Slips and Trips - How do you ride them?

[Nocturnal]

Yesterday I was warming up for a sj lesson on grass, and B tripped or slipped (or both!) and almost went down. He managed to right himself and there was no damage done (except his new white bandages were now green + brown!), but it got me thinking about how I react when a horse trips.

My instinct is to slip the reins and let the horse recover itself, and just stay in balance and keep out of the way. A horse needs it's neck to balance, so it makes sense to me to just slip the reins. On the other hand, I've heard many a riding instructor tell their pupils to 'help the horse out' when it trips - meaning pull its head up.

Do you think a horse benefits from being able to use the reins to steady itself, or is it better to slip the reins and let the horse sort itself out?

 

[the watcher]

I'm a 'slip the rein and let the horse sort it out' kind of rider so I will be interested in other points of view

 

[BobbyMondeo]

I tend to try and just stay on and let the horse sort its own balance out

 

[ThePony]

looking forward to hearing what other people do. I have always been hollared at to hold onto the horses head if it trips.

 

[abbieandfiona]

let the horse sort itself out and slip the rein.

 

[NicoleS_007]

mine tripped the other day and went down onto his knees and nose, thank goodness it was in the arena and he was fine. I tend to slip the reins and lean back so as im not putting extra weight on the front end.

 

[Kellys Heroes]

Usually slip the rein and let the horse gather itself together...I have the feeling I'm hindering the horse if I'm trying to haul it back up! (but I could be wrong!)

 

[annaellie]

I would let him sort himself out and regain his balance, if going from your posts and pics he is the horse I think he is, if you do to much it will all become a drama for him as the horse I think it is can be a drama queen over the slightest little thing at times.

 

[MontyandZoom]

The only times I have come off Zoom (touch wood!) have been when she has fallen herself. But there have been plenty of times when I have stayed on too!

I am definately of the slip reins mindset. They need their neck as an 'extra limb' to regain their balance and I find the best way to help out is sit as balanced as possible and keep out of the way.

BTW - Zoom doesn't have wobblers or anything, just combination of ultra-silly, headshaking and one eye!

 

[Nocturnal]

I would let him sort himself out and regain his balance, if going from your posts and pics he is the horse I think he is, if you do to much it will all become a drama for him as the horse I think it is can be a drama queen over the slightest little thing at times.

Not to worry, it didn't bother him in the slightest . You're right, though, he did used bit of a drama llama, but he's grown up a lot lately. Now his main problem is that shows are just sooooooo exciting!

And of course the fact that he's rather high maintenance, bless him!

 

[Happy Hunter]

I deffo slip the reins and hope they find their 5th leg - a good seasons hunting does wonders for it!

I wouldnt want to be hauling on the bit if they genuinely tripped, i would feel guilty for belting them in the mouth!

 

[TheCurlyPony]

I usually end up on the floor. It happens to me quiet often. Usually in walk. Infact ive come off more times in walk than doing anything else. Should i be worried? Lol

 

[Wobblywibble]

I'm of the "let the horse sort itself out" group, once it's tripped. Hauling on its head surely cannot help it get back up? However the reason it tripped in the first place could be because you have been slopping along with little contact.