Horseback riding help
@travibabiesgirl (1690)
United States
March 14, 2008 1:14pm CST
I have loved horses since before I could walk. I have rode all my life and had my share of being thrown off. About 4 years ago my dad and I started working with some un broke horses. I had broke one (the gentle way) when I was a kid. I watched shows on different techniques for getting them to load, accept a bridle, and getting them ready to ride. I used these techniques on horses that needed to improve and a couple that have never been ridden. I was doing great and having a great time. Then I got one named Pinky. Pinky had thrown off both trainers that had tried to break him prior to me getting him. I started him out and things were going good. I worked up to getting on him and rode him around the round pen for a couple of days. He was riding like a dream. Then I got brave and rode him in the bigger field. A dump truck drove by scared him and he started bucking. I was told later that he fell( I do not remember this) And if he had not fell I would have stayed on. They said I was doing everything right. Anyway He bucked and that is the last thing I really remember. I remember lit bits and pieces but not the whole thing. I fell off him and hit the ground using my head to stop the fall. he tore up my saddle and I resadled him got on him in the round pen and he would do nothing. I tried everything to make him go. All this stuff I did and said I really do not remember. The next day I became terrified to get on him or any other horse. I tried getting on two others ( just green broke.) over the next few days and just trembled which caused them to act up. This has been over two years ago. I quit working with my horse who was starting to really become an awesome horse. I had her being ridden, putting her head down to accept the bridle, standing in one spot waiting for commands before she would walk off. all she needed was riding experience under her belt. I have not been on a horse since and am terrified of riding. I am older with kids and know that if I got hurt and became paralyzed my family would not be in a position to take care of me. How do I get over all these fears? Sometimes I want to ride so bad but nothing we have is broke and I don't think I can get one knowing an unbroke one threw me off and I can't remember what happened. There are times I think I don't ever want to ride again but I keep horses in the field just in case. All horse stories and ideas welcome here.
3 responses
@uath13 (8192)
• United States
14 Mar 08
Perhaps you should just avoid the ones that aren't broke until you get your nerve back or avoid them entirely.
Go somewhere where you can ride fully broke animals & work with them until you start feeling comfortable again. Work your way back to it slowly. It sounds like your main one is ready for some basic riding as soon as you can get back to it. Don't push things but don't let the fear hold you back completely.
1 person likes this
@travibabiesgirl (1690)
• United States
14 Mar 08
Thank you for the advice. I think the fear holding me back is the thing that makes me the most upset at myself. I have always been able to get right back in the saddle but this time it has been hard for me. I am letting the fear win, thanks for the help.
@houndsgood (774)
• United States
15 Mar 08
Why don't you go to a horse stable with a good instructor and take lessons? It will be a more controlled environment than "going out in the field breaking horses." At first use the horse that the instructor uses for lessons and then eventually graduate to a greener horse where you are training both horse and rider. It would be fun, and a good instructor who is not related to you will be brutally honest but constructive on how you can improve your seat. Also, I assume you are riding using a western seat. Sometimes learning from an English instructor can expand your techniques. I found that people that went from English to Western had more control over their seat and were able to maintain control even if they lost a stirrup or bridle better.
Anyways, that is my advice. Do not rush it, but if you take a class one on one or with a small group later on, you will really be able to work through your fears and get back in the saddle. It worked for me.
@houndsgood (774)
• United States
16 Mar 08
You don't have to learn to jump if you ride English. Some people focus on the ground work all their lives. Because you are closer to the horse with not as much leather between you, you develop a different sensitivity too. Even if you find someone who is really good and a little out of your area so have to do it less often because of travel, it is worth it. I was a little gunshy from a bad fall but I found a really great instructor who really taught me to trust. I even road stirrupless, at other times reinless, and once blindfolded. Just because my skills on directing the horse and creating a relationship with them was really honed. It is not a "show off" thing to learn, but sometimes necessary if something happens and you lose a rein or stirrup.
Anyway, good luck!
@travibabiesgirl (1690)
• United States
21 Mar 08
Thank you again. The lessons that you describe do sound pretty neat and helpful. The blind fold lesson would be scary but I see how that could be extremely helpful. You helped to clarify why lessons would be beneficail and I thank you for that. I will defiantly be checking into taking lessons. Thank you again.
@travibabiesgirl (1690)
• United States
15 Mar 08
Thank you for the suggestions. I usually could maintain control over my horses while riding. The ones that threw me off were ones that were unbroke and pretty wild. I do however think that you are right and an instructor would help me get over my fears and help me improve in some areas. I have never rode English always Western. I have always thought it would be fun to try jumping but with my fears that will be a long time coming I am afraid. Where we live stables are far and few between but I think there is one close by. I will do some research and check into it. Thank you very much for the help.
@travibabiesgirl (1690)
• United States
21 Mar 08
Do you still ride? How did you get over your fear? I have thought about an older horse that is slower and experienced. Horses are pretty cheap right now and I know lots of horse people who could probably hook me up. Might be an option. Thanks for the reply.
