Fear of falling!

[hoofhearted]

Hi everyone. Was wondering if anyone can offer me any advice on how to overcome my fear of falling off whilst cantering? Its getting so that as soon as we start to canter on a hack (we don't school) all I can think about is that she is going to spook and I'm going to come off at speed - she doesn't do slow canter! I'm not bothered about her spooking while walking, and not too worried about trotting. I really want to overcome this, any advice? And does anyone else feel the same?

[*GroovyGallop*]

It's normal to feel nervous about cantering :)
Does the pony you ride have a neckstrap or anything you can just hold for a little extra support or confidence?
Just try to relax - as that will give you a deeper seat and lower the chances of you actually falling of if the pony does spook.
Why not hold onto the mane?
Talk to yourself or sing, anything to take you mind of her spooking
If you're calm and relaxed -
your pony will be calm and relaxed too! :D

[NoviceNic]

Get hold of that mane and neck strap and remember to breathe....Oh and dont grip with your legs or knees cause that will make them go faster....:eek:

Why dont you ask your RI to put you on the lunge for a while. Just to let you get used to the canter first...

I found the best way of beating your fear of falling is actually by falling...you will realise that it wont kill you...;) I had 5 yrs of gripping with my knees. Then one day the hugest jump at the fastest speed and Yes. I fell off.....One hell of a bang on my head I can tell you. My RI was panicking and ran over to me. I sat up and laughed my head off. She was worried about my sanity but I told her that I was so scared of falling because I thought it would kill me that I was happy to have fell and now realised that I wont die....:D Am I weird......:rolleyes:

[vince42]

Fear of falling off is completely normal - as someone who has made a habit of falling off ( I've even come off while mounting :rolleyes: ) it is rarely far from my thoughts when riding.

However, I've only ever come off at canter once and that was when the horse was absolutely determined to get me off. If you can relax into the movement and sit deep you are actually in a very secure postion. Anything you can do to reduce stiffness and tension will help as it will make you more secure and also relax your horse by making her more comfortable.

I know your post says you don't school but perhaps a few sessions with an instructor could improve your security and give you that extra confidence?

Vince

[Skib]

I too hack a lot and have done very little canter in the school. So I learned how out on the track.
But the fact that one is learning canter in a different place than most riders, doesn't mean one can skip the various building blocks in learning, which build up one's competence in canter and make one gradually more confident too.
I suspect you haven't had that training? And without it there is unlikely to be a long term solution. Although I argue that, if you canter far enough and often enough, you learn to do it in the end, that wont happen if you are scared and therefore sitting stiffly. The opposite could happen and you will get more unstable, not less.
In your place, I personally would separate the two problems the spooking and the canter. And do some or all of the following. If you are a learner it will transform your riding, if you are an experienced rider already, you could regard it as a refresher course.
Lunge lessons leading gradually up to canter on the lunge will give you a more stable seat (easier to sit spooks) and more stability in canter. With no fear of spooking.

Schooling on a hack You say she doesn't do slow canter? And you don't school. No wonder you are scared. A horse's job is to do as the rider directs it. And that includes in canter. If you are riding in a group it may be hard for you to control the horse (it will follow the others) or to choose how far and fast the group canter.
So I suggest going on some private hacks with an instructor. The first thing I learned when I started to canter was how to brake.
Brakes Ride behind your teacher and learn how to control the distance between your horse and the horse ahead of you.
Learn to transition down from canter, to both trot and walk.
Learn to control the first few steps of canter (using your back) so that if the horse does get away from your total control in the first excited steps, you can get it back pretty quick.
Then practise cantering a set number of steps. Like ask for canter for twenty steps (you'll need to prepare three steps early), then trot 16 steps then canter again. Riding canter should be like driving a car or riding a bicycle. You are at the controls and the controls should work.
You should be able to ask for fast canter and then slow canter so you control the speed.
Forward seat Are you frightened because you are riding forward seat?You should also learn how to ride in forward seat. I am like you. I don't like the idea of the horse spooking when I am in forward seat, but ideally you should be relaxed and well balanced in forward seat so that a spook wont throw you off.
I personally don't find a neck strap helps because it tends to encourage you to lean forward? But if the horse spooks, by all means grab the mane. it is the best thing to hold.

Spooking Next the question of the spook fear. Some horses are more likely to spook if they canter first. So I don't ride first on a spooky horse! If your horse pushes to the front of the group that could increase the likelihood, so by dealing with that problem, you will reduce the spooks?

Each spooky horse is an individual and needs to be handled the best way for that particular horse. I ride one horse that spooks, because I know the warning signs and how to stop her, but apart from her I take a simple decision not to ride horses that are known to be spookers.
If you are given or own a horse that regularly spooks in canter then in your place I would request another horse or have the horse given some further training.

Sometimes it is good for humans to be frightened. Because there is an appreciable danger. Your post suggests that could be the case. If you look at all the component parts of the canter problem and deal with them one by one, taking your time, your brain may abandon the fear. Instead you will have the pleasure of concentrating on (and relishing) your control of your horse.

[hoofhearted]

Thanks everyone for your replies - lots of good suggestions. I would like to have lessons and do some more basic schooling so that is something I will be looking into.

Thanks again!:)

[MrDCBags]

I too had a fear of falling off and by falling off it has lessened.

I spent years as a child with a closer than most relationship with the arena floor! It didn't really bother me then.

I returned to riding as an adult with two children and the fear was huge. To the point of vomiting in the stable before getting on a very safe beast!

A few lessns with a sympathetic instructor helped to calm the fear especially as we talked through everything. Then I rode out in the field had a fab lesson and was jsut doing one final canter and end up on the floor in a heap. Despite having the wind knocked out of me i was fine and got back on. Falling did wonders for me as i hd blown it up in my mind as a major event resulting in serious injury which it didn't. I guess what I am trying to say is that your mind can be horribly cruel and prevent yo from enjoying your riding.

Keep talking to people especially RI as they can help rationalise your fears.

Good Luck:)