Grooming/First Fall

[m0usey]

I'll start with my first fall, because it's fresh on my mind. So I was in my riding lesson today, and the horse I was on (Star) was really excited and energetic. So my teacher told me to canter over this line of jumps. Star was off. She kept on cutting off corners and going faster and faster and faster. I couldn't have stopped her no matter how hard I tried. Well, this one jump she went over, and she jumped really high, and I lost both stirrups. She landed, and stuck her head down and started shaking it around. It pulled the reins down, and I didn't have a chance to stop myself before I rolled right down her neck, headfirst onto the ground. As soon as she saw me sitting there, she came to a dead stop. After I stood up, I found out she's part thoroughbred.

I remember falling. I didn't feel like I was in my body, it was sort of weird. Also, I no longer have an internal desire to gallop :p . Well I got up and I went over again, at a canter, and I didn't fall again, but it was fun. I think at one point she got so fast and was so out of control, I forgot I was supposed to control her. I tell ya, I won't be forgetting again. My arms and back still ache from the shock.

And on to the main reason I came here. Star, when I went to groom her, she was awful. I simply touched the curry comb to her side and she started pawing her hooves and reaching her head back to bite me. I was sort of nervous to clean her hooves cuz I thought she might kick me, or reach her head around and nip my bum (I cleaned her hooves anyway and she didn't). I don't really mind so much, but it's very obvious that grooming makes her very uncomfortable. Is there any way I could slowly just sort of make it easy and comfortable for her? I want to make her feel good around me.

[spumba]

I don't know a whole lot about horses, but when I was in riding lessons, I rode a horse named Fire for the first time, and while I was riding her, she suddenly took off in a full canter and then took a sharp turn, and down I went-the saddle slipped, I tried to hold on, but couldn't. Was this the first time you rode her? I think horses like to test your limits the first couple of times. Just give it time and make sure she knows that you are the boss. Were you wearing a helmet?

[m0usey]

It was the second time I rode her, but I don't think I cantered her the first time :). If I did, she wasn't nearly as energetic, I would have remembered.

Yes, I was wearing a helmet.

[lneill84]

I cant even remember the first time i fell off, it was so long ago. Ive had some bad falls, and some i've hit the ground laughing, especially on the ponies. Over the summer, i got pretty bad about wearing a helmet on my horses, but anything crazy, i buckled up. Many horses don't like to be brushed, especially if they are sensitive, which it sounds like she is. LIken it to being tickled for awhile! Play around with brushes, and see what she likes and dislikes. If she starts pawing, a firm no and push on her shoulder. They make many brushes with different densities, but she needs to be able to tolerate being groomed. Don't let her get away with being naughty, but do understand that it can get ticklish, especially around her withers and girth areas

[m0usey]

Okay, thanks.

[LoneStar]

Hi,
Your first fall is like a rites of passage, congratulations! There's an old saying that it takes 7 falls to make a rider........6 more to go!
I've fallen off that many times I can't remember the first time, but almost every time I fell off was because I was jumping. Sometimes it happens in slow motion, you know you're going to go but you keep trying to hang on, and other times you're on the ground so quickly you don't know what the hell happened!

I agree with ineill about the grooming, try out different brushes or get a soft body brush, Star may have quite senstive skin (particularly as she is part thouroughbred) and a hard dandy brush might be uncomfortable.

[horsequazylady]

Hi,
Your first fall is like a rites of passage, congratulations! There's an old saying that it takes 7 falls to make a rider........6 more to go!:D This is funny...I've heard it was 9 falls to make a rider (as in, 9 lives lol).
I've fallen off that many times I can't remember the first time, but almost every time I fell off was because I was jumping. Sometimes it happens in slow motion, you know you're going to go but you keep trying to hang on, and other times you're on the ground so quickly you don't know what the hell happened! I totally agree about falling off so many times, especially since I did a lot of pony riding as a kid...was probably off more than on. But I remember my first bad fall and like you it was while jumping/cantering. My horse stopped right infront of the jump and dumped me on my head/shoulder..and luckily I had a helmet on. One other time I was cantering and didn't have a helmet on and landed on my head and got knocked out (not smart). I was alone on the trail and the horse ran home...I always used my helmet after that, even on the hottest days!! As I became a stronger and more confident rider, I hardly ever fell off (except for when my horse actually fell too...she would never take her correct canter lead and would counter-canter and trip...dumping us both:mad: ). It takes awhile to become balanced at the canter and to learn your horses' tricks.

Hang in there...it gets better (and wear your helmet!) ;)

[LoneStar]

lol yes the number changes every time i hear that saying... 2 or 3 or 500 falls make a rider - depending on how many times you happen to have fallen off...!

[laughoutloud]

I've fallen off a total of 4 times as of yesterday (my horse HATES white colored jumps lol) so congrats on your first fall!

[m0usey]

Hehe...we have a horse at our stable who only likes 'natural looking ones', like logs and stuff. Everything else he tries to go around.

[laughoutloud]

lol thats funny!