At some point all beginner riders have thier first fall. The fear of that fall can inhibit the riders growth for months or years to come. What are somethings that you found works to over come this fear.
I know that it takes ten falls to becoime a rider, as it takes 10 falls to psychologically able to get over it with ease. But I believe we can make this less if we provide the coping tools to young riders.
A few things that I found that work:
1) If the rider is relatively unhurt re-mount the horse and go to a simpler exercise that they have excelled at before
2) have the rider count forrwards and backwards from/to ten while they ride
3) remind them that they have ridden a hundred times before with no falls. Now they are good for another 100 rides.
4)Have them tell what they are going to tell thier friends about the fall...have them embelish the story and make it thier own cool tail they survived. Get them to be as creative as possible and make them feel like a hero for surviving! And how much more curageous they are to be back on in a flash
5) Remind them why they love to ride and have them talk about it. Have them tell it to the horse and talk to the horse out loud about what they fear now and what they would like the horse to do. Re-solidify their bond!
Do you have any other ideas that have worked for you?