ridecamp@endurance.net: Holding the reins vs. letting go ... again.

Holding the reins vs. letting go ... again.

Lyn Kamer (MUSTANGRDR@worldnet.att.net)
Thu, 06 Feb 1997 21:07:09 -0500

Hi everyone,

I've been catching up on my ridecamp digests for a couple of days and had to espouse my
viewpoint here. I was taught to ride by someone who drilled it into us that you NEVER
let go of the reins when you get dumped. This stuck with me until I was exercising
Thoroughbreds at the racetrack in the '70's. I had the tree on the exercise saddle I
was riding break while galloping a horse. I went off over his right shoulder and was
hanging in front of him between him and another horse. I got the living daylights
beaten out of me by his knees and then got run over when I let go. A good friend of
mine held onto the reins of her horse when she got dumped and wound up in ICU with a
ruptured spleen. The first incident made me a believer and the second only reinforced
it. I've had to learn to let go. I don't come off too easily or very often but if I
and the horse part company, voluntrily or otherwise, I let go of everything, relax, and
go with it. I don't bounce nearly as well as I did 20 yrs. ago, and those of you who
know me what I've been through in the last 5 yrs. My horses never go far, maybe that's
because they're Mustangs, but far better to teach your horse to come to you and catch it
than sustain injury. Been there, done that and it ain't FUN!!!

Lyn Kamer, C.E.S.M.T. and my Mustangs, the girls: PC and Star
The Healing Touch of New Jersey

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