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At 14:54:09 on 12.09.10, MissMcKayla wrote:
In order to explain my current issues, I have to start with things that happened in the past. I got my first horse when I was five years old and I couldnt have been more happy. He was my true teacher (I didnt take any lessons at this time). I could do anything with him, and I knew that he would take care of me. He was a babysitter more than anything. The problem was that he was older when I got him, and by the time a couple of years went by, he was getting a little grouchy, and only wanted to walk. I ended up selling him to be a retired pasture mate for a pony down the road. For 3 more years I cried every night, wishing I hadnt have sold him. I missed riding more than anything. My mom eventually contacted a Vet who lived pretty close to us and asked if they would be willing to let me come and be around their horses. Not nesicerily ride, but just be around and help with chores. They ended up taking me under their wing and teaching me EVERYTHING I know regarding horses now. Cynthia had a background in English, and Dan (her husband) had a background in Western. I had the best of both worlds. Not to mention they let me take lessons on the BEST horse in the world. His name was Ima Scootin' Along, Scooter for short, a little quarter horse gelding. He was basically an all around horse. He did western, but he did English as well. He was my TRUE teacher.From just learning how to use your WHOLE body to ride, not just your hands, to jumping. We went all the way from him not moving when I asked him to walk, to him behaving the best for me. The lessons eventually stopped, and I continued to ride him just for fun almost every night of the week. He was my whole world. Sadly, he developed a lung condition in which he had a horribe cough.. We couldnt do the same things we used to, but you never could tell HIM that! He was ready to go all the time. My friends starting showing in 4-H and I wanted to as well. Dan and Cynthia didnt want Scooter to be shown, so I continued to just ride for fun. My horse and pony club leader learned about my desire to show, and offered to let me use his mare. I started going over to their house two times a week to practice on Red, and went to ride Scooter the other nights. Red was an awesome horse. A mare who had been started on the gameing paterns when she was younger, she had a need to speed. But she was NEVER out of control. She listened to me and we developed a very strong bond. Dan and Cynthia had someone who wanted to buy Scooter, and they eventually sold him. I cried for days, but continued to ride Red. Two years later, my horse and pony leader's daughter graduated out of 4-H, so they could no longer bring Red for me to ride. Let the time of crying begin again. Finally, we are close to present day. My uncle informed me of a little gelding he had, that he would be willing to sell. My family and I went to look at him, and I fell in love. Star's Banjo Boy, Concho for short. Grulla, around 14.3 hh. My uncle had started him, but he needed worked with. Which was perfectly fine by me! I was ready for a new challenge, and training a horse the way I wanted sounded like a good one. We bought him, and I started spending as much time as possible with him. I continued to go over to Dan and Cynthia's to use their very nice facilities, like their round pen and their indoor area, and obstical course, but more than all that, to get their advice. I was getting along with Concho fine, he was eager to learn and willing to please. But then came my first fall. I was riding him bareback out in our thirty acres of woods alone, when he got a little excited and tried to take off. I one reined stopped him, but didnt grab him mane in time and slipped off underneath him. When I hit the ground, that spooked him and he took off. As he took off, one of his rear hooves came back and hit me in the face. Gave me a bloody nose, and really knocked me for a loop. My face swelled, and I had some memory loss for a while. I contined to ride him, and work with him, and even showed him in 4-H for two years. But last year, I was working with him at our fairgrounds arena (where we do all of our horse shows) when he just randomly exploded. He started bucking, so I pulled his head up, so he started to rear. He had NEVER reared before in his life, so I was a little at loss on what to do. I started to pull him a little to the side, just enough to make him loose his balance a touch to come down. He did and immeadiatly started to buck again. By this time everyone else who was there was surrounding the round pen yelling (which I'm sure was NOT what we needed at that time). I pulled his head up again and he reared yet again. I had lost a stirrup, so i didnt have my balance, so I came off the back. Landed right on my bottom in the arena, and watched him ALMOST come over on top of me. He caught himself (thank goodness!) And took off bucking again. He got out of the arena, and took off down the road toward the high way. I whistled for him and bless his heart, he stopped, turned around, and came running back to me. I got back on, rode him around a little bit more, loaded up and took him home. Since then, my confidence has been shaken and lost... I still ride every so often, but not like I used to. I spend a lot of time with Concho, but we dont go on long rides anymore. I will just ride him around the pasture or something like that. He is perfect with his ground manners, so I spend a LOT of time with him just relaxing. I didnt mean for this to turn into a book, so I apologize for the length. Horses used to be my passion, and they still are, I would just rather be on the ground with them than in the saddle. I still own Concho, and our bond couldnt get any closer. He is the light in my life, but I want to go back to the way I was, having no fear when I was in the Saddle...Any Advice? |
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At 21:46:25 on 12.09.10, Chezage wrote:
I have had a similar confidence knock, well shattered it, I bought a youngster to bring on, and he was a maniac, frightened of people to the extent of bolting off when someone cam enear him, he bronced me off, first on my head, then on a riding lesson - twice in the same lesson, then the last time in our field, that was it, I couldn't even get on my big lad Morgan who has always been a brick for me, without shaking and crying only when he moved his head, still standing at the mounting block, but then I found a new horse named Cheeko, and she is fab too, she has given me the hope and confidence that I needed to be able to enjoy riding again, she is so safe and understands me, even when I was scared to move her, she just waited til I was ready and has looked after me from the first moment, I have only had her just over a month, but my confidenece is coming back ten fold, I have even cantered her today out in a big field with another horse, first time I cantered since trying her out,what a thrill that was, I think some of us have bad dealings with horses that other people have ruined, but there are some nice horses out there, just takes time to find one thats right for you, try to see if you can get yourself another horse who isn't going ot buck and rear with you, yuo will then find that your confidence will soar, as mine has. I was terrified to get on at the mounting block because of my youngster broncing me off from there, its took alot of courage to overcome my fears, but I'm getting stronger by the day. Keep your chin up and face the confidence thing head on, its the only way, people can help but you do have to do it yourself. |
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At 10:11:45 on 26.09.10, sarahLmagic wrote:
Goodmorning, i have no convidence after i fell off and was tacken into hospital, i have been ridding since i was 7 i am now 15, when i fell off i was using the jumps. My horse is 17.2 hands which as you probebly know thats about 6ft to the sholder, he isn't my horse, i have little to no controll over him when he decides it's play time, this was one of these times we were only trotting over the jumps but he bolted and i couldn't pull him back round so i attemped to land the jummp as i have cantered over jumps many times the jump was about a ft tall but he over shot it like it was a 5ft jump so i didn't have time to counter this and rearrange my body so i fell forward over the horses head did 1 sumersolt and a rolly polly, there was a crunch in my neck and i was in alot of pain in my back and legs, thanks to my hat i didn't snap my neck but i done some damage to my back and neck it's been 2 and abit months i have been ridding 3 times since and last tuesday i paniced and had to stop, i would very much like to know what i can do to stop my been scared in the future p.s it was the first time i've ever fallen off. If you could help me i'd be very greatful, thank you. :) |
