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One day.. (Falling off a horse..)

2K views 15 replies 9 participants last post by  BossHoss 
#1 ·
So, I recently purchased a 9 year old quarter horse mare. The day I took her out on a trial trail (pre-purchase) ride, I rode with the BO's daughter and her easygoing gelding. It was all good, and quiet. Suddenly, some stray dogs just busted out of the brush and scared the gelding, and my mare went too! I landed on my head and neck in a big trench that she jumped over. (Was trying out a potential saddle too. NOT IN LOVE WITH SLICK LEATHER SEATS!!!)

Caught horse. Got back on horse. Had a nice ride back.

I placed a downpayment on the horse, and the BO has been letting me come mess with her every day. Today, the BO, daughter, and I all went for a trail ride. BO's Daughter's horse is the "leader" in their herd mentality. We were FINE! The leader decided he wanted to try his rider, and came galloping past us. My mare was fine. She didn't move at all. She didn't act like she wanted to run with him or anything. I was so proud of her. I told her how good she was and gave her a ton of petting.
We rode through the woods, and onto a country road. We passed an ATV and all the horses were just fine. We got to the end of the road, and my mare stopped. She would only back up. She would not walk forward no matter what. I turned her several times, but she would only walk back toward the barn. The pair I was riding with kept piddling on while I sorted things out with my mare. She must have done 100 tiny circles just trying to get me to turn her the other way. I clucked. I kicked. I smacked her rear. (I felt awful about it too, but that's what everyone kept telling me to do. ) She would just turn and look up at me like "Why'd you do that?" Finally, I turned her and let her walk back down the road toward the barn. I stopped her by the woods and turned her again. I thought maybe I would suggest she go that way, and make it "her idea".. Well, I got her to take a step toward the way I wanted, and gave her tons of praise and pets. She ate that up and went walking just like all was well again. I was so proud of her and I kept petting her....


....and then we got to that spot that she stopped at earlier. She started calling for the other horses we were riding with, but they didn't answer. The BO called me on the phone and asked what was wrong. She sent her husband out in the ATV to help me encourage her to continue the ride and not get her way. BO's husband comes and we finally get her encouraged enough to walk past the spots she was avoiding. All was well in the world. When he turned his ATV to leave, she spooked and hauled herself down the road. I did not go with her. (This fall was much softer than the first fall, and I landed on my side... not my head. ))

...she did eventually stop to munch on some cattails. We caught up to her and I got back on her. The BO and her daughter met us and we turned around and headed home. My mare was fine the whole way back. She wasn't in a hurry to get back to her pasture or anything.

I did some groundwork with her when I was finished. (Some with saddle on. Some with saddle off. ) And she got cozied up in her pasture with her roundbale and called it a night until I grained her later in the evening.


Every time I have been on this mare (twice) I have fallen off. I have always gotten right back on. I am not scared of her. I always think she is going to do something because I am her leader and she will follow me. I don't hesitate. I don't ask her to do something I am not willing to go through with. I know she will test me, and she is very intelligent. This was not something that I took lightly when I committed to buying her.

I already do some groundwork with her, but I am going to have to find some more activities for us to do together.

_____________________________

Sorry if that was a long, horrible tale. I just felt like spilling my guts today, since I don't really have any horse-savvy friends.

What were your favorite trust/respect building activities to do with your horses when you first got them? Maybe she was just scared. (On the way back, I was told they saw some big cat tracks.. so maybe that was something to worry about..) but I would like to blame myself and say I need to have more trust/respect with her. :p
 
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#2 ·
You missed a golden training opportunity. Obviously something about that spot was bothering her. While you are building trust with a new or young horse, and they encounter something they are afraid of, dismount and walk her through or past whatever it is that is bothering her until she stops showing signs of nervousness. In her mind you will be a hero for leading her through/past harm, which will build her trust in you. It is no different than desensitizing a horse to wind or anything else they may encounter on the trail...
 
#11 ·
I've heard from a few people that you should never do this since the horse essentially won. With that being said, I am not the most confident rider at times so I feel that its pointless for me to fight with my horse when I'm scared because either way he's going to win so I end up doing this tactic.
 
#5 ·
She's too green for me. Must be a GREAT deal.
Honestly, IMHO, this horse is no way ready to trail ride. Is that why you intend for her?
I, personally, don't find any falls to be "soft", and I try hard to avoid them. I'd pass on this horse.
 
#8 · (Edited)
I am surprised to read this. I really am. Her first owner was horse trainer in the area. She owned her for about 4 years. She has been on trails for at least 5 years that I have known about, so this seems to be more of a behavior thing rather than a "Oh, she's just green and send her to a trainer because she clearly doesn't remember basics. "

That's just my opinion, of course! You could be right and I could very well be in that "know-it-all 20-something stage of my life. ;) I just don't think she's green.

EDIT: Not trying to be defensive. Re-read this post and it does look that way. I apologize! I was saying it in a tongue-in-cheek kind of way that was more "Hey, I don't completely agree, but no hard feelings. Throw in a joke. Everyone laughs. The end. " :S Sorry about that.
 
#6 ·
I think the horse just got pushed too far out of its comfort zone, maybe I mis read but it doesn't sound like a bad horse more of a green one
Our horses still stand and refuse to move when they smell (we think) a bear track, they arent used to bears and have a fit if they scent one walking along the woodland track by the side of our field. They are very much 'point and go' horses so we give them the benefit of the doubt, one of us dismounts and leads their horse and the other two then follow, if I'm on my own I get off and lead and then get back on really fast in case said bear is close by - as soon as we're past that spot - can be anywhere - they are back to normal and carry on happily
 
#7 ·
I personally vote for the get off and walk horse thing. But I also have a few accomplished trainers in my area to stay on and just keep pushing also. I have found both situations to work. Just what ever works best for you.

As for trust things (which is a big deal to me also) I teach my horse tricks, that way he gets one on one time with me and me only. Also I have never met a horse that loves to sun him self more than myself, so I will go out and lay down with him and talk or take naps. I also go on runs with my horse. Like on the ground with him, Just so he sees that I am willing to do the work with him(sounds crazy and corny I know). Clint Anderson has a good book of ground work games which are supposed to be fun. Could try that. :)

Good look with your mare. Sounds like you guys shall be a good pair with work. You just have to work through it together which will create better a bond and trust than anything. :)
 
#10 ·
I feel like when I let her go back to the start of the road, I let her make the choice. I made her flex and turn and do circles and back up and all of this stuff when she tried to walk back home. When she turned toward the way I wanted to go, I removed all pressure. She took a step in that direction and I gave her pets and praise and boy was she proud going down that road.

I was determined to make her go. I felt more hindered than anything when the BO's hubby came over to show me a thing or two. My way clearly got results. Their way got my horse spooked and haulin' rear down the road. :S mixed feelings.

I will look into those books. :) Love learning games!
 
#13 ·
You have to understand what your horses concept of 'winning' is
If you cant battle it out with him from the saddle and he throws you off or manages to turn and bolt back to where he wants to be then he'll chalk that up as a 'win'
If you dismount of your own free will and lead him past the offending place or object and then remount and continue then you've won
You also have to recognise his reasoning in refusing to pass something - if its genuine fear then getting off and walking with him is an ideal way to show him you are a leader he can trust - you are willing to put yourself between him and the horse eating monster and prove that its safe - you will protect him in & show the way the way like a herd leader would
If the horse is using something as an excuse to not go thats another thing - we have our monster in the corner of the menage on the days they dont feel like working in there. If I had a horse I couldn't feel confident I could ride out of that situation I will do anything to keep its feet moving to distract its mind from that focus but if that doesn't work I'll still prefer to get off and lead past - one way or another they have gone past it and so not won. You dont have to be on a horses back to work it.
 
#14 ·
My 15 year old mare I have had for a few moths now pulled this last trail ride. I was riding with two others and we had stopped for a break and when we decided to move on I went to take the lead and she flat refused to move. She is of a lazy nature and has had a few incidents of trying to turn back to the trailer and we have had a couple "arguments" but nothing like this. She was NOT having it wouldnt take a single step forward to save her life. I will say thank goodness for my patient and understanding riding friends who understood I HAD to go first now and HAD to make this happen. That was one loooong come to Jesus meeting and lord was I exhausted but she in fact did walk out and I kept her riding out front the remainder of the ride. Kicking and a good couple wallops on the rear did NOTHING and I could feel she was considering a buck so I just worked circles till we were both exhausted and she decided forward had to be better than these circles cause they were not easy la-de-da circles I put the pressure to her and firmly requested that nose to my knee. She held out for quite some time but we got it done and for me that was the best way to work thru it since it seemed clear it was not a fear issue as before asking her to move out she had been standing relaxed and content. ;) and no way was she going to win this one and follow another horse or be allowed to go back. I wont deny it was exhausting and frustrating (and probably terribly boring for my riding companions lol) but worth it in the long run.
 
#15 ·
Last night we went for a nice little groundwork stroll through the trail (I was on the ground with a lead, and a longe whip). Anytime she stopped and refused to move, stopped to pick cattails, or whatever, she got longed then and there.

Ideally a few days of this may make her more responsive to me. She walked very nicely on the way back. I am also hoping she will take it as "I guess I have to listen outside of the pen, too. " We did about 2.5 hours of work last night. Probably going to just work her lightly today and see if any of it has sunken in! Here's hoping!!!
 
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