Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Barbara F. on June 7, 2009 at 10:01am

I'm so sorry to hear about your fall! How did you fall off? In other words, did your horse throw you off? I think the key right now is to ride a VERY steady and quiet horse. Is your horse like that?
Fear is a normal and natural safeguard, and if you do have permanent injuries, it is no wonder you are hesitant.
This is not just about rebuilding your confidence, but it's also about understanding that you have good reason for wanting to minimize your physical risk.
So I guess I have to go back to "How safe and steady is your horse?"

Permalink Reply by Lee on June 7, 2009 at 4:10pm

I am sorry to hear you have fallen - that can be a scary place to start from, especially with injuries.

To restart riding, you have to absolutely trust your horse, and if you don't, find a horse you can trust. Then go, but slowly, a little bit every day.

It helped me to ride short horses with a tendency to slow down and stop. I felt like I had more control, which felt very important.

And after I trusted the horse, I had to ride as often as possible. Every day that I rode and didn't fall off and didn't die made it seem more likely that I might be able to do it again. Every day that I rode well took me a little farther past my fears. It takes a while. It helps to be as free of pain as you can be, so that you start from a good place.

Permalink Reply by Carey Sages Mackin on June 8, 2009 at 8:13am

My horse is great and would never throw me. He fell on a trail ride spooked by a large Blue Heron. He is older now as am I and has arthritis in some joints. He is 18H, powerful and gentle at same time. If I take him out he would be excited about everything. Riding on the property would be a start and then as confidence builds I could take him out I guess. Wildlife in area is a factor though. And right now in the summer, the bugs are horrible. So it looks like the property it will be. Good ideas though. Pain is a daily thing, you get used to it.

Permalink Reply by winter prosapio on June 7, 2009 at 7:33pm

Fear gets bigger the more you back away from it. It's only in the doing that it begins to get back to a reasonable and rational size.

Our days are filled with risk - dangerous highways, bad food, crime, and crazy horses.

Make sure you're getting on the right horse - one that will reduce your risk, and then ride where you can until you can ride further. One little hoof at a time

Permalink Reply by Carey Sages Mackin on June 8, 2009 at 8:14am

Thanks for the encouragement and great advice.

Permalink Reply by Jackie Cochran on June 7, 2009 at 7:54pm

Carey-I have MS. It really helped me to get back to riding by doing a term of riding at one of the handicapped riding stables, one that will have a leader for the horse and a person on each side of you. You would have to get your doctor's permission, since he has to sign his approval (or her approval). After six weeks I was so tired of being led around when I wanted to RIDE a horse, I found another stable to ride at. Still, the handicapped riding people (bless their work) got me a lot braver on horseback in perfect safety in a controlled situation.
Good luck.

Permalink Reply by Carey Sages Mackin on June 8, 2009 at 8:17am

My injuries, so I have been told, are similar to MS. Even some radiologists who kept seeing me for my MRI's on my head and neck kept telling me to get my doctor to check for MS. Now I feel like it is my neck, arms, back, legs, fingers etc. Pain is an everyday thing. I believe fibromyalgia comes into play as well. But moving around is always the best. I think about cleaning my saddle and throwing it on his back, which would be a chore in and of itself, and just going. Then I think, just hop on bareback and go, easier to slide off, not as far to fall. So, I'm getting there. Cliff, my 18H hanoverian, is a sweetheart so he would tolerate whatever I do, just happy to do something with me again. Thanks for the advice and I wish you well in your endeavors too.

Permalink Reply by Cindy Jeffery on June 8, 2009 at 2:19am

Carey, I am sorry to hear of your fall. How did it happen? Were you jumping? After reading the replies I agree with everyone. Especially taking it slow and finding a trusting mount who will only do slow and slower. I know that sounds boring but remember it is only for a while. I don't know how fearful you are but when I work with people who have had a trauma with a horse we start from the ground from square one until we find the place that causes the fear to spike. My suggestion is to find that trusting mount (your horse maybe that horse, all though he is going to need some help with his fear too, I'm sure he didn't mean to harm you) then in a confined space ie. round pen or a one horse paddock, corrall go out and introduce yourself, maybe pet the horse, then rub it, then groom it and if all is well with the fear level put the halter on, then lead it establishing leadership by turning, stopping and backing up. After all that you will need a rest. Don't expect to get up and riding right away, in fact it is better for you to deal with the fear first before you get up in the saddle. It is hard too know how to guide you when we don't have the details of the accident. You also will absolutely need a qualified coach/instructor qualified in working with those who have suffered trauma which is why therapeutic riding stables are an excellent place to start unless you know a coach/instructor willing to help. If your horse is willing and with a coach/instructor/trainer you may be able to work through his trauma together, but don't expect a lot at first. What your horse needs is to know that you forgive him/her? And you need to forgive yourself, ultimately we are all responsible for anything we do with our horses, and the guilt weighs heavy for a long time. I hope you continue to share with us, many of us here have experienced this kind of thing more times than we can count. Best of luck and may you heal miraculously.

Permalink Reply by Carey Sages Mackin on June 8, 2009 at 8:23am

My horses are at home with me and I take care of them daily. The fall was an accident, my horse tripping and he fell as well. There is no fear of my horses, especially Cliff, my Hanoverian who"ve I've had for over 16 years. The fear is in falling on the ground. He tends to trip if I don't have him in a good tight frame and get him back on his haunches. Since we are both older and he has some arthritis in his joints I don't want to stress him physically either. I want to go back to dressage and know I can, but keeping him up and in focus so as not to trip would be my biggest fear. I have no fear of my horses at all as I spend every day with them cleaning, grooming, hanging out, playing etc. I would be more afraid of someone else's horse that I did not know well. I know Cliff's every thought, move, etc. Thank you so much for your very sound advice, I just need to jump ahead of that and get on and go.

Permalink Reply by Carey Sages Mackin on June 8, 2009 at 9:13am

I wanted to continue my reply but had to go out and let my pony mare out with Cliff since he had finished eating. Your advice and experience is clearly extensive and you expressed it so well I believe you have helped many others with this problem. I think fear plays a part in many riders experiences, especially if they don't know their mount. I was a fearless rider until the accident many years ago. I wrote a poem about it on my blog at www.MindSpirit908.blogspot.com. I called it "My Last Ride". I continued to ride after accident unaware my neck was fractured. This was after my broken collarbone had healed. Everyone thought I was nuts. Cliff was fine and I wasn't going to let the fall stop me from having fun. It wasn't until I moved north of Palm Beach to Central Florida into an equestrian community that didn't have the security on the trails that I was used to that fear set in. Animals run free even though they are not supposed to, so you are dealing with dogs loose, panthers, deer, wild hogs, bobcats, alligators (which are nothing if you've ridden here long enough) and just 'spooks' you know are going to happen since the area is new. And with his tripping tendencies (I believe that come from shoulder lameness never tested,) from open jumping before I bought him for Dressage, that falling threat is ever constant in my mind. Now, before the accident, we rode like wild things and helped alot of other "ring riders" to get out of the box and have some fun some days instead of just riding in a circle schooling. You can school to compete or just to discipline you and your horse, but getting your mount out on the trail is the best thing for both of your minds and helps your body learn your mounts bodyand the biomechanics of it all and you learn a whole lot more out on the trail about your horse and his/her reactions, etc. I have found that schooling on the trail is very rewarding and can help you conquer many obstacles you may have come across in the ring, whether jumping or dressage. Plus, it's a great bonding experience and will enhance trust. We used to school in this large cross country field near a dressage ring and a jumping ring with lots of activity. Great fun and you could use the pine trees for rounding up and framework and all sorts of movements. Cliff was never a bolt-er, not fond of running even when I wanted to. Also, as far as instructors, I have found that this area that I have moved to tends to be Western Pleasure with just a few people starting to come into the area that have European trainers that they have brought with them. Everyone is very isolated and the horse community is just not there, so meeting anyone is virtually impossible. Since I've been riding since I was 12 and really concentrated starting in my 30's and am now in my 50's, my knowledge is extensive enough to fall back on. I just have to do it and go back to my "wild thing" "yee haw" attitude with a little more reserve to preserve both my horse's joints and my own. Cliff is around 24 now but looks 18. And I know he would love to go out, but as you said and everyone else's kind responses, I better take it slow. Bareback will be the best thing right now since lifting the saddle will evoke pain, so bridle and bareback it is and stay in back pasture and use my pond as the center of a large riding ring, ah hah, that could work. He feels safe and comfy there as I do, so that might do just fine. Have to wait for the weather to get drier, hopefully by this weekend and then, with my husband home in case of anything, we'll try it! Thanks again for your well wishes.

Permalink Reply by Jackie Cochran on June 8, 2009 at 10:37am

Carey,
25 years ago I was in a head-on collision with a car. I remember the pain.
It took me a long time to get back riding, mainly because I tried to accomplish too much, too fast. It can take the body a LONG time to heal.
The best advice I can give you is to aim to ride at a walk for six months. This will give your body gentle stretching and easy motion, and will not overtax your injuries as much. Even more important, is if you are riding the horse that fell (Ciff?) HE will also be bruised and traumatized, and it will give HIS body a chance to recover. I do not know if you have a riding ring, if not just mentally mark off an area and walk. Sure it gets boring, but I have found out that going back to basics and spending a lot of time doing basics is the quickest way there with horses. Trotting will be much harder on you at the beginning, and trying to trot with the pain you have may get you into bad habits that can take a long time to eradicate. I've been there.
It is really hard to ride a horse who starts to stumble. I know you hurt too much to do it yourself, but it may pay to get his toes trimmed more frequently. Along with the six month walk, keeping his toes short may help his arthritis stabilize, and give the horse a chance to learn how to best move so that it hurts less.
Be patient with yourself.
Take care.

Permalink Reply by Carey Sages Mackin on June 9, 2009 at 6:44am

Since you mentioned it, Cliff doesn't trip as much since I had his shoes taken off and I have a great farrier now. When I had him boarded he would start to trip about a week before he got his feet done. I will call Paul, my farrier and start getting him trimmed alot sooner and see what happens. Cliff was never injured in the accident and it happened a long time ago. My injuries have just gotten worse over time, since, as we age, arthritis sets in on top of the original injury. I have 3 discs impinging into my spinal cord at my neck and suffer from vertigo regularly. Those are the bad spots of which I speak. Cliff was an open jumper when I got him in 1993 and had some changes in his feet from all the concussion. Now at his age of 24'ish (good guess) the repercussions of his previous life before me are taking its toll on him. The accident was on 12/29/97. After healing a bit I went back to riding pretty quickly, no fear. Kept riding until 2005, just on property at my new home. And somehow, fear crept in,don't know why,maybe as pain increased. Thank you so much for your input and advice. I'm getting some great ideas that I can use to get myself safely back into what I love to do! So glad I joined Barnmice! The best ideas I've ever heard.

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