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 Veteran
Posts: 262
 
| Last year my new barrel horse ( 4 years at the time) bucked me off...hard! I wasn't seriously injured and I can ride a buck but this horse went bronc style and I had no chance. I got back on and made 2 more runs that day however shortly after I found out I was pregnant and took the next 9 months off. Now that I'm able to ride again I find myself feeling very nervous to let her out at full speed. I loped her but I'm nervous to give her her head in case she goes rodeo bronc again. Any ideas on how to get past this mental barrier? I want to run barrel patterns and push my horse through but I'm...scared...
Any confidence builder ideas or exercises?
Thanks! |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
 
Location: Bandera, TX | Ride, ride, ride. If your horse is not a stable solid individual then sell and buy one that is. That way your not always riding on the "edge".
At my age I hate getting bucked off, I ride a hotter type horse and I love them very athletic so I find myself riding on edge at times and on the young horse you must allude confidence. They need to feel a stable rider. Many of your older horses will begin to take advantage of a rider that is not confident.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Lost in the corn of Iowa. | Last year I got bucked off my green mare HARD. Hard enough to break my collar bone. I was off for a couple months until I could ride again. Thankfully during that time I had a lady take her and ride her like a colt and gave her 30 days for me. It helped. But I needed my confidence built back up too. I finally started trusting her around the barrels this past spring a year later. And all I could do to get over the confidence was I rode just beyond MY comfort level each time. And then I backed off and the next day I rode a little past yesterday's point of personal comfort. It worked. Right now I'm dealing with the same stuff all over again because the same mare decided she wasn't going to go to 2nd barrel on Saturday, she hasn't rattled me that much but I'm back to riding her again to my comfort level each day. It's the best advice I have. I hope this helps. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1096
| I had one like that. I got rid of him. Life is short, barrel racing is meant to be fun not nerve wracking. I'd get rid of the horse and get something you can trust and enjoy. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 408
| If you find any good confidence builders.... please share!!!!  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 667
| I have a colt that just turned 4. We broke him at 2 and he was a gentleman.. to the point that I put kids on him and he was so lazy that I never had to worry about him. I would put people who didnt even know how to hold reins on him and slap a set of saddle bags full of beer on him and off we would go trail riding and I never thought twice about it.
WELL......... a few weeks ago I jumped on him like usual. We were working the barrels and doing slow work so I had draws on him.... about 1/2 a lap into me just asking him to trot.... he breaks in two... I mean bronc crazy bucking. I had draw lines on so I was helpless. He plowed me, HARD, and I was totally stunned. I finally came to and went a beat the crap out of him. Got on and he rode beautifully and ran the best pattern he ever has.. I have never asked him to run but he did that day..
I have rode him 4 times since them... every single time... the first 10 steps when I ask him to trot off, he is fine, and then he trys to freaking buck me off again. Rode him yesterday.. sure enough he did the same crap. I have no idea where this has come from but at least now I am expecting it and ready. I dont know how to stop it but after he trys once he never tries again. Its so wierd.
And the worst part is now I don't trust him to put beginners on anymore because he is doing this stupid crap! UGH COLTS!!!! |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| My biggest confidence builder was to buy a helmet. At least that way I felt like I had more protection for my head.
The accident I had didn't even hurt my head, I popped out a rib. Spent a year in the 4D or less due to confidence issues.
My other confidence builder was loosing weight. I rode much better, but if you are already skinny, that one doesn't help much. You could also ride bareback or english at slower paces to help build muscle and balance. |
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | I got bucket off in January..... First I was unable to ride for about 6 weeks, then I came up with a multitude of good and not-so good excuses as of why I couldn't get back on her.
Craig Cameron is a friend of mine and I go to his clinics every year. I dropped her off at his place about 4 weeks ago. I'm trying to find out if she is spoiled or psycho (we have been batteling for a few years).
I'm going to Craig's in early June, and knowing that I will have to climb back on her there is giving me the creeps.... I feel your pain.
 I am wearing a helmet on all my horses, but for her I would like to have full body armor.... |
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