You know, they always tell you to get back
on a horse after you have been bucked off,
but, really, sometimes it can be so hard. I
have been bucked off or thrown off several
horses and not had a problem getting right
back on. There was this one time, though,
when I was bucked off and then stepped on. I
have to admit it, I was terrified to get
back on…but I did.
It happened with a two-year-old stud that I
was working with. I had done all of the
ground training and had even ridden him
twice before the day that I was thrown. He
showed not even the slightest tendency to
buck before this and, to all appearances,
was quite calm. I guess appearances can be
quite deceiving.
Well, needless to say, I fell off and
managed to land right where his hooves were
going to land. Not very smart, I must admit,
but nevertheless, that is what happened. Now
he wasn't trying to land on top of me, but,
well, nine hundred pounds of weight,
intended or not, is still nine hundred
pounds. Fortunately, nothing was broken,
only bruised. As it was, I was in no
condition to get right back on. A mistake,
as it turns out.
It was several months until I had the
courage to attempt to get back on that
two-year-old, and even then, it took quite a
bit of urging from my father to actually get
me in the saddle. Now, I can tell you that
on that morning, I was not scared of getting
back on. No, it was right when I was faced
with the challenge of putting my foot in the
stirrup and swinging into the saddle that I
started to chicken out. My hands started to
shake a little and I even started to
hyperventilate. When I finally got into the
saddle, I was still shaking in my boots,
literally. Only after riding for about
fifteen minutes did my heart rate actually
slow down to normal. I must tell you that I
am not scared of climbing on a horse. I have
ridden many horses in the last two years;
some that bucked me off and some that did
not. For some reason, getting on this one
was quite a trial.
It was after the third ride on this horse
that I finally started to trust the horse.
He had not tried to buck, and was doing very
well. He is doing exceptionally well now. He
is actually the smartest horse that I have
come in contact with. He learns so very
quickly and is very calm. He is calmer now
at two than my mare was at three. I just had
to learn to get past my fear. Anyone can
say, “get back on,” but we think that they
do not really know what they are talking
about.
I can only say this, at some point, you do
have to get back on, or never again. Your
choice.
P.S. If your horse has a bucking problem,
please get professional help before getting
back on.
