[PiratePrincess]

Last year i had a pretty serious fall whilst galloping along a beach and my confidence was ruined. For the past year i have been terrified of hacking at anything past a gentle trot but today everything changed! I was riding at my friend's yard and as i haven't known her for long we'd never been on a hack together and she didn't know about my problem. Anyway, she was riding a very excitable thoroughbred and her mum (who decided to come with us as she hadn't been riding in weeks) rode another spirited TB, thankfully i was put on a well behaved cob who was forward going but felt very safe. I thought we were going for a hack along the road so i didn't mention my fear, but then we went into the field. My heart rate sped up instantly and i was petrified!! I knew we were going to gallop as the TBs were getting excited and were prancing about doing side stepping and stuff, straight after entering the field we were off! I tried to keep the cob back but it turns out that he was pretty strong and as he wanted to race the others i had no choice but to go along with them. I was so, so scared! I held onto the reins tightly and pulled him back the whole way. When my friend's mum slowed down the horse i was riding slowed down too so i was glad that i had a "stoppable" horse. Anyway, after walking for a couple of hundred metres we came to the bottom of a hill and off we were again!! I wasn't quite as scared this time so i decided to let him run without me holding him back. Thankfully, he stopped when the others did again and i knew i was safe. For the rest of the hack i had an excellent time galloping with the others, i was even trying to race them at times!! So....I just thought i'd let you all know about what happened today because i am so happy! I'm so much more comfortable galloping now and i can't wait to go on my next hack

[whirlybird]

Congratulations! The old addage about getting back on after you fall off is more true than people know. I think it is great that you faced your fear of galloping and came out on top. Good for you!

[CANDYGIRL]

Well done you. If youv'e read my posts you'll know I have had to face my fears over the last week. I did get straight back on after the fall, and my head felt fine, but my body still doesn't. I am glad that I did get back on, something my old Dad, drilled into me, becuase I think if I hadn't I would of felt like you did. If you feel confident, I think there is a difference between being scared and cautious, let the people know who have given this oppurtunity that you have had a bad experience. I have listened to the advice people have given me on this site, and their opinions, and they have made me realise that I don't have anything to prove by getting on anything and everything. I am going to pick my mounts very carefully from now on and put the enjoyment back. I have had years of the naughty horses, now it's time for enjoyment. Well done you, and enjoy yourself next time. It's like riding a bike, you never forget, you just get rusty.

[PiratePrincess]

I would have loved to get staright back on after my fall but it was impossible! I was dizzy, i couldn't see and i was so confused and disorientated! It's because i landed on my head, the fall wouldn't have been so bad if i'd have landed on another part of my body!! I told the people who i was riding with today about my bad experience after the hack, i'm glad i didn't tell them before because otherwise they may not have taken me for a gallop and i may not have had a chance to face up to my fear. They said they'd let me ride their cob whenever i'm up there now because he will definately help me build up to the confidence that i had before the fall at the beach.

[spyro1]

I'm so proud of you good job. sometimes it takes wahile to face your fear and overcome it. Been there as well You did it Happy trails to youHEEHEE