Comments on: The Day I Almost Died! Introducing Obstacles

By: Trish Hyatt

Trish Hyatt — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 20:36:41 +0000

In reply to Karla. Glad you liked them.

By: Karla

Karla — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 20:05:39 +0000

In reply to Trish Hyatt. Thanks for the pointers!

By: Trish Hyatt

Trish Hyatt — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 05:02:35 +0000

In reply to Karla.

Thanks for sharing Karla.
It can happen so quickly.
If you’re going to test out crawling make sure you have your helmet on.
And I’d recommend you have someone hold the horse facing you.
You don’t want them to wheel and kick out if they decide they need to run away. Stay safe

By: Karla

Karla — Sun, 07 Jan 2024 12:47:18 +0000

Great story and a good reminder for those of us who know better, but get sloppy. I had a friend break her leg in a very similar incident to the one you described. Her horse jumped on her as well, when crossing a muddy stream, with her on foot. I love the advice to see if you can crawl to your horse. I think I will try this out. At my age, self preservation is everything and you never know if you may need to crawl to your horse if something bad happens. Thanks for the thought provoking advice!

By: Trish Hyatt

Trish Hyatt — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 04:08:02 +0000

In reply to Laura M Palahnuk.

Thanks for sharing your story Laura, it sure does happen quick doesn’t it.
I was using the same process as you of going back and forth a few times to demonstrate, I was on a horse, and darned if that youngster didn’t jump right into the saddle and knock me underneath 8 hooves on lumpy creek rocks.
I’m sure he said GERONIMO too!
That’s not what I was saying…

By: Laura M Palahnuk

Laura M Palahnuk — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 01:57:18 +0000

Good story— One we can all relate too, I think. I had something similar, tho not near so dramatic, exciting, or dangerous. We had fairly recently built a lane over to the big pasture, which went through a small creek/stream. Most of the horses would just charge right through, tho there was an OTTB that had not yet figured out how to get his feet wet, and the rest of the herd being across the creek wasn’t yet enough pull to get him over there. so I decided to help him out. Went along, asking him (no halter or rope) to just sort of cross over. I went back and forth a couple of times to “demonstrate”. And don’t you know the moment I turned my back and headed away I heard a “GERONIMO”, and he flattened me, knocked me down onto my face and (thankfully) jumped me longways and headed up the rise at warp speed. I do remember him looking over his shoulder at me as he raced away (I wasn’t stuck in the mud as you had been). Oof, that one hurt. And yes, I imagine I appeared to be the safest way across.

By: Trish Hyatt

Trish Hyatt — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 20:37:15 +0000

In reply to Shannon Lear.

Hi Shannon, I’m so glad you enjoyed the article. This was the first time I included more story in the article and wasn’t sure if people would like it.

My short answer to your problem is to always keep the horse flexed so he’s looking slightly towards you. If he’s looking towards you, and you walk by his shoulder then spooks should go forwards.
It’s when he can get his head away from you that he can push towards you.

The other thing that happens when you keep his head towards you and ribs away, consistently, is he realizes that you are aware and this builds his confidence.

To keep the ribs away, use a dressage whip where you’re leg would go. In time with the belly swinging away if you are moving. This will be as he lands on his outside front foot.

But if he gets his head away, then use it on the hindquarters to ask them to yield away with the same timing. This will create a turn on the forehand. This will bring his head back to you.

Practice lots, before you need it. And on both sides.
Make sure you’re signed up to be notified of new posts and I will write one with more details to address this in the near future.

By: Shannon Lear

Shannon Lear — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 13:43:12 +0000

I resonate with this article and really enjoyed it. I saw it in an obstacles Facebook group.

My 16 hand Morgan can jump sideways faster than Lightning. so I’ve learned not to walk next to him but to have him walk behind me. Which doesn’t solve the potential of him running over me if something spooks him from behind.

I’ve never quite solved this so I really appreciate your strategy and the humor in your stories. Thank you!