Update: after the bolt and dump incident

kinnygirl1

kinnygirl1

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Well, I posted on Wednesday that my lovely horse had got spooked in the school, bolted and dumped me. I managed to get back on and walk trot and canter round then took him in....

Yesterday I was way too sore to ride so brought him in and spent some time grooming him and washed his tail.

Today, still v sore but didn't want to put it off any longer so got on and rode round the track at our yard (about half a mile) mostly in walk with a little trot at the end. I was literally light headed with fear and he felt tense too (prob vibes from me). Got off, gave him a pat and a treat for being a good boy. Am I doing this right? My confidence is very shaken. I just want to get back to where we were.
 
It might be worth taking a few short hacks in company. Your horse would be less likely to spook and you're bound to feel better having someone with you who you chan chat to and help take your mind off what happened earlier in the week.

Spooking isn't unusual, you just have to focus on the fact that you were unlucky enough to fall off and you wouldn't be feeling like this now if you'd managed to stick with him so don't let the fear take over :)
 
Sounds like you did the right thing. Just keep building what you do up step by step and your confidence should return. It can be so scary so well done for getting on so soon afterwards.
 
Thanks guys - It is really scary - much more than I thought it would be. Just so worried that we are not going to get back to where we were.
 
I admire you for getting back on and going out alone but def the right thing to do, well done. Probably be quite some time before you feel confident again but keep it up and you will get there, probably is a good idea to do it in company too, your chatting not only helps you relax but will reassure the horse all is well too. Big hugs for getting back at it x
 
Pebbles said:
I admire you for getting back on and going out alone but def the right thing to do, well done. Probably be quite some time before you feel confident again but keep it up and you will get there, probably is a good idea to do it in company too, your chatting not only helps you relax but will reassure the horse all is well too. Big hugs for getting back at it x
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Thank you - I can really use those hugs! Should be lots of company there at the yard over the weekend. Can stop those awful mental pictures of how much worse he or I could have been hurt though. I think that is the scariest thing. I was so sensitive of every fast step he took today, each time thinking he might be about to bolt again!
 
Hun I totally know how you feel and think you have already been very, very brave - can recommend rescue remedy as a temporary calmer for you?
 
Pebbles said:
Hun I totally know how you feel and think you have already been very, very brave - can recommend rescue remedy as a temporary calmer for you?
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Yes I think I will be taking a bit of that RR tomorrow - think I might need on a drip to be honest! lol

x
 
Wow well done you!! You're already ten times braver than me for going out solo for your first ride since your fall! Sounds like your right on target for getting that confidence back! It usually takes me a good 5 or 6 rides before i'm 75% happy and a few more after that before i'm confident again! xxx
 
Thank you Sophie - I really did not go far -just round the track on the farm (no traffic or anything) and did not venture any more than a slow trot - glad I did it but still worrying about the next ride and particularly the canter on the right rein as that's what we were doing when he took off.

So glad I joined this forum - all your support is really helpful!
 
Well done you for getting back on , just remember that your horse lives in the moment and whatever he spooked at is gone and forgotten in his mind , so try to move on from this blip and take on board that this is just one incident in a so far happy relationship , don't do what i did and let your thoughts become a barrier to getting back to where you once were ( hope that makes sense) big hugs from paddy..
 
Very well done you, definitely the right thing :) Now you have that out of the way I wouldn't try to push yourself too hard though - just keep it nice and steady and comfortable for the two of you. You now know you can push on through your nerves if you realy have to, so you can afford to take it a bit handy and relax together again.

Well done again, I think you deserve a drink tonight! :D
 
You'll be fine.

Things like that are horrible because you can't pin point the exact cause, so you can't really do anything to eliminate it happening again.

Try not to dwell on it - you're okay, and he's okay. If you think about what could have happened you'll make yourself much worse over it.

Take it little by little - you need to build up trust with him again.

Unfortunately horses are flight animals. Even the safest horse can and will freak out occasionally. Try to remember that and put it behind you.
 
Well done to you, big pat on the back for getting on and facing your fear. Now you've done it try to put it all behind you and look forwards, what do you want to do next....

If I feel nervous when I'm out hacking with my horse I sing a silly song, which makes me laugh and gets rid of tension, which the horse can feel. We hack in a lovely country park but there are many paid for dog walkers who can have as many as 8 dogs each. So we meet at least 4 of these groups each ride....
 
Bess said:
We hack in a lovely country park but there are many paid for dog walkers who can have as many as 8 dogs each. So we meet at least 4 of these groups each ride....
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OMG that would freak me out , let alone the horse ( actually paddy probably wouldn't turn a blind eye , it would be the butterfly with 6 inch teeth that would do it ! ):D
 
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