What a cr*p ride

I_A_P

I_A_P

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took digby out today with my friend rachael who was riding her dads horse.

we decided to go on a nice long hack which meant crossing a main road which was fine.

anyway all ws fine...and rachael said she was going to pop over a ditch which was tiny...so her horse didnt really want to but was just napping as he is experienced with them-and he then went.

As it was tny i said well it will be good practise, afterall he had jumped one 2 days aago that was far bigger. well he didnt want to know and kepoyt turning on his hinds and trotting/canterting down the road. i managed to get hold of him each time and didnt really want to give in-afterall it was so tiny and he did have someone to follow .

anyway this happened for a while and i said i would give it one last go-then he just turned and cantered off down the road i tryed to pull him up but he didnt listen and so i tryed to just completely relax and woah woah but nothing helped. He started to slip on the road and we were coming up to two tight corners...so id ecided to bail out....am now a bit battered and brusied and have a sore thumb but im ok...he was incredibly lucky and cantered along the roads all the way home including crossing the main road.....
rachael set off in persuit and nearly got him a few times ...then through the village everyone just stood there...one man said to rachael " this is very dangerous you know" to which rachael shouted back at him...and others just stood there nodding there head.

All in all a stressful morning..i managed to get back on and took him for a walk and trot round the lanes he seems fine which is the most important thing..and let dad catch him easily on the road and was quite settled.

I cant keep it going over and over in my head and i think i did the right thing-i really could see a nasty accident happening if i hadnt jumped off. All happens so quickly though.
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i really wouldnt have..but its tiny- i had done a far bigger one the day before-he could literally have stepped over it....i have no choice but to hack out and do things with him.
yes ideally it would never have happened but for a horse that has supposedly hunted it really shouldnt be a massive deal.
 
You where very lucky by the sounds of it, but as vieshot has asked, why where you jumping next to a road? That in itself is very stupid and dangerous for you, the horse and other people.
 
wow-very glad that your horse wasnt hurt, or you, or innocent bystanders or motorists! shouting at someone for pointing out the obvious may make your friend feel better-certainly doesnt do alot for riders' image!

it may not be ideal to let the horse get away with something but at what cost?
 
If i was your friend, i personally wouldnt have been cantering along through a village trying to catch the loose horse, doing this she put herself, her horse and many other people in danger!!! I would have had a go at your friend too if id have seen it happening!
 
I am always popping over things like ditches out hacking its too late too kick yourself now for trying it but what I will say is that you have to go back and make sure you win the battle. Make sure its safe enough to have a massive battle and take a lunge line. Pop the lunge line on with a helper holding ont it so he cannot get away from you. He cannot get away with it or you will end up with more problems.

The main difference between hacking and hunting/xc is adrenaline you must take this into account as there is a big difference between cold blood and when you are galloping on expecially on a green baby. My horse hunted like stink when he was green and yet on his own was a big woss until he got the idea.
 
Your like me, and have no where to practise things other than hacks, I have had a few battles with J on bridleways and one on the road and it isn't easy. I agree you must go back and win this battle (definitely get someone on the ground to help with lunge line like Lec suggested to make sure he cant b****r off and get him over the ditch.

He is babyish and green just like J was but don't worry, at least you are both OK, and no harm done, sounds like a scary day xx
 
Eek scary. I've never understood this bailing out thing though. I will hang on and on until gravity takes over. In twenty-five years of riding I've never even contemplated bailing out, even in some extremely dicey situations and especially on the roads - loose horse plus traffic is a whole lot worse than rider still on horse and able to have at least some influence even if it's just a vocal 'whoah'. But people seem to do it much more commonly these days. No idea why though. I always think it's safer to stay on board, unless your horse is about to gallop over the edge of a 100 foot cliff!
 
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Eek scary. I've never understood this bailing out thing though. I will hang on and on until gravity takes over. In twenty-five years of riding I've never even contemplated bailing out, even in some extremely dicey situations and especially on the roads - loose horse plus traffic is a whole lot worse than rider still on horse and able to have at least some influence even if it's just a vocal 'whoah'. But people seem to do it much more commonly these days. No idea why though. I always think it's safer to stay on board, unless your horse is about to gallop over the edge of a 100 foot cliff!

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Horse gets flattened - horrible

Horse and rider get flattened....
 
Fran, I hope you are OK. Just take things slowly for now, but you do need to go back and have another go at the ditch, with help and a lunge line.

It is horrid not having anywhere to ride and in a perfect world we would all practice in a safe place first, however the world is not perfect.


I can completely understand Rachel shouting back when someone had a go at her, she was trying to do what she thought was best.

In hindsight it may not have been the ideal thing to do but we don't have the benefit of hindsight and the rest of us weren't in the situation.
 
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Eek scary. I've never understood this bailing out thing though. I will hang on and on until gravity takes over. In twenty-five years of riding I've never even contemplated bailing out, even in some extremely dicey situations and especially on the roads - loose horse plus traffic is a whole lot worse than rider still on horse and able to have at least some influence even if it's just a vocal 'whoah'. But people seem to do it much more commonly these days. No idea why though. I always think it's safer to stay on board, unless your horse is about to gallop over the edge of a 100 foot cliff!

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Poor thing it does sound like you had a bit of a fright!

I think everyones survival instincts are different. Only had one horse properly bolt with me before and he galloped down a step road and into a brick wall.....I didn't think about jumping off but my mum would always bail out at the sign of trouble!
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I have had to bail out once.It was a really hard thing to do,but i had little choice as the horse bolted down accross some woods,it was steep,and i was running the risk of being de-capitated!!I did get trampled when i jumped off,but only had a cut on my arm.
 
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Eek scary. I've never understood this bailing out thing though.

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Horse gets flattened - horrible

Horse and rider get flattened....

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Indeed. Only today, the girl riding herbie had to leap off as he spooked majorly and cantered frantically into the path of cars ... Better off than on in that situation.

Glad the OP is ok, and the horse is ok too.
 
Oh dear! That's not the best news. I hope you are both alright and that it doesn't knock your confidence in your new boy too much.
I use the roads for all sorts of training with my horses, I do a lot of lateral work but I also like to pop in and out of fields and on and off banks, in and out of puddles, all things that are natural, so that your horse trusts you and will do all you ask of it when further training comes. It's unfortunate that Digby decided that running home was the best way of getting out of doing what you wanted him to do.
Think you'll need to pick a place that's not so near a road though, as you def don't want a repeat of today.

Don't dwell on it, just learn from it. Chin up.xx
 
My horse bolts and I'm with you on the bailing out. I can sit and wait to see if she comes back if she's not got up too much speed and is in a school but if she's flat out or going towards somewhere dangerous and has just completely abandoned the controls I just want to jump off ASAP! Although on the occasions that I've had to do this its really scared her more and shes been impossible to get on afterwards.
 
Not a nice experience, but remember everything is new to him and he prob was feeling a bit on edge going out hacking with a new horse, and then being asked to do something he wasnt sure about. Don't beat yourself up about it, but keep things nice and relaxed with him for a couple of weeks, to get to know him and how he may react to different situations before pushing the boundaries. Not sure I would have bailed out, as the risk of injury to both is increased quite alot IMHO, and he was prob panicked a bit by you suddenly jumping off, but we can all speak on hindsight.
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Chin up, and dont dwell.
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That was scary
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, I hate people pointing out the obvious when I'm in trouble and stressed out, even if it is my own fault
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makes me a bit inpolite, comments like "no sh*t sherlock" spring to mind.
 
Firstly am really glad that neither you, your friend or either of your horses were hurt. You did what you thought was right, and you have to be commended for that. Please god that none of us find ourselves in the situation that you found yourself in yesterday.

My other comments would be that actually you DON'T have to go back and make your horse do this particular ditch. I know that others on here have said you must, you should, you can't let him get away with it etc. But why risk both your lives again? The best way to deal with this IMHO is to do the schooling work well away from the roads, and forget about that particular ditch. Sometimes it just isn't worth it. And your horse isn't standing there in his stable thinking "oh great, got away with that one then hee hee". They don't function like that.

Final thing - do you know about the one rein stop? I've never had to use it (thankfully) but apparently you drop all pressure in one rein and with the other rein you just shoot your hand straight up in the air (don't pull sidewise or back, it is the straight up movement which catches them apparently). Only for absolute emergencies but does work I am led to believe. Then you can safely get off quickly before the horse pegs off again.
 
How horrible and bloody scary as well. I think you did the right thing, we weren't on the horse so we can't possible judge. But if you felt him slipping, then better you get off before he fell over (and Ive been on a horse who's fallen on a road after a flat out gallop (bolted) and it isn't fun!).

I hope your friend gave that man some abuse - what a stupid thing to say during such a panic! Spectators can be real idiots in situations like this, especially if its something they know nothing about.

I agree with ISH_Mad, I wouldn't bother with this ditch again. I mean, whats the point? He hardly going to be standing in his stable just now thinking smugly "ha, I got away with not doing that ditch, I won!". You KNOW he does them so screw it, dont bother with it again.
 
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Final thing - do you know about the one rein stop? I've never had to use it (thankfully) but apparently you drop all pressure in one rein and with the other rein you just shoot your hand straight up in the air (don't pull sidewise or back, it is the straight up movement which catches them apparently). Only for absolute emergencies but does work I am led to believe. Then you can safely get off quickly before the horse pegs off again.

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wow i never knew that..........have made a mental note in case i ever need it thank you!!
 
thanks for you replies i did fear that a lot of people may well have a go at me.

Can i just point out i was not jmping on the road/onto the road at all...there was a large verge and a tiny ditch(by this i mean about a shllow slope either side of about a foot...nothing more...you could walk through it, onto a stubble field

i really had no choice but to bail-he was heading straight for 2 right angle corners on the road opposite ways from one another and he was slipping going down the straight so it was the only thing to do-i could just imagine him slipping onto me around the corner.

to be perfectly honest i wouldnt have done it had i been on my own- rachael said she was going to so i said well i will to so i thought it was a good opportunity to practise with the possibility of a lead if needed....as it was tiny no more than a small grup(sp)

thing that annoyed rachael was the whole fact that the bystanders were so horrible depsite the fact they had no idea what may have happened to me...

i have always been petrified of being bolted with ever since i was on an ex-racehorse through a forest...all i wanted to do was just fall off so it would end-in the end a tree just took me clean off.

I have never heard of the one rein stop but would definatly be worth a try in the future.
The only thing i can think of as being a cause for him doing is as he is literally quiet as a mouse, is that to start with the other horse didnt want to know and he got a fair few whacks to get him over...whether he got in his head that i may do it to him i dont know.

i never touched him with the whip, and didnt flap around on him at all

I know luckily he hadnt galloped the way home but in fact stopped a couple of times and nearly been gotton hold of, and was just trotting through the village stopped near a few people and still no one helped. then he was caught before he reached home.

In heinsight as others had said i would have left it if maybe he didnt seem hapy the first time but i so did not want him to win the battle. I am so so so concious of never ever overfacing something...or trying to get into an arguement..i never got angry of tough with him at all.

thing is i dont know if i can go back and try that one again-it seems so infuraitingly pathetic afterall it so tiny and to look at you would never imagine it to cause a problem. i just dont know if i can do it tbh, i dont mind siomething haveing a buck but i HATE the feeling of something getting away from me..i feel so powerless.

I got straight back on him and took him for a good walk sround the lanes and again he was as quiet as a mouse-not even a sweat on..
to be honest i dont believe in the "well your giving horse riders a bad name" i can understand the case if you dont for example put your hand to someone and thank them for slowing down...but when bystanders (and only some..siome were asking if i was ok) start saying really unhlepful things or swinging their heads out of windows and shouting all sorts and shaking their heads its really not on.

I have a lesson on tuesday which is needed to give him some proper work...then i will take him to an arena in the week and get him popping oiver fences and doing some work on his canter, as i have only cantered him 2 times since i have had him and this really needs work.

Sorry this is so long, and yes i know i am not the most perfect rider..nor maybe did i do the most perfect thing but when you are in the "heat of the moment" you have to make very quick decisions and you dont have time to mull over whether its the best decision or not.
 
Can i just say franA, i was not having a go, if my reply came across as if i did then i am very sorry!
The main thing here is that you and your horse are both unhurt in your ordeal and with fingers crossed it will not happen again.
 
thats ok..i thought people might thats all....i have been over and over and over it in my head and i honestly dont think i did anything to scare him..or fluster him or anythign really......i dont think i could have done anything differently....

luckily he is absolutely fine and im planning on taking him out this afternoon..i desperatly need to get things moving with him in terms of schooling..especially on his canter as he just needs to start learning some proper work, and doing that as well as some small fences/grids will hopefully give him something to think about and learn to trust and do what i tell him a bit more.
 
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