At 17:28:22 on 09.03.11, Ogies101 wrote:
I had a very bad fall(dislocated and broke my elbow now I'm sacred that it is going to happen again...

At 18:53:18 on 10.03.11, Angelalain wrote:
Just looked at your page and you've obviously had a fair bit of experience and done quite a lot. What can anyone say to you? You know that falling off is part of riding, anyone who says its not is kidding themselves. Getting badly hurt is always a possibility, but to be honest its just BAD LUCK if you actually do get hurt. You need to look forward and not dwell on the fall, the more you ride, the further behind you it will get. Do things you know you can do easily for a while and I'm sure you will soon stop worrying so much. To be honest as you get older you do worry more, you see the danger more than when you are younger, often because you have more responsibility. Just don't push yourself to do things which worry you for a while and I'm sure you'll get back to it. What about taking up something like Judo to learn how to fall without hurting yourself. It really does help!

At 03:48:36 on 14.03.11, nut_lover wrote:
i hurt myself the other week (fractured my wrist) my advice is that you get back on a horse as soon as you can so it helps you remeber all the ood things and memories that youve had well riding and not dwell on the negative. if you are nervous about riding when your directing them (dont have as much control as someone on the ground) then ask someone to walk you around (led) this is another i did and it just helped me realise that horse riding is a huge risk and so is just living so if you dont take risks and try again you might aswell not be living :P

At 16:11:53 on 30.03.11, sherwin wrote:
Hi all...Having taught myself to ride,i was doing really well,galloping,jumping,i was invincible...rode horses nobody else could ride,trained and schooled rescue and mistreated horses..then i fell off my trusty thoroughbred...broke my leg tib and fib really badly..so bad that they wanted to amputate above the knee..after numerous ops and pins i was able to keep my leg but couldn't ride or even get near my horse for over a year because i was confined to my bed..when i was able to ride again i was petrified..slowly i have gained some confidence again but am still very nervous..my girl is a Thb mare,and although she is very good,she is still very spooky at times..i love her with all my heart but just cant get back into the swing of things,,,Please Help!!!

At 10:15:24 on 31.03.11, CaraGenie wrote:
Speaking from personal experience, this is something that you are going to have to overcome yourself. No matter how much advice you get, it will always be a block in your consciousness that you will need to work through. Yes, I may sound pessimistic, but let me explain where I'm coming from: I was on a horse trek with my father and brother when the horse I was riding took off on me on the beach - we were heading home. I tired turning the gelding in decreasing circles, but nothing worked and I finally abandoned ship. This fall (my first ever fall from a horse), shook me to the core. I could honestly say that I was terrified of horses! When we got home, it took me a few months to pull myself back together before I started going to riding lessons again, but every time the pony I rode went faster then a walk, warning bells went off in my head and I would freak out. As I now own a horse, yes, I did get over it. But it was something I had to come to in my own time. Sherwin, it sounds to me like you need to go back to basics - both you and the mare - and just do loads and loads of groundwork. Working on your handling from the ground does wonders for how things work when you're in the saddle. I was poor after I bought Cedar and couldn't afford any tack so I spent 6 months working him from the ground and once I was able to get into the saddle, we had such a strong bond out of the saddle that being in the saddle was so rewarding as I knew he would look after me.

At 14:11:09 on 31.03.11, sherwin wrote:
Thanx Cara,i am still riding her at the moment,but only in the field...she is very good with me,and because i have had her for 10yrs,got her when she was 2 and brought her on myself,we have a very strong bond...i think i make her nervous,when i get nervous,its not her fault,its me...having had numerous health problems,including a stroke a year ago,which has left my right hand side weak and unable to walk further than a few yards at a time,i am unable to do much ground work with her,anything i do has to be from the saddle,and i have dont have anyone to help me..thank you for replying to my dilemma :)

At 08:42:43 on 01.04.11, Flicka wrote:
Hi sherwin, I would say 'give yourself a break' but probably not the right terminology in this thread lol! But it's not surprising you've lost your confidence but I do believe you CAN get it back. Yes, I agree, do it a bit at a time, Caroline Putus whose group this is and I'm sure will give you some good advice soon, talks about 'eating the elephant'-when you're faced with a whole elephant you think you couldn't possibly eat it but if you just eat it a bit at a time eventually the whole thing will be gone. Not a good metaphor though if you're a veggie lol!! There are lots of techniques that Caroline specializes in-basically changing the way you think, and they DO work. Before she gets back to you I would take the time to read all the topics in this group and you'll find lots of her tips-it will definitely be worth it, trust me. Start with your breathing and get yourself some rescue remedy. Good Luck and let us know how you get on.

At 08:47:15 on 01.04.11, Flicka wrote:
Oh and this video from Caroline should help :D

At 07:21:09 on 02.04.11, sherwin wrote:
Thanx Flicka,will check out the other topics..will start riding again this week..will keep u posted of my progress..

At 23:26:21 on 20.04.11, wrote:
i lost my confidence after a bad fall(i fractured my back) and i was so scared that even being led around on a pony in walk was enough 2 give me the shakes and just the thought of getting on made my heart pound so i stopped riding. i carried on spending time with horses and watching other people ride and i finally got 2 the point where i really wanted 2 start riding again, it took me 2 years but a lot of the nerves were gone and i really enjoyed my lessons again. i'm glad i gave my self that time 2 get over what happened, differant things work 4 diff people, i think you need 2 do what ever feels right 4 you, jumping straight back on and pushing yourself doesnt work 4 every1. i have a brill instructor who's very understanding and i know i can trust her 2 do whats best by me. i still get nervous and it does worry some horses so i'm sticking 2 good all rounders 4 now, hopefully in time i'll be able 2 ride the more sensative types!