if you are really nervous - keep on or jump off?

[Dalesgirl]

Do whatever feels right for you and your horse. Sometimes when my horse has been really spooky, I've dismounted and led her past because I've been tense on board and made her worse. Now I'm getting more used to how she reacts, I try to stay on, breathe steadily and keep talking in a calm,soft voice. I still get off sometimes though if it feels like the safest thing to do

[narkymare]

ty dales girl - ive actually not hacked since this experience, im having weekly lessons until both our conidences have worked back up which we both enjoy, my boy tries so so hard to please.
I know this horse is with me for life, there is no rush - if i dont hack out for a couple of months at least we are both safe and well and happyx

[annabelle h]

It's worth bearing in mind that if you're being run away with, it is actually safer to stay on board than to throw yourself off at speed. The horse will stop before long so if you just stay in balance, keep his head up and steer vaguely towards the safest route you can see, or ideally circle, you will most likely be fine. Most falls seem to occur when the horse is heading towards a hedge or something, and if the rider doesn't anticipate which way the horse will turn, they'll be on the floor (been there done that!).

On a runaway horse, I would not consider hitting the deck voluntarily at 20mph, unless heading for a cliff or motorway which threatened worse injuries!!

If you can stop (eg using one rein stop) and jump off (practise!) then getting off (at a halt or near enough) is the right thing to do, if you feel you need to.

Just my 2p worth.

A x

[jennyb]

Lots of good advice already. The reason you get conflicting advice about what people would do, is that as with most things with horses - *it depends*!!! It depends so much on the horse, how old, how experienced, the rider, how confident, how experienced, how good their seat is etc. So what works for one person, might not necessarily work for you. YOU need to figure out what routine is comfortable and suitable for YOU and YOUR horse. Don't worry what other people do. If it's right for you and what you do is not making things worse, then it's fine!

Personally with my horse now, I stay on board. But I have a good seat, I know him well and know what he will and won't do (generally), and I can work him through most things on board. I used to get off a lot more when he was younger and not so experienced, as he took more comfort from me on the ground at that stage. Even now, I still get off now and again. The other day, someone had left an electric fence gate on the floor in our schooling area and it was ticking really loudly, Gazdag was really freaked out by it. So I got off, led him to the gate and fastened it up out of the way, and then led him to and fro past the "scary spot" endlessly until he relaxed and stopped being tense. So even though I'd normally stay on board, I bent the rules that time as he clearly needed me on the ground in that situation. Being flexible is a good thing!

[marsayy]

I'm a very nervous inexperienced rider and get off a lot, with time and confidence I'm getting off less and staying on longer. I get back on when I and the horse have calmed down and both relaxed. Staying on tensing up, wow what is that telling your already spooky horse. Don't of course get off while he's moving make him stop and make it your decision to get off that way he won't learn bad behavior equals dismounting. Ohh best of luck I know exactly how you feel. There are so many different opinions but I would go with the one that feels right for you both. As your confidence grows so will your relationship with your horse. Thinking about you and also it's good to know there are others out there like me, I was feeling a bit of a failure before so thanks for being honest!!

[narkymare]

ty all for your replies - i have never ever got off while hes moving - thats the daft thing - he doesnt bolt or anything, at most its two or three steps to his right, but i know when hes nervous so i stop him (he starts snorting and jogging) and then i dismount.
Since this last epidode ive not hacked out since but i will - i have weekly lessons and i kow will get back into it.

[narkymare]

ps ive done lot of work securing my seat in my lessons including bareback, stirrupless with his saddle - i do know i have a much better seat now so we are getting there - slowly but sureley wins!

[hmt]

It totally depends on the situation to be honest, there are times when I know that getting off is likely to be a very stupid idea but likewise there are times when getting off will diffuse the situation. You can’t call it until it happens IMO.

[narkymare]

well this incident happened a while ago 1and since then i have not hacked out, stuck ot weekly lessonsd and schooling work. I have ridden bareback, stirrupless and done lots of spook busting - not only has this helped with his spooking but i now know ic an sit them out - so this sunday we are goingout on the yard hack - i havet he new equisafetey hi viz, i know how to bring him back from his spook ie pull on opposite rein and am confident my seat is good as are his responses
Wish us a good hack out - we deserve it!!! xxx

[lauranash]

Hope your hack went well..

I get off mine sometimes, less now as I'm much more confident. Like you, I've never got off "in motion", it's more when the situation's too much (loose horse jumped out of a field!) or to get him past something really scarey. Also, I have an issue with gates (definately my issue not his).

The people I hack out with never get off, so we have discussed it. We concluded there's a combination of reasons, the main one being that I'm more confident handling a stressed horse on the ground and they're more confident on top. Another key reason being that it's much easier for me to get back on (mines the titch of the bunch, only 14.3).

People do vary confidence-wise, one lady I hack out with is total confidence out hacking and prone to panic in the school, whereas I just laugh at bucks, spooks etc in the school and panic out hacking.

[narkymare]

laura that is me!!!! He can do anyting in the school and now (i did used ot panic) i just dont react at all - but out hacking its so different - ah we will get there!

[julz]

If your horse hadn't become agitated of the stick throwing, would you have been OK??

I think you need to focus more on the positives than the negatives, of anything to do with horses, not just the hacking.

Can you have someone to walk out with you on foot? either in company or alone. TBH you can have lessons til they come out your ears, but it will never give you confidence for hacking (IMO) the confidence for hacking comes from hacking and good experiences... as your confidence grows then what you deem as not good (ie dogs wandering behind you) will be less fearful as they were previously.

Longlining might be good as you will be doing things behind horse, and the more he gets used to that, the better... when riding and something happens behind him he may not be so cautious about it, because you've already done the groundwork

[narkymare]

ty julz yes i think you are right - i do have lessons but dont really enjoy them tbh, its mostly now about dressage moves and things and tbh i dont want ot do this! I dont want to do competitions i want to be able to tack my boy up and go on a nice hack with him
My boy is a very strong cob and i have never done long lining, i think i will try it in the school first because i do worry if he did anyting silly "out" and i was behind i woudlnt be able to hold him, i know i can lead him safeley fronm the side but ive never ever tried it from behind - think this may be something my instructor can help me with - ty x

[Beth&Rosie]

get off is what I used to do with my old horse! Because I felt more in control on the ground and calmer, so I used to get off and lead until i felt ready to get back on. Now I would probably just stay on Rosie.

[ticketyboo]

I'm a 'getter offer' too but my friend makes me stay on when I am nervous but she gives me confidence just by being there - unfortunately she is 150 miles away so can only keep me on when I'm visiting her and riding her horse!!!

Got my new boy about 6 weeks ago and getting my new saddle fitted next week - here's hoping I can stay on him lol

Having said that, he really is a good boy and not at all spooky but my little one that I used to ride, I wanted to get off all the time as when I got nervous, I was worried that I'd make her nervous - have the same worry about my new boy but as he's such a sweetheart, I'm hoping I wont feel the need to get off...

Watch this space lol