Is this normal after a fall ?

PurplePickle

PurplePickle

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to feel exceptionally deflated and not able to concentrate on anything...

I have been breaking in slowly my 3yo, shes a big cob and we have just been taking it slow, so far riding at walk and long reining and lunging , shes had time off being freezemarked

Ive posted before about her being occasionally funny about things behind her but yesterday feeling confident I thought we were ready to try a little trot under saddle

trot turned to buck turned to bronk bronk bronk and out the side door i went

not wanting to leave it on that note i gave it 10 mins, saw all was ok and got back on with husband at side, we had a little walk, then i asked for stand, she wasnt standing, i got nervous, she went, 5/6 bronks until she got me off, i tried hard to stay on but it wasn't happening. After this battered and bruised checked her over and found her lame on near side hind, although i think this was a symptom of the paddy not a cause.

Today I feel like I cant ever get back on any horse again, already got people whispering sell sell in my ear give up etc which I am just ignoring for now.

I don't know being so young whether I should just give her time off and start again and hope she forgets it or really that I cant cope with her and move her on, but also I don't want her going anywhere with this potential problem and being passed about.

Getting vet out to check and she already has teeth and saddle checked regularly as I wanted to do everything I could to make it all a nice experience for her, now I just feel like a big fat failure (not to sound too dramatic)
 
I think its perfectly normal - she's given you a fright. There are several ways to tackle it - go back to your ground work with her until you are friends again and you can't wait to get back on; get some experienced help (who is willing to ride her for you) and let them deal with moving up the paces until she is more confident, or turn her away until next spring and start again then. Big cobs can still be big babies at three and she is probably still finding her balance and perhaps momentarily unable to cope with a rider at trot. You will know what feels the best way forward for you and you're obviously not keen to sell so only take advice from those you really trust (says she having just given advice!)
 
Get a professional involved. If you're having issues at this stage, seek someone who is used to breaking in tricky horses who can sit the bronching and get through it. It would be much, much more of a failure to continue after a warning like this, and end up with a serious problem, than it is to pass her training on to a pro for a little while, and have her back when she's more established.
 
It's always disappointing when things go wrong. I guess maybe you just pushed her a little too soon and out of her comfort zone. However as you then got nervous so did she hence the second reaction. I do suggest you get some help in with her and take things back a few steps. For starters if she is nervous about having anyone/thing behind her then this needs working on from the ground before you consider even getting you or anyone else on board again.
 
Sorry you've had a fright, its never nice...
I agree with those saying possibly get a pro/experienced friend involved but if you want to do it all yourself a tip I was once given that works well is you very securely tie boots filled with straw to the stirrups which are tied to the girth and lunge her (natural horsemanship style :p ). This means the boots have a bit of weight and will move a little bit but when she starts broncing she wont get them off, so she wont learn that its an easy way to get out of doing work
 
Perfectly normal to feel like this so don't beat yourself up about it.

In terms of the horse...what kind of preparation was there in her groundwork for carrying weight during trot and canter?

I ask this because I have always insisted on working horses before backing with weights on the saddle. Through every horse or pony I have ever backed, they have done work with a "dummy" rider, flapping legs and arms. I have simulated falls to get horses use to that and to teach them not to bolt when it happens. I also tie two very heavy haynets to the either side of the saddle and work the horses with those to introduce weight and get them accustomed to balancing with weight in the saddle.
It might all sound daft, but it desensitises them to all the different feelings they will get. I also tend to do my first trot and canter work following a lead. First trot in a straight line, maybe three or four strides then big reward, get off and leave it at that for the day.

If you haven't done prep work like this, it is possible that the different sensation of weight distribution just freaked her out and she reacted. Perhaps it would be an idea to send her to a trainer for a week or two just to make sure she is taken past this reactionary stage, turn her away for a bit and then send back to trainer for a month before you take over again...just to get the basics done.

Really sorry you had such an awful experience but it doesn't have to mean the end. However...there is no shame ever, in deciding that a horse is just not right for you and selling in favour of something more established.
 
thanks all, GG I hadn't done anything re weight I had done desensitizing around and behind her but a friend also suggested same thing you just have and FinkleyGladiator.

I had a bit of a bad experience with a 'professional' before and have broken in ponies previously hence going it alone but I do believe you've probably hit the nail on the head about freaking out. Hoping that tomorrow is another day, we had been getting on exceptionally well till this point

The only other thing and I have no idea if it affects this at all but she has become top dog out of our two horses since the 3rd one left, and at 3 I don't think this is the best of ideas, shes always been respectful of what I ask of her but I wonder if its doing something negative?
 
PurplePickle said:
thanks all, GG I hadn't done anything re weight I had done desensitizing around and behind her but a friend also suggested same thing you just have and FinkleyGladiator.

I had a bit of a bad experience with a 'professional' before and have broken in ponies previously hence going it alone but I do believe you've probably hit the nail on the head about freaking out. Hoping that tomorrow is another day, we had been getting on exceptionally well till this point

The only other thing and I have no idea if it affects this at all but she has become top dog out of our two horses since the 3rd one left, and at 3 I don't think this is the best of ideas, shes always been respectful of what I ask of her but I wonder if its doing something negative?
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It could potentially make her feel she can just tell you to f off as she will the other horse but you can keep on top of this through your handling.

Just don't ride again for a bit. Go back to ground work and use tips provided in this thread to get her used to weight and different feelings.

I know what you mean about professionals. I am not a fan either and did consider it for my 4 yr old after my fall, but I just can't find anyone I trust enough, so she is turned away until I can ride again. I'm different in that that fall was the result of her getting an almighty scare and just not being strong enough to correct herself, so I am not fearful that she will do it again. I am only fearful that I still can't sit in a car for more than 10 minutes before my back swells up again so no way I can ride yet.

You'll get there, you obviously know what you're doing, just maybe slow it down a bit. xx
 
I would go back a couple of steps, use some of your groundwork tools for a couple of weeks and incorporate some leaning over so you can jump off if necessary then get back on again. Make sure she is happy with swinging stirrups, being touched all over while on the move and take it for there

Trotting is maybe just too much for her at the moment, 3 is so very young.

I wouldn't turn her away, I was always told never to turn away when things are going badly
 
Wheels said:
I would go back a couple of steps, use some of your groundwork tools for a couple of weeks and incorporate some leaning over so you can jump off if necessary then get back on again. Make sure she is happy with swinging stirrups, being touched all over while on the move and take it for there

Trotting is maybe just too much for her at the moment, 3 is so very young.

I wouldn't turn her away, I was always told never to turn away when things are going badly
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Thanks feeling a bit more human today, going to start back with ground work once I can move properly again, I did do a fair bit of things including stirrups down etc hence feeling it was time specially as she is walk, trot, canter to voice so well. But will go back a bit and start again
 
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