe not a good idea.
 
i was riding someone elses horse for them as they wouldnt ride it themselves. i had a really nasty fall off the little pig and it seriously hurt (i dont fall off much -shock to the system!). i couldnt get back on it as was banned by the first aid people. and tbh I had no desire to either!
im a good rider and will ride and can sit to most things and spend my life hanging off young/mental horses, but for some reason that fall really messed with my head and i wasnt really that keen on even sitting on my horses - who i know backwards and never fall off!
So i just said to the people whose horse it was 'sorry not interested in riding your (evil!) horse any more' and just pottered about on mine til i felt better - it took about 2 weeks for me to feel really confident again.
so I'd say dont worry - some falls can really knock you for six. but persevere with your own, get someone to give you a pep talk and rationalise your feelings and you'll be sorted!
 
I think it was probably just really bad luck. You werent expecting your horse to spook and would probably have sat it if there had been a bit of warning. Just very hard on the old nerves to hit the deck again so soon after the last time.

(Hopefully will be a long time before it happens again!!)
 
I totally lost my confidence on my horse (when I just had 1) some years ago, taking 2 years to really recover it (not 100% but about 90-95%). she had a lovely spin and some great tanking off and one true bolt when I cracked some ribs.

The things that helped me were : Rescue Remedy, imagining positive outcomes of the ride and not overanalysing - so if I felt nervous but managed to walk to place A on a hack I'd be celebrating the walk to point A, not bemoaning the fact that I hadn't trotted to A, or cantered past A and gone to C for example. (hacks not schooling - never as nervous in the school).

You have to trust yourself again, so don't beat yourself up, celebrate the positive and take it slowly. A bruised back / other injury will make you more tentative.

My big thing was cantering on hacks because I was convinced she'd tank off or bolt with me - there are still some issues with brakes but the grin I had after a great friend took me out and made me canter in a field was very Cheshire Cat like.
 
I got on my youngster (5 yr old ISH) last night for the first time in 4 months after he bucked me off being a baby out hunting and I broke my leg. I've had far too long to think about it and imagine every worst scenario.

He was absolutely fine and behaved impeccably.

I know that horrible feeling of not trusting them. Think positive.
 
Thanks everyone for your support - it is appreciated.

I think the weird thing is that I wasn't conscious of feeling apprehensive this morning - but perhaps I was and beastie picked up on it.

But then I guess everyone has peaks and troughs of confidence, no? A few weeks ago, I was pleased as punch to place 3rd in a jumping competition with about 20 entries...and then I had a jumping lesson shortly after where I jumped really, really badly, but wasn't sure why which made me feel a bit blue. Not the horse's fault, as he was trying to sort me out wherever he could, bless him.

Will try positive visualisation - and perhaps a wee bit of rescue remedy!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top