Almost every other lesson I ride this big gelding named Obie. Normally he's super lazy of the flat but really perks up while jumping. Yesterday hehadn't been ridden in a few days so he was gonna be really hyper. He actually made me use a crop on the flat, but my trainer made me give it over when we started jumping. We were working on our lead changes, so I was looking down alot..(bad me). He was going CRAZY! If we didn't get the right lead, we had to makea big circle through themiddle of the arena and try again. I was so scared! Every time I had to make a circle, he'd put his head down, start bucking, and try to turn the other way. Once I almost fell off because it was so crazy. And when we headed towards the door, man he was literally GALLOPING! Which of course messed up the steps and stuff so he was always taking off either was far away or way close. Either way, I was catching him in the mouth alot :[. Is there any way to help slow him down? Other then like pulling and sitting up and stuff? Because I was really scared when he started flying that he would refuse the jump and I'd fall off. And its a long way down.

I was also bouncing alot. I think it was because my legs were really loose, which was because I was basically scared to do anything that might make him go faster. Oh, and the whole concept of circles doesn't really work. He doesn't slow down, just turns really tight and almost falls over.

Thanks in advance

if you were looking down a lot to get your changes, you were probably leaning toward the inside, which throws horses off balance. horses aren't smart enough to get themselves back balanced so they usually go faster. you should try NOT flopping, lol, and leaning to the outside to balance him out better =]

I bet he was upset that he was being thrown off balance when you were looking for your leads, it's good to learn to feel them.

Were you half halting him at all? What type of bit is he in? Saddle fit?

^^ good idea to check your tack and stuff if this problem becomes frequent.


Some horses and ponies just cant do a lead change without throwing in some bucks. The important thing to do is keep your reins short and sink down into your irons for support. If you lean forward, then your pretty prone to falling when he bucks.

It could also be that hes a downhill horse (top of the croup is higher than the top of the withers) or hes heavy on the forehand. That can make him want to put all his weight on his front end and cause him to start to run. If thats the case its EXTRA important to have good rein contact and SUPPORT, SUPPORT, SUPPORT. He wont get a lead change if hes heavy on the forehand, and he definatly wont slow down as easy.

[quote]I bet he was upset that he was being thrown off balance when you were looking for your leads, it's good to learn to feel them.[/quote]
agreed

I'd ride another horse for a while until you can get you balance corrected for the changes, and solidify your position. Right now, you know there is a problem, are probably fearing and anticipating siad problem, which transfers to the horse, who is doubly upset by being thrown off kilter.

I agree with everyone above

first check that everything fits properly (and if the bit isn't too harsh) and you might want to consider bringing in a chiropractor for a thorough check of his back

Also remember that a strong half halt and quick release can do wonders for horses like these

you may also be off balance ^^^ but maybe another thing to try as mentioned above is to ride another horse for a while (maybe a school master). Ride without stirrups and try to build up your leg strength without pulling on the reins at all until you have a solid balanced position

Also, try speaking to your instructor if you haven't already...

Good luck!

Okay. Obie is not my horse () so some of the suggestions I can't see about. He's 17 and he knows his lead changes, because sometime's he'll be nice and do a flying lead change without me asking. Umm he ses a bounce pad? I'm not sure what bit he uses, but my trainer is smart and would know if he needed a harsher bit or a softer one(?). Hmm I'm gonna see if I can find a picture that shows him with his bridle on....umm I have a picture, and you can see the bit, but I'm not sure what it's called. It's not a harsh one(I think) and there are definitely ponies with MUCH harsher ones.

Every lesson we drop our stirrups.

Yea my trainer never stops yelling at me for looking down for my leads...but I just can't get the hang of feeling them. On joey(I switch between him and Obie) I can sorta feel them, but Obie is really unpredictable. Sometimes he'll swap leads while we're cantering on the flat to try and cut his corners...

How can you tell if the saddle fits? Because I don't know...:/

yeah, I half-halt him. Hehe I definitely keep the reins short. After we jump the first jump, he gets into his little craze and I can and do shorten the reins ALOT.

One sentence: Try to just relax. I think you originally said in the post that you were really scared and I know that it's hard to NOT be scared, but don't let him sense it. I had this problem like 3 years ago on this one really big, and controlling horse. He was strong (as in fast) and also VERY unpredictable (we sound like we have the same horse here ) Well, anyway, he would rush around the ring like the world would end if he didn't finish his course quick enough. It got me so unorganized and I was gripping the reins around every corner just praying to stay on. Then I was like, you know what? I shouldn't be scared of this horse. So I loosened up my arms and let the reins out (a lot, even though it may feel really risky and the last thing you want to do) and trusted him. I swear it was like a miracle. He slowed down and got all of our changes and I never felt so relieved. But enough about that, I think besides all the other suggestions people have made, you need to relax and focus and trust the horse. I am not saying that you should just give him a really long rein, I am saying that you should try to even out your breathing, relax your arms, give with the rein, and don't rile him up by being tense. Hope this helps a little bit..

I totally know how you feel. I have a horse that does that. One of my trainers has said to use a pulley rein, (pull up to ur chin and down to your hip) another one said a one-rein stop (pulling one of the reins until they stop) and then another said to just pull back. You might want to use a stronger bit or even sit up and deeper int the saddle and use your seat and your voice. All in the aids if all else fails Lounging

Why are you scared of falling off?Its just the ground.Anyways my horse used to do that too.Well he still does that sometimes.The I agree to let him have slack.And just relax.Think about your fav place in the world and breathe give him some loose rein and ride it out.But don't let him get away with bucking.

I'm scared because I've never fallen off, and last week (not my recent lesson, but actually like 2 or 3 weeks ago lol) I saw a girl get thrown off right into the fall, kicked in the back, and dragged. So yea, it's not the ground I'm scared of. It's the horse. I don't try to let him get away with bucking...he jut does it anyways. And he's 17 years old, so it's not like he's still young and frisky. :/

I see.Well maybe thats why he is so frisky.Older horses are way like your Grandpa they tons more stuff than you.Anyways he can probably tell that your scared of him and then he uses it against you.It sounded like that person had quite a fall.One time I got bucked off and hit a tree then landed on pavment.Its def not one of nicest falls I've had.But just try to relax I think thats probably your biggest prob at the moment.And try to be brave yes things can happen with horses but didn't you know that when you started to like them.I knew everything wouldn't be like in the movies or books.

You shouldnt be scared of falling off. I know that incident sounds pretty horrific, and i can never garuntee that it wont happen to you or anyone else on this forum someday, but i think its safe to say about 95% of falls dont really hurt, and the most you might get would be a bruise or few scratches. I mean, 2 years ago i had my spine fused, and since then i have fallen off at least 3 times( ) and it didnt really hurt at all.
Its just important that you dont keep fearing that you may fall, because that fear could transfer over to your riding skills and you may become tense and not be able to perform at you best.

Falling off happens to everyone and the more you worry about it, the bigger deal you will make it seem. It happens, for me atleast, so fast that I don't even have time to realize exactly what did happen until I am on the ground getting back up again. The only time I have ever in my life gotten hurt falling off was on this one crazy horse who threw me into a rail. But let me assure you, the chances of a serious injury occuring on you falling off are very small. I mean, it's not exactly like falling into a cloud, and yeah you might get a bruise or be a little sore, but it happens to everyone and everywhere and it's all a part of horseback riding! Just be glad you didn't yet fall off right in front of the judge! Hahaaa.. wow.

If you just wanted advice about slowing your horse down, I'm just saying it all starts with the message you give your horse everytime you are expecting the worst.

An old saying goes, if you only need two hands to count the number of times you've fallen off, you're not much of a rider......

i show from 36 to the 4 ft level and i cant count how many times i have fallen. and never ever look down even if it is only for a lead change beasue my trainer always says if you look at the ground that is where u will end up...on the grownd. it is soo true. nothing good comes from looking down! it will get u into a very bad habbit. and i think he gets hyper becasue u get excited just calm down and do it right dont get frustrated. i always think of something funny and when i laugh i ride my best. we have a inside joke with our barn and everytime i hear it i cant help but smile. it calms right down and i ride my best, it seems to help my horses too.. expecially my baby.

DOn't be scared of the groun, welcome it. Gee, I've broken the same bone in my arm three different times, it's not even completely healed right now. The ground is your friend. Honest.


As for slowing, first of all, a rider should ALWAYS be educated about what type of tack is being used on their horse, whther you own it or not.

Second, he doesn't sound like he's being bad, just POed. Sit back, sink into your heels, half halt and THINK STOP. If you're telling him to slow down with ALL of your aids, he's bound to listen.

If not then I don't think this is the horse you should be riding...

Yes that accident sounds quite bad.I once got bucked and I hit a tree.What you really need to do is calm down.And sit deep into your saddle half halt and he should slow down.Like jumpercrazy said if he doesn't it sounds like you should ride a different horse.And you should find out about tack.Thats one of the first things I do when looking to buy a horse, ride a horse for someone or leasing one from someone.And thats one of the first things I do is find out about his/her tack.

What helps me slow the horse down that i lease on the weekends is when we are doing the flat and jumping i half half her through everything and i tell her slow that always works for us.