Confidence after falling off?

try to figure out what caused the fall. did he spook, was he feelin' good, or did he want you off his back? knowing this will help you know what caused it so it won't happen again (learn from your mistakes).

everytime you have a positive ride, focus on that ride, not the time you fell off. learn how to control a horse when he does stuff that is unacceptable, such as bucking, bolting, rearing, kicking, and spooking. if your trainer approves, you should research and learn the one rein stop if you don't already know it. honestly, that probably helped me from falling off my horse today (he let out some bucks because he took off at a canter and decided that he was feelin' good, so he bucked about 2 or 3 times). if you learn how to do the stop right, it will help you. here is a video that explains it pretty well and shows people using it when horses act up in the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmpDSbXPtzU

once you learn this, your confidence should go way up because you know you can control your horse in almost any situation. then just learn to relax and take deep breaths.

practice sitting deep in your saddle when you are walking or troting (when you do this, the horse will probably slow down or stop, he is doing the right thing). also practice your balance by riding with out stirrups at all gaits mostly walk and trot, then move on to the canter. this will help you develop your seat even better and help you use your legs, hands, and seat seperatly. also, try posting and sitting without the stirrups to become even better.

if you still get a bit scared, trot your horse for the longest time ever until he is tired, but still has a little energy left in him, then canter then. it will help you feel comfortable because he is tired so he most likely won't try anything bad and he will get a good workout too.

GOOD LUCK

I'm not sure that I really have any grand answer for you, only what I've done. My teacher doesn't as much believe in longe lines. That being out of the question in my case, she has me doing small circles, about the size I'd be doing on a longe line. It has the advantage of Xander (the horse I ride- lessons here, too!) not really being able to speed up the way he always does. Right now, that's a good thing, because my confidence in cantering is about zilch, zero, nada.

Actually, my problem is getting to a canter and then slowing Xander down. That's the there reason we're doing smaller circles- my teacher has an easier time giving me directions I can hear. If this is anything like when I had my first fall, it just took me time to get the confidence back. It came back little by little, but it did come back! I hope your's does the same!

Good luck!

This is really routine. To prevent them from bending the wrong way in the future give some leg with the rein. If your instructor saw this ask him or her how to prevent this from happening in the future. You horse probably was spooked by something that wont happen in the future. As you become a better rider you will see how to control a bolting horse. Try to regain your stirrups as soon as you lose them. I know easier said than done. Practice getting your stirrups at canter and gallop and it is good to practice no stirrup work on a regular basis to build up leg strength. Also it is good for situations like these.

Dont let one fall keep you from having a fun ride!

I have long learned that I'm too derned old to get dumped if I can at all help it. Call me a whimp, but I send mine off to a trainer to get the rough edges knocked off. With your confidence the way it is, I would either A: Sell your young horse and buy something more finished that you can have fun on, or B: Send your horse to a trainer for 60 or 90 days and have him polished so that you can feel more confident on him. Not sure how that will work in your situation, given that he's still young and will still have those "young and dumb" moments. There's nothing wrong with saying that it's a bad match for your current mental attitude and getting something more suitable....and it can save you a bunch of pain, both physical, and mental. It's no fun riding a horse that you're "scared to death" on. Been there/done that/got the t-shirt.

First of all, don't be too hard on yourself. It's natural to be afraid. It's like getting into a fender bender, almost. You're going to be afraid taking corners and things for awhile, if that's where you had your accident.

Take it slow and start easing yourself back into the rhythm. You're right: being nervous will be felt by your horse and you run the risk of being bossed around. Just don't beat yourself up and try to remember that falling happens, at a walk, at a trot, at a canter and a gallop. Just take deep breaths and, as cliche as this is, think happy thoughts when you're ready to canter.

I am just over coming the same issue. My horse and I fell together last year. I had a terrible time riding out in the open after that. But recently I've just been taking lessons out in the open with my instructor and one day I just suddenly didn't feel nervous at all when I left the round pen. I suppose it just takes time. Also you may try riding a different horse for a while too, one who is very relaxed and calm in the open. But for the most part I do believe it just takes time, and persistence. Don't worry, you'll get over it.

First of Im glad your okay, Second. Girl stay confident. Believe in yourself...When you show confidence, your horse will be confident in your riding skills. When you canter stay steady in your seat yet loose and when you feel the horse start to bolt correct him in a positive but quick way...Stay united with your horse. Taking quick action will help stop your horse from bolting.....

I remember my three year old mare QH who bolted for the first time...I was trotting and all of a sudden she got spooked. She turned incredably fast to the right and took off... I stayed steady but loose with her and as I said Whoa Sunny and pulled back her reins....She slowed to a stop. Now of course she bolted a few times after, but by maintaing controll, I was abel to stay in the saddle...

Good Luck! ♥

Is this your horse or the instructors horse? If the horse just took off for no reason , your instructor should really switch horses. If your not feeling confident and insecure, she shouldn't really put you back on this horse. You're going to tense up and feel like the horse is taking off at a canter. You should try riding bareback on a safe horse for awhile. Once you can walk, trot , canter bareback, you can literally stay on any horse.

Practice cantering on the lounge line. Get your trainer to lounge you around on a horse that you feel confident on. Practice different excersizes at the canter, such as no reins, no stirrups, ect... After you feel confident on the lounge line pactice mastering your control over the horse at a canter by doing clover patterns, figure eights and circles. Take it as slow as you want.

Good Luck!

i would suggest having your instructor put you on the lunge line. if she/he has the horse your riding but you are still riding it will help you relax. the exact thing happened to me and i still feel a little nervous but ive learned to relax and i have regained my confidence because i have been cantering more and more and i havent had a bad experience in a while. just get out there and canter again even if it is on the lunge line and every good experience at the canter will help you regain your confidence:)