After an accident...

Question
I have a 4 year old TB who I backed recently after extensive ground work on the lunge. He has been going great up until a few weeks ago...while I was mounting, I must have spooked him and got thrown pretty badly. Ever since, my horse has been nervous about going into the arena or anywhere near the mounting block.

Of course, this scared me too, so we have spent the past few weeks working on the ground to build up the trust and bond again. He is perfect with me on the ground, but scared to death at the prospect of me getting on his back...he becomes a different horse when I stand on the mounting block, even if my coach is holding him.

Just today, we were working on rebacking him, which went fine until he spooked, and I took hold of the reins (my coach had him on a lead and was walking me around on his back)...which caused him to rear, and me to fall again...now I am literally petrified, and so is my horse. What should I do? Can we fix the trust that was lost during the accident? Please help me...I love my horse to death, and it breaks my heart knowing hes afraid of me...How can I fix this, and recreate the trust we had before the initial accident.

Answer
Hello Leigh,
Many times people want things to be quiet with their young horses, so they quietly get them ready to ride and then get on- to me this is being sneaky! The main thing is that you have not prepared your horse for seeing you visually on his back and feeling things happen on his back. Start on the ground next to him, can you throw a pad over his back and pull it right off in one move? Mess with this like you are petting him, if he needs to move let him move!!! Just keep your lead short enough that he goes around you. When that is working for you I would stand on the mounting block and see if you can send him one way or the other while you stand there don't ask him to come close yet, just move around. Once he is moving around more comfortably ask him to come close and maybe give him a treat. Give him a treat and step off and walk away. You want to repeat this until he is not worried when you walk over and stand on your mounting block.
Let me know how this goes for you and be safe,
Caitlin Day Huntress