Ouch

[Bert&Maud]

I took my boy for a hack on Friday, as the weather had calmed down after all the wind. He set off OK, along the lane, and then we turned up a track up a hill. I noticed two guys getting out of a 4wd who started to walk up the hill a short way behind me, I could hear them talking but couldn't see them. Horse became a bit tense because he could hear them as well. He then brushed against a fallen branch, which snapped with a "crack" and presumably touched him as well, and that was it .......... he shot off up the hill in a series of enormous bucks. I stayed with him for a few, but lost the battle eventually and hit the deck. I landed on the top of my back, but he clocked me with his foot on my ribs as he turned, he galloped off home along the road. The chaps who were walking behind came to my rescue, helped me back to their car and took me towards home, on the way I found that someone had seen the horse coming and headed him off into a field and shut the gate. So I caught him and took him home. Extremely sore that night, could not get comfortable to sleep, so went to A&E yesterday to find I have cracked a couple of ribs. I'm still sore even though I'm now stuffed full of painkillers. A friend rode him yesterday, and did a little jumping. He knocked one down, and his response to that was the same, in that he tried to shoot off bucking again. So this is obviously his response to fear or anxiety. He is 6, I've only had him 3 months but have come to the conclusion that he had done very little before I got him. Apart from this, and his annoying habit of walking backwards when I try to get on (see previous posts!) he is a lovely little horse that I want to persevere with. However, I'm now even more nervous that I was, which, for an obviously sensitive horse is not helpful. So I'm trying to find a way of helping both of our confidence. I'm thinking of asking my friend (very experienced and confident) to hack him out once a week or so, and just stick to schooling and hacking in company myself for a while. Has anyone else any experience of cracked ribs. How long until you were riding again. I think I will invest in a body protector, which make is the most comfortable - or should I say least uncomfortable! Also reading about Oxyshot calmer, and wondering if a shot of this before I hack him out might just lessen his anxiety a little so he doesn't react in such an extreme way. Any tips or experiences would be gratefully received! It's not an option to sell him, I have also posted on here a while ago that he's been found to have sarcoids, so I can't afford to sell him.

 

[Abbeygale]

Oww! Poor you! I would deffo just stick to hacking in company for the time being. It sounds a lot like he isn't intending to be nasty, but is really lacking in confidence himself. You would probably find just by hacking out in company you will relax in the saddle which will help him to relax. Also try some breathing exercises while you are riding - I think that if you inhale for the count of 5 and exhale for like the count of 7 this will help to relax you - its something to do with the longer exhale time. (I know there are some clever sorts on here who know all about it!)

Maybe think about going back to doing some ground work with him as well, so that he knows that he can trust you completely. This has helped me hugely in the past.

Hope the pain killers kick in soon!

 

[FestiveFuzz]

I fractured my rib whilst I was at university and was told not to surf or snowboard (as at the time I didn't have a horse at uni) for 8 weeks. The doctor should be able to tell you how long you should wait before riding. But in my experience it can take a while to heal and hurts like hell in the meantime, although the painkillers did take the edge off it for me.

Hope you're feeling better soon

 

[NeilM]

I have cracked ribs on several occasions over a 25 year Martial Arts career (my own and other peoples

) You will be pretty sore for two to three weeks, but you should be pretty much healed up in six to eight.

To be honest, I used to carry on training, but my sensei's warped sense of humour meant I used to have to guard the cracked side especially well

As far as your horse is concerned, I am also building up the confidence of a green 6 yo. Hack out with others, especially a more experienced or unflappable horse & rider. Also, walk him out on his own in hand, to the places you are going to ride. When you do this, try to make the routes into a circuit, so that you don't have to turn back, and stick to a couple of different routes until he is fine with them and then extend them a little.

The other thing I have done is to walk part of the route (usually part of the outward leg) and then mount up and ride home. Don't be afraid to hop off in order to lead him past something scary, or a spot he naps at, and then remount, this has really worked well for me.

Lots of praise when he makes a little progress, and a little something to eat as a reward when he gets back home.

My chap throws his head round and naps like crazy when he is nervous. It looks like yours bucks. Also, talk or sing to him whilst you are out (I don't sing, as I have to walk through a village, and the nice men with white coats would cart me off, but I do chat to him). Some people don't agree with this, but I have talked him through (or perhaps I've talked ME through) a couple of pretty hairy moments.

Lots and lots of patients is required, and a calm head.

Good luck, it is a sometimes frustrating but very rewarding process, both with the horse and the ribs

 

[em1]

Re body protectors - I've just bought a Racesafe RS2000 & find it really comfortable - I actually feel that I can ride properly in it, unlike my last one which was like wearing two slabs front and back. They also come in different back lengths, which is great for a shorty like me!

 

[Booboos]

Like NeilM suggested, I sing! I don't care what people think because it is really helpful. If I am thinking about the song I not concentrating on what might go wrong and you can't sing unless your breathing is even, which really helps (clearly when the horse is nervous, I am nervous, then my breathing gets rapid which makes the horse more nervous). I would thoroughly recommend it, even if you come across as a bit loopy!

 

[Ottinmeg]

i cracked a couple of ribs falling off a horse a couple of years ago and it was months before they were completely pain free. as neil said they should be healed within 6 to 8 weeks but you might find they still ache for a few weeks after that

 

[Damnation]

I sing 10 green bottles! The breathing and rhythm of it relaxes you and the horse, I find this helps on my nappy mare, She bucks, spins and walks backwards and her being a thoroughbred I have nothing to hold onto! I sing my way through it and it helps you to stop from losing your temper! I aso find that the fact that your singing reassures the horse too.

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

I used to lunge my horse before getting on, even when I'd had him years, sometimes I would just get that feeling that taking the edge of him would be a good idea. I would unge him fully tacked up, not for long, but long enough that he was listening to me, and then get on whilst he was still puffing a bit (as my horse refuses to go at anything other than trot or canter, 10 minutes has him puffing!)