Today did not worked out very well. I was planning on a nice trail ride with Freedom again. First it started to snow very hard…that was strange they did not said anything about snow on the weather forecast. So I waited a little and soon it was over and I went to get Freedom out of the field.
I saddled him and of we went. But he had other ideas. He did not want to leave and I had a hard time getting him true the gate. He finally went and we went down the hill into a big field next to where the girls are. This is a new field for the girls and Freedom had not seen it before. He got a bit excited and did not wanted to go. So I pushed him a little forward…and out of the blue he went of like a catapult.
He acted like a bronco horse and after the second jump buck or whatever you call it I was launched off. I landed very hard. When I was lying there I saw him jumping around like a real pro, man he can jump up and down high! As soon as he figured out I was no longer his passenger he started grazing. Got the saddle horn in my belly and I hurt my back. Luckily my husband was nearby and he could hear me scream. I laid down for a while figuring out what hurt and if I had not broke anything. And after I had picked up courage I climbed back on and my husband lead him true the field. He was ok but I was insecure and hurt. Then I walked around a little with him and he looked ok so I think he was being a bad boy today. Overall I am fine. I did not broke anything and I was very happy I wear my helmet. Pretty sore though and it will be worse in the morning I guess. I took some arnica and a hot shower and felt a lot better.
When I started Freedom introducing the saddle he did the same thing sometimes when he did not wanted to go. Normally I could see it coming and when I am riding him I could feel it, but today he just went off. So either I am pushing him to hard or he is in puberty. This is not good for my confidence but I will try to ride soon again. First go back to basics and do some ground work. I am getting to old for this hahaha.
I'm so sorry to hear that, but I'm glad nothing is broke and I hope you feel better soon! I can relate to this, since I had a similar experience in September and am now just feeling like my confidence is coming back.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are ok Marion!!! I think you getting back on and having hubby lead you back was great! Did the girls get all excited before he started to his airshow or was it just Freedom? Bless your heart!! Hope you arent tooooo sore tomorrow!!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Thank you Janeen and Krissy.
ReplyDeleteNo the girls where just grazing and not even close, they where all the way in the back, so Freedom was just having a ball by himself.
So sorry to hear this. I'm glad you were wearing a helmet. Maybe the saddle was just pinching him somewhere?
ReplyDeleteSo sorry, set backs like that are never fun :( My gelding Yodie is like that sometimes...when he has off days, he has OFF DAYS lol It seems like you have "a plan of attack" though on how to deal with the issue. Good luck! :)
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your fall, But well done for getting back on, Maybe as Abby says you need your saddle checking, maybe it is pinching somewhere and he is trying to tell you, especially if he is becoming reluctant to leave the yard by napping, just a thought. Good Luck tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteHi Marion, I know from experience also that getting this kind of flying lesson is not good for your confidence in riding. Great that you were able to get right back on! Good luck with the riding, hopefully it was only an off day and Freedom will behave better next time!
ReplyDeleteOh Marion! I am SO glad you are OK! My best advice this time of year is to work them REALLY good in the round pen first. Lunging, getting them soft, light and respectful. And DON'T get on until you are certain you have their attention. Once on, maybe work them a little bit more bending, flexing, moving forward with light aids..and lots of backing! With a green horse, this is really vital but I do it with Reese everytime time now and he is 10 this year. Some Curlies need a very firm but kind hand. Freedom might be one of those. It sounded like he just wanted to do his own thing and big time testing. Which is normal for a young one of course..and even old horses. lol. To regain your confidence, just go SLOW. Take baby steps. But start in the round pen and make sure you have his mind. Then slowly go from there....you two will be just fine.
ReplyDeleteMarion, what a bummer! I agree with Denise's comment above, and I would also like to add to see if you can find a totally broke and complacent horse to ride to re-build your confidence for an interim period if you are still feeling shakey about Freedom. It isn't pretty when something like this happens, seemingly out of the blue. God Bless helmets and understanding husbands.
ReplyDeletep.s. been there, done that - welcome to the club that many of us here on the RAC belong to and wish we didn't!!! Try not to dwell on it or re-live it, just chalk it up to experience and let it go.
ReplyDeleteYes you are right I was going to fast with this young one. I am pretty sure the saddle is ok. It is a handmade one and this is the 3th saddle for him. I am very carefull with saddlefitting. I think it is the most important thing!! specialy to avoid things like this. So he was just making a statement I think.....today it is my way ore the highway or in this case the ground hahaha. I am pretty sore today so it will be a no horse day. The roundpen and my ridingarena are mudpools so that is a big big bummer!!
ReplyDeleteBut we will get there he is a good horse.
Huh! Great that everthing is fine with you. I have kind of same experience with Missi. She is such a watching horse, and lately, some snow came down in the arena. My, we did kind of rodeo. But she stopped very soon, and fortunately I did not fall. But I wasn't far away from it.
ReplyDeleteHave a look at this link. I always wear it when I go cross country. It is super comfortable and simply safer.
http://www.hit-air.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=2
Best
Caren
Oh dear, Marion! As Susan said "Been there, Done that!" Not with Dream, but with my previous mare! She could be a real hot pistol sometimes! She never truly outgrew it, either, because if I was working her and she slipped at the canter, I had to be ready for her to buck and squeal in annoyance. Thankfully it was just one buck, and not the rodeo thing! No one can stay on when they go ballistic. As I was reading your post, I thought to myself "Oh-oh. He got the winter wind up his nose!" (or his butt!!) For the most part, the horses are getting less activity this time of year, and they are friskier in the cooler weather! That can set of a horse who is so inclined every time!
ReplyDeleteThank goodness you are okay! Laurie
:( So sorry to hear you got launched! Young horses can be tough. I tend to do a lot of ground work with Sage so I can really gauge his mood before I get on. I love that our Curlies are so incredibly smart, and not often flighty or panicky, but unfortunately they do like to test us...every single time. So I do groundwork for at least a few minutes pretty much every single time. That way I know whether it's a 'stubborn' day or not. On stubborn days I now have some tricks up my sleeve for how to get Sage listening on the ground. If he doesn't want to be caught it can often be a sign of being mad at me (rare) or in pain (more common). But I know with these ultra-super-smart Curlies it can be really important to pay attention to little signals like not wanting to be caught--it can save us from the flight lesson they might give us later if we don't get their respect back on the ground.
ReplyDeleteVery very glad to hear you are ok, and I hope that's the only time you and Freedom have to have that particular conversation.
Brie
An echo to all of the above! I have been there done that but not with a curly, thank heavens! The falls from curlies have just been me trying to get my confidence back from the previous launchings. But when you are stiff as a board it is tough to stay on! So as Denise says - small steps and be patient with yourself and with him! And sooo glad you were not hurt!
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