This happens to every rider. The horse rears, and you fly to the ground. It hurts. It's frustrating. Sometimes it's scary. Why do horses throw off riders? It's not anger. It's communication, fear, or pain. We tell you the reasons and how to avoid them.

Physical Pain

A saddle that doesn't fit well presses on the withers, rubs the spine. The horse tries to get rid of the source of pain. A sharp bit can hurt the corners of the mouth. A sudden movement with the reins — the horse throws its head, rears up. Unclean hooves: a stone causes pain while walking, the horse limps, may fall. Disease (colic, arthritis). The horse panics.

What to do: check the equipment before each ride, clean the hooves regularly, take the horse to the vet.

Fear and Instincts

Horses are prey animals. Their instinct is: see danger — run. If a horse is scared (noise, sudden movement, a bag, a flashing shadow), it may lunge to the side, rear up, throw off the rider. A rider who is also scared and pulls on the reins only intensifies the fear. The horse thinks: 'There's something scary, and they're holding me — I need to get free.'

What to do: teach the horse to cope with fear (gradual acclimatization). Don't panic yourself.

Improper Handling

The rider beats the horse with spurs (harder than necessary). The horse tries to get rid of the pain. Pulls on the reins — the horse raises its head, may rear up. Pulls on one rein — the horse throws its head. Does not feel the rhythm (jumps out of sync) — the horse stumbles. Sits down too sharply — it hurts the spine.

What to do: learn soft handling from a trainer. Don't use spurs until you master the basics.

Unsuitable Horse

A green, unbroken horse (young, untrained) may not understand commands. An experienced horse but mean (spoiled by previous riders). A horse that's been pushed too hard (tired, in pain, asking for a rest). A dominant horse (tests who is the leader). If the rider is unsure, it starts to dominate.

What to do: choose a horse that matches your level. Don't buy a 'cool stallion' for a beginner.

External Factors

Loud noise (salute, gunshot, dog barking). An insect (a fly bite — the horse flinched). A sudden appearance of another animal (a dog under the feet). Bad weather (thunderstorm, hail). An uneven road (a root, a hole).

What to do: avoid potentially dangerous places. Inspect the arena before sitting down.

How to Reduce Risk

Learn from a good trainer. Don't overestimate your abilities. Regularly check the horse's health. Use high-quality equipment. Don't take a stranger's horse without supervision. Learn to fall (grouping, roll). And remember: a horse does not retaliate. It's just scared or in pain.

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