Hello! I'm new to the forum -- and I'm new to horse life -- but I'm quite glad to be here. I'm looking forward to reading through threads and getting to know people but first I come here with a bit of a pressing issue.
My daughter and I just started riding lessons last month. We've done plenty of trail riding, but wanted to do something more intensive and educational. She's 9 and has had 4 lessons, I've had 5. We're doing pretty well. But this past Saturday my little girl was thrown from her horse. We're not talking fell off -- this little, old pony danced around and then truly bucked her off. She went up over his head and flipped in the air before hitting the ground. Now, thankfully we both always wear helmets and we were in the arena which is a bit padded thanks to the dirt in there.
Kajia (my daughter) has always been a very proud little girl and has always resisted showing any kind of weakness. --this is not due to any kind of denial of her emotions on my part, I greatly encourage it but she's got a stubborn ego from her father. After she recovered from being thrown I knew she wanted to cry, I knew she was shaken, and I knew she didn't want to get back on. Our trainer encouraged her to get back on and she finished out her lesson on the same pony that threw her. Even being led by the trainer he continued to misbehave some.
It was incredibly traumatic for me to watch. Days later it still replays in my mind. But I'll deal with it.
My main concern is helping her deal with the aftermath. She came with me to my lesson on Sunday but had no desire to get on her own mount. She keeps saying she's not scared (there's that ego again) but I know it had to have left an impression. I just don't know how to go about encouraging her to talk through it, acknowledge the fear/anxiety, and process in a healthy way. She's willing to ride again next Saturday -- but refuses to mount Antone, the pony that threw her.
So if anyone has any advice it'd be greatly appreciated!
My daughter and I just started riding lessons last month. We've done plenty of trail riding, but wanted to do something more intensive and educational. She's 9 and has had 4 lessons, I've had 5. We're doing pretty well. But this past Saturday my little girl was thrown from her horse. We're not talking fell off -- this little, old pony danced around and then truly bucked her off. She went up over his head and flipped in the air before hitting the ground. Now, thankfully we both always wear helmets and we were in the arena which is a bit padded thanks to the dirt in there.
Kajia (my daughter) has always been a very proud little girl and has always resisted showing any kind of weakness. --this is not due to any kind of denial of her emotions on my part, I greatly encourage it but she's got a stubborn ego from her father. After she recovered from being thrown I knew she wanted to cry, I knew she was shaken, and I knew she didn't want to get back on. Our trainer encouraged her to get back on and she finished out her lesson on the same pony that threw her. Even being led by the trainer he continued to misbehave some.
It was incredibly traumatic for me to watch. Days later it still replays in my mind. But I'll deal with it.
My main concern is helping her deal with the aftermath. She came with me to my lesson on Sunday but had no desire to get on her own mount. She keeps saying she's not scared (there's that ego again) but I know it had to have left an impression. I just don't know how to go about encouraging her to talk through it, acknowledge the fear/anxiety, and process in a healthy way. She's willing to ride again next Saturday -- but refuses to mount Antone, the pony that threw her.
So if anyone has any advice it'd be greatly appreciated!