I need a pep talk and possible reasoning please?

Question

So this week I fell off my horse for the first time. A few days ago I went riding with a friend that also has a horse stabled at the same barn. She is very experienced and has been riding for over 20 years. I am a beginner, I've only been consistently riding for the past year. I bought a 7 yr old Paint mare. Anyway - when we went riding as soon as I got on my horse something felt off. I was feeling nervous and uneasy for some reason because she just wasn't acting right, was throwing her head around and pretty much not doing anything I wanted her to do. I got off and checked the saddle (western) to see if something wasn't right but couldn't find anything. I got back on and she still seemed really irritated. Then all of a sudden she reared twice. I held on the first time she went up but I jumped/fell when she started going a second time. I know she was not ridden on a regular basis when I bought her but I've been riding her 1-2 times a week for the last 2-3 months and have not really had any problems. I know only of 1 other time someone fell off her and that was b/c she bucked. This was my first fall. I kind of hurt my hand on the fall so I had the other rider get on her for a minute and she rode her and said she wasn't acting weird for her. Needless to say, I'm a little apprehensive about getting back on her. But that's the weird part. It's only her. I don't feel nervous about riding any of the other horses at the barn. What are some possible reasons she might have reared? And I know I have to get back on her to get over the fear of falling again, but how do I get passed the hardest part of just getting back on? I was thinking of saddling her up and having someone walk us around the pasture with a lead rope for a little while next time.

Answer 1

Falling off is a part of the sport, and I am sorry that you have had two falls so soon after the other.  They say that you have to fall off ten times before you make a horseman!  However, joking apart, you do seem to have a bit of a problem.

Possibly she was just feeling fresh.  Or she was sensing your anxiety (horses are very sensitive to mood and can and will react accordingly!)  You may unconsciously have been holding on to her mouth too hard for her - and western bits can be very strong in tense hands.

I think that you fell of that time because of holding on to the reins instead of throwing yourself up her neck and wrapping your arms around her neck.  When she comes down kick hard to get her getting forward and behaving - even if you have to get her to lope.

My suggestion would be to get your confidence back would be to ride her the next few times in the arena and go back to basics.  Be firm with her.  You are the boss, not her.  Think of a time when you were rebellious towards a parent or a teacher at school and ride as if you were being rebellious again.  Take deep breaths and remind yourself to relax.

Good luck.  Unless you are suffering from other anxieties, you should get it back.  Remember how you fell of a bicycle as a kid, you got back on and it was fine.

Answer 2

she might of had a sore or something but if someone else hops on her first and she is fine u hop on her next and if she doesnt muck up u should be over ur fear after the first good ride.

i probs didnt help but oh well cya

Answer 3

The more you fall, the more injuries you have, the more it won't phase you.

The first few times I got bucked off, I was scared out of my shell. But have to get back on. Only way to beat the fear. Fear is sensed by horses.

That and there is other reasons why this horse could of been irritated.

*Possible saddle sore or tender back that the other rider didn't put pressure on.

*"Knows your number". Meaning, knows you are a beginer, knows you are scared; therefore, wants to be a brat to get their way. "Testing their boundries".

*Possible bit was hurting or rubbing. Causing them to move head back and forth and rear.

My mare will rear when she wants to refuse to do something, too excited/nervous or something spooks her.

I had all 1200 pounds of her fall on top of me putting me in the hospital the 3rd month I owned her when I was 11.

Do not let those types of accidents scare you out of enjoying horses. They don't do it to intentionally to hurt you. After all, they have instincts but not instincts to hurt you. They just bigger, stronger and sometimes "smarter than their own good" and not a good combo when humans are not all those.

A great thing is to ask that friend to give you some lessons. You can learn ways to bond with your horse, you and your horse get to know eachother and you learn new ways of riding and training to your horse's personality and ability.

If you are nervous about getting back on. Start out slow. No need to rush back into the saddle when you are not ready.  Do a lot of ground work. Teach respect. Teach proper training from the ground. Great oppurtunities to bond and get to know eachother, face to face.   There is lunging, driving (where you practically walk them from behind using two long lead ropes almost like you are in a Carage, even though you are not), side stepping, stops, turns etc. All sorts of physical and emotional things you can do.

Do what is comforatable but remember that one must step out of comfort zone sometimes to get a good end result.

Answer 4

Hey, I would get someone to lead you around on her in a nice soft grassy paddock, Maybe you could ride her bearback. It could be saddle though you said someone else got on her, Maybe this someone does not know what your mare usually feels like and thought she was fine so was not nervous or anything. you should not wait too long as you do not want the tension to build up. I have had some bad accidents on my arabian, he ran over the top of me :(. I was also doing jumping with him and he slammed the brakes on and I went flying over the top but foot stayed in stirrups so ten minutes later and lots of kicking me He eventually stopped. I kept trying with him though and He has got to be the best little pony now, I am very glad I didnt give up, he is the that made me have to buy another arabian. REMEMBER dont give up, she will turn out to be your best friend forever if you keep trying. Also make sure she trust you, lots of brushing sessions can assist with this! You could get parelli or natural horsemanship lessons aswell. Good luck to you and your mare, it will work if you want it to and I belive you do so keep up the good work!

Answer 5

I understand what you're going through.  The little black mare I used to own was always calm and steady for me during the first stages of her training.  She never offered to buck, rear, or even toss her head.  Until one day I was riding her in the indoor arena at college, just a nice easy jog, and I asked her to extend it a bit and lengthen her stride.  BOOM!  She tossed me over her head so hard it stunned me and hurt my back.  I was hurt enough that I couldn't get back on right away and I didn't ride her again for 2 weeks.  I still rode the school horses, but just couldn't bring myself to get back on her.  Even when I got back on her, she would still be cranky about lengthening her stride and going any faster than her nice jog.  Come to find out she had some mild physitis in her hocks because the joints hadn't fused (she wasn't three yet) and she was sore from being ridden and growing so fast.

Give yourself some more time.  Your horse can feel your nervousness and may be taking advantage of it.  Your idea of having someone lead you around is a good one, but if all you feel comfrortable doing is sitting on her, just do that for a while.  In the mean time, have her checked by a vet.  There may be some subtle problem that you can't see.

Answer 6

First - "CONGRATULATIONS!!!"  You are now officially a cowgirl.  Falling off is part of riding horse.  If you plan to ride - you're destined to fall off at some point.  It doesn't mean that you're a bad rider or that you have a bad horse - it just means that you finally have enough hours in the saddle that your "luck" ran out.

Next, rearing.  When a horse rears - often times it's because we are holding the reins too tight.  They have no where to escape, so they go up.  If it ever happens again make sure you let go of the reins so that you're not pulling on them when she's up (otherwise, things get worse and they flip over).  So, practice throwing down your reins if it happens - then grab some mane and just hang on or slide off.

Try to get an experienced person (possibly your friend) to ride your horse a little.  Usually having someone you trust ride your horse and assure you that they're not going to be naughty is enough to get us to relax.

If you have access to a round pen - consider warming up in there.  You can lunge her if you want, but otherwise, just climb on and have both of you start working together in there.  

If all else fails, hire a trainer to ride her for 1 or 2 weeks.  It usually doesn't take much on a broke horse to get a "tune up."  It also usually doesn't cost a whole lot.  It's better to get a tune up before they develop major issues.  You can hire a person to come and give you personal lessons at their place or yours, too.

Once a horse has reared - I recommend going with a very light bridle.  Try a snaffle bit or something wtihout much shank.  Also, if you can feel her getting ready to do it, you need to KICK her really hard and get her to have forward motion.  Horses that are moving forward can't rear!

So...remember, pat yourself on the back and call yourself a cowgirl.  You survived your first fall!  Try to find a way to be calm and get some confident help so you can enjoy your horse.

Best wishes!

Answer 7

Well, im not really good at pep talks, but we have all been through the same thing. Since this is your first fall, you should be even more nervous about it. Its natural. Just get back on her and walk around for a few minutes until you are comfy. Then, you can trot. Once you are comfortable with that, canter. You need to get back on to loose your fear. Also, I have advice for you. You know how everyone tells you to get up on the horses' poll when they rear? You should never do that. When a horse rears, immediately take one of your reins and bring the horses nose to your toe and start making tiny little circles. This is both punishment and prevention for another rear.

Really, you need to get back on!

Happy riding!

Answer 8

Did you get right back on when you fell off her the first time?

She may be continuing to do it because she knows you'll get off her.

Does this maybe only happen when she' in season?

Next time check her feet too! If theres a stone or sticker in her foot she's not going to want the extra weight of a rider on her back.

Another thing, horses can tell how you feel, if your tensed and nervous she'll know.  

Overall remember to be her boss not the other way around!

If she starts acting stupid you let her know she cant do that!

Then again some horses are just like that,

Some horses will continue to do this even after proper training, it's an intelligence thing. They rear or buck and get what they want.

These horses are often given or sold to rodeos as broncs.

Answer 9

When someone says "my horse rears", the first thing to mind is, "get out of their mouth".  People are heavier handed than they think they are.  Have someone impartial watch or video you riding and see for yourself what's going on with your hands and how you balance.  Reins are not for balancing your weight on.

Have her mouth looked at.  She may have some issues with her teeth or a sore.

Learn to do a one rein stop ( a la Clinton Anderson).  A horse cannot rear or buck with the spine bent and Anderson has great training info on correcting this.  It's not an instant fix but could save you (and your horse) a lot of grief down the road.

Presumably you are looking at a lifelong relationship with your mare?

It's worth 15 minutes a day to help insure that good partnership between you.  She is a living, feeling being, not just an object you use when convenient for you.   Good luck to the mare and you.

Answer 10

    Don't worry about falling.  If you ride horses, it is BOUND to happen at some time.  As for why your mare reared, there could be many reasons.  

    Horses all have their own personalities, and they have good days and bad days just like us.  She could have just been having a bad day.  Mares also tend to be more tempremental than geldings.  Did you lunge her beforehand?  Even with super-calm horses, I have found that lunging is a great thing.  You don't even need to exercise them, really.  It just gives you a feel as to how they are going to act that day.  If they are super lazy, grumpy, full of energy, or skittish, you will be able to tell by lunging them.  

   Maybe your horse bumped herself while in her stall or outside, and had a bruise somewhere that you couldn't see.  Maybe she was just hyper that day, and then when she saw something even remotely weird, she spooked.  If the other horse was tense, too, then there is a good chance that something scared them.  They also may have just been sensing each others' nerves, and just let it get to them.

    You need to go back to the barn and get on your horse.  At first, maybe just brush her, lunge her, and saddle her up.  Even if you don't get on, being there and seeing that she won't do anything bad to you will give you more confidence.  Just remember, don't wait too long.  The longer you put it off, the harder it will be to get on.  

   Good luck!

Answer 11

Do you think that your horse spooked at something?  You said you were riding with an experienced rider from your stable....What did the experienced rider think caused your horse to rear?  Did you check the horse's mouth?  Perhaps there is a problem there (bit hitting a  abscessed tooth ?)  These are possibilities of why a horse would rear.  

Also you said that this same horse previously bucked someone off.  Do you think this is characteristic of this horse when she does not want to do something?

Once you identify the reason why she reared, you will feel more comfortable riding her because you will know how to deal with it.