Hi,
I understand your astonishment. I forgot to mention in my post, that I have fallen off a ladder when I tried to remove a wasp's nest . However, I am, glad to read that everyone could ride again. Anyhow, I agree with you regarding desensitizing properly.
A friend has made some videos that I put in youtube. I was doing some groundwork with the horse. He is not afraid of new objects, he is always very cutious.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59JjGph0KMU
I hope it is no problem to insert a link in the forum

Hi Rhonda and cristina,
So sorry if my story of a broken back scared you!
It did scare me too, until I realised much later, that it had something to tell me.
It tought me to only trust my own judgement about a horse and not what others say about it.
The desensitizing part is very important, for me trust is the highest value I go for.
A horse that trusts you, will overcome his fear for wanting to be with you as his safetyzone.
You cannot desensitize agains all things in the world, so you'll have to be able to count on the trust there is between the horse and you.
For me the whole experience of the accident etc. was the biggest motivation to learn more about Equus and deepen my knowledge of Monty's methods.
Very curious of what you'll be able to report, Rhonda!
Glad you're able to play with your Horse and donkey again, cristina!
Have fun,
Miriam

Just another aspect. I have written a paper about horse accidents for the introductory course. Here is the summary:

• The risk of injury during horse riding is in the range of other sport activities.
• Underestimated are the injuries of the hand and the face, during handling of horses
• Underestimated are painful rib injuries which can be avoided wearing a protective west.
• High velocity – high risk of injury.
• Wearing of a helmet is a must.
• The first 100 hours are the most dangerous ones.
• No drugs, no alcohol.
• Safety stirrups should be recommended to avoid foot fractures.

Hi again,
Just wanted to let you know, the rabbit in with STAR is working great.
She watches him when she is in there, it's cute to see.
Star puts her head over the stall wall and smells and the rabbit goes up on his hind legs to smell her.
Thanks Dennis,
Ronda

Ronda
That really makes my day! I learned that trick from a friend that transported race horses. He said that race horses get barn sour from being confined for long periods of time. The old time grooms would put a rabbit in the stall and those horses were better focused and calmer

Best
Dennis

That sounds very interesting. As far as know rabbits and guineapigs should not be held together because they do not understand their body language and feel alone. Seems to be a special relation between the rabbit and the horse as between dogs and crows (and of course humans and horses).
Rudi

Rudi
I think the reason horses become calmer and less stressed has to do with their curiosity. The horse watches the rabbit twitch it's nose and the rabbit watches the horse watching him
Horse trainers also will hang a tether ball from the ceiling and the horse will bounce it around which keeps them busy. Pigmy goats are also used on race tracks to keep horses occupied.

That is so great Ronda. I am so pleased it worked so well - well done Dennis too.

More news about desensitising, STAR.
My husband and I took Star for a nice walk along the trail.
I brought my long whip and when we were half way down the path I let her out 3/4 of the way on the long line and started to wiggle the whip in the long grass, STAR did not react in any way, even as the noise got closer to her.
I am very proud of her.
I then took some of the rope a flew it at her, she reacted, I did it again, she did not react.
I did these things on both sides, again I was very proud of her.
They are doing work on the trail and there is a large catapillar(machine for digging ditches) right beside the path, I took her there to intoduce her, she was hesitant at first but when I went to it to smell she came right with me. I did this on our way in and on our way back, good girl.
New things in new places, good girl.
Dennis she really likes, Buggsy and I have a ball for her.
I had it tied above her and she must be playing with that too, I came in yesterday morning and it was on the floor of her pen, cute.
I'll keep you posted as to new things I'm doing with her.
Ronda

Ronda
Just returnedfrom riding and the owner of the ranch is having an outdoor wedding reception for his son and they had just finished delivering all the tables chair dance floor etc. As I rode by all the stuff I knew that my horse was a little worried. He did a very nice side pass as we went by so I rode around the ranch and returned in the other direction I was in a slow gait (like a trot) and he did the same thing. I stopped and walked back to the furniture and made him stand there shortly he started to relax but would not go and touch the furniture with his nose. I was happy with him just relaxing but he still liked to side pass away from the stuff later I realized that part of his fear was the chairs were a dark color and were stacked up over his head. I guess he thought it might be an animal that was taller than he was. Desensitizing or educating a horse to new stuff never ends. For me I never know what will set him off but I can always feel it when it starts!

Cheers

The relationship between me and my horse and my donkey gets closer every day I spend with them. The gestures become finer and their attention towards me always stronger. Degas (the name of the gelding) puts the ears up and knows, already when i take a deep breath that I have a request. He knows the difference of a stroking on the flank and the smooth request to budge from contact of my hand. I have noticed that the difference isn't so much in the way of touching, but much more in the general attitude at moment of the request.
Horse and donkeys live with me at home, the visual and acoustic contact is therefore very frequent. The use of their voice is always more soffisticated and differentiates increasingly (for the welcoming or he raises the head when going for a walk squeaking and searching if he has stopped for grazing and doesn't immediately see me when I have gone further).
I wonder how a horse fares that is used to friendly dealing if the owner must give it away.
I have thought some months ago perhaps my horse would be better off somewhere else rather than with me. I imagined a place with many horses (instead of the company of a kind donkey) and a kind owner. I had already placed an advertisement. This was after the fracture of the back whirl some month ago. I thought I couldn't provide the horse any more the movement which a thorough-bred horse needs. Lastly I have decided to keep him, the relationship is simply too hearty in that I can imagine another person pulling in his mouth or only pushes Degas roughly from one side to the other (as many farriers do).
At least I have found some encouragement in this posts and have shown me that one can ride again also after a vertebral fracture and run over the pastures with your horse .

Cristina - I am so pleased that you have decided to keep Degas as I am sure that he is so much better off with you and he is also helping you. It is very hard for me to part with a horse as I too fear what may happen to them after they leave me. So many horses have such awful lives. Do hope that time will help to correct your injury and that one day you will be able to ride again. Our thoughts are with you.

I'm all for desensitising but I am concered that you would want your horse to be ok with a snake near its legs. Having known many horses lost to snake bite, a snake is certainly not something I would want my horse becoming 'used' to...

Hi indi,
I understand your point completely.
When one uses the term did not react, it does not mean they did not move, she did.
She side stepped, very calmly, which is what I want as a reaction for her and she got rewarded for the correct response.
I too have been around snakes in the grass or on the ground hidden, which would be the safest reaction for a horse, to side step calmly away from the danger or to rear and gallop away.
When the horse rears because of the hissing noise of a snake, this gives the snake ample time to strike but if the horse calmly side steps out of danger and then gets away it will be much safer.
When we approach a snake or any danger should we not remain calm, think first and then react, all of this can be done within a mila-second if yours and the horse's thinking is prepared ahead of time.
For MY STAR, I never want her to hurt herself or the rider on her back, therefore she will be desentized against everything my vivid imagination can come up with.
I know this way she nor her rider will be injured.
She has a rabbit as a companion, I therefore know that she has become immuned to rabbits and will not over react if she come accross one.
I will have my husband throw white plastic bags at her from the forest, etc.
A safe horse is vital. Right. Side stepping is acceptable if done calmly.
Oh yea, I forgot to mention we live in eastern Canada, there are no poisonious snakes in the area, at all. (side point)
Ronda