Horse going to kill himself one day. please help

MFH9 said:
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.
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I agree with this, I had a very sharp and spooky horse a few years ago who was very light weight and narrow with no neck or shoulder. He was an expert at stopping dead, spinning round and trying to take off in the opposite direction without any warning. Bombproofing him would not have made a difference as I think he spooked to amuse himself. I only fell off this horse three times in three years of ownership, twice out hunting (I allowed myself to get too forward over fences and was tipped off over the shoulder on landing) and once when SJing, he never got me off out hacking.

You need to keep your weight right down in your heels, keep your upper body upright and be ready to snatch up the reins in an instant. Go back to basics, have some lunge lessons to improve your postion and balance and try not to fall off in the first place! :)
 
I have a massive fear of losing my horse and I'm known for literally never letting go - whether falling into a fence, water tray or being bucked off - the reins always come with me. Whilst being something I can't really control, I've found that my horse generally stops dead when I fall and it actually stopped him bucking. Have you tried making a real effort to hold on? He might learn it's better to stop and avoid being yanked in the mouth?
 
I'd advise anyone who hacks that it's a good idea to have some form of ID on your horse in case you part company! Even if you only go in company that's not to say that your horse won't leg it!

I do a lot of hacking alone (as I have no one to go with :-( ) so I got a dog collar tag engraved which is attached to the D ring of my saddle. I figured this was better than the bridle as it's much harder for a horse to lose a saddle than a bridle! It has where the horse lives, my mobile number, a friend's phone number and the vet's phone number on it.

I've never fallen off out hacking, but even on the safest horse you never know what could happen.
 
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