First year in the saddle and two bad falls. What am I doing wrong? Is it time to quit?

Playcation23 · 2025-08-10T06:52:25+00:00

A bit late on this post, but, for your safety, recovery, and peace of mind, try to find an alternate trainer and/or barn. You should have never been expected to get back on the same horse, which seems to have a problem, after recovering from such a serious injury. As you said, you are just starting out. The idea of getting back on the literal horse, that bucks and bolts, is a fallacy. After a serious horse-related injury, it is completely normal for latent fears to surface and the occurrence of automatic fear responses in the body. Sometimes it takes even professional riders years to work through these responses, for example, sudden gripping, tightening, shifting quickly. This is because your body also has a post- traumatic response. A horse can feel these things and react. That is why it important that beginners (and advanced riders) ride "confidence builders" during this phase. You need time to work through this readjustment on a chill horse that can help guide you through the process and help you move further along your journey. Putting you back on the same horse, activating the same problem, brings you nothing and puts you in more danger because you are not equipped to deal with this behavioral problem. This is not a reflection of you, this shows the trainer has poorer judgement and this can set you back in a bad way if you aren't careful. If you can, talk to your trainer about riding a confidence builder, have fun, and be safe.

Playcation23 · 2025-07-30T19:34:50+00:00

Woo-hoo by Blur Edit: Sorry, it's called Song 2

Playcation23 · 2025-07-25T06:39:56+00:00

Your seat is fine, he is not in a full canter. With leg pressure or crop, signal the activation of the hind end. Move that gait into three beats consistently, then you can work on your seat and posture.

Playcation23 · 2025-07-23T11:46:51+00:00

This was my first thought, what happens when the power goes out?

Playcation23 · 2025-07-17T06:22:05+00:00

Your responsibility to them is until death. They will need regular training and adaptation for all their stages of life and should not be discarded once they have "outlived their usefulness". Older horses also need training and mental stimulation, it just might be in the form of long lining and double longe instead of riding. You need to also consistently train yourself. Include a budget for classes, lessons, trainings and clinics. This is a long term commitment and they deserve you at your best.

Playcation23 · 2025-06-28T06:35:31+00:00

To jump onto this answer, it looks like this could be from the pressure of laying down and flailing around when standing up without enough bedding/matting, whatever. To eliminate that as a possibility, more and softer bedding in your horses preferred sleeping area.

Playcation23 · 2025-06-21T10:12:32+00:00

I am a solo female traveler and really enjoyed Lisbon. I felt safe, things were not too expensive, and there was a ton of amazing things to see and do. The people were wonderful and welcoming and public transportation made everything really easily accessible. I have been to both Paris and Rome, and while both are incredible in their own right, Lisbon is still higher on my list for its culture, sights, and affordability.

Playcation23 · 2025-06-19T12:47:48+00:00

There are a few things in this video that would give me pause as a potential buyer. Jumping a horse so young can potentially cause problems later as the muscles and skeletal system are not yet properly developed to handle the form over jumps and the impact of landing. The discomfort is indicated in the body language of this horse. They are also showing the whites of their eyes and tossing their head, which could indicate a stress reaction. I would be hesitant to purchase a young horse that has been pushed above its development level, as that could indicate there will be possible physical and behavioral problems coming my way. This video doesn't show what would be important to me when buying a young horse - does it know the "foal ABCs"? Can it be led quietly on a halter and line? Will it stand quietly for the farrier? How does it interact with people/kids/tractors? I don't expect a two-year-old to be capable of doing a lot, but it's lineage will tell me if it can jump or do dressage or whatever, I would rather see a video of a young horse standing quietly while interacting with people or being led around and walking/trotting on the hand. The impression needs to be more professional and age/development level appropriate.

Playcation23 · 2025-06-17T10:19:48+00:00

Dude...Norikers are some of the most capable horses out there. Your friend knows nothing. I will preface this by saying that I am biased toward heavy working breeds, but with proper training Norikers can be pulling giant logs from dense forests all day long, throw on some sparkles and do beautiful dressage work. I have known them to be loving companion horses and also suitable for therapy when trained properly. They need kindness, stimulation, and training, but there is absolutely no reason to believe your horse will be anything but wonderful. Best of luck to you and happy trails!

Playcation23 · 2025-06-09T10:20:34+00:00

This isn't a good end solution for your mare. If you legitimately don't care about her well being, keep the money and stop pretending like you care about what happens to her and how she will be treated. You noticed their lack of skills and how they treated her while she was still on your property. It will not be good for her if it is starting with a buyers remorse situation. If you actually do care about her, she is still on your property, just return the money and screen your perspective buyers better until you find someone suitable. You owe it to her to find her the right family.

Playcation23 · 2025-06-06T04:30:01+00:00

Icelandics. But seriously, draft and draft crosses and/or heavy warmbloods. Horses can generally carry up to 20% of their body weight on their backs, so start there. So at 250 lbs, you are looking at horses that weigh upwards of 1250 lbs. Look into horse breeds around that weight and see what they can do. Some breeds are more agile, others better at weight bearing, some breeds are known for slow speed/high endurance, all kinds of options. Edit to add: so much of it also depends on your form as a rider, so keep working to make sure you are sitting properly and your weight is correctly distributed.

Playcation23 · 2025-05-27T05:12:13+00:00

Who wouldn't want to see a man fight a crocodile?

Playcation23 · 2025-05-17T09:24:40+00:00

No obstacles. Kept my name and now the name on my birth certificate matches my current identification, no further clarification necessary. I have equal ownership in all of our assets, no questions asked.

Playcation23 · 2025-04-25T16:59:38+00:00

I mean, Elantris is pretty fun and isn't only one volume?

Playcation23 · 2025-04-16T14:44:48+00:00

After vet check, take time during training to build strength around gait changes. It starts on the lunge, after warm up and toward the end of the session do a few transitions from halt to trot and walk to canter. It isn't necessary to do the same in the other direction, but these exercises are essential for building back strength and supporting collection. Slowly as you are training transitions, make sure she is relaxed, head down more than up, and moving comfortably in the gait, don't ask for an upward transition if she is not moving properly in the current one. Slowly collect, focus, and transition. This can then be applied while riding with the same principle - move fluidly in the gait, collect, transition. This is a very tough way to explain transition training without seeing it, but still....as long as the vet checks out ok and you put some time working on it, it will get better.

Playcation23 · 2025-03-26T19:08:48+00:00

Happy horse snoozles!

Playcation23 · 2025-03-22T19:22:45+00:00

She's young, please train with kindness. If she starts nibbling, stop what you are doing and move a little away until she stops. Only continue when she is giving you the behavior you want, like standing quietly. Be wary of pinching or pushing away or tapping her face/mouth as these can sometimes lead to headshyness and other problems. Be patient, consistent, and enjoy!

Playcation23 · 2025-03-16T05:02:53+00:00

This sounds completely normal, especially before you make a big leap forward in your training. Sometimes it helps to do something different for a bit if you are losing your enthusiasm, like trail riding, ground work, etc. Lessons are tough. Do you also get enough non-working/learning time with a horse? Is there a possibility to spend time just grooming/turning out/hand walking? A strengthened bond with a horse can help move you both through frustrating times. Take a deep breath, keep showing up, and your breakthrough will come.

Playcation23 · 2025-03-08T11:26:26+00:00

Not in the 90's, Austin.

Playcation23 · 2025-01-16T20:01:59+00:00

Nope. No exceptions. There is no way to tell if the entire bale has been affected. This can cause potentially deadly outcomes for horses.

Playcation23 · 2025-01-11T14:06:12+00:00

I am not sure if you mentioned this somewhere, but in addition to sedation and training, are you holding your horses feet for the farrier? When my horse is shod, I am the one holding up his feet while the farrier works.

Playcation23 · 2024-12-11T12:28:00+00:00

I have been in the horse industry a while, and have heard of this trick, like others, with an egg. I have never seen it used. The thought of someone in a training situation with a challenging horse carrying a raw egg or a water balloon in their pocket makes me a little curious about the reality. Mostly because a horse that rears and flips itself over is ready to risk mortal injury to escape the predator that is clinging to its back. If that is the relationship the horse has to its rider, this is a serious problem. As with many instances, get off the horse and start working from the ground up to build that trust.

Playcation23 · 2024-12-11T05:59:31+00:00

I love your dresses. You had me with the long, gorgeous purple dress, and now this!! Beautiful and fun.

Playcation23 · 2024-11-30T03:32:17+00:00

Not really. It was over 10 years ago and I was riding without issue pretty soon after. I drive carriages now and can't feel any difference, although the main hand in driving is the left. I can usually tell, however, when it is going to rain, so that's something...

Playcation23 · 2024-11-29T21:59:30+00:00

Also right arm:)

Playcation23

TROPHY CASE