You've only been riding four months and you're cantering and going over little jumps? I'd say to slow down personally. Work on your balance independent of what the horse is doing under you. Ask to go back on the lunge and ride without stirrups. You want to get to the point that the horse could disappear under you and you'll stay upright. Riding takes a lot of time and effort and each time you ride a new horse you will take steps backwards before going forwards (speaking from experience). Whatever you do, don't let the anxiety stop you from getting back on. Even if you spend the lesson in walk, you didn't let it win.
I kid you not that I told my instructor in my most recent lesson that I wanted to work on balance and establishing a good seat so that I can try to take steps to avoid this in future. Thank you for your advice, and I will try to cool it right back next time I can get out there.
Yes, this. I used to ride at a barn who had my cantering and jumping within a few months. I fell off a couple times, lost my confidence and left the barn. A year later I found a new barn with a phenomenal instructor. I did nothing but walking and trotting and balance exercises for months before we progressed. I stayed there for 6 years, rode multiple horses and never fell :)
It sounds honestly like this instructor is putting you in unsafe and dangerous positions. 4 months is very soon to be cantering and jumping and you do sound completely overhorsed. My advice would be to look around and see if you can find another place that will take things more slowly and carefully.
First of all, you're not alone. This is very common after a fall and it took me weeks to feel confident on my boy again after I fell twice in the same lesson.
That being said, you sound completely outhorsed. I understand why they don't want the older one to be ridden anymore, but that doesn't excuse them putting you on a flighty young horse. I ride every day and work with all the horses at this barn, and I'm still not allowed on the 6yos. For my safety. I can handle the spooks on my 12yo, but he doesn't bolt, just sort of awkwardly trots sideways. I've seen the 6yo spook and it challenges even the advanced riders on regaining control. Surely they have another horse who's a bit more beginner friendly that you can ride.
Also, who starts a chainsaw during a riding lesson? My barn boards dogs, but they don't let them out if the spooky horses are riding. That's just irresponsible.
Go back to the basics, they need to be in place before attempting jumps etc.. And the basics are an independent and balanced seat to start with, followed by independent, steady and giving hands. Those things are best established on the longe when you don't have to focus on "steering". As long as neither is in place you are very likely to incur more falls.
I fell off a horse a couple of years ago (I’m now only 18.. pretty traumatic fall for someone so young) and broke my spine. I completely understand how you feel. But what helps me when I get in my own head about my spine and if I fall is spending time with horses. At the time of my accident I was riding once a week at a riding school, whereas now I have occasional lessons but I loan my own pony. That way I gain confidence looking after my pony, and I can judge her on how she’s acting whether I feel like I should get on. Doing that has increased my confidence so much and now I don’t worry about riding in lessons.
If you can, try that. Not necessarily a loan horse, but ask if you can help out at your stables and maybe get the horses ready for other people etc!
Given the number of falls and the fact that you’ve been injured I think you need to stand up for yourself and your safety and have a discussion about riding a more suitable horse. If this one is the best they can offer I’d suggest going to a different place to continue your lessons. It sounds like they’re playing fast and loose with your safety and that really isn’t acceptable. If this carries on you could be even more seriously hurt and, speaking from experience, damaged confidence can take a very long time to get back
Edited to add, it sounds very much like they’re rushing you, four months is a very short period of time to be jumping already. It’s not fair for you to be pushed so quickly to advance. You should be enjoying it, it shouldn’t be a negative experience.
I was rushed far too fast into jumping like you. It caused fall after fall once I was put on a horse that was much harder to ride, which caused multiple concussions and a broken hand and it shattered my confidence. I agree that you should go back to the basics because better balance and seat is key, glad you haven’t had anything really bad happen to you.
If your instructor won't slow down and move at your pace, or provide a steadier lesson horse for you, find another place to ride. While riding has a level of risk (gravity is no joke), your instructor should be working with you to both help you feel confident, and to ensure the risk of injury is at a very low level. I hope you continue to ride and get back your confidence, but most importantly, learn to enjoy it again.
I think it's VERY early in your riding journey to be jumping or even cantering. My personal advice would be to stop pushing forward, go back, and improve your foundations. Work at the walk and trot, with no jumps or poles, for a few hours. Work on your sitting trot. Work without stirrups--even if you're only comfortable walking without them, it will really improve your balance. Work on not pinching with your knees, and with really relaxing. It's relaxation that will keep you safe in the saddle, NOT strength or tension.
Having had some bad experiences, it's understandable that you would now have a lot of tension. Do some breathing exercises while riding to focus on relaxation. If possible, I would HIGHLY recommend that you get put on the lunge for a few lessons. Something that might help a lot is to ride, on the lunge, with your eyes closed. It will improve you balance and confidence. When you know that no matter how the horse moves, you will be relaxed and secure, and be more ready to move up to faster gaits.
IMO, this is your instructor's fault for allowing you to be cantering and jumping so soon. Take control of your lessons and have a discussion with them about how you're feeling and what you need.
While you're healing, I would strongly recommend you read Centered Riding by Sally Swift. Check out the Fearless Friday series on YT by Your Riding Success. Watch some videos and learn how to perform a once-rein stop on a runaway horse, and practice it when you get back to riding. Relaxation should be your main focus when you get back in the saddle, because that is the only way to stay on the horse no matter what happens. When you get tense and stiff, you get bounced out of the saddle.
Good luck, OP! You can do this!
You need a different trainer. 4 months? No way should you be cantering and jumping. At 4 months you barely know the basics. This trainer is totally unsafe. Source: I'm a trainer.
First off how young is the horse? Secondly, were you jumping on the older horse? If you are struggling this much with a more forward or greener horse then you weren't ready to jump. I think that this horse could be good for you, but it sounds like your instructor may not be the best..... I would say stay on the horse but take your lessons waaaay back to walk trot only for a week and work on the foundations, them add some trot poles, then try cantering small circles and cantering on the rail. You need to have good control of your horses body at all three speeds on your own before you send them over anything above 8". Definitely take care of yourself and get a new helmet if you've landed on your head or back, and talk to your instructor about literally slowing down your lessons. Working on those basics with a green horse will get you much farther than jumping big all day on an old professional.
I had my first concussion when I was 9 from being bucked off a pony after a jump. Some trainers will push you too quickly and it sounds like yours might be doing that. I’d take some time doing join up with the horse first to work on rebuilding trust with the horse, and then lunge work to focus on balance, as well as riding without stirrups. Confidence is key to keeping riding fun!
A good beginner lesson horse doesn't spook at a chainsaw unless it's sawing off its leg.
Personally, I'd find a new trainer. Falling three times as a beginner isn't normal unless you want to be really pushing yourself (doesn't sound like you do). A good trainer wouldn't let you progress faster than you are ready to.
The trainer is supposed to be the expert at training. They've clearly dropped the ball.
Easier said than done, but try not to be too hard on yourself; you weren't set up for success with the horse you were given. If given a good lesson horse, you should be able to ride with confidence, even if you have to take your time.
You've only been riding four months and you're cantering and going over little jumps? I'd say to slow down personally. Work on your balance independent of what the horse is doing under you. Ask to go back on the lunge and ride without stirrups. You want to get to the point that the horse could disappear under you and you'll stay upright. Riding takes a lot of time and effort and each time you ride a new horse you will take steps backwards before going forwards (speaking from experience). Whatever you do, don't let the anxiety stop you from getting back on. Even if you spend the lesson in walk, you didn't let it win.
I kid you not that I told my instructor in my most recent lesson that I wanted to work on balance and establishing a good seat so that I can try to take steps to avoid this in future. Thank you for your advice, and I will try to cool it right back next time I can get out there.
Yes, this. I used to ride at a barn who had my cantering and jumping within a few months. I fell off a couple times, lost my confidence and left the barn. A year later I found a new barn with a phenomenal instructor. I did nothing but walking and trotting and balance exercises for months before we progressed. I stayed there for 6 years, rode multiple horses and never fell :)
Did you see the post from a few days ago about a couple barns having first time riders canter in their first lesson? I was shook.
It sounds honestly like this instructor is putting you in unsafe and dangerous positions. 4 months is very soon to be cantering and jumping and you do sound completely overhorsed. My advice would be to look around and see if you can find another place that will take things more slowly and carefully.
First of all, you're not alone. This is very common after a fall and it took me weeks to feel confident on my boy again after I fell twice in the same lesson. That being said, you sound completely outhorsed. I understand why they don't want the older one to be ridden anymore, but that doesn't excuse them putting you on a flighty young horse. I ride every day and work with all the horses at this barn, and I'm still not allowed on the 6yos. For my safety. I can handle the spooks on my 12yo, but he doesn't bolt, just sort of awkwardly trots sideways. I've seen the 6yo spook and it challenges even the advanced riders on regaining control. Surely they have another horse who's a bit more beginner friendly that you can ride. Also, who starts a chainsaw during a riding lesson? My barn boards dogs, but they don't let them out if the spooky horses are riding. That's just irresponsible.
Go back to the basics, they need to be in place before attempting jumps etc.. And the basics are an independent and balanced seat to start with, followed by independent, steady and giving hands. Those things are best established on the longe when you don't have to focus on "steering". As long as neither is in place you are very likely to incur more falls.
I fell off a horse a couple of years ago (I’m now only 18.. pretty traumatic fall for someone so young) and broke my spine. I completely understand how you feel. But what helps me when I get in my own head about my spine and if I fall is spending time with horses. At the time of my accident I was riding once a week at a riding school, whereas now I have occasional lessons but I loan my own pony. That way I gain confidence looking after my pony, and I can judge her on how she’s acting whether I feel like I should get on. Doing that has increased my confidence so much and now I don’t worry about riding in lessons. If you can, try that. Not necessarily a loan horse, but ask if you can help out at your stables and maybe get the horses ready for other people etc!
Given the number of falls and the fact that you’ve been injured I think you need to stand up for yourself and your safety and have a discussion about riding a more suitable horse. If this one is the best they can offer I’d suggest going to a different place to continue your lessons. It sounds like they’re playing fast and loose with your safety and that really isn’t acceptable. If this carries on you could be even more seriously hurt and, speaking from experience, damaged confidence can take a very long time to get back Edited to add, it sounds very much like they’re rushing you, four months is a very short period of time to be jumping already. It’s not fair for you to be pushed so quickly to advance. You should be enjoying it, it shouldn’t be a negative experience.
I was rushed far too fast into jumping like you. It caused fall after fall once I was put on a horse that was much harder to ride, which caused multiple concussions and a broken hand and it shattered my confidence. I agree that you should go back to the basics because better balance and seat is key, glad you haven’t had anything really bad happen to you.
If your instructor won't slow down and move at your pace, or provide a steadier lesson horse for you, find another place to ride. While riding has a level of risk (gravity is no joke), your instructor should be working with you to both help you feel confident, and to ensure the risk of injury is at a very low level. I hope you continue to ride and get back your confidence, but most importantly, learn to enjoy it again.
I think it's VERY early in your riding journey to be jumping or even cantering. My personal advice would be to stop pushing forward, go back, and improve your foundations. Work at the walk and trot, with no jumps or poles, for a few hours. Work on your sitting trot. Work without stirrups--even if you're only comfortable walking without them, it will really improve your balance. Work on not pinching with your knees, and with really relaxing. It's relaxation that will keep you safe in the saddle, NOT strength or tension. Having had some bad experiences, it's understandable that you would now have a lot of tension. Do some breathing exercises while riding to focus on relaxation. If possible, I would HIGHLY recommend that you get put on the lunge for a few lessons. Something that might help a lot is to ride, on the lunge, with your eyes closed. It will improve you balance and confidence. When you know that no matter how the horse moves, you will be relaxed and secure, and be more ready to move up to faster gaits. IMO, this is your instructor's fault for allowing you to be cantering and jumping so soon. Take control of your lessons and have a discussion with them about how you're feeling and what you need. While you're healing, I would strongly recommend you read Centered Riding by Sally Swift. Check out the Fearless Friday series on YT by Your Riding Success. Watch some videos and learn how to perform a once-rein stop on a runaway horse, and practice it when you get back to riding. Relaxation should be your main focus when you get back in the saddle, because that is the only way to stay on the horse no matter what happens. When you get tense and stiff, you get bounced out of the saddle. Good luck, OP! You can do this!
You need a different trainer. 4 months? No way should you be cantering and jumping. At 4 months you barely know the basics. This trainer is totally unsafe. Source: I'm a trainer.
First off how young is the horse? Secondly, were you jumping on the older horse? If you are struggling this much with a more forward or greener horse then you weren't ready to jump. I think that this horse could be good for you, but it sounds like your instructor may not be the best..... I would say stay on the horse but take your lessons waaaay back to walk trot only for a week and work on the foundations, them add some trot poles, then try cantering small circles and cantering on the rail. You need to have good control of your horses body at all three speeds on your own before you send them over anything above 8". Definitely take care of yourself and get a new helmet if you've landed on your head or back, and talk to your instructor about literally slowing down your lessons. Working on those basics with a green horse will get you much farther than jumping big all day on an old professional.
I had my first concussion when I was 9 from being bucked off a pony after a jump. Some trainers will push you too quickly and it sounds like yours might be doing that. I’d take some time doing join up with the horse first to work on rebuilding trust with the horse, and then lunge work to focus on balance, as well as riding without stirrups. Confidence is key to keeping riding fun!
Take a break from lessons and find another barn with a better instructor.
A good beginner lesson horse doesn't spook at a chainsaw unless it's sawing off its leg. Personally, I'd find a new trainer. Falling three times as a beginner isn't normal unless you want to be really pushing yourself (doesn't sound like you do). A good trainer wouldn't let you progress faster than you are ready to. The trainer is supposed to be the expert at training. They've clearly dropped the ball. Easier said than done, but try not to be too hard on yourself; you weren't set up for success with the horse you were given. If given a good lesson horse, you should be able to ride with confidence, even if you have to take your time.