my "adopted son" (actually no relation) and I were riding and the two guys
trotted up a hill in front of me and my horse decided he wanted to run with
them and he let loose with a HUGE buck half way up the hill and I came off
the wrong side (when you are going down I'm not sure there is a RIGHT
side...lol). On the way down, all I could see was his legs right next to my
face...yikes! Well, I got up and despite hurting, I was sooooo mad at my
big boy (61" and all muscle). My boyfriend, Dan, immediately said "let me
help you" and started to dismount as my horse was running around like an
idiot. As I said, I was mad...I screamed at Dan that I'd get my own *&*$#
horse and proceeded to catch him and struggle pulling my big butt back up on
him, all the while calling him every name in the book - in a very gentle,
caring voice...lol. Well I continued that ride and it took awhile to recover
from my bumps and bruises, but I knew that he was just feeling his oats
and was in SUPER strong condition after just finishing the Combined Driving
season. He was used to pulling about 1,000 lbs up a hill like that and
just put everything in high gear. He must have felt like a free bird when he
realized he didn't have a marathon carriage tied to his rear end and just
leapt for joy...a warning for the old broad on top would have been nice.
Anyway, don't let it get you down and just go out there and lunge well
first, wear your helmet, and ride him every stride. Don't let him get bored,
keep his mind active and make him walk up that hill till he is blue in the
face. It's much harder on them to walk up a hill than it is to run (that's
why they all like to run!), so make him walk. The more you ride him, the
more you will understand him. It takes me a good year to get to that point
with a horse and since I drive a lot, it takes me longer. Riding for me
is done after show season. Also, focus your mind on a good ride...mind over
matter really works. Visualize yourself riding successfully with a happy,
relaxed attitude. Good Luck and good riding!!!
Barb, who is working from home because of a winter storm!
Barb King & Dan Speese
Golden Horse Farm
24345 Gore Orphanage Rd.
New London, OH 44851
_www.goldenhorsefarm.com_ (http://www.goldenhorsefarm.com/)
In a message dated 12/27/2009 2:32:39 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
sholland91@yahoo.com writes:
This will be a Christmas to remember for sure! I set out on a ride
Christmas morning with my friend, who also owns the barn and property that I live
on. I was riding in a treeless saddle that I've been trying to adjust for
Calvin and I wasn't particularly secure or comfortable in it that day. We
were on the last of the ride, headed home, and getting ready to canter up what
we call "canter hill," but after just a couple of canter strides, I ended
up doing a face plant. I didn't know what happened, but Eva, my friend, was
behind me and saw the whole thing. Calvin took a few strides then bucked
really hard, as in she saw hind hooves coming up. It happened so fast! I
couldn't move at first. Eva said Calvin took a few more strides then stopped,
so she gathered him up. A very nice man came by to help, but I never saw
his face; I only heard his name as I was still on the ground unable to get
up. Eva asked if she should call 911 and I said no. I just started sobbing. I
remember thinking about all the progress I've made with Calvin and the
last thing I want is to have my confidence shattered. I'm still worried about
that. Anyway, Eva called a couple of people from our barn and they came to
help us out of there. I needed help walking up the hill as I couldn't put
any pressure on my right leg. I thought for sure I had broken hip or pelvis.
Eva took me to the ER and they did xrays and no broken bones, thank GOD!!
I fell on my face and my hip mostly, so my face is scrapped up and I have a
black eye. I'm lucky it wasn't worse. But I'm very unhappy with Calvin
right now. He's not supposed to buck like that with me on him, happy or not! I
have assessed the situation from what I remember and from what Eva saw and
I think it was partly saddle issues (as to how I lost my balance so
easily) and the fact that he's gotten two shots of Legend in the last 3 weeks (he
was stiff in his hind end) and is feeling really good, and the cooler
weather of course.
I'm just grateful that I'm okay, my horse is okay. I couldn't go see my
family on Christmas afternoon, which was very disappointing. My husband is in
NY visiting his family so he's not even here to help. But that's okay,
too. I have had so much support from my friends, it's incredible! I'm up and
walking around and grateful that nothing is broken.
I'll have to see how I feel when I get back in the saddle again. I have
worked through so many fear issues and I sure hope this isn't a huge setback.
We'll see.
Sue Holland
Shadow Hills, CA
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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