Out of control horses

[Jo]

Hi - You've got courage to keep at it! But don't give up! I have had a similar effect on a few horses! It's not funny to be carted off at great speed without a hope of controlling the brute! Are you riding at a school? If so, I would tell them exactly how I felt and insist on riding the mildest horse until I felt more confident. A nasty fall knocks the confidence out of you but a few weeks of controlling a horse may restore it. What situations are you in when your horse bolts off? I'd stick to schooling if that happened to me all the time - at least until I built up some confidence. Keep at it - it's a wonderful passtime!

[Tammie]

I think that this site is fabulous. Just what I have been looking for.

I have been ridding now for 18 months and for the past 12 I have been very nervous. It started of this time last year when one of the horses that I rode a lot took off with me every time I rode her, this resulted in me refusing to get on her. Just recently every horse that I have rode has done the same except one that is bomb proof. Is it me that is making the horses run off. I sit very quitely but this seem to make no difference. I had quite a nast fall a few week ago when the horse that I was ridding spun round and galloped off in the opposite direction. Please help if you can as I don't want to have to give up ridding.

[Medalia]

I admire your sticking to it. A lot of riders get a little tumble, say it's been a buck off, and they never went out again!

Well, tell your instructor that you are really worried, and might be more comfortable on something a little more reliable.

About the "reliable" one. How long have you been riding it? It could be a one time thing too.

[Tammie]

Thanks for the encouragement.

I have been ridding the reliable horse for quite a while now. He is an old reliable horse that everybody loves but he is slow. I am ridding at an established school and they state that I should be ridding something with a bit more speed and get up and go. My instructors all state that I am more than capable of controlling the more outgoing horses but that I am my own worst enemy as it is lack of confidence in myself that lets me down. For instance when the horse will not do as I ask I am told to put the reins into one hand and give the horse one sharp tap with my stick to let it know who is boss. I find this very scary because as soon as you take the reins into one hand the horse knows that he is going to get a smack and suddenly moves more forward.

I am told that the horses are always more frisky at this time of year due to the long winter months and they are now in Party Mood.

I shall stick at it as I see people who have been ridding for years in complete controll of some mad horses.

I think that my reactions are a bit slow as when the horses take off with me I cannot put them on a circle and rather let them go foward and try to halt them with half halts and if that doesn't work with both reins, however sometimes it is so fast that I am at the other end of the school before I realise what is happening.

Thanks for the answers.

[Gail May]

Dear Tammie

DONT GIVE UP! I dont know if you have read my messages but I had only been riding 2 months and I had two nasty falls in half an hour. Since that time I have found one to one lessons with an instructor who specialises in nervous riders has done wonders for me.

My instuctor has given me the correct ways of controlling a horse, and in fact in order to prove the point - on the lunge she has purposefully pushed the horse on whilst I have had to control him to go at the pace of my choice. This has built my confidence up so much, just knowing that I can stop the horse from going too fast.

I am also trying desparately to get a good adhesive seat which will obviously come with time.

Having lost confidence I know exactly how despairing it feels - but you will build your confidence up once you can control the pace of your horse.

Gail

[john lee]

Tammie,
Response to you e-mail regarding everytime you get on a horse it runs off with you on it. I bet you everyone in their horse riding experience has had this happen to them. You have guts to keep trying, but a tip for you as this does sometimes happen to me, or particarly used to. I consider myself quite a bold rider, but not that technical. I fall into the category of making most horses quite up for riding. I dont get that nervous, but more excited or anxious, normally at the start.

Try and relax and breathe more easily just before you start riding. I am sure this will help.

Good luck and let me know how you get on.

John

[Jayne1]

Tammie, I've got the same problem. Every horse I've ever ridden has taken off with me. I don't fall off often because I'm an experienced rider but I find turning small circles helps to stop runaways. My instructor says I've got an electric bum. Even the big fat carthorse that no one can ever get to move ran away with me! Stick at it and keep
smiling!

[RockinMax]

Tammie,
I commend you for sticking with riding! I have a terrible fear of having my horse run off with me; even though he has never done so. A few years ago I had a mare who ran off with me every time I rode her, since then I haven't been able to get totally over this fear. I have taken lessons from a few different teachers. I have found the one I have now has been the most helpful to me. BTW she is a schoolteacher also. Regardless of whether I can do something, she understands my fear, and doesn't push me into doing what I really don't feel comfortable with. She does have me do things I don't think I can do, or don't want to do; but once I am doing them if I really am still afraid we stop. She seems to know just how much to push. She went right back to the basics with me, and although I felt like a total baby, it helped me to develop some confidence back. Good luck, I wish you the best and lots of success. With your courage and determination, you will make it.
Stacey

[Tammie]

Thank you everybody for the replies. It helps to know that you are not the only person in the world that horses run off with. I am always told to put the horse on a cirlce when they take off but I am normally at the other end of the school before I realise it. Also I find circles very hard. I must practise more with circle work.

Tammie