Nearly came a cropper

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traceyann

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After nearly falling of my spanish horse nothing he done just one of those things. Im having falling of lessons with him today. As last time i was on the floor he tried to stamp on me. I will fall of at one point and i need to know what hes going to do. So armed with three friends and indoor school and all the protection i can muster we are going to have a falling off day to see how he reacts. Hes back to being really good at the moment and its his next step of training and i also want to try and train him to stay with me if i do come of as i hack alone alot. I hope i can give an update later how he got on.
 
Please be very careful.

I am an equestrian rolling and breakfall instructor (possibly the only one in the UK) and I DO NOT use horses when training people to fall. I teach people how to react and what physical positions they need to adopt, but it is almost impossible to demonstrate or teach people using a real horse.

If you are trying to desensitise you horse to having something on the ground near his feet, then I would have thought a dummy of some sort, even dressed in your riding clothes, would be a far safer bet.

I admire you attitude, but am worried by your methods.

Please stay safe.
 
I have thought of a dummy if im honest but he trusts nobody except me a little so im hoping because its me he not going to stamp on me. And hes a nervous horse so dont think id get a dummy near him but it did cross my mind.
 
Today didnt go well he will still try and kill me if im on the floor thank god for my friends in the end we did a dummy to try and help his fear over people laying on the floor still didnt go well. Im not giveing up we have to make a new dummy as he has trashed her. Im thinking of leaving a dummy in his stable and see how that goes once he knows dummy dont fight back he might give up. I need to get this sorted because if i ever fall of and cant get up quick enough im going to be in trouble. Apart from that he was really good with everything else.
 
Traceyann,

Your posts worry me :-(. It is obvious that you totally love this horse and I'm sure with his breeding he will be a stunning creature BUT it is your life at stake, I for one certainly would not be throwing myself off a horse to see how he cope and if he will try and stamp on me :-{. Sounds like he needs an awful lots of desensitisation before you get that far, if you ever do.

I know you think he only trusts you and you feel responsible for him but please don't put yourself in that position.
 
^^ Agree. I think if I had a horse like this I would be looking at professional help and a prescribed program of desensitisation that does not risk your safety and which is tailored to this particular horse.
 
Sorry to sound harsh but your methods sounds crazy too me!

Have you considered that you may 'inadvertently' train him to stamp on fallen riders as are only frightening him more?

I would be looking for professsional help if it is that much of an issue....
 
The best thing I have found is not to fall off!!!!! I don't get 'attacked' when I do but I have been thrown off and landed heavily on several occasions causing me to require hospital/medical attention (concussion, dislocations, winding), even in a hat and BP, so NOT something I plan on doing anywhere and especially not when out hacking alone on the roads!!!! So I have a strap on my saddle for the odd (thankfully, now rare) time horsey does a buckaroo, or has a spooky spinny day, or it's windy and there are some Carrier Bags of Doom stuck in a hedge or something.
You can get those RStor handle thingies as well. Why not get something like that - then you can cling on - rather than fall off!!!!
Falling off hacking is also very dangerous for the horse, not to mention other road users - far better to stay on and regain control than have a loose horse potentially running about in front of cars. Think of the consequences... Falling off is not an option.
 
Tracyann... sometimes I think you're brave and determined... other days I think you're certifiable and very occasionally- dangerous!

today you are squarely sat in the final box.

Your horse needs to know you will save him in the event of dragons- not fall on the floor! teach him you are safe enough to warrent his trust! don't throw yourself under his feet!
 
When i fell in the field he reared at me and tried to land on me my cob saved me that time. It was always something i was going to deal with the Two of people i was with are instructors as well as friends I didnt know this was his vice until the time in the field. Like everything else he will get over this it is just his training a bit earlier than i wanted to start because i nearly came of and also want to train him to stay with me out hacking. Iv done the same with my other three horses and all stay with me if i come off. I will be useing a dummy from now on and not myself i think that was a bit stupid i agree.
 
I agree with the not falling of but he fell over on his side in the mud no one was to blame one of those things grim death kept me on him best intentions in the world i am going to come of one day. I want to be prepared.
 
I am terribly sorry to sound harsh and I don't mean to offend you but, I have been following all of your posts.

I can't help but think are you for real?

If you are, then you are being incredibly mad about the whole situation with this horse.

A human life is precious and you appear to be very reckless with this horse. You will get hurt if you carry on.

Once again, I don't mean to upset you but you need to wake up and smell the coffee
 
I'm afraid I would have given up on him long ago. Sorry if that seems harsh.

His attacks on you so far have been well beyond biting the hand that feeds you, IMO...

I wish you all the best with him but I cannot bring myself to read any more posts regarding him as I genuinely fear for your wellbeing.
 
We have worked really hard with him the last two months despooking walking over plastic bursting ballons open umbrellas past bins and bin bags even carried a bin bag while on him and even had children running round him screaming at a safe distance we have thrown everything at him. The falling thing was always going to happen but we decided to do it a bit sooner after my close call. I always have at least two experience people with me. And for the first time farrier came he wasnt sedated and he didnt box him thats a real breakthough. We are still going to carry on the despooking and dummy work. I dont come of often but do want to be prepared. If honest if i had the same near fall with the three others i would have bailed but know i cant with him. Im so determined with him he is going to get better he has no life as he is my next step is trying to get other experience people near him and able to catch him he can not keep expecting me to do everything for him And would love a hoilday this year and cant at the moment.
 
neddynesbitt said:
I am terribly sorry to sound harsh and I don't mean to offend you but, I have been following all of your posts.

I can't help but think are you for real?

If you are, then you are being incredibly mad about the whole situation with this horse.

A human life is precious and you appear to be very reckless with this horse. You will get hurt if you carry on.

Once again, I don't mean to upset you but you need to wake up and smell the coffee
Click to expand...

I was thinking exactly the same thing, you must have a very understanding farrier to put up with being attacked as well ?!
Kx
 
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