Lost Nerve

[I luv herfrds]

OK you can all laugh at me.
I have lost my nerve for getting on unbroke horses.
I have a nice 3 year old Morgan gelding that has three rides on him, from the former owner.
I had planned to send him to a trainer this spring, but money problems prevented that now.
I was thrown from a friends horse a few years ago and my shoulder was dislocated.
Any suggestions on how I can get my nerve back to start riding him?
He is a real sweet heart, but each time I think about saddling him up to get on I get tense and he can sense it.

 

[Moocow11]

get really familar with the horse. hand feed him. put a halter on him and just take the end of the lead rope and rub it all over him. then just keep getting to know him. do you have other horses. if not ride some one elses broke horse and get used to riding and then when you get use dot riding hop on the other horse

 

[randiliana]

get really familar with the horse. hand feed him. put a halter on him and just take the end of the lead rope and rub it all over him. then just keep getting to know him. do you have other horses. if not ride some one elses broke horse and get used to riding and then when you get use dot riding hop on the other horse

Small pens and lots of groundwork!! I had the same issue after a colt took off on me and I ended up with a seriously sprained ankle and then on top of that the next year I had a colt come over on me and break a couple ribs. All I can say is start off slowly, on a colt you are pretty sure about and in a SMALL pen. Then slowly work up from there. Even better if you can find someone else to get on him a few times while you watch so you can SEE that he is a good boy.

 

[circlet]

first off luv, anyone who would laugh at you for this problem is a real SOB and their opinion doesn't matter. my sister-in-law was one of the best horse trainers around and she was bucked off and broke both ankles and hasn't been the same since.

did the horse accept the rider for the three rides he's had? if he has and you really don't think he'll have alot of buck in him, find a horseman/woman that you completely trust and have them halter him and lead him around a small pen while you ride. for lots of people, this was how we had our first ride anyway, so get up there and remember all the good rides you've had, when you get your nerve back, i've got a three year old i'll ship up to you! ;-)

 

[Alice]

first off luv, anyone who would laugh at you for this problem is a real SOB and their opinion doesn't matter. my sister-in-law was one of the best horse trainers around and she was bucked off and broke both ankles and hasn't been the same since.

did the horse accept the rider for the three rides he's had? if he has and you really don't think he'll have alot of buck in him, find a horseman/woman that you completely trust and have them halter him and lead him around a small pen while you ride. for lots of people, this was how we had our first ride anyway, so get up there and remember all the good rides you've had, when you get your nerve back, i've got a three year old i'll ship up to you! ;-)

Oh, he11 yeah!!!!! You aren't the only one been there done that, let me assure you!!!!! :) And, if your instincts, not your fear, but your instincts tell you NO, listen to them!!!!! There's a difference, and you can tell it! Again, been there, done that. I admire you!

Alice

 

[Alan]

Okay, I'm stepping in hot water but..... I see by a previous post you have an Appy/Arab cross. Tough cross to gain confidence on. Appys are stubborn and Arabs are hot (high strung). My advice.... sell the horse and get a older (high teens) Quarter horse that has been through it all. Find a 4-H person that is selling her/his horse, something with lots of miles on it.

Any horse will feel your fear through the saddle and down the reins and react to your fear. They are herd animals and react to yor feelings. You have one body, take care of it. This may not be the horse for you. I have lots of miles in a saddle and have ridden some nasty horses, I'm older and smarter now. My wife has a TB I refuse to get on... I have one body. He is 13 yrs, I choose to ride a 5 yr old QH. Sell the horse and get one you trust, take your time finding it.

JMO,
Alan

 

[msscamp]

OK you can all laugh at me.
I have lost my nerve for getting on unbroke horses.

I'm sure not laughing. I'm where you are - except it is with all horses. I've learned to take small steps, yet push myself just a little. Not so far that I end up in a wreck, but if I know I can handle the situation I try not to let my fear overwhelm me. Does that make sense? It used to be I didn't want to be around any horse that I didn't know, but now I've gotten to the point that I'm comfortable, and pretty confident (on the ground) with most of them. I plan to take the next step here pretty soon and start with Legs in the corral. I wish you the best, and I truly hope you are able to overcome this. :)

 

[Alan]

Okay, I'm stepping in hot water but..... I see by a previous post you have an Appy/Arab cross. Tough cross to gain confidence on. Appys are stubborn and Arabs are hot (high strung). My advice.... sell the horse and get a older (high teens) Quarter horse that has been through it all. Find a 4-H person that is selling her/his horse, something with lots of miles on it.

Any horse will feel your fear through the saddle and down the reins and react to your fear. They are herd animals and react to yor feelings. You have one body, take care of it. This may not be the horse for you. I have lots of miles in a saddle and have ridden some nasty horses, I'm older and smarter now. My wife has a TB I refuse to get on... I have one body. He is 13 yrs, I choose to ride a 5 yr old QH. Sell the horse and get one you trust, take your time finding it.

JMO,
Alan

Sorry I mixed you up with someone else :oops: :oops: , but my point still goes, get a "done it all horse" that you can trust.

Alan

 

[I luv herfrds]

Let you all know a little bit about this horse; he let my ten year old son get on him and ride him around the corral. He is also always in my face for a brushing or a rub. A real love machine with a kind eye (if you know what I mean.)
Thanks for all of the advice. Looks like my son looses his horse for awhile til I get my nerve back. :D

 

[msscamp]

Let you all know a little bit about this horse; he let my ten year old son get on him and ride him around the corral.

That doesn't necessarily mean anything, though. Some horses know when they have an inexperienced rider and act accordingly. We used to have a gelding named Red who would carry kids around all day long - he wouldn't shy, no spooks, no crowhopping, nothing - but put an experienced rider on him, and he would do his best to throw you. Nobody told him he didn't have a clue how to buck, however, so he ended up just crowhopping. :lol: :lol:

He is also always in my face for a brushing or a rub. A real love machine with a kind eye (if you know what I mean.)

I do know what you mean about the kind eye, but it doesn't mean the horse won't shy, throw a fit, or otherwise get you hurt if the circumstances are right.

Thanks for all of the advice. Looks like my son looses his horse for awhile til I get my nerve back. :D

 

[pdfangus]

Well, I am in a similar situation.
Grew up on horses and used to ride anything with horsehide upholstery.
Went a few years without horses and then like an idiot raised some foals from weanlings.
I started one last year but he was very mellow and easy but he showed me that I am an old man.
This years model just came back from the trainer because if I get hurt then no one round here gets to eat. Lucked out and found a good local trainer who did a real nice job with my filly.

figured it was cheaper to pay her than to pay hospital bills, not to mention the pain. She took the time to do it right and made me a real nice horse.

 

[DrumRunner728]

I discovered several years ago that I don't bounce as well as I used to. I have a wonderful trainer in Tifton, Georgia who trains all of our horses now.

Don't EVER get on a horse that you are uncomfortable with for ANY reason. Live to ride another day!

 

[born2run]

Don't EVER get on a horse that you are uncomfortable with for ANY reason. Live to ride another day!

I agree 100%. There's only been one horse that I was scared to get on, and the fears were very well founded. She was just a nutcase anyway you cut it, predictable one second and insane the next. I knew that even if I ever got her beyond that I'd never trust her. I sold her for dirt cheap just to rid myself of the problem.

I trained one horse, my Appy, alone. Would I do it now? No, and I'm in my late 20's with good health insurance. :P JMO, do your research about what trainer you want to use and send the horse out.

 

[I luv herfrds]

I have found a great trainer in our area. The plan was to send him for two months, but ended up helping buy a new bull and to replace a couple of lost cows instead.
This guy does a great job with the horses he gets. I sent my son's horse to him and he came back better then when he went in. Taught him things I don't know how to teach them.
I'm bugging my husband to loan me the money to send him for at least a month, I haven't worn him down yet.

I'm also doing ground work on my daughters horse too. So all the ground work is not the problem, it's getting up there on top that the courage leaves.
I guess it's the fear of getting hurt again.

 

[msscamp]

I guess it's the fear of getting hurt again.

That is a part of it, but I honestly think a bigger part of it is the fear of not being able to handle any given situation that might arise - I know that is what it is for me, anyway. I got hurt on a spoiled, greenbroke horse who threw a fit that I didn't know how to handle.

 

[peg4x4]

Know the problem well. I'd get a well broke/trained horse,and do lots of ground worke with the other one.
Anyone who laughs at you 'bout this is really stupid.

 

[Alan]

A few years ago my wife got slammed dunked by her #^$%&# TB, she lost her nerve for quite a while. She ended up riding at a walk her done it all paint mare. Regained most of her nerve back, but once you get hurt when your a little older you tend to slow down on the cowboy stuff. Again get yourself a "done it all" older horse.

JMO,
Alan

 

[flaboy?]

This is exactly why they say get right back on them. If you wait you get to thinking too much.

 

[born2run]

This is exactly why they say get right back on them. If you wait you get to thinking too much.

I've did that w/ my Appy mare, but not with the spastic mare I used to own. She'd throw me hard and I was shaking so bad that getting back on was not an option. I've heard that fear is put in you to keep you alive. Such was the case with this horse. She would've seriously injured or killed me eventually...I have no doubt.

 

[msscamp]

This is exactly why they say get right back on them. If you wait you get to thinking too much.

I did.