Had a fall now confidence slipping away help!

[dilbert]

Possibly a many one I'm afraid.....

Cob has lots of EPSM type difficulties which have meant that he's been on and off with work for the three years I've had him while I tried to get to the bottom of it etc. finally bit the bullet and decided that I would get a second ridden cobby type so I can try and have a go at the things I want to do, local shows, x country schooling, pleasure rides etc in the hope that eventually I will have two fit boys to play with. New pony comes tomorrow.

So yesterday, nice day and decide to go for a hack with two pals from the yard, we've hacked with them loads. Cob felt well which was nice and unusual. Not others by any of the balloons and bunting, seemed happy to trot, even wanted to canter. Lovely, I was really chuffed.

On the way back theres a lovely stretch where when he's well he loves to go flat out and race the front horse. Tbh he's not fancies this for over a year. Front horse normally goes through the gate and waits for us. Yesterday she didn't. Her horse just bogged off. My cob had to wait for our friend behind to catch us up.

He bucked while we waited for her to do the gate ( very unusual) then when I started to trot and then canter he felt like he exploded farting and bucking, threw me off, farted and bucked sme more and then galloped off. Overtook the front horse who was by now a spot in the distance went a bit further and then we now know stopped and grazed lol.

I banged my head and ive hurt my left side from shoulder to ankle and I'm feeling a bit shaky confidence wise. When we caught up with him he let me mount no problem and I rode him back ( maybe 30mins or more) and even had a few tiny trots ( forced myself too to see if he'd do anything) . I'm sure the bucking was excitement / frustration and feeling too well and not pain related...

So, apart from the waffling ( I'll blame the bump to the head) , can any one offer any words of wisdom re my confidence? It's my first real fall off him in the three years I've had him and although I used to tumble nearly every week when I was young my body was a lot bouncier!

 

[sleepykitten]

In my opinion fwiw, horses always do something for a reason.

I am like you and struggle a bit with confidence and my mare bucks me off from time to time

Each time though, there has been a reason for it, the last time was in a lesson and she had a sore back, so got a McTimoney Practitioner out and good as new!

It helps my confidence if I can explain to myself why it happened, and then I realise how not to let it happen again! In the first instance, I would get him checked in case he has pain somewhere, especially as he's been in and out of work, he may be compensating somewhere for pain now, or even remembered pain. If you rule that out, then perhaps it was just high jinks, in which case, its because he is feeling really well and wants to let you know about it!

In this case, perhaps he just got a little carried away with himself, and if he's been down in the dumps for a while, perhaps you can forgive him

Either way, I would still get the usual checks done just to rule out pain.

Good luck with them both

 

[claribella]

Ah hope you aren't in too much pain today and well done for getting back on again!

I would suggest perhaps getting some lessons with someone you trust. I always feel more confident when I have my instructor round. She knows just how much to push me and I need pushing or I barely do anything.

I find when I come off I have to learn to trust my girl all over again so I spend lots of time doing groundwork with her and then go right back to basics so spending lots of time walking and then maybe a little trot. Just take it really slow.

Also try and not to think of the fall too much. I find I am very good at over thinking things and then it becomes much bigger in my mind and the mind can be very good at holding you back.

I am much more cautious now I have a family and I also find the falls affect me far more now than they did when I was younger. My body can't take it like it used to. That sounds like I fall off all the time! Lol!

 

[claribella]

Also forgot to say, have you had him checked recently like back etc. and also my girl did the exact same thing the other day but I had no stirrups because I had just moved a massive branch from the bridle way. I don't know what scared her but she was hell bent on going home just as I was inches away from getting my bum in the saddle. E were on a new route under lots of blowy trees and she just went. Eventually got her to stop whilst trying to stay in the saddle and trying to not tense up lol! I'm not the best of riders so actually staying on through this ordeal was an achievement for me lol!

 

[dilbert]

Thanks he's regularly checked by a multitude of people as I'm slightly neurotic in that respect so don't think it's pain related . When there have been pain issues in the past his response is to be understandably very reluctant to work. View of the rider behind was that he was very lively and feeling rather well.

 

[Welshboy]

I think he's feeling very well at the moment (better than usual). He did not like being held back while lead horse 'bogged' off hence the first buck, then when you let him go he was so overwhelmed/excited with the need to catch up he bucked....

There's many horses/ponies who you'd struggle to keep back in that situation. So, he was a good boy for being held back to wait for rider behind! But, poss just got too overwhelmed / worried by other horses disappearance over the horizon.

Bad behaviour from rider in front, in my opinion!!


With regards to confidence, this is not usual behaviour for 'cob' and you've not come off him before. There's no reason he'll do it again. Do not ride with a horse that'll clear off and leave (more nervous) riders behind. If you think he's feeling well & might have a little extra energy lunge him for a few mins before you ride him next time. Next time you canter him choose an uphill place (is poss), wait for him to be tired (lol) and put him in the lead!