You can
PREVENT many riding
accidents and trauma
Please take the necessary time to learn more about
your self, the horse, the instincts, impulses,
your personal responses, and what makes you behave
as you do.
#1. To ride a
horse, can be a wonderful experience. It is not an experience to assume will go well.
I have seem many people who desire to ride, --get on a horse, and squeeze their
legs 'tight' to hold on. Then, due to fear, --they hold the reins tight.
The horse then raises their head (to escape this un-necessary pressure put on
them), and this gets misinterpreted, --as misbehaving. Then they are
pulled, --even harder.
The horse tries to escape
the pain and confusion, --and may back up.
This becomes even more frightening to both the
horse and rider.
This is just one situation
that can get you in trouble. The horse can
rear to seek a way out of this situation, and the
rider could easily pull the horse over backwards.
#2. Pulling &
kicking a horse is pure punishment! We watch television, and the movies, and cowboys,
breaking the 'wild' broncs
(so they say and think) and you see them with
spurs to jab the horse’s sides. This is
copied, by novice riders, as is the pulling of the
reins, to pull the bit back in the horse’s
mouth! This hurts!
Some will say, "so you
gotta stop them --and get them going, don't
you?" I say yes, However, there is nothing wrong --with asking them, by gentleness!
This is what classifies a rider as a real
horseman, to get the most from your horse (within
respectful limits) --by doing the least amount of
work. This takes knowledge, and real
compassion and understanding.
#3. 'Oh the
glory of
galloping, across
the fields with the wind blowing through my
hair'. And Oh --it was ‘just a hole’
that killed them both. This can happen! You can get
hurt more seriously, if you fall, going
faster! Use good sense. Forget the
thrills! Stay safe until you have the
proper experience! Then, still be careful.
#4. It is just a
bridge. Then the tractor trailer passes, and blows its
horn! The horse panics, rightfully, and the horse & rider both go over the
rail into the ravine, into the stream. The horse was killed! The
rider, in a wheelchair, for the rest of her life! Absolutely true! You cannot
depend on a vehicle having a sensible driver behind the wheel!
#5. Can't go --'out of
'position' --approaching that jump, for fear that you would look
like I don't know what you am doing.' The horse mis-steps, the rider
commits to the jump (as directed by the 'instructor') by moving the body
forward, as the horse is about to jump. The horse stops, throwing their
head down. The rider assumes the horse will jump, and is un-prepared for
what happens. The rider goes over the horses
head --still trying to stay in proper form, as
they have been taught! The rider lands on
his head, breaking his neck! Now
quadriplegic! True!
Traditional riding lessons are usually for those who are
normal, or average people. Through my years, I have discovered that, --of the
so-called normal/average person, there are about 75% who have personal 'issues'
that effect how they learn, how they respond etc etc.
I have also found that that about 75% or more, --really
need much more than the traditional --riding lesson. They need a
lot of work --before getting to
traditional riding programs, as they exist.
We have helped to prevent
many accident or trauma, by giving --'educated
experiences', --showing the riders what could
happen, if they were going faster. It is an eye opener. We give you the
respect, of learning what safe riding --deserves!
DO NOT think you know
how to ride --just because your 'instructor' has you cantering,
---and/or jumping 2-3 ft, -within 4 sessions! These are the riders who
will eventually have a near tragedy, and will probably carry the fears and
expectations, and 'body memories' of being hurt, --for years! They are the
ones who never jump over 2 ft, and do the same old,--same old for 20 years. I
have heard too
many horror stories, of ex-riders who were just
too frightened to try again.
With the slow, sensible
approach we use, confidence is warmed up, and
gentle riding is once again a pleasurable
experience, --usually, that's all that rider
wanted in the first place, but they had to go
through the rituals of 'keeping up' with the other
students in the class.
Please, a little slow
education, is very beneficial, and learning about
the 'inside' of both the horse and self, will give
you a pleasurable pastime, for the rest of your
healthy life!
Stay safe! Learn
slow! Take it all in! I
said all --and that takes time!
What is so
amazing is that starting a little slow, advances
you far beyond those who think they are doing
well, and you are more secure.
