Horse going to kill himself one day. please help

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opgr1234

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Everytime I fall off my horse he makes a run for it. He always goes home and luckily everytime i have fallen off him so far we've been fairly close to home. (well, under a mile across fields). Yesterday he did it and made himself lame galloping back but what i'm really worried about is what he'd do if i came off on a road or he found his way on to a road. Has anybody else hd this problem and what did you do? I will try to keep hold of him but once i've hit the floor i find it hard to hang on, especially if im in a tangle underneath those big iron clad feet. I know there must be some training i can do to get him to stand when i fall but i dont know where to start! any help much appreciated! thanks
 
Ok this is going to sound harsh, but WHY do you keep falling off?
I know that sometimes it's unavoidable, but seriously what are you doing (esp if out hacking) that its putting you in a weak position. I would remedy your position and seat security, its nigh on impossible to make a horse stand still if you fall off.
I know what it is like,where I live there is only crops, and so if I fall off on hack (which has only happened two or three times)the horses are away.
 
If you're going to keep falling off all the time then you really shouldn't be out hacking, after all, it's YOUR responsibility to look after your horse so that he doesn't injure himself. I think you really ought to get some lessons to help with your riding as it sounds like you have a very insecure seat.
 
I have not fallen off him in the school so dont know how he would handle it. I have only fallen off him 3 times, and all of these were valid/stupid falls! hes pretty sharp and somedays im not quite quick enough. yesterday he was getting excited about something, jogging etc but i sat there a little too relaxed with loose reins (hindsight is a wonderful thing) and he sawa shadow or something, did a massive spin round spook and i just plopped off. the other times have been similar. not completely unavoidable but still inevitable!
 
Mine used to do this - we lost him overnight a couple of times which was hellish scary. He did grow out of it as he got more life experience. The first time I came off him (from canter) and he waited for me, it was quite an emotional moment ;)

Do as much bombproofing as possible with him. Also longreining - get him used to things flapping round him and maybe even start towaards driving training and get him dragging something on the ground. Lunge him with the stirrups down. We've got a large soft toy we use for breaking and we tie that onto the saddle hanging off to the side so that they learn the rider doesn't always sit neatly on top. Really work on the voice commands, too. This is probably one area where the bribery method of horse training comes in useful - get off at random points on your hack and feed him. If he knows you're a nice place to be even in the wide open world, he's more likely to seek you out if you part company.

The other thing, get him freezemarked somewhere obvious and make sure your saddle and bridle have your phone number on them. Joe public doesn't have a microchip scanner so if the worst does happen and you come off and someone finds him, you'll be reunited a lot quicker if their phone call to the police contains the words 'this horse has numbers on his side'.

It's all very well saying don't fall off, but it's a fact of life that you will come off at some point. I do feel your anxiety and I've been exactly where you are now.
 
I do not think there is any way to train your horse to stand still when you fall...it will panic them having you fall off, coupled with the reason for why they spooked in the first place. Horses are flight animals and run automatically.
I do think a few lessons to look at your position might help you though, you may not be riding deep enough in the saddle or if you are riding loosly to begin with you will be easily taken off guard.
If you have a spooky horse or one that is a bit sharp you need to be on top of them all the time and you need to be very alert to what is going on around you - potential problems or spooky things. If you are aware of them and make sure you have a good position, ready for trouble, with a deep seat, heels firmly down and not gripping with your knees, you should be able to sit most spooks and spins even from a trot.
I am far from a good rider and have a sharp, strong willed and sometimes downright stupid Welsh D who is pront to spooking at nothing very much and will leap about and spins right round. I came off a few times when I first had him and then got some lessons to sort my position out. I found that I was clamping my thighs on when riding and so this was helping to launch me out of the saddle easier...I also did not have my heels down properly. Once these items were fixed and my stirrups gradually lowered so I rode with a long leg I stayed on when he was stupid...even through rodeo bucking..that happens on occasion.
Might be worth a thought...a good instructor will sort out any problems like this in order to help, but in the meantime I would be on alert when riding your horse and concentrate on reading him or her so you can see the tensing before the spook happens and perhaps be a bit more ready. Good luck.
 
Like others have said I think it would be more productive to work on his spooking. Once he has spooked and thrown you off, he will be in a panic so it will be tough to teach him to stand still.

For the spooking: is he any better with another horse? R used to spin and piss off, but was better in company, so although we kept hacking alone we did more of the spooky hacks with a steady horse (also there is a chance the loose horse will stay with the other horse when you fall off). Until R learned not to spin he was never allowed to potter along on a loose rein and I had a neck strap on. A couple of fingers under the neck strap may make all the difference between sitting a spin or not. If you sit a few of his more violent spins, turn him back to face the thing that was worrying him and make him go past it, he will become more confident.
 
Nothing to add except one of mine always stands still when parted with his rider, no idea why though, I didn't train him to do it. Interestingly he is the spookiest and the one most likely to part with his rider. The others piss off like normal horses so I've no pearls of wisdom, it's certainly nothing I have done! :D
 
If you really wanted to train him to stand still then I think I'd be lungeing and teaching him the word 'STAND'. Maybe lunge him with a dummy rider on, and when it falls re-iterate the 'stand' so he learns that a) someone falling off isn't scary and b) that when you say 'stand', you MEAN 'stand'. Teach him it from walk, then trot, then canter and gallop. if he's food orientated then treat him when he does as asked and always carry treats on a hack.
 
I think you need to make sure you stay ON at all times!
Check you are - keeping your weight in your heels so you can't tip forward, having 'loose' legs so you don't grip and tip forward, keeping your head up so you don't tip forward, trying to relax your hands so your horse doesn't feel restricted.
My horse has a mean spin (and buck) and has got me off several times, although he is far worse in the school than out hacking. Being sick of falling off I now have a strap across the D rings of my saddle. I got it from Derby House. So when Mr Silly is pratting about I tuck my thumb under it, shove my heels down, sit up and then the bugger can spin all he likes but I stay in the saddle. Simple and effective!
 
I've seen a tv programme with Monty Roberts (pretty sure it was him), doing some training of a pony re. the rider coming off, including if the rider is dragged. As EstherYoung says above, they use a dummy so the horse learns that the rider is not always up on top and nice and neat, plus voice commands.
 
I had this problem with a new horse who was expert at canter canter, head down, shoulder in HALT!!

In the end I learned to expect the manoevre and sat back >g< but until then I made sure I kept hold of the reins.

Good luck.
 
MrsMozart said:
I've seen a tv programme with Monty Roberts (pretty sure it was him), doing some training of a pony re. the rider coming off, including if the rider is dragged. As EstherYoung says above, they use a dummy so the horse learns that the rider is not always up on top and nice and neat, plus voice commands.
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I saw that too, it was on the horse and country channel once
 
TBH short term, I think it might be prudent to teach your self to hold onto the reins (within reason), I was taught from a young age (and riding at my families trekking centre) if you come back - don't you EVER come back without the horse.

So you better believe we held onto those ponies if we fell off!! That said the ponies were acustomed to people falling off and would only drag us a few steps.

Nowerdays that lesson has stayed with me and I never let go of the reins!
 
Kitsune said:
That said the ponies were acustomed to people falling off and would only drag us a few steps.
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Being dragged by a horse/pony can be so unbelievably dangerous... If you got your hand caught in the reins you could end up with some horrific injuries. My mum worked in trauma theatres for a long time (she's a doc) and saw a girl who it happened to... her shoulder was dislocated and her arm was broken- the bone broke through the skin.. major trauma surgery... I'm not saying don't hold on but just be careful :)
 
I suppose you can't help what you do to keep your horse and other road users safe. I'd happilly break my wrist/arm/shoulder in the process of holding onto my horse on the road or out hacking.
 
Jolly well learn not to let go of him in the first place!
From what you wrote, it sounds like you just slop along not paying attention and he takes advantage. Learn to keep your mind on the job and look for the telltale signs he's going to have a go.
Everyone falls off once in a while but you seem to be making a habit of it and to always lose him is abysmal, shows you're learning nothing.
Sorry to be harsh but this should be a wake up call, next time, horse could be dead under a truck or worse, have badly injured or killed a person. You've been lucky so far but it won't last if you don't start thinking and reacting quicker. Think about learning emergency stops when you started driving, that's how quick your reactions need to be so get in the school and start getting transistions sharp and clear, no delayed reactions and no taking your mind off the job. Be sharp. When you dismount as normal, make a habit of being sharp and holding tight to those reins so that it's a natural reaction and do it from both sides too, you won't always fall off the same side! I used to be awful for coming off over a shoulder, landed on some glass once, that was painful so you soon learn to get your reactions quicker to avoid things like that.
 
Kitsune said:
I suppose you can't help what you do to keep your horse and other road users safe. I'd happilly break my wrist/arm/shoulder in the process of holding onto my horse on the road or out hacking.
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Completely fair enough... I think I would probably do the same when you put it like that :)

OP- Ditto what others have said about short reins and concentrate at all times :)
 
i really sympathise.... ive been the same position having come off with a spin on a hack. My horse used to do it all the time... and the same spin when refusing at fences often had me off. Its easy to say you should be able to sit it, but my horse managed to work in a rear and dip of shoulder into it and i was a gonner. he took off home through the spring barley:o

what really helped me was getting some lessons focusing on this prob. it turned out he always spun right, so first thing was to always have my stick in that hand. Second thing that helped was riding with little spurs, so that when the spooks came i could push him forward more effectively. Third thing that helped was learning to carry my hands and hold him.. im afraid it means no hacking out on a relaxed loose rein for a while but always have a contact and be ready to react. With a shorter rein and carrying your hands you are in a much better position to block, and always make sure you force him back round the way he turned.

i also have a dog id tag on my bridle with mine and my husbands mobile numbers...

i got to the stage where mine pretty much gave up on the spins;)

i hope this helps:)
 
Yeah its not ideal, as has resulted in awesome bum burns from tarmac, but, on the bright side the beast of bodmin always stops and looks at me as if to say
"Well, I can't run away with you hanging there can I?" :D That said, its only the once I fell off, which was enough to teach him to keep me safe lol

To the OP - also, I find (as well as obviously, concerntrating on what you are doing - we are all guilty of going away with the fairies but you need to concerntrate more than most it would seem!)

What is your saddle like and how are your stirrups? I find a saddle with a nice deep seat and stirrups long enough to help you wrap round the horse, help. Often those saddles with a shallow seat - and nice short stirrups are a nice way to get yourself shot out of the saddle if something goes wrong :) (think jockeys!) Obviously of course, make sure it fits the horse. But maybe food for thought.
 
Oh dear, I really feel for you. I used to find it difficult to hold onto the reins if I came off, because my reflexwais to put my hands out to stop myself, esp when the bucker I had would put his head between his legs to do it, then he'd back off sharply and pull the reins out of my - with half a tonne of horse pulling when you're on the floor, with the determined intent of running off, he'll win - every time.

I watched a friends horse stumble the other day and as she had lost concentration she plopped right off over his head, but still held on to the reins, superb.

My advice is to try riding with fuller contact, remember your outline, even with hacking, and wear gloves. Sometimes they get comfort from the riders direction/control, so "the theory is" they'll spook less. Be on your toes at all times so you're one step ahead of them. I have a divvy twonk Tb so this is a must for me, it's easy to become complacent when you're horse is 99% reliable.
It happens to us all that we loose concentration, mine spooked the other day and I lost the reins while seated!!! Just a moment's loss of concentration, that's all it took.

One other tip, I find a dressage saddle which encourages correct seat - and a saddle seat saver stops me slipping around.

Good luck. I think you did really well to come and ask for advice, if you don't ask, you don't learn :)

Be aware HOH's diplomacy and understanding in response goes a long way - and could save this horse's life.
 
Kitsune said:
Yeah its not ideal, as has resulted in awesome bum burns from tarmac, but, on the bright side the beast of bodmin always stops and looks at me as if to say
"Well, I can't run away with you hanging there can I?" :D That said, its only the once I fell off, which was enough to teach him to keep me safe lol

To the OP - also, I find (as well as obviously, concerntrating on what you are doing - we are all guilty of going away with the fairies but you need to concerntrate more than most it would seem!)

What is your saddle like and how are your stirrups? I find a saddle with a nice deep seat and stirrups long enough to help you wrap round the horse, help. Often those saddles with a shallow seat - and nice short stirrups are a nice way to get yourself shot out of the saddle if something goes wrong :) (think jockeys!) Obviously of course, make sure it fits the horse. But maybe food for thought.
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fab advice, forgot about stirrup length too:)
 
It is no fun when you are sat on the ground watching their backend disappear, no matter how you try it isn't always possile to hang on, even the best let go at times.

Teach him that "WHOA" means stop moving! NOW! Feet stay still, not just slow down or fiddle gradually to a halt when he feels like it.
It takes a while, and a LOT of groundwork, but it can be done:). I saw an impressive display of training at a rodeo last summer, a girl fell doing barrels and got her foot caught, if her horse hadn't stopped on her command the outcome could have been very nasty.
 
What some trainers suggest is to take him into the school and have a blanket or something largish and thick, but probably not as large as a rug. Keep hold of him and let the blanket drop to the floor, slowly and throw some treats on the blanket, and then show the horse the treats and let him eat them off the blanket. It will obviously need a bit of practice and he might need reasurrance at first if he is nervous of the blanket. Keep practicing this - so when the blanket drops to the floor the horse will stop and turn round to eat the treats. Practice from both sides, straight over the back. You need to break it down into small chunks and move on in stages. You might progress to a dummy - an old pair of jeans and sweatshirt stuffed with straw. It is supposed to work quite well but you have to start slowly and take time to train him and be very careful not to frighten him at any stage.

And I agree that it is not always easy to stick on. My horse is very quiet but one day I found myself on the floor with no prior warning of "I'm going to fall off" as a small child popped out from behind a hiding place and he just span round and left me on fresh air, or rather the ground!
 
Thanks for all the advice and support, nice to know some people have had the same problem. I think some of you now think im a useless lump who cant stay on and is a danger to others but thats not the case. im not fallling off regularly, its just that it happened yesterday and got me worrying. ok so it was my fault i wasnt paying enough attention but normally when he spooks i dont fall off, this was just a ott one that caught me off guard. but its not the falling off thats the problem its just the what happens if i do. of course i will try my hardest to stay on at all times but its stupid to think that id never fall off again, even with all the lessons money could buy. so rather than just trying to avoid it i want to make it safer. will definately start trying some of the things mentioned. thanks everyone!
 
You might also want to consider an irish martingale (I think that's the right name for them) - a strip that just links to two reins under the horse's neck, to help stop the reins going over his head and tripping him if the worst happens and he does get away from you.

I also find long stirrups make me so much more stable as well. And ditto getting him and your tack visibly marked so he is identifiable.
 
I dont think the hanging onto reins is what you need to be doing at this stage. You need to go back to very basic riding lessons and learn balance and to ride from your body and legs, forget about your hands right now. Can you find an instructor who will teach you how to use your body correctly? Riding without reins in a school will help you but I dont know if instructors teach this any more. You need to treat the cause of the problem and the cause of the problem is your lack of balance.
 
I think most of the advice given is pretty valid and I think it would definately be worth you investing in some bombproof training and yourself in some lessons to re-adjust your position (perhaps on the lunge so you can just concentrate on yourself and not the horse)

the idea of using dummy to train him is also a good one...

take a look at your tack and make sure your saddle fits correctly so that it isn't catapolting you out of it should a sharp manouvre occur and also make sure your horse is clad head to toe in high vis so that should he hit a road, he can be seen...

also re the holding on when you fall off, yes it is sometimes possible but if you have a slightly more irrational horse it can be nigh on impossible to hang on... especially when they're dancing a jig on top of you... I've been there... twice (different horses).
 
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