Have you ever thought your horse TRIED to keep you on?

My big warmblood is prone to some silly buggers out hacking (really should know better at the age of 19), but I can tell that he would be absolutely mortified if he dropped me. If he throws himself sideways at the sight of his own shadow, he always waits and checks I'm still in place before doing anything else. Once, when we were walking round a field, he got frightened by a cyclist in super-bright Lycra appearing suddenly on the other side of the hedge. He did the most ridiculously slow shuffle round so he was facing in the direction of home, galloped about two strides and then settled down into a determined collected canter - it was as if to say, "Don't worry, I've saved us from the terrifying hedge monster, we are now returning home at a reasonably sedate pace." I was laughing so much, I couldn't stop!

Likewise, someone, at some point early in his education, has clearly spent a lot of time with him in the school teaching him that if someone loses their balance or a stirrup, it's best to slow gently and stop. I am truly, truly grateful to that person - what a good idea to include that in a young horse's education.
 
NO i can honestly say i have never thought that!! i can confirm however, that im 200% sure my horse has forgotten im on board, and does have the genuine look of shock and horror as im sat on the floor looking up at him!!!!!!
 
Yes, my horse is a bit of an angel (haven't fallen off in about 8 years despite not being particularly competent.)

XC, a particularly horrible fence consisting of a big open ditch with a much higher landing than takeoff, one stride then a BIG drop with an immediate sharp right hand turn. My horse is always underconfident with drops and tends to launch. Anyway, he hesitated before the ditch and then took off, upwards, with all 4 feet at once. I landed at the top sitting in front of the saddle giving him a big cuddle ;) I thought he would stop at the drop but no! He ever so gently stepped down keeping his neck up and then stopped at the bottom for me to sort myself out.

I was very lucky to stay on, can still picture looking directly at the ground from a very long way up on top of the drop!

He has also positioned himself next to a xc jump so I could use my hand to help push me back up when I ended up with both legs on the same side of the horse and my head a foot from the ground. He had refused the jump though so it was the least he could do!

I have both incidents on video and still can't believe I stayed on. :)
 
A couple of years ago I was hacking a home-bred 3 year old filly for the first time. She was going beautifully when her 'sensible' companion (aged 19!) spooked and ran up her a*se, frightening her and setting off a couple of big bucks!! I was half-way off and looking down at the tarmac when she jumped back under me and scooped me up! I don't fall easily these days - so was more than grateful!

So much so that - having sold her to someone who then sold her on to a MOST unsuitable home - I bought her back when she looked like she might fall on hard times! Sadly, she'd lost ALL confidence in the rider - and is not anywhere NEAR as nice to hack as she was as a baby - but she's slowly regaining confidence!
 
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