By: Matthew M. Brendal
It is a traumatic thing for sure to be thrown from, or fall from a horse. I know that terrible nightmare feeling. Just before you go from everything is fine to everything is ready for lift-off. The horse instantly tenses up. which is followed by the tidal wave flex of his massive muscular body. The first buck lodges you loose, the second one your body becomes rigid as it prepares to impact the hard ground. You slam into the ground with a groaning thud. As you lay there hoping the horse won't stomp you, you gasp struggling to take your first breath. Next it's the pain. You feel betrayed by the horse. You feel stupid for knowing you should have known better. Been there, done that, got the autographs on the cast.
I think the best way to deal with being thrown from a horse is not the old adage get right back on. You need to know why it happened first and foremost. What did you do wrong? Was there something you could have done better. What was the horse telling you that you couldn't see? Resistance from the horse equals problems. I have started (broke) many young horses using natural horsemanship techniques and I have never been thrown. The horses just never bucked. I did lots of ground training and worked through all the weaknesses the horse had while my feet were on the ground. I'm not a bronc rider, I'm a horse trainer. The whole point being I should never have to place myself or the horse in a situation that causes the horse to buck.
With that said, I had went years without being thrown from a horse, or a horse bucking under me. Then one day a friend of mine says, "Hey I got this old saddle horse (6 years old) would just ride him for 30 days while I'm out of the country?" I knew the horse, Buck was his name. The name should of given him away. I thought sure, easy money. Well my friend failed to tell me a few things. Ole Buck stood "calmly" while I mounted. I gently pulled the rein (Snaffle bit being used) his neck tensed. I pulled a bit more and he began to spin in a small circle, real quickly. I started to look for a place to get off. When I began to step off he began bucking. He had pile driven me into the hard Oklahoma summer dried clay, right on my saddle polishing posterior.
Long story short, I hobbled around like a hobbit that had been hog tied for a couple weeks. My therapy was to ride my horse. My good old reliable bomb proof buddy. When I look back I failed to see the huge neon sign hanging around Buck's neck. It said I know they call me Buck, but they should really call me Resistance. He was as tense as a horse could be. He was reactive, not responsive. I'm over my last buck off because I have gained my confidence back. I know what I do with horses works. I just have to do it and not put my guard down until the horse earned my trust.
Sometimes people just can't get over the fear. Find a horse that is well trained and get back in the saddle. Try to gain the trust of the horse. Also see if there was something wrong with the situation in which you were injured. There is a good chance the horse that hurt you was missing something in his training. It may just take you to learn more training techniques. Also take small bits a time. You know baby steps. Ride 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, and build up your courage. Trust me, someday you will look back and wonder what all the fuss was about. Remember your safety is the priority, both physical and mental. Take the time it takes at your own pace.
