report after hack out yesterday...

joanne1920

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well mickey was a good boy on hack, i hated evry second though! we only walked and 5 horses went in the end and 2 peope on foot as there was another younger pony too... so that was ok at least he was well behaved! after we got back some went in the sand school to do a small jump, i said i'd do it if someone led mickey (ive never jumped him and hes still young) he jumped it first time - bearing in mind its only a filler! second time decided to flatten it, so the person left the leadrope on his neck to go snd sort it out, cue.... roll ....again, i chucked my self off and hit floor before he even got down, so im getting much quicker at getting off, he didnt go right down just sort of half way then walked off, im afraid i smacked him, and then burst into tears... someone else got on him and made him trot round and he was very good, i got back on literally for just a walk round and he kept stopping, he knows im scared now, and i dont know what to do, im not sure i can cope with him rolling.... any suggestions with how to avoid it and build my confidence back up?... please dont say sell him, although its in the back of my mind.... x
 
I am not going to suggest selling him, but you sound like you are very inexperienced and really struggling. Get yourself some help from a qualified instructor and only do things that you are happy with, i you dont want to hack or jump then don't. Also try to get somebody experienced to ride him for a while to improve his confidence and way of going.
Chin Up!
 
ive owned him for 18 months, and i backed him myself and taught him brakes and steering, then i had a lesson once wekk until t turnt him away for a couple of months over winter, its since he's been back in work he's been naughty, i am still having a lesson once a week, ive owned my other pony for 6 years although shes only a shetland i have had her since a foal and taught her to drive and will happily have small children ride her on lead rope. a few years ago i also did my BHS stage 1 , i know its not alot, maybe im not experienced enough, but my instructer was happy for me to keep riding him, its just my confidence that need a big boost, and a way of preventing him form rolling( see previous post about rolling) thanks for your advice xx
 
My old 12.2 usd to roll to get us off ( he was too lazy to buck) when you feel he is buckling his front legs give him a smack and a big kick and make him go forwards. I think maybe a change of instructor would help with confidence, sorry but I have no idea what a stage 1 entails, but you still come across as inexperienced (the jumping on a leadrope).
confused.gif
 
Your confidence really has taken a bashing, hasn't it? If you really don't want to sell (and I think you probably should, and get yourself something you can really enjoy!) I think you need to ride another pony to build it up again and if possible get someone else to ride Mickey for a while. It sounds like he's totally taking the Mickey (ha ha) and I don't think it'll get any better whilst you're so nervous.
Incidentally, if I horse I was riding started to go down to roll, I'd give it a boot and if that didn't work I'd smack it too!
 
Hi Mookey. I agree with everyone else that what really needs to happen is that he associates rolling with a big smack on the bottom. This does need confident, strong riding from you.

I don't think that getting a new pony will help as they will all take advantage of a loss of confidence in some way or another - Mickey just happens now to associate rolling with stopping work.

Get some good help, put a neck strap on and let Mickey know that the world ends if he so much as bends a leg!
 
I'm sorry you didn't enjoy your hack. Personally if my mare tried rolling with me on her I would give her a big kick and a tap on the bum. It is hard to remain confident in these situations and I imagine Mickey is picking up on your nerves. Is there perhaps a schoolmaster you could ride for a bit to get your confidence back???
 
HEFTY kick, smart smack (mean it, don't tickle him) and a LOUD growl as SOON as you feel him going...he is smart, he knows you will bail if he goes down so he is playing you - play him at his own game but you MUST mean it and you MUST be assertive.

Chin up and good luck x
 
Is it possible you could send him to a professional for a few weeks? Just to bring him on a bit. If it was me then that is what I would do, better than ruining your confidence totally.
 
Can you get an experienced helper to get behind him, with a stick, when he stops, just before he goes down? This way you can concentrate on keeping him straight and yourself on board.
 
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