My balance is poo poo....new clique!

[talkofthetown]

pAin't Misbehavin', SmallHerd and myself are starting a new clique, thanks to goeslikestink's wonderful words of wisdom. Everyone's welcome to join! You just have to give a good reason:yes:

My balance is poo poo because I tip my shoulders approaching a jump. And sure 'nuff, it makes my horse stop every. single. time. :lol:

along with many other things obviously its your balance that poo poo

[tx3dayeventer]

My balance is poo poo because I fall in the open ditch by Karen O'Connor's feet when my mare slams on the brakes and doesn't want to jump it. :D

[Lambie Boat]

My balance is doo doo because I have inner ear imbalances and I still lunge my horses until I puke (twice around usually does it!) :D:dead:

[STNS]

My balance is poo poo because I fell off *after* a fence, when my horse made a sharp turn that I *knew* was coming. Oh and I also fell off after a fence again, when my horsey slammed on the brakes (in response to me lying on his neck) and I did the lawn dart.

feisomeday, I have the same problem lunging! I almost passed out the last time I tried, I couldn't get the mare to stop and she kept getting closer and closer and I kept spinning faster and faster... I get sick just thinking about it :dead:

[jeano]

I managed to fall under my horse once while using a bucket for a mounting block. Is that sufficiently poo poo or do I need to divulge even more humiliating examples?

[equineartworks]

My balance is Poo Poo because I am a Winglish rider with MS and I am too lazy to ride more and make my balance better :D

[equineartworks]

I managed to fall under my horse once while using a bucket for a mounting block. Is that sufficiently poo poo or do I need to divulge even more humiliating examples?

Been there...done that :lol:

[JohnDeere]

My balace is poopoo because:

my greenie has been known to do a 180 at, urm, unexpected times. Since its usually in midpost I do a Wyle E. Coyote. THough 1 time I managed to keep 1 foot in the stirrup, which meant I didnt dismount. Really.

Am I in or do you need another story? It involves switching leads in a turn...

I like the "voluntary order of the involuntary dismount" club for a name, BTW! Maybe put "cause our balance is poopoo" as a subtitle?

[GettingBack]

My balance is poo because I've become underconfident and tense, and your balance goes to h*ll in a handbasket if you are tense.

I'd blame any number of factors, but I'm learning to own my own fears.

[myhorsefaith]

My balance is poo poo because my left leg has a mind of its own, and is determined to be forever fixed into a chair seat, while my right leg is the favorite child, falling into position perfectly. Can you say twisted? :winkgrin:

[goldseeker]

My balance is poo because of mental issues. I once took a bad spill off an ex barrel horse and broke all my ribs on my R side. Ever since then, I cannot sit a canter. I have to hold on for dear life. I lately had a horse run thru a bit and take off and when I finally got her to stop I was shaking like a rattle snake tail.
Anyone ever have the same problem?? How'd you get over it??

I'm not scared to ride, or to canter. I just don't know how to "fix" my problem.
I know I grip too much with my legs. I literally try to wrap myself around the horse to stay on. :lol:

[myhorsefaith]

Goldseeker- yup.

The only way I got over it was going back to ride really schooled horses for the canter- the kind that can ignore their rider and do their job- the kind that when the instructor says "canter" they canter, until the instructor says "halt" and they halt. LOL

Once i got back into the rhythm and got my feel back, I was ok.

[MidlifeCrisis]

My balance is poo because of mental issues. I once took a bad spill off an ex barrel horse and broke all my ribs on my R side. Ever since then, I cannot sit a canter. I have to hold on for dear life. I lately had a horse run thru a bit and take off and when I finally got her to stop I was shaking like a rattle snake tail.
Anyone ever have the same problem?? How'd you get over it??

I'm not scared to ride, or to canter. I just don't know how to "fix" my problem.
I know I grip too much with my legs. I literally try to wrap myself around the horse to stay on. :lol:
I had the same problem. My trainer put me in a western saddle that was built so I couldn't grip with my thighs if I wanted to. Then she patiently pushed me every ride just past my comfort level. Sometimes it was only an energetic trot and sometimes just a few strides of canter. It took almost a year but I'm finally through the death grip. I ended up buying the western saddle from her and use it about once a week to reinforce the loose thigh feeling.

[ValleyMiss]

My balance is poo poo because I get tense when I jump and freeze at the fences. And so when my horse stops or tries to duck out I go flying.

[goldseeker]

I had the same problem. My trainer put me in a western saddle that was built so I couldn't grip with my thighs if I wanted to. Then she patiently pushed me every ride just past my comfort level. Sometimes it was only an energetic trot and sometimes just a few strides of canter. It took almost a year but I'm finally through the death grip. I ended up buying the western saddle from her and use it about once a week to reinforce the loose thigh feeling.


Do you know what make the western saddle is? i have a circle M barrel saddle, it's not bad... but when she runs I really love that saddle horn! Out of curiosity, what would be your techniques for making a "I can only run fast and we're going fast" horse, into a nice, easy going "this is fun" horse? This mare I ride was "abused" and feels she needs fast to get away from danger. I've gotten her to the point of trusting me, she follows me around like a puppy dog. I spend hours with her, just grooming and spending "quality time" so she knows I don't want to eat her. At a walk and trot, she looks like a high trained school horse. At the canter, she looks like a wreck. :(

[myhorsefaith]

Out of curiosity, what would be your techniques for making a "I can only run fast and we're going fast" horse, into a nice, easy going "this is fun" horse? This mare I ride was "abused" and feels she needs fast to get away from danger. I've gotten her to the point of trusting me, she follows me around like a puppy dog. I spend hours with her, just grooming and spending "quality time" so she knows I don't want to eat her. At a walk and trot, she looks like a high trained school horse. At the canter, she looks like a wreck. :(

How is she at the canter when you longe or free longe her? A lot of times speed at the canter is due to imbalance. Some horses this is a scary feeling, so they look scared, and they get anxious about it.

[Bluey]

My balance is not what it used to be after having a heart attack and on the medication to regulate heart beats I gained 30 lbs in five months.:eek:

Believe it or not, adding almost a full feed sack worth of weight on your body and trying to work with muscle memory from when you were your old self doesn't work, especially if you have a rattletale horse, that will give you away.:p
Very embarassing when you try to lope a simple circle and your horse keeps changing leads, because you are all over with your weight.:o
My horse does exactly what you ask and when you are not clear, he stops and looks back at you, frowning.:rolleyes:

[Little Valkyrie]

My balance is poo poo because I fell off 12 times in one year.

(off of a few different horses at least, and about 2 were the horse going down ...so I had little choice.... it was not a good year...I promise I don't really suck that badly...:sigh:)

[MidlifeCrisis]

Do you know what make the western saddle is? i have a circle M barrel saddle, it's not bad... but when she runs I really love that saddle horn! Out of curiosity, what would be your techniques for making a "I can only run fast and we're going fast" horse, into a nice, easy going "this is fun" horse? This mare I ride was "abused" and feels she needs fast to get away from danger. I've gotten her to the point of trusting me, she follows me around like a puppy dog. I spend hours with her, just grooming and spending "quality time" so she knows I don't want to eat her. At a walk and trot, she looks like a high trained school horse. At the canter, she looks like a wreck. :(
It's a Ladies McCall Wade. As for the second question: I bought my horse from a working cowboy. He bred and trained him in what I would call a NH manner. I don't want to open a debate about the merits of NH training in this thread. But my horse was trained to have a one-rein stop, seek openings of no pressure, etc. We have had a somewhat difficult transition as he has had to put up with me learning how to be able to sit and balance and not hang on his mouth. Once we got past that, he now willingly will seek the bit but I have to have quiet, quiet hands. So, are you hanging on her at the canter? Is she balanced? Are you interfering with her canter because you're leaning forward and gripping with your legs?
For me, I have to take a deep breath down to the bottom of my belly, remind myself to sit up straight no matter what, and then try to relax into the rhythm of the canter. If I don't do any of those, it's ugly.

[goldseeker]

How is she at the canter when you longe or free longe her? A lot of times speed at the canter is due to imbalance. Some horses this is a scary feeling, so they look scared, and they get anxious about it.


She's a speed demon... you'd swear there was a tiger chasing her around.

[goldseeker]

It's a Ladies McCall Wade. As for the second question: I bought my horse from a working cowboy. He bred and trained him in what I would call a NH manner. I don't want to open a debate about the merits of NH training in this thread. But my horse was trained to have a one-rein stop, seek openings of no pressure, etc. We have had a somewhat difficult transition as he has had to put up with me learning how to be able to sit and balance and not hang on his mouth. Once we got past that, he now willingly will seek the bit but I have to have quiet, quiet hands. So, are you hanging on her at the canter? Is she balanced? Are you interfering with her canter because you're leaning forward and gripping with your legs?
For me, I have to take a deep breath down to the bottom of my belly, remind myself to sit up straight no matter what, and then try to relax into the rhythm of the canter. If I don't do any of those, it's ugly.


I have a tendency to hold on with my legs, and according to my husband I learn forward but I don't "feel" like I am. When this mare gets off balance, she gets scared and just starts bucking. War Admiral tried to help me, and I was practicing the 2 point, but I lost my balance, put too much weight on her neck... mare got scared and went into a bucking fit. I had a sand sandwich. :)

[SmallHerd]

My balance is poo poo, well, just because. :)

[chestnutmarebeware]

My balance is poo poo because I used to ride (and jump) my ponies bareback all the time as a kid. The other day I climbed on the BO's Fjord bareback and couldn't even keep myself centered on him at a walk and trot. I almost slid off the side at least twice, although the laughing fit I had may have contributed...:lol:

[Natalie A]

My balance is poo because my neurology hates me ;). And I can basically only see out of one eye, which apparently makes me cock my body in all kinds of strange directions so that I can actually see straight in front of me. I've gotten to a point over the last few years, though, where I have enough core strength that I can usually ride through my stiffness/pathetic lack of coordination and stay within the horse's comfort zone.

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

I'm a double entrant!

My POSTURE balance is poo poo because of knee issues and so my left side is weaker (no ankle reflex) and I'm spatially screwed up as it is.

And my BANK balance is poo poo because I have a horse (enough said!).

[trubandloki]

Oh this clique is so very me.

The list of examples of my crappy balance is way too long.

I have a horrible time mounting if my horse moves at all (I am sure it is fun to watch though).

If I try to ride with my eyes closed I basically fall off the side of my horse (thankfully I have always opened them when the leaning got bad enough that falling was the only option).

I think those two are enough, you get the point. Me have no balance to speak of.

Edited to add: I have a bad habit of falling up stairs. Now that takes crappy balance for sure.

[Trevelyan96]

My balance is poo poo because I can't even walk without tripping over my own feet!

I've also been knowt to pull a door open onto my own head on more than 1 occasion. More like once a week.

[pAin't_Misbehavin']

:lol: Great thread.:yes:

Originally, my balance was poo poo because I kept falling off trying to do Around the World at a walk. However, I am growing as a rider:cool:, and today I can say

My balance is poo poo because I post the trot as though I'm dodging a hail of bullets - lean inside, lean outside, duck forward - y'all get the idea. :uhoh:
Think beleaguered Pony Express rider trying to get the mail pouch past the Sioux.:lol:

[Arizona DQ]

My balance is poo poo because I have no core strength and tend to lean forward into my old hunter seat habits rather than sitting up tall and straight for dressage.:no:
I do have bi positional vertigo, but cannot really use that as an excuse. I really believe it is lack of core strength. Just need to find some good exercises to build it up.....:o

[Hidden]

My balance is poo poo because when we land from a jump I tense up, grip with knees and open my hip and fall off because of same at regular intervals.

[MidlifeCrisis]

I would be happy if my balance was just poo poo. What's worse than poo poo? Whatever it is, that's what my balance is:lol:

[talkofthetown]

:lol: Great thread.:yes:

Originally, my balance was poo poo because I kept falling off trying to do Around the World at a walk. However, I am growing as a rider:cool:, and today I can say

My balance is poo poo because I post the trot as though I'm dodging a hail of bullets - lean inside, lean outside, duck forward - y'all get the idea. :uhoh:
Think beleaguered Pony Express rider trying to get the mail pouch past the Sioux.:lol:

:lol: I love all these replies. I'm reading down the page going "uh huh...yep, me too...dude, that's so ME!..." :D

[zakattack]

my balance is poo poo because, though i may be balanced *on* the horse, i recently tried to mount and instead fell off the mounting block and it went flying halfway across the ring...

[goeslikestink]

ha ha
my balance went poo poo when i went hunter trailing with my best mate mandy and ra
we was doing the pairs, and had just jumped a house then a huge tracanner only i lost one of my stirrups
i shouted to mandy to go a tad slower so give me to time to get it back as i can ride and jump with or without stirrups anyways she didnt hear me there was this huge log jump next mandy jumped then stopped on the other side and said what only she was to close to the jump i jump the jump alright but bonnie seeing ra standing there straight after the jump stop dead only i didnt stop i flew and went splat

[goldseeker]

Aside from my "mental issues" previously stated...
My balance is poo poo because I'm knocked kneed. Severely... to the point by R knee cap likes to slide out of place. *ouch* :sadsmile:

[crzychestnutrider]

My balance is poo-poo because I tense up before a jump, which leads to dropping horsie on head, which leads to CCR having a totally dislocated ankle that keeps her off said horsie for over three months.:D Now my balance is poo poo because I favour my ankle and have zero strength or stamina:( It's coming though.