Got bucked off last night - long!

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Smallhorses

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Ok ok ok I know I know I know people will say I should have got back on but I just had this feeling it wasn’t the right thing to do.

I moved my new pony to his new home on Sunday. To get to the yard you have to drive along a track for about 300 yards, the horse’s fields are located eitherside. Then it goes into a narrow track surrounded by woodland and the actual stables/tack room is at the end of that track past a big metal gate that has a padlock which is a bugger to unlock. It can be a bit eery on your own.

On Monday I visited my pony, brought him from his field and led him to the yard. He was on his toes, quite alert and spooky. Totally expected. I got him to the yard where my partner was waiting having already unlocked the gate for me. I tacked him up, let him calm down a little and mounted. We went for a 15 min stroll rounds the woods, with my partner in front. It went very smoothly :)

Yesterday my partner wasn’t with me. I took him out of his field and got to the gate by the yard, spent 15 mins trying to open the damn thing but to no avail so I had to walk pony round the gate through a narrow walkway. He didn’t like it much as the ground is very uneven and he wasn’t sure footed :(

I tacked him up and as I could open the gate I couldn't mount using the yard mounting block so I had to walk him through that walk way again (which he didn’t like) and mounted him fro the otherside of the gate. I got on quite awkwardly and before I got my feet in the stirrups he rushed off. I tried to collect him but when I pulled back he ran off buckaroo’d and I tumbled off (clutching the reins so tight so I didn’t lose him). I fell into the brambles and stinging nettles. I’ve hurt my thigh and neck and I think I might have broken my big toe :( I know its all my fault.

I didn’t get back on after I fell, he was just all over the place and looked quite worried. I have been riding him for over a month at his old place and he was fine (obviously) so I know its not because he doesn't like me! Instead I walked him round the yard a few times to get to know the place and put him back in his field where he toddled off and ate his hay :)

I would like to think that he wasn’t being nasty that he was just very unsure and just panicked. I would like to think that when I next get on him he won’t try and buck me off. I would like to think its just settleing in troubles. :eek:

Do I get on him again tonight, this time with my partner, or shall I leave it until the weekend when all my yard mates are there with their horses? :confused:
 
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is he used to going to new places i.e shows etc? if he was fine at his old home, it sounds like he hasnt settled yet ans i think you may have rushed him a bit? personally i would wait until he is calm with his surroundings and not jittery to handle before getting on. or try lunging to get any high spirits out before mounting!!! sorry to hear you hurt yourself but atleast you know he is usually ok to ride and its very early days at his new yard!
 
As he seems to be a bit of a nervy type from what you have said, i'd spend the next week, doing some ground work with him. Walking him in and out of the gate way etc.... really getting him used to his surroundings and then try riding again in a weeks time, or before if you feel he has chilled out a bit more.

Having only just moved him Sunday, it is still really early days. better to have the good experiences early on than bad ones.

If he needs exercise do as above suggested lunge him or ride him in a school.
 
i havent ridden mine, but i have noticed that its only just this last week that pink and fudge have been more at ease with the world, because they seem completely settled and into their routine. They allow me to do everything with them now and arent looking about the place and spooking. Maybe he just isnt settled yet as it hasnt been long. I would leave it for a bit until he is a bit calmer and more trusting with you. why dont you do some stuff around him on foot for a bit, get him really trusting you.
 
Definitely sounds like he hasn't settled yet - he has only been there 4 days!!! I would give him a couple of days of just leading him round, tying him up and grooming him etc before you ride him. Maybe lunge him if you have space to??

Some take ages to settle, some settle in a day. It won't be as bad but my mare took 3 months to settle in her new place (highly unusual and she is very mare-ish). I wouldn't rush into riding if you dont need to, I would just spend some quality time with him and let him get his bearings. Safer for both of you and better in the long run if you ask me :)

Good Luck, sure it will work out fine in the end!
 
I doubt it, it sounds like he let his nerves get the better of him rather than being naughty. If you are worried, get your partner to hold him and just mount him then get off and leave it without actually riding, you can thenincrease riding time/length that way?
 
Of course it is just nerves! Yours and his!

From what I recall you were one of the tallish (but not v heavy) people looking to ride a pony in order to get more confidence? Saddle looked wrong for you I think...

Worth getting that sorted out anyway so the little pony trying to carry you doesn't associate being ridden with unbalanced (and therefore uncomfortable) weights.

But this sounds like you're not confident with the gate yet (and he will have picked up on that and any frustration) let alone the pony. Then you climb on to the poor little thing awkwardly.

I know horses (even your pony!) can seem big and scary but most need us to look after them. You have to be brave enough for two.

Good luck.
 
Smallhorses said:
My partner says I need to ride him tonight to get my confidence back. Just a short walk. He'll walk in front. I might do that.
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be careful about trying too much too soon, becasue if it goes wrog again, you could really struggle getting confidence back as it seems you have lost quite alot already. Its better imo to go too slowly than too fast. You have years together, make them good ones by gaining his trust slowly.
 
I am a fairly nervous rider and lose my confidence incredibly quickly! Personally I would get on him this afternoon but not rush him. Perhaps if your partner is there just go for a 5 minute walk and leave it at that - more for your confidence and just so you know you have done it. Then I would follow the advice of spending time just really letting him settle and feel confident in his surroundings and then get back on.

I love the idea that you have to be brave enough for two - I am going to use that with my boy :)
 
I agree with justjoules, if you are already a little nervous the longer you leave it to get back on the less you're likely to want to get back on.

As others have said, there is nothing wrong with taking very small steps to give you and pony confidence.
 
That fact that he toddled off to happily eat his hay, I'd say he's forgiven you already! Don't stress, a few "teething problems" are to be expected, he's still new to you plus a new yard. I'm sure once you both have confidence in each other there will be no stopping you :D
 
Smallhorses said:
I didn’t get back on after I fell, he was just all over the place and looked quite worried. I have been riding him for over a month at his old place and he was fine (obviously) so I know its not because he doesn't like me! Instead I walked him round the yard a few times to get to know the place and put him back in his field where he toddled off and ate his hay :)

I would like to think that he wasn’t being nasty that he was just very unsure and just panicked.
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Look at it another way -. He was worried and scared in his new environment. You were hurt and worried too. You were on your own with no support. You were sensitive to his fears and acknowledged this by your actions which said, 'its ok, I understand this is all too difficult for you today, so we'll do what you can manage'.
You took the pressure off, took a step back and worked at the level where you could both succeed. Positive result.
Tomorrow is a new start. Have OH with you and if pony is calm, go for a short ride, if it doesn't feel right, tack him up and go for a walk with you and OH chatting and relaxed. Pony will sense your 'normality' and gain confidence from that. Alternatively, see if anyone from the yard would go out with you on a baby hack to help your boy to settle in.
 
Not sure that trying him a couple of times before purchasing him a week ago is really the same as riding him regulary for over a month!!
It seems to me that you are scared of him. Just get on and ride him once he is settled in. Although, if you are moving him again in couple of weeks, then that might well unsettle him more. Sounds like he'll know when he can get away with things, so best to nip it in the bud now, rather than fart arse around.
 
horserider said:
Look at it another way -. He was worried and scared in his new environment. You were hurt and worried too. You were on your own with no support. You were sensitive to his fears and acknowledged this by your actions which said, 'its ok, I understand this is all too difficult for you today, so we'll do what you can manage'.
You took the pressure off, took a step back and worked at the level where you could both succeed. Positive result.
Tomorrow is a new start. Have OH with you and if pony is calm, go for a short ride, if it doesn't feel right, tack him up and go for a walk with you and OH chatting and relaxed. Pony will sense your 'normality' and gain confidence from that. Alternatively, see if anyone from the yard would go out with you on a baby hack to help your boy to settle in.
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:):):)
 
was this the pony that bolted the other day?? may have got the wrong pony? Is this the pony that you were asking if it was too small for you and there were comments about the saddle? if so, im sure you mentioned that this pony was really strong and had bolted before or ran off with you or something along those lines???? and it had a worcester noseband attached to a wilkie bit. what bit is in him now? and did you fit a new saddle? Also, im sure you only said you tried this pony a couple of times at his previous home or have I misread something somewhere?
 
I rode him 4 times on very long hacks across the forest prior to buying. I initially just rode him for fun. It was only after when I decided to buy him. He had lots of people riding him before and after my turn.

He got excited walking through a ford and ran up the bank on the otherside. He is strong. He is still in the same bit.

I have the saddler coming in 2 weeks.

I don't think he bolted, I just think it was a bad situation. I don't think this is what he's like generally.
 
If all tack fits ok i would say it was probably due to you mounting in an awkward way, this can unerve an unsettled horse make sure when you get back on someone is there and your horse is calm and you are mounting from a sensible place.

I have a horse who can become upset if you dont mount him quietly and lightly and he sounds temp wise a bit like yours quite flighty and can be strong and has a tendency to bolt forwards if unsure.
I am sure if you take it all slowly and calmly it will be fine.
 
I'm afraid to say I think bakedbean has hit the nail on the head. I think you'll need to be really careful with the choice of saddle (and saddle fitter) to get soemthing that suits you both.

Until you can get the saddle fitter out I'd keep off him and spend the time walking him out in hand, making sure he's confident in you and really responsive to voice commands - re-teaching him "walk" "steady" "stand" and "trot" will not be time wasted once you come to ride him.
 
Can I make another suggestion? Get the lock situation sorted out so you can go in and out the yard easily or invest in a mobile mounting block so that you can get on without putting unnecessary pressure on the pony's back.

Personally I wouldn't ride again until you have a saddle that fits. Spend the time doing in hand work and getting to know each other better.
 
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