I inherited my first cat last December

[maddiemom]

39. Your riding instructor ( I've been one myself) should have been shot.

You didn't need to continue riding lessons, but how badly were you hurt? That would never happen in the first place with a competent instructor. If you were seriously hurt or just got hysterical ( not unlikely at seven), you should have been encouraged, given a little time, to climb back on, even to just sit, or get used to the pony or older, super calm horse that you should have been on. You didn't need to seriously learn to ride, but ending up "terrified" of horses is inexcusable. Many children at one time or another want to ride a horse/have a pony. Over the years I've helped a number of friends' kids to try riding. Most get it out of their systems. Good if they can have the chance to try! BTW, as with any animal (including humans), some horses can just be psycho.sadly. Most horses however, no matter their size, are instinctively aware they are "prey, rather than predators, and strike out if needed.