trust

[Libby]

Hi
Yesterday I fell off. I now have fourteen stiches in the back of my head. I'm feeling better but when I went to see my horse today she seemed ****ed off. Usually I get nickers and she stands waiting for me. When I caught her to check her rug she trot off with her ears back.
When the accident occured she bolted up the hill to the other horses as soon as she saw me getting up. I did not have the energy yesterday to to go after her(losing lots of blood,going to the hospital) and a friend attended to her.
Could the accident have scared my horse into fearing me??
I would of got back on today but I'm on medication that prevents it. My sisters horse seemed to click one day and turned wild, could my horse be going down the same track??
Any ideas on how to get her trust back
thanks.

[random2]

I would say that the horse was spooked that you were thrown off it's back. BUT I would not worry. If it is your horse, then you have probably formed an unshakable bond. FOr the next few days, be extra quiet and calm. Give oyur horse a lot of treats. Are you having someone else ride him? IF not, you may want to see of if you can get on the horses back and have someone lead you around. THe horse may pick up on your anxiety so try to minimize it. OR oyu can let time take it's course and soon the horse will come around.

[Sarah]

That sounds like a nasty fall you had. Did your hat fall off so that you cut your head so badly? You were very lucky not to have had a more serious injury.

Can you remember how the fall happened? Did you try to stay on for as long as possible after whatever happened to make you think you were going to fall off? Apparently that can really scare the horse (but the thought of it scaring the horse wouldn't stop me trying to stay on!). Did your horse fall with you? She may be in a bit of pain herself if she did, perhaps if she doesn't seem happier in a day or two it may be sensible to call out the vet, just in case.

It is probably just a case that you falling off scared your horse. You will need to try to spend some time with her. Have you ever tried to join up with your horse? Walk up to her in a submissive way then if she runs away get in an agressive pose so that she really has a reason to run. Whenever she stops, walk submissively towards her. When she looks like she is going to run again, stand still and make a loud chewing noise. More than likely she will run away so look scarey! After a while she will realise that when she decided to run, life is made awkward for her and that standing still near you is not really so unpleasant at all. Whatever you do, don't just let her stand and graze!

Good luck, i hope that helps, please let us know how you get on.

bye!

[Laya]

I don't think that trust that is lost can't be rebuilt. Maybe you just need to spend time with her. Grooming her, talking to her, feeding her. She's probably just upset and startled by what happened. Not only was it frightening for you, it was probably for her too.

Good luck and let us all know!! :thumbsup:

[Libby]

Hi,
before I fell off she had started not listening to me.
I usually tell her to slow down and she listens she is usually really good. Knowing that she is quiet was the reason why I was riding around bareback with only a rope halter on, with reins. So she starts to build up speed, I tried everything I knew but she would not listen.
She jumps a jump with out me asking and gets faster.
That was when I thought I'm sliding I'm going to fall off. I was trying to prepare myself but it happened to quickly and down I went. I don't know what happened to make my helmet slip it was done up, all I know is when I got up it was off and my head was bleeding bad. (It's going to the rubbish)

I went down today and feed her and she seemed a little better but still distant. I keep her in a paddock where there are allot of horses, she keeps to herself and never really cared about the other horses. Now she knickers to them and is always trying to get her head in the direction of the horses.

I'm not allowed to ride for at least a week, just in case the stitches come undone or something so I don't know if she is still going to be naughty to ride. I've asked my sister to get on and she said she would but I don't know if it will show anything since I have been the only rider she has had for more at least a year. If anyone else ever got on her she always tested them and would behave differently.

[Wally]

There is an old saying...... It is always the really good horses that people have the worst accidents on. Just for that reason, you think you know your horse inside out, then one day off you come because you were taking liberties.
I've done it, lots of people have done it. Learn from it and treat all horses with respect, they are free thinking prey animals, the fact that you are allowed on their back is wonder enough.
Is she used to bareback riding, with reins on a halter? This may have been enough to confuse her if she's not accustomed to this way of riding.
You could have been gripping up with your legs, when you started to slip, telling her to go faster.

I had a hat do the same as yours once. I didn't (wouldn't!) go for the stitches. Now Iv'e got a bald patch on the back of my head where I got cut. That hat went to the bin!!

[LindaAd]

Have you got a bandage on your head, Libby? That could make you look funny to the horse and spook her. Or maybe as Wally said, you're nervous and she's picking up on that.

[olympicprincess]

I think trust starts from the ground up, like others mentioned. There's plenty of things to do with your horse besides riding. You both may enjoy a little time off.

When you're ready to ride again, pick a time when your horse seems happiest, like after eating. Don't be brave and rush back into it if you're nervous. Maybe even ride another horse or have someone hop on your horse so you can see that she's listening. Be sure to tell the person not to "cowboy" around and hype your horse up, you just want to see her calm. Good Luck.