At 02:10:01 on 06.09.10, LittleGoer wrote:
Hi everyone! I was so happy when I found this site and read that other riders are having the same issues as me. I felt as if I were the only rider that had lost confidence in herself and her horse and that my fear was stupid. I know now that my fear is completely valid, and in no way stupid, but I'm still frustrated over losing my confidence. Every since I began riding instructors tended to put me on the "energetic" horses because I have a hard time saying no to people...I suppose I didn't want to hurt their feelings? :P Anyways, I've had many, many close encounters with horses, including almost getting hit by a car on a trail ride to being kicked in the head. A little over a year ago, my instructor suggested that we get a new horse and she found what she said was a very calm Paint for us. Well, he was not calm at all and made my fears even worse. In my seven years of riding I have only fallen off three times, and twice was on this gelding. The last fall I had, my horse took off out of nowhere ran to the gate, dropped his shoulder, then bucked me off. I fell to the ground really hard and broke my tailbone. It was so painful and scary! After that we had trainers working with him and he just kept throwing them too! We ended up having to sell him because I was just so afraid of getting hurt again, and we bought a new horse. My new horse is amazing, and I don't think he would do anything to purposely harm me, but I still have immense fear that I am going to get hurt badly. Any suggestions? Also, sorry for writing a novel here, I just wanted to get in as much information as I could.

At 21:55:22 on 07.09.10, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
This first line won't help much but its the first obsticle to understand - every horse can be naughty and every horse will throw people off from time to time. Riders fall, it is a risk sport. As for this horse you need a confidence giver so explain to your instructor how you feel! He/She is there to help and will probably feel stupid for not being able to help before, they won't be mad or upset. Just relax, riding should be fun not a chore just speak to your instructor i am sure it will work out if you take it down a notch.