I agree with everyone also. However accidents happen and it's all a part of life. I rode without fear as a teen doing the hunter/jumper thing. Then when life happened (career,family, etc) I gave my horse to a friend and didn't look back for 35 years. Last fall I adopted an OTTB with a puppy dog personality. I love him dearly but he does have many of the traits an OTTB gets from his racing days. Like not standing still to mount. Well in mid Jan I was alone in the arena on top of the mounting block and he moved sideways just after I put my left foot in the stirrup. I could't get my foot out of the stirrup fast enough, and down I went. At the ripe young age of 50+ I experienced my first ambulance ride, and am off work for 3 months nursing a broken tibia. My only thoughts are 'when can I get out to see my horse again?' I miss him like crazy. My B-day is Sunday, and I plan to at least go out and pet him and maybe watch someone else ride him. If we don't take the chance we're playing it safe. I want to have fun in life not be afraid to take a chance. Next time I won't be in such a rush to ride and get help at the mounting block. Have fun with a sport you love and the horse who knows all your troubles.

Sorry to read about your accident Easy Choice, hope you will be up and around real soon. Happy Birthday a little soon too!! I have the same problem with my paint, he likes to take off before I'm completely in the saddle. I don't use a mounting block so I have to just make the best of it. Where I have him pastured there is noone else there. I know if something happened to me I would have the same outlook about wanting to go see my horse. Glad you still want to see him and are going to have someone ride him so he knows he can't get away with what he did. You take care of yourself and get back out there.

I really admire your spirit and attitude.  I am very sorry about your accident, and hope you heal quickly and completely.  I'm glad you are not letting this incident scare you from riding.  I think you are right that we should enjoy our horses and riding.  Granted, riding is not the safest sport, but I think if you love horses, and want to ride, you should learn all you can about safety, and realize that this does not guarantee accidents won't perhaps happen.  Do you have a trainer nearby you could possibly help you with the mounting issue?  It's very frustrating.  My husband's horse is not completely reliable about mounting either.  He has gotten wonderful at the mounting block, finally, but mounting from the ground can be chancy.  Sometimes he will stand stock still, and others, he will take off.  Since we use the block always at home, it is okay, but the few times he has had to dismount on the trail, I always hold my breath and pray!  I hope you can help this situation; your horse sounds like a sweetie!  Let us know how you are doing.  Happy Birthday to you!                  Lynda

Thank-you for posting this. Like many of the forum members, I rode as a teen, without fear, and then had about a 40 year gap in getting back into horses. I find that more often than not I find excuses not to ride and am content to do ground work with my horse. The honest truth is I'd like to ride more often, and without this sniggly fear that disaster is around the corner! I was driving home from the barn thinking about this and had a nice discussion at the barn with the trainer working with my gelding. He said, what we all know, that we don't spend enough time with our horses to develop a trusting, relaxed relationship. Because our time is limited we want to get on and get the most out of our short time. I'm probably like alot of folks, my horse contact is limited to the weekends. Makes it tough, but not impossible. I was reminded of an acronym we had posted on the community board in one of the psych units I worked on (I'm a nurse). It read FEAR (False Evidence Appearing to be Real). Some of my fears are:

He'll run away with me ( He's never run away with me or anyone else)

He'll buck me off ( He's never even offered a buck)

If I fall I'll be killed (not injured-but killed outright) - I haven't fallen off him, I've seen people fall off their horses and they weren't killed. Embarrassed but not killed.

I'm so glad I got to vent this and see that others share this same anxiety.

Thanks everyone for the well wishes and B-day greetings.

I do have a trainer working with Easy and she's doing wonderful things with him. I'm hoping for a demonstration tomorrow when I finally get out to the barn.

Thank you for sharing that acronym!  I, too, and glad to see these postings, and to know how much company I have in
"anxietyville".

Altho it usually doesn't hinder me from doing what I want to do, it sure tries, and puts up a good battle sometimes.  I have found, when I feel unsure about riding, that if basically I truly do want to ride, I make myself do it, and always feel so much happier afterward.  My goal is to find that happy medium, without anxiety, but focused and aware as I ride.  I think doing groundwork with your horse is good, too, in getting to know him better.

Great!  Glad to hear that, and I hope you have a wonderful demonstration!

The regular website is Positively Riding. Sorry about the bad address--- try going to www.PositivelyRiding.com  (It worked for me that way this time.) Let me know if it works for you now, ok? Btw--I'm 5'3", and my Paso Fino is 14.3, so he's not really small for me. And, because they always have one foot on the ground, they can carry more weight for their size than the average horse breed.

This site also carries reflective items for safety, has a rider fear poll to answer, and many GREAT features. Check it out!

Thank so much for the new address; I will try it as soon as I get a chance, and will let you know if it works for me.  My friend is no more than 5'3" I'm sure, but her Paso may be closer to 14; she said he is barely that.  Still tho, I would think sizewise that would be okay.  They look like sturdy horses, like Arabs.

This is a great thread!

 I've been riding for 30 years now, started when I was 7 and I know what you mean by fearless as a kid. Boy, did we jump, race and ride in places I would have serious consideration these days.

 I have a now 6 yr old TB that I started under saddle when he was 4 but had to put back out to pasture for 18 months due to finishing evening school and a motorcycle accident.

 Back in '06, he dumped me twice after spooking and bucking like a rodeo champ. I didn't get hurt then but in the motorcycle accident, I broke my collarbone. I just got the release from my doctor in December. So, I am ready to get back on the horse but boy, am I gonna sweat the first time I am grabbing the stirrup. I am so afraid of reinjuring my shoulder or worse.

I am seriously looking into body armor. Interestingly, a lot of products for motorcyclists are also offered to horseback riders. Heck, I may even just use my motorcycle jacket which has shoulder, elbow and back protectors built in. I may be the first one out there in the barn ever seen in a thing like that but I don't care. Someone here said "Pride heals faster than a limb" and I think that is the motto I am gonna go by. Oh, and helmet is a must. Sure, injuries can still happen but at least I feel like I have 'some' protection and put on the best I could, lol.

Sorry to hear about your injury, and glad you are cleared to ride your horse again.  I think motorcycles look like fun, but don't think I could get myself to go over 10 mph on one....lol!  Hope you get someone to either ride your horse first for you, after 18 months in pasture, or have someone with you when you start, that is capable of giving you any help and/or encouragement you might need at first.  I can see where motorcycle stuff might well be used with riding horses.  Not a bad idea!  I'm all for anything that keeps people and horses safer!  Let us know how your riding progresses!  As you say, there are no guarantees against injuries, but why not stack the odds in your favor?  Take care!  

Lynda

Thanks Lynda, I will!

I have someone that used to ride years ago and he is eager to get back on a horse. He is not too worried about a hopping youngster either, so maybe I let him do a few honor rounds. I do plan on staying on the lungeline at first anyways. We were already out riding well in the arena before but I have no problem starting all over again from scratch. In younger days, I would just hop on him and see how it went, but I have 'wisdom' now.

Good luck to both of you!  Guess it's good that "wisdom" (i.e. survival skills) comes with age, as they say!

Lynda

Yes, this address worked fine!  Thanks!  This is a cool website!

Lynda