Sitting a spinning/sideways surprise spook

[RachaelJC]

...how do you do it?!

Had a wonderful coaching session today and we worked on getting my horse listening to me and not anticipating. He was so good and really used his back/whole body to move. In the cool down just before me getting off (so on a slightly longer rein) he saw the notorious horse eating monster and skidaddled outta there! I hit the deck in a split second, the only injury being to my pride as there were people watching. He only went about four metres before he turned around and walked back to his crumpled heap of a mother for me to remount.

He's seven, was clipped two days ago and has been feeling extra fresh since, it was really windy and he saw something that frightened him. I don't blame him for it, but would love to know if there is a trick to sitting a spinning or sideways spook?

Is it just hours in the saddle? Is there a knack to locking in your seatbones so they just don't budge regardless of direction?

As I only have access to an outdoor school it would be great to figure this out before the really had winter weather comes - I don't want to end up with a wet bottom and bruises more often than absolutely necessary!

 

[Ownedby4horses]

I found an RS-Tor helped massively sith my previous mare. I found it anchored me into the saddle whereas a neck strap i had used before just put me in the wrong position.

The only time she did get me off, i landed on my feet still holding the rs-tor. worth every penny.

 

[greenbean10]

I also have a handle attached to the D rings on my saddle. Holding onto the strap keeps me secure when I'm warming up/cooling off on a long rein. I just hold it whenever I feel insecure or the horse is fresh - it has saved me so many times!

 

[Lintel]

In all honesty I think practice makes perfect with these things, that and a percentage of luck and some muscles!

But on the same thought- nobody is going out to practice this, so I suppose hours in the saddle would equate to practice?

 

[Auslander]

Mine is a devil for doing this! He's sharp, athletic and quick, and he's had 23 years of practice at whipping round at high speed! I hack him in a dressage saddle with big knee blocks, which have saved my bacon a fair few times - and I seem to have developed the ability to clamp my legs on like vices without even realising I'm doing it. It's a hard trick to train yourself to sit to, as it's usually so quick and there's no warning!

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I think fitness and core strength helps, and maybe a saddle with decent thigh blocks at least that's what I say because I manage to sit them on my spooky one, and I am not a coordinated person.

 

[ycbm]

A narrow horse helps!

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

If I could tell you how I did it I could patent it and sell it! But as it stands I have no idea!

I have sat on some major sideways, spinny things with short stirrups and ended up with my ankle hooked round the back of my exercise saddle more times than I care to count! The one that got me off was a slow sideways and up a banking spin on a long rein with long stirrups trotting a very nieve baby - a 17.2hh baby but a baby none the less!

 

[Auslander]

If I could tell you how I did it I could patent it and sell it! But as it stands I have no idea!

I have sat on some major sideways, spinny things with short stirrups and ended up with my ankle hooked round the back of my exercise saddle more times than I care to count! The one that got me off was a slow sideways and up a banking spin on a long rein with long stirrups trotting a very nieve baby - a 17.2hh baby but a baby none the less!

Funny, the things that get you, isn't it! I can deal with Alfs whip rounds with no trouble - but the day he suddenly put the brakes on, put his head down and bounced his front end up and down - I was so nearly a goner. Apparently my head was by his knees, and my right leg was straight up in the air! If I hadn't managed to hook my elbow over his neck as he tipped me forward, I think I'd have been on the floor!

 

[Starzaan]

Practice. Hours in the saddle and riding sharp horses will teach you to sit it.
I ride some absolute devils and am confident that the only way they will get me off is if they go down.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I have a really sharp spooky Arab and I have a strap on the front if the saddle plus the martingale strap, I don't really let him have a loose rein and I have to have my wits about me all the time, if it's really windy I just don't ride him it's just not worth it and I prefer riding him in a dressage saddle his show saddle just offers nothing in the way of support.

 

[Lady Jane]

Don't day dream just because you have finished and your horse has been good. I made the same mistake as you!

 

[mini_b]

If I could tell you how I did it I could patent it and sell it! But as it stands I have no idea!

I have sat on some major sideways, spinny things with short stirrups and ended up with my ankle hooked round the back of my exercise saddle more times than I care to count! The one that got me off was a slow sideways and up a banking spin on a long rein with long stirrups trotting a very nieve baby - a 17.2hh baby but a baby none the less!

slightly unrelated but I’ve seen a few videos recently of baby kangaroos (also known as young racehorses) going out to the gallops and I am amazed at the stickability of the riders with stirrups that short. They look perched on like they should just flip off but they don’t move!

impressive ?

 

[Abby-Lou]

fingers kept under an oh shit strap

 

[asmp]

I also have a handle attached to the D rings on my saddle. Holding onto the strap keeps me secure when I'm warming up/cooling off on a long rein. I just hold it whenever I feel insecure or the horse is fresh - it has saved me so many times!

i used to use one of these. Helped a lot. Sticky bum breeches are good too!

 

[VRIN]

I think the trick is not to relax - even when you are giving your horse a long rein (or maybe because you are giving him a long rein!) make sure you are sitting deep into the saddle with weight down and sticky bum jodhpurs!

 

[WandaMare]

I had this last week with my new pony. He’d been bombproof up to then so not expecting it, and just walking back to the yard he spooked at nothing I could see, did a 180 and shot off with me. I m sure it was the blocks on the saddle that kept me on board, so I sent thanks in my head to his previous owners for choosing such a secure saddle. I will be keeping reins shorter on him from now on ?

 

[Tihamandturkey]

Time spent in the saddle especially hacking and sitting deep as others have said - I think being relaxed helps tbh.
If riding on the buckle being able to slip your reins quickly to shorten them in a sticky situation.
At the end of the day sometimes luck plays the most important part ?‍

 

[Nudibranch]

Time in the saddle, riding youngsters definitely, big old knee blocks, sticky bum jodphurs. Also hacking out over rough terrain if you can. There's nothing for teaching balance and stickability like steep hills, banks and bogs!

 

[RachaelJC]

Thanks all, it does give me comfort that this happens to others and it can be overcome. I'll be shopping for bigger velcro knee blocks and a balance strap tomorrow!

Oh, and I've definitely learnt my lesson on getting complacent when smiling and chatting on the cool down!

 

[Shysmum]

Shy does a "spook, sideways buck, spin" occasionally, but he's a bit thick as I know when it's coming and can grab my safety d ring handle. He's older now and much better, and I've learned how to sit them. I did soar through the skies many a time though ?

 

[Cob Life]

Practice. I learnt to ride on ponies that would buck/spook/be strong and LOVED it

I’ve lost a lot of my confidence but one of the things that helps is knowing that actually if he does do something I can probably handle it. (Though I have also fallen off the side of a 13hh just trotting )

 

[maya2008]

Saddle with a suede seat helps, big knee rolls help, deeper seat helps....and a tonne of practice and core muscle development!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

You need to develop your core muscles - and get some sticky bum breeches!

 

[Dave's Mam]

I also have one that can spin & leave me sitting on the ground. I have got an RS Tor, but haven't had to use it yet (broken finger & off games.).

 

[Splash2310]

Mine is prone to doing it out hacking, yesterday I was walking out of the yard with one foot in the stirrup, no reins and he decided he was suddenly terrified of the Shetland he sees every single day walking towards us on with his owner . Cue a spin and mini rodeo as poor shetlands owner stood there mortified and I cursed myself for forgetting my lasso....

I think riding with slightly longer stirrups and having a good core definitely helps, but then again I’m another who grew up riding all of the odds and sods who loved dropping a shoulder and spinning!

Hope your bum isn’t too sore!

 

[scats]

If Millie is in one of her moods, particularly out hacking, I adopt my ‘safety seat’. Its a bit more legs forward, chair position, but it does save my bacon at times!

 

[AnShanDan]

Agree with all the above and when I was younger I would sit on anything as well, but I wanted to add that I bought an RS-tor last year after a nasty fall. It sits in your hand under the rein and you forget it's there. It's only once come into action with me in 12 months or more, I was walking along a very overgrown path and a pheasant waited until the horse nearly stood on it and flew up literally under her, she shot sideways and I ended up nearly off but the strap caught me. I was 100% fine and laughing but the next day I could feel the muscles had been twanged on one side as I was stopped. I'd recommend it.

 

[Skib]

I cannot tell you the technicalities, but when I learned to ride in addtion to endless hacking. I had to good fortune to go to an RI much influenced by the Spanish school. I was taught on the lunge for a year and the aim was to make me more secure in the saddle. I had bareback lessons too and continued to do so throughout.

When one is on a horse that spins and spooks and one grabs the strap and manages to stop the horse and right oneself, one cant tell whether it is due to one's lunge lessons or just luck that kept one in the saddle. I was riding last year when my escort's horse fled downhill to the far horizon, my horse spun to follow yet I was able to stay in the saddle. Next time probably not.
But unlike people above, I believe it is being relaxed - and balanced. No core stength, No position. Just the weight of one's backside on the horse.

 

[holeymoley]

I think it is just practice im afraid! Mine was notorious for it, after 16years of owning him he doesn’t do it as much now, hardly ever but he can still do it. It’s almost like an automatic reflex where your body has learnt how to stay in balance with it.