Defusing a potential explosion- what would you have done?

[findeight]

@Fiona_785

… It was the “wisdom vs. valor” comment that made me feel like I was being called a fool…

Not at all. Sometimes the wiser choice with the most chance of success and least chance of failure is valor. If the horse interprets the wise choice as timid, it can be as bad a choice as valor depending on circumstances. Making the wrong choice doesn’t make anybody a fool either. As long as the rider realizes they chose poorly, contemplates why they should have chosen the other and learns from it, it’s all good. That is how you really learn, by doing, not reading.

This isn’t as much about the choice to get off as much as choosing to ride that horse in that field on that day. The best time to make that choice is before you get on. Sounds like you are understanding this is a valuable lesson as you progress in your riding journey. You did reach out in here for ideas, that’s a sign of a thoughtful rider who wants to learn.

Oh, the set them up for success every ride, never let them fail? Though very familiar with the concept, I never heard it expressed that way until I had about 40 years in the saddle. From Melanie Smith Taylor, one if the first seriously successful women in International Show Jumping, whose poster aboard the fabulous Calypso graced my tackroom wall decades ago. She was working with a developing riders clinic, maybe 6-7 years ago, over several days…a week after she finished the NYC Marathon. One must always consider the source of any advice…thats a pretty solid one.

[vxf111]

Well, I got the quote a little wrong. It’s “discretion” is the better part of valor. Which means it’s good to be brave (and ride out a meltdown) but sometimes it’s better to avoid the situation entirely unless there’s a good intentional reason to bring on the meltdown and ride through it. I’ve already explained why I think it was asking a lot for a horse to keep it together under the situation (based on what you had shared about the horse and his experience). It was not calling you stupid, OP. It was a way of saying “set yourself up for success” or “pick your battles” or “it’s okay to say ‘too much going on, I am going to ride inside today’”

[enjoytheride]

I think you made the best out of a bad situation.

I got off my own normally quiet and well behaved horse in the middle of a competition a few weeks ago when she lost her mind and was rearing and running uncontrollably.

Do I admit to having nerves and having ridden her poorly that day and that a combination of things may have lead up to the explosion? Sure.

But the number of people who offered me advice by saying I taught her she could “win” that way and I should have stuck it out was staggering. Not to mention how not a single one of those people offered to get on my horse for me, told me I needed to put the horse in training but nobody would ever agree to ride my horse, or would have even been on a relatively green to that situation horse in the first place.

It was frustrating as I felt out of control and unsafe on her back and I had to make a difficult decision to vault off in between rears. Do I wish I had felt like I could have stayed on and made it a “teaching experience?” Of course, but at the time I did what I felt was best for my safety and those around me.

I don’t see how you could have predicted the reaction or even appearance of the other horse. Had they been galloping around already or indicated that they wanted to do so you could have then made a plan based on that.

Sometimes crap happens and someone who says they set their horse up for success every day and never ever lets them fail has either never ridden a horse or rides in a freak controlled environment. It’s impossible prevent unpredictable things from happening.

Personally, if my horse had never showed that kind of behavior hacking around a field, and never changed behavior according to the weather I would have not hesitated to take it out around a field. I would rather take my horse on a trail ride after a 40 degree temp drop than ride her in the indoor during the same drop!

To answer your question if I felt like I was in control I would have gone forward and done small circles and changes of direction. If I felt out of control I would have gotten off and either lunged or moved to the indoor. While I think that horses do develop bad habits when they “get away with” things, in some cases safety is paramount to a bad habit you need to undo.

[alibi_18]

The ability at defusing explosion comes with good traning.

You’ve only at 15-20 rides on this horse, for the past few weeks, and he’s been off for a year. Confidence in the aids and relaxation training techniques will only come with times.

What was the lay up for? If the horse only been back to work for the past few weeks, I would expect there are things that you might not allowed to do (or that might not be a good choice for now) at this point in its training.

If the problem was tendon/ligament injuries… not sure I would want to do small circles/chasing haunches/one rein pulley to stop. At least, I’d want to avoid that at al cost until the horse is stronger as it could be a good recipe to reinjure the horse quickly. Sometime, it is better to stay conservative.

Prevention, like others have said will give you the time you need to put in place confidence and training techniques that will help you prevent futur outbursts.

[findeight]

Just wanted to clarify something…setting them up for success does not mean they won’t fail anyway and avoiding situations where failure is more likely then not doesn’t mean it’s unavoidable.

Just that one should select what they are asking the horse to do carefully based on their knowledge of that horse, it’s reactions and training in similar situations. The choice can avoid unnecessary drama if they aren’t ready or expand the horses training if they are ready. Trick is knowing if they are ready or not.

For OP, it’s still a new ride, just back in work in a field never worked in before with a lesson group working with sight and hearing. That should lead to a different choice then ETR made with a horse she’s had for a couple of years in familiar surroundings that has been to shows. Weigh the options based on the individual situation.

[masiek]

I know this isn’t really what the thread is about, but I would be having some words with that trainer. Having your student tear around a field with another horse and rider in it with no warning is a major safety issue.

[Fiona_785]

@findeight

Just wanted to clarify something…setting them up for success does not mean they won’t fail anyway and avoiding situations where failure is more likely then not doesn’t mean it’s unavoidable.

Just that one should select what they are asking the horse to do carefully based on their knowledge of that horse, it’s reactions and training in similar situations. The choice can avoid unnecessary drama if they aren’t ready or expand the horses training if they are ready. Trick is knowing if they are ready or not.

For OP, it’s still a new ride, just back in work in a field never worked in before with a lesson group working with sight and hearing. That should lead to a different choice then ETR made with a horse she’s had for a couple of years in familiar surroundings that has been to shows. Weigh the options based on the individual situation.

Thank you F8! I definitely understand your point and will heed that advice. Bringing a horse back into work at this time of year does come with its own special challenges I think it’s definitely a good idea to stack all the cards in my direction from the beginning.

[Fiona_785]

@masiek

I know this isn’t really what the thread is about, but I would be having some words with that trainer. Having your student tear around a field with another horse and rider in it with no warning is a major safety issue.

It is definitely a major safety issue, despite different training styles and cultural perspectives- I agree! It wasn’t the most conscientious thing I’ve seen, it was actually pretty callous. I was within shouting distance for him to at least say “heads up, we’re galloping!” but in watching how that kid was riding and how he was training it was pretty clear safety was not a big consideration there. That just wasn’t their style. To each their own I guess, some focus on correctness and cadence in riding, others just want to go faster and jump higher… Sometimes we just have to look the other way I guess

Since I’m just a boarder here, I will not approach the trainer myself. I did mention it to my trainer the next time I saw her which is pretty much all I can do. Next time I will know to keep my head up more around here and just retreat to the indoor to keep the peace. Not my barn, not my trainer, we just need to somehow work together and stay out of each other’s way.

[findeight]

Devils advocate for a second here…Ever take a lesson on the skills required for Polo (without a stick)? And Eventers do need to learn to manage an actual gallop and that could have been part of that day’s lesson plan. Oh, sharing a ring with Reiners can be challenging , so can riding with DQs with whips on both sides sticking out like wings, BTDT got the bruises.

You can’t assume everybody else is going to do the right thing and take into consideration your horses probable reactions. Not in the real world.

Sounds like an odd barn mix here…I’ve been in some of those. I survived by assuming the worst and being prepared for it. Biggest part was riding when others taking lessons from trainers of questionable knowledge, situational awareness and professionalism weren’t on the property.

OP is wise in speaking with her own trainer and handling it that way. Look on the bright side, when OP gets into that show warm up ring chaos? She and horse will just yawn. And he won’t spook at things outside the ring.