You know the funny thing was, even with me hanging off the side, he tried to make the second barrel turn....
He really is a good boy, and I feel bad for scaring him. It wasn't his fault at all. He's not a real people horse like Rusty. He can take pats or leave them. So I just don't know how to reassure him that he's not in trouble.
You know, even if a horse is trying to get you off, and you do come off, beating them is not the fix...I'd never do that. I feel bad just for making him keep doing it. But in the end that might help. I just won't know till tomorrow. I'm going to make sure tomorrow is smooth, easy and enjoyable.
Becky
I hate falling off, it destroys my confidence. I wouldn't hit the horse afterwards, either. When Juma bucked me off I just got up, dusted myself off and forced myself to get back on.
No - in the end going back and doing it again till he got better was the right thing.
If you'd quit, he might just sit and wonder "OK - I did something wrong in the second turn and she jabbed me and yanked the reins and there was a lot of shouting "woah" and I just don't know what I did."
Who knows how much thinking they really do, but I think you are way better off for not ending on that note, and for confusing him in the positive... He was wondering if it was going to happen again and it didn't. And then again and it didn't. So he's on his way to not thinking it's always gonna happen. By next time maybe he won't be thinking about it any more.
I always feel guilty when I cause the problem, but they are luckily pretty forgiving creatures.
Next time, PICTURES!