I’m a beginner and for the past few months have been taking weekly lessons on a horse that hates to go. He’s slow and pretty stubborn and it takes a great deal of leg pressure to get him trotting or cantering. He’s not my favorite. However, the other lesson horses on offer are even more stubborn and difficult to work with for a beginner.
Last week we were on a casual free ride in a field near the barn and I had him stop so I could adjust my stirrup. My riding partner trotted off and suddenly my usually slow as hell horse bolted at top speed to catch up with the other horse. I was struggling to keep my seat when, for some inexplicable reason, he seemed to hop or jump up, though we were in a flat field, and I fell off and hit the ground hard. He ran on for a while before the other rider caught up with him and went to get me some help. The pain was intense and I blacked out when I tried to stand.
Luckily, I don’t seem to have broken anything but I am in a ton of pain still and can barely walk. I don’t want to stop riding or lose my confidence after my first fall but am not sure this is the horse for me. Or am I just being scared? Other students have fallen off him as well for various reasons; I’m not alone. Maybe I need to ride a geriatric horse and improve my seat until my confidence returns. Any tips for getting back in the saddle as an adult beginner with a bruised body/confidence?
Going forward this isn’t something that you should blame the horse for. I don’t think he’s necessarily a bad match, I think that the person you were riding with is inconsiderate.
It’s pretty common courtesy when you’re trail riding with someone (especially a beginner) that you ask or at least inform the people you’re riding with if you’re going to start going faster for this very reason.
Unfortunately everyone is going to fall off at some point, but if you can understand why you fell off and can work at preventing that scenario again you can give yourself more confidence. If I were you I would continue riding this same horse, keep doing what you’re doing to improve your seat, ask for some no stirrup lessons on the lunge, etc. And next time you’re out in the open ask your fellow riders to give you a heads up if they’re going to change pace.
This is a conversation you should have with your trainer. Does the horse have a history or getting spunky when outside? Maybe he’s just not a good choice to ride outdoors until you can put your seatbelt on.
But yes, the other rider should not have moved on without you, especially since you are a beginner.
Thanks for your thoughts. The other rider is also a beginner on a slow lesson horse and did not realize that trotting off to the other side of the field would provoke a response like this in my horse. We both learned several valuable lessons.
I hope you keep writing. Other posters are certainly correct in that everyone does come off the horse and expected. If Cindy for us, figured out, and get back on
[QUOTE=Jam1692;9019230]
Thanks for your thoughts. The other rider is also a beginner on a slow lesson horse and did not realize that trotting off to the other side of the field would provoke a response like this in my horse. We both learned several valuable lessons.[/QUOTE]
Why on earth would your trainer or barn owner allow two Beginner riders to go out on a hack in any sort of open space unsupervised?!
I would highly suggest finding a new trainer and facility post haste, before you get seriously injured moreso than you have already. This is highly inappropriate and serves no educational purpose for you other than to help you form the thought of “Gee, that was probably not the best idea.” .
Additionally, keep in mind that ANY horse can bolt or buck at any time, no matter how they “usually” go. I have been involved in horses on a professional level for 20 years and even the very best, most broke horses in the world can have their moments, especially if doing something that is not their usual routine (lesson horse usually confined to the area being taken into an open field, for example).
Horses are herd animals hard wired to stay together in groups to stay alive. That’s an instinct even good riders need to constantly be aware of and control. It’s the essence of being a horse. This horse was just reacting instinctively when his buddy sped up and left just as you bent to fix that stirrup.
It was thoughtless of the other rider to trot off when you were bent over with no control. If the other rider was not a beginner too, I’d say it was rude, careless and stupid. But she probably just didn’t know anything about the basic nature of horses.
Doesn’t sound like anybody is teaching you beginners what you should know about riding outside a small ring without direct supervision.
If anybody is at fault here, it’s the instructor who should have given you more insight into the basic nature of even the quietest nag…and should have been there supervising given you were both beginners.
If there’s a lot of falls at this barn, perhaps you might want to try another? Everybody falls off but this was a very avoidable situation with just a little more knowledge.
I am glad you are okay. Were you wearing a helmet? If not, get your own and this helmet needs to be thrown out.
Your first lesson to learn is. ‘IT IS NEVER THE HORSE’S FAULT.’
You have not been taught this. It shows up in your post. Both in the way you talk about this horse and the way you talk about the other horses.
If your friend is able to trot to the other side of the field they sound like good horses.
You need plenty of seat and leg because you are a beginner. Not because the horse is slow. School horses are picked for that. As you get better the horse will go more easily for you.
I bet if you watch an experienced rider on the same horses you will see the horses go much more forward.
He has been taught to follow the other horse. He went to do so. You were unbalanced and uncomfortable. He may have pigrooted. He does not sound like a slow horse.
I woyld forget this incident and clear the slate. In future ask your instrucror to hold your horse while you change your stirrup. You will learn to change with your reins in your hand and your foot in the stirrup and now you know why.
You need slow horses. Faster horses come with more pigroots and even bucking. Stick to the slower, safer horses while you learn.
You blacked out? That is not normal. Nor is being in pain days later. Maybe a bruise or sore spot not “intense pain” “ton of pain” or “can barely walk”. For now stick to soft footing arenas. Better to try to get dirt out of your ears than be in pain. At the very least it will be one less thing to worry about.
I find trying to teach a student on a horse that will not keep the momentum to be futile. So if this barn has no other animals switch barns. It is a colossal waste of your time to be kicking and kicking and not learning. These lesson horses get burnt out and your trainer is not doing anyone any favors continuing to use animals that are obviously very “over it”.
That said, the behavior of the horse in the field was totally normal.
OP, I dearly hope that you were wearing a helmet. If you were, that helmet now needs to be retired**** and replaced, whether it is the school’s helmet or your own. (If you were not wearing a helmet, now is the time to find a well fitting one that you can wear whenever you ride. They are not expensive, but must fit properly to protect your noggin!)
The fact that you blacked out upon standing is quite concerning. But more concerning is that you were out in an open area without your trainer right there with you, at least from your description.
You may be sore and perhaps a bit apprehensive about your next ride. Be sure you have that well fitting helmet on, and go at a pace that feels comfortable to you, under the supervision of your trainer/instructor. More time in the saddle will make you more comfortable in your riding and confidence. Lessons on the lunge are great for this.
Accidents or unexpected things can happen at any time with horses, but when you are new to any activity, you don’t even know what you don’t know yet. 
And it sounds like you and the other rider did not realize that riding out in an open area might be different than riding in a lesson area. Or that the other rider moving away may cause your horse do something you were not expecting.
A good instructor will not put a rider in a situation that may cause a problem for the rider, or the horse. Safety first, especially as a beginner. Next time, have your instructor go out with you.
****Retiring a helmet that has absorbed a blow is quite important, since it may not provide adequate protection anymore. If I have to retire a helmet, I cut out the harness straps so it can no longer be used.
My old hunter was slow, until we were trail riding or out in the open. Then, my normally mellow guy would buck and run if he thought he was being left behind or if he was anywhere but first or second.
Riding in the open takes practice and skill. Definitely keep at it- his reactions were totally normal given the situation. More saddle time and lessons in a confined area to cement the basics will help. It does get better, I promise!
I hope you’re ok. Blacking out could mean a serious injury, please get checked out.
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Horses that do nothing but go around in circles in the ring can be frisky/different when out in the open.
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Two beginners should not be hacking out without supervision and/or better instruction beforehand.
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When horses (especially lesson horses used to being ridden with their buddies) get left alone it’s not unusual for the “left behind” horse to canter to catch up. Your companion should have not left you behind.
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Riding outside can require different skills than riding in a ring. There are terrain challenges (which may have caused your horse to crowhop).
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You should adjust your stirrups soon after you get on, and certainly well before you’re out in the open.
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Beginners with shaky balance fall off. You’re going to fall sometimes as you learn. Even experienced riders sometimes fall.
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Get a new helmet.
It doesn’t sound to me like anything particularly unusual happened horse-wise. You need to be 100% physically okay before you try again. It does sound like safety measures are not being carefully adhered to at this barn.
Just to clarify: I was wearing a helmet (my own quality helmet) and would NEVER ride in any situation without a helmet. I also felt myself falling off, almost in slow motion, and consciously landed on my left side while keeping my head erect. My head never hit the ground, thank god. But because my lower left side absorbed all of the shock, it is all jacked up.
I did get checked out at urgent care and had an x-ray of my left pelvis/hip. Nothing appears fractured but I am still in a lot of pain and think I must have bruised my ribs and upper back muscles as well. It hurts to take deep breathes, bend over, sit down, stand up, go up/down stairs, move while in bed, or walk. I am out of commission for the next few days with constant icing until the pain calms down. This is torture for me b/c I am usually a very active person. 
I agree that next time we should have an instructor present outside the ring. Although, after this, I doubt I will be going outside of any ring any time soon! I doubt I will be able to ride again for at least 2-3 more weeks. From now on, though, safety first at all times. I’m getting too old for 100% avoidable major injuries!
Anytime you fall, new helmet. Whether you landed on your head or not. A helmet costs between $50-1000. Your brain is priceless because you can’t get a new one. Get a new helmet. If cost is an issue, get a cheap (but well fitting) one to school in. I school in a $65 Tipperary. Is it the prettiest thing? No. But I feel no qualms about getting a new one every year or if I fall because it was cheap. I think you do yourself a disservice to get attached to a helmet.
Edited to add: I appreciate your comments and suggestions. Thank you. I wish I had known these important points before we left the barn.
and remember, “at top speed” to you was probably just a forward lope to youur guy
Just because a horse has gone sour in the arena and won’t move forward, it doesn’t mean he won’t offer a canter at liberty, or on trails or in a field. A ring-sour horse is not necessarily a quiet or lazy horse at heart, or incapable of moving fast if he needs to. A ring sour horse is however an angry horse (passive aggressive really), and one that knows he doesn’t have to do what humans want.
I had an interesting experience in this line last year.
I have been riding my mare on our little trail system for years, and while she can get quite hot if you are cantering her, she has never once offered to “take off” from a walk. Not once.
Last year, I was letting a friend’s teenage daughter take beginner lessons on maresy with my coach, and also walking with her out on the trails. Nice quiet day, and I dropped behind the horse a few yards to let teen experience “riding on her own.” Did that several times with no problem, then maresy saw some other horses on the trail, and out of nowhere took off at a nice canter towards them. Teen stayed on OK (she had never cantered before), but when maresy popped to stop in front of the other horses, teen tumbled off (not hurt, but upset).
After that, I monitored maresy’s behavior while I was riding her, especially on the trail that turned home where she took off with teen. I realized there were numerous moments maresy looked off with interest at something or someone, but I just gently moved her on in my desired direction. It never escalated past her just pricking up her ears and looking down a path. Nothing I would even associate with a horse about to take off.
I realized that what had happened with teen, was that she had no awareness of the horse’s changing mood or attention, and no skill to recall that attention.
I think that something happens to horses when they realize the rider has no control. I think it might be a combination of feeling liberated, and also feeling a bit afraid, because suddenly there is “no one at home” up there.
So I don’t think it is a co-incidence that your horse started cantering off when you were distracted with your stirrup. You had clocked out, and you weren’t monitoring where his attention was, and when he gave signs he wanted to move out, you weren’t awake enough to check him before he moved.
I would say I am an experienced enough rider, and I generally feel safe on my horse. I am certainly physically able to adjust my stirrup from the saddle, and yet I am still reluctant to mess with the stirrup or the girth when mounted, if there is no one on the ground to hold the horse. I will if I have to, but I don’t love doing it. I just feel a bit too vulnerable.
Anyhow, the takeaway lesson for you as a beginner rider is: never, ever, mentally check out while you are anywhere near a horse, in the saddle or on the ground.
When you are in the saddle, keep your correct position at all times. When you are on the ground, practise all the correct safety tips (like not walking behind horses).
Don’t listen to headphones, talk on the phone, text, or even engage in too much fun conversation or gossip around horses. Save that for later. Stay focused.
And don’t get caught up in messing with equipment, including taking off your jacket, unless someone is there to hold the horse.
The horse would likely not have gone cantering off if you had been actually riding him, rather than dropping the reins and mentally checking out. So I don’t think you need to necessarily be afraid he will “bolt” if you ride him in the field, not if you are riding him.
I also suggest that you get back out into a field in a controlled, supervised setting sooner rather than later. Not immediately, but soon enough that you don’t make riding outside the enemy. I was ringbound for decades because of scary experiences in my childhood, riding with a daredevil “friend.”
I eventually did make it out of the ring, for which I am so grateful. It’s really fabulous for the horse, as well as for me.
Or you ask your friend, next time, to please hold up so you can adjust your stirrup.
