I don't know what to do?

Question

This past weekend my horse threw me for the second time.

The first time he got spooked by the tractor and his bucks weren't that bad. I had a good hold on him, but decided to jump off because he was really close to the low over hang of the barn.

But this time was different. I'm not even sure why he bucked. I had him at a trot and kicked him up to a lope and he broke out in bucks! He ran forward and stopped which made me go forward and then he bucked. I lost my left stirrup, causeing me to fall to the right, right next to the barbed wire fence. I tried to pull myself back up, but when I did, I fell. I barley missed the barbed wire.

My neck is pretty banged up, but other than that I'm ok.

My problem is that I have lost all my trust in him. I can't ride him anymore. I'm terrified of him now. I don't know if I should get help regaining trust in him or just get another horse. I'm really not sure.

Oh no I could never give up riding. One of my main concerns is that I have younger siblings that are 4,7,8 and 10. I don't want them to get hurt.

He was a halter horse so once he was broke, he didn't get ridden as much. I talked to our trainer who was also his previous owner and she said that he does need some work, but said not to give up on him and I'm trying not to, but I just can't stop thinking about it.

He is a 7 year old quarter horse gelding. I have had him for 2-3 months. Trainer gave us the saddle she had been using on him, so no recent tack changes.

He does have a foot disease in his front two feet. I don't know much about it and I don't know what it is called. I don't think I that could be it, though because the weekend before I rode him for a good hour with no problems.

Hope that helped.

No changes in anything.

I rode him down the pasture and on my way back up he started his bucking.

It's easier said than done. Getting thrown off a 17hh horse, hurting your neck and trying to get back on without fear is very hard for me.

What are you saying? My horse isn't 17hh? You go put measure him.

^ I meant measure him.

Sorry, but barbed wire is the only thing we can afford right now. We have had other problems besides our horses that are costing us alot of money.

I not that attched to him. I mean I love thim to death, but I could dow thiout him.

Answer 1

Taylor
The market is flooded with affordable problem free horses just waiting for a person like you.
After a few months, the quick fix training your horse might of had has worn off, and now you have the real deal-and a real pain in the neck. Its a ripoff and very sad,but greedy people will do it despite the danger, knowing they will never be caught..I'm so glad you were not hurt worse, or any other family too. Horse sellers will slap a fast train on a horse and basically lie to you, saying it is much more experienced than it is.Re-sell him to a different situation and find something more suitable that won't try and terrorize you for just wanting to ride!!There are so many genuine,safe ones you could love.

Answer 2

Is it possible that he is having some problems with either his legs or back? If this bucking problem is new i'd analyze any changes that you have made lately-- injuries? tack? new bit? Needs dental work? If you got a new saddle, is it not fitting right? Did he maybe twist his ankle playing in the pasture?

After you check out all of this and dont find any problems (arthritis?)Before you ride you can lunge to get some extra energy out... and I'd suggest having a friend or trainer come out and watch you--i always feel a lot better having someone around when im riding a frisky horse. First of all when he bucks dont panic, sit deep in the saddle, tall and anchor with your heels- and halt him. Make him turn in tight circles for a little bit and then continue going. This really focuses them again and serves as a good punishment- if you are consistant the horse will learn that bucking leads to annoying tight circles.

Before you start cantering again i'd get back on and slowly work up to it-- just regain your confidence and trust in him so that you are the best you can be when he bucks and are not scared. He could just be testing you, he could be bored with the excersizes you are doing, he could be excited about the warm weather, energetic and feelin' good.

Answer 3

You should try to regain your trust in him because if you get another horse and you get bucked off you will have a habit of not trusting horses after a while. I know my horse is the same way but he is a 10 year old retired racing horse who was neglected for 6 years. Maybe you should try and work him before you ride put him on a lunge line. If he continues to act up then maybe you can have a trainer come out and work with him. Good luck and I hope your neck feels better.

Answer 4

Hun, i know exactly how you feel. My last horse was an unpredictable mare, one minute she was fine the next she would just explode, and once she threw me off and from that point i refused to ride her. It was a nightmare selling her as she came down with arthritis. By that point we just wanted rid, in the end she went to a dealer who used to own her. It was the best we could do for her at the time.

If you are not happy, there's no point spending all that money and time on something that just wont work. You could get lessons, perhaps analyse his feed, make sure he's not got too much built-up energy, check tack, teeth etc. If everything is fine but he's still like this it may just be he needs someone more confident. There's nothing wrong with that, you can then find something which you can get on and enjoy. I've got a lovely old lad now on loan and he's everything i'd ever want, my confidence is flying back.

Hope this helps, hugs xx

Answer 5

Have there been any changes in the horse's routine, as far as feeding, riding time, tightness in girth, bit type, riding style, etc.? Some horses get confused and frustrated with change.

Also, you may want to take him to the vet or equine chiropractor to get an overall physical, including the teeth. Also, clean everything, little pieces of mud may be rubbing him the wrong way, (literally and figuratively!)

Take it easy with your horse for a few days and focus on rebuilding your bond together, re-establish trust and hopefully you will have the courage to give it another shot.

Good luck!

Answer 6

The first thing you need to do is get back on that horse. If you just sell him, you have lost your confidence, and he has won his battle. Check to see if something scared him. Maybe a rabbit ran in the grass beside him? Maybe he was just feeling good? I have a horse that when he was younger, you ALWAYS got a few bucks the first time he loped because he was so excited about being out in the world. I just got to the point I expected it and he never threw me off after the first couple times. I am a tremendously better rider because of it. But now he's 21 and doesn't do it as much anymore.

You will feel so much better about yourself if you just get back on him.

Answer 7

I had a horse buck me off three times in one lesson and I totally lost my trust in her for a while. I rode a different horse for a while before I got my confidence back. I am glad I didn't stop riding her though because we have had some pretty good rides after that. I don't think you should get another horse just because he bucked you off twice. Maybe there was a reason. Maybe he saw or heard something you didn't. Once, my friend's horse saw someone getting a bale of hay from the hayloft and he completley freaked out.Certain things are just scary to horses and are not to humans. They have that flight or fight instinct and your horse just chose to run away from the problem. Just remember, every good rider has fallen off a horse one time or another. When you fall off, you just have to get back on. Falling makes you a tougher rider.

Answer 8

I'm so sorry, i was shocked when i heard about you falling
off so much, but , have you been grooming him and clipping
his hooves very often? because I'm guessing it is Laminates,
in the spring, when fresh grass is sprouting and horses are spending more and more time turned out, the risk of this painful, potentially fatal condition rises sharply. The reason is that new grass contains high levels of a complex sugar called fructan, which horses are unable to digest. As a result, a bellyful of spring grass can upset the bacterial balance of the equine gut, causing metabolic upheaval that precipitates laminitis, an inflammation of the sensitive plates of soft tissue (laminae) in the horse's foot.
but if not keep in touch!
other wise keep trying,
good luck.

Answer 9

17hh quarter horse? anyways, try just riding him at a walk for awhile. try longeing him first. have somebody else ride him. wear a helmet and ride where there isnt any place for you to hit really bad if he does buck. put him in a circle, or speed him up if he does buck. my horse that i baught 2 years ago, the lady i baught him from was scared to death of him because he bucked her off once. to this day, he has never bucked! sometimes it can just be a fluke thing. ive always been very weery of my horse knowing that, but after pushing his buttons ive come to realize there is no reason to be afraid if its gonna happen, well it'll be over real quick and ill have to just get back on. he did throw me once when he spooked real bad, but that wasnt his fault. just start back up dslowly with him and dont ask to much of him or yourself to you feel confident. no sense getting a new horse everytime a horse bucks once or twice, or you might as well be a horse trader. most horses can have thier days, just as us people do. be patient.

Answer 10

ok i no this may seen harsh but i had the same problem and i sold the horse. because really, what use is a horse that you can't ride and that you are scared of? but if you are really attatched to the horse, i would suggest trying to build up your confidence with him and get on the horse again. if he bucks again, i would suggest selling him before you get seriously hurt. like when it happened to me, i broke my leg in 2 places. the second time, i sprained my ankle. and that's when i decided to get rid of him. and by the way, you should get rid of the barbed wire. it may seem like a good way to keep the horses from taking off, but it can seriously harm you or the horse