Took a bounce-Feeling abit bummed

[Suzi]

I rode Missy today. And things were going well. I decided to do alittle canter. I am not strong and confident in this gait. She picked up her lead, and was going along nicley, Then I beagn to "lose" her. She wasn't racing, but I sensed I lost her attention. I tried a couple half halts and she seemed to come back and as we made the corner for another lap, she tried to cut in. I asked for her to come back to the rail,and then I felt her leap. They say it was like a hop more than a buck. I totally did not expect it and flew over her head and then flat on my back. It stunned me a few seconds. Missy stopped dead and stood by me.
I did get back on, but no more canter and that was probably a mistake. I don't want this to become a "thing". I can loose my confidence so quickly. It's ruined my riding Jack. How do I not let this take over?

[WashingtonBay]

Bummer - sorry about that!

I think you keep it from taking over by just doing it. Do a pattern where you canter just a few strides or a one length of the arena, then trot, then walk, then canter a bit, then walk. Mix it up just to show both you and Missy that you're in control of it.

Just one suggestion that comes to mind.

[ImaBronsonBear]

Dang, i'm sorry about that! I lost my confidence a couple of years ago, and this is what i've found helps. I say to myself, "You're scared of cantering? Ok, we'll just do trotting for awhile." Once i've trotted for awhile, and feel like i've "got" my horse mentally, i'll say to myself, "Ok, we're just going to do a little canter. Not a lot, just a little bit." So, we do that little bit of canter, whether that's one stride or one lap is up to you and how confident you are. Then i'll trot around for awhile more and then do another bit of cantering, maybe a couple strides longer this time. I've always found that if i push my comfort zone just a little, tiny bit, then go back to what i'm comfortable, then go a little bit further, then go back, builds my confidence more than anything else.

[TheBadLands]

Glad you're ok!

[JackieB]

Sorry you came off. I am well aware from my own experiences of how this can affect our confidence and everything.

I got my confidence back after similar situations by doing exactly what Bronson said. Just a little and then working up from there. But here's the important thing. I had to absolutely know that I could shut Buster down any time I felt like I was getting uncomfortable and that he wouldn't argue with me about it. My confidence was connected to my ability to control my horse for sure.

The way I got to where I was 100% sure that I could get him to slow his gait or stop on command was by following Clinton Anderson's methods. If I asked him to slow down and he didn't do so instantly, I turned him in a circle (a big one if I was cantering so that I'm not turning too sharp at that speed) and then either did a one-rein stop if I wanted to stop completely, or started out down the arena again if I was happy with the speed and comfortable.

By the time I got to these "passenger exercises" as Clinton calls them, I was sure that Buster wouldn't argue with me when I asked him to flex his head, turn a nice circle, and stop. But just using my seat and pulling back on the reins didn't always work very well and he had a wicked head tossing problem from people hauling back on his mouth for years anyway.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

[FatSpottedAppy]

I'm glad you're ok.. It's easy to lose your confidence. :( I got bucked off quite a few times by Melee and that just kind of killed me.. I'm slowly regaining, though, by using Tyke who I know wouldn't try to hurt me on purpose..

I hope all goes well. Everyone has great suggestions.

[elevenelevenxo]

Awe, glad you weren't hurt. :)

Just make yourself get back up there and try cantering again. Doesn't have to be all the way around the arena if you're not comfortable with it - just do a few strides. When we totally give up, that's how we psych ourselves out and lose our confidence.

I'm that way with hoof picking, oddly enough. I have to FORCE myself to clean the hind feet...but I'm terrified still. I don't know why this fear developed because I've never been kicked. I think it was because my old mare would spook for seemingly no reason and once she basically jumped on top of me and broke my foot. But I'm ok with cleaning the front feet - it's the back ones that really freak me out. A few times before I had to work up the bravery to do it....and it took me 15 minutes to finally do it. :( But luckily Rebel is helping me with that - he picks his feet up and is a total gentleman for me. Maybe that's what you could do if you're not comfortable cantering Missy - do it on an older quieter horse and work your way back to her. :)

Good luck!!

[Suzi]

Thanks for the support and suggestions guys. I am surprizingly not as sore as I expected. One advantage of riding in cold weather is the layers of clothing !
I will try the "little at a time" system. Weve only had Missy for amost 2 months and I don;t know her real well yet. For the most part shes been fine. She has spooked a couple of times but usually calms down quickly. This hop she took yesterday was very unexpected, and I find myself thinking "what if this is a habit of hers". And that thought is what I have to get past. There is another horse at the barn that I have ridden who does alot of these hops at the canter, but I am ready for it and really try to keep my weight back over my heel and I usually can ride it out. So, I will think to myself, I'll ride her like Pony Boy. Be ready for anything.