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FW: [RC] [Consider This] Mike Sherrell's Top Trail Tips Mike Sherrell - Lisa Salas

That was a good article, Mike! I liked your version about the city
slickers. I especially liked both versions of avoiding scary things.

So many riders make a big deal about spooky things. They will make
their horse go up to it no matter what! Yeah, THAT always calms them
down. I have had riders say to me many times, "Why are you getting
off? You know you are just teaching them to get away with it". Well,
the way I see it is, if I am on a horse that is not liking cars and
trucks going by, I am getting off. It seems to calm them down when you
are the LEADER in such scary situations. However if they do decide to
bolt, they are on their own. I would HATE to see my horse get hit, but
I can get another horse.

If I am on a horse that feels like it is going to explode, the first
thing I think, (especially as I get a tad older) it that I don't want
to DIE!  I doubt my horse is thinking, "Yes! It worked!! She is
getting off!!!". I am pretty sure he is thinking at the same moment as
I am, "I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" Yep, same as me. If I get off, I have a
better chance of survival. I won't be thrown into a tree or slammed
onto a rock. I can't be dragged or impaled on a metal fence post.
(Maybe I am the only one who thinks of this stuff) I also believe it
settles my horse much quicker than insisting he go smell, taste, touch
or "kiss" what ever is scaring him. If I have time, we may take a
moment (after we have composed ourselves) to work AROUND the scary
object, otherwise we just move on.

Have you ever noticed that when your horse gets spooked, sometime they
stop breathing so they can listen. You can feel their heart racing
under you calf. These are good indicators that your horse is getting
into flight mode. Then when they drop a big 'ole pile of poop, they
are lightening the load so they can "run like the wind!" Only problem
is that you are still on, and extra weight for that matter. Guess what
goes next? See, we don't have to teach them how to get us off, they
already know!

I have never really been hurt from riding except the one time I had to
use a one rein stop on a panicked run away horse. Loony Lance, of
course. We circled right into a branch and my face took the brunt of
the impact. I was wearing a helmet, otherwise I might have had a
concussion. It looked worse than it was but it was still just as
scary. A panicked  horse and rider combo is NOT a good thing. I am no
trainer and my "staying on skills" are slowing down. Better for me to
get off and diffuse the situation ASAP and live to ride another day.

Some of us have to rely on common sense. That's all we got :)

Lisa Salas, The Odd Farm
P.S. to all "instructors" who give lessons, please, PLEASE don't tell
newbies they can only mount from one side. And pretty please, don't
let that 16 hand Thoroughbred walk away while that 8 year old child
has one little foot in a big stirrup and you are trying to push the
child's behind on to the saddle. That just ain't right.

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