Fell off for the first time !

[CMOTdibbler]

Fortunatly into a field of oil seed rape which was a soft landing. DHorse was in a rah rah mood, and having just watched one of the tbs gallop up the hill, didn't listen to my admonishments that he wasn't going that fast and gave it a try with a snappy walk to canter transition that I hadn't asked for - which resulted in me exiting via the side door.

On the upside, I did prove to myself that I could actually mount from the ground

[MitchyInge]

Hahaha! Always a silver lining

mustn't laugh too heartily, just about to ride out with a friend and her erm entertaining-to-hack pony

hope you're not too bruised

[MitchyInge]

I'm sorry I laughed, I knew I shouldn't have

[CMOTdibbler]

I don't blame you for laughing - I really shouldn't have let him start going up the hill as he was being a silly beggar before then, and I still can't make myself sit back more when panicking.

Worst thing was trying to unravel myself from the rape plants as they are very tangly ! I don't seem to have any bruises, and only one achy bit, so got away lightly.

I think it's back in the school during the hot and windy weather if he is going to play up. Heaven knows we have enough to learn together there

[oldernowiser]

Well done getting back on, and you are now officially a rider. Glad you're ok, don't let it put you off. Do you have a neck strap? I find them very reassuring when feeling a bit panicky!

[CMOTdibbler]

No, I think I'll ask about one as it would make me feel better - when I was on holiday the horse I was riding had a breastplate (do I mean this ? It attached to the D rings, then round the front of the horse, and down to the girth), and it was really easy to canter with fingers looped around the bits coming off the saddle and made me feel much better

Somehow, falling off and being OK feels like I've got through a mental hurdle

[MitchyInge]

Yeah sounds like hunting breastplate, an old stirrup leather makes a good neck strap - or a new one!

Big big dent in my bravado after laughing at you yesterday. Should have known it was going to be just a bit too eventful when it took five attempts to get on (joey) and then him taking off back to his field as soon as one foot went in a stirrup and other leg halfway over. Just want it to be known it was a conscious choice to bail out 1/4 of the way on our hack!

[OrmRenewed]

Sorry to hear that cmot.

Just out of curiosity, how often do people seriously hurt themselves falling off? Not for me, obviously, as hell would freeze over before you'd get me up on one of them big hairy things, but for DD. She's been having lessons for over 2 years now and never fallen off. It's become this big scary thing for me - I have visions of cracked ribs and broken hips and months in hospital

[Thistledew]

They say that you have to fall off seven times before you can call yourself a rider. And that you should always get straight back on.

This means that I have fallen off 54 times too many!

I have ridden since the age of 4 - now sadly very infrequently.

There were only three times that I did not get back on. Twice when I was concussed: was wearing a badly fitting hat after getting spectacularly bad advice from a shop, and once when competing in a cross country competition when I landed on a jump and cracked two ribs.

I have also chipped two teeth slightly, and bruised a nerve in my hand, which took about 4 months to heal properly, but apart from that, only bruises.

Once you have done it a few times, you learn how to curl into a ball, and generally avoid injuring yourself.

[MitchyInge]

People fall off alllllllll the time without injury, then someone can be killed just going into a stable - spook, well aimed or accidental kick. A woman fell off my horse onto sand but broke her back, others fall onto roads or are hit by cars and are very lucky. It's just impossible to predict isn't it? It is clear that the more experienced and suitably horsed (for you and the activity) you are the fewer falls you will have. It's also clear that it's statistically a lot safer to take ecstacy or bomb around on a motorbike than do anything with horses!

[Butkin]

Riders all fall off - fact of life.

DD fell off when cantering her old pony when she was about 2 1/2. I was leading and DW was holding her welly. Amazingly she shot off the back door. I said to DW "I thought you were holding her leg" and she showed me an empty welly - she'd shot out of that as well!
We put her straight back on of course - never ever make a fuss or they will start to worry.

Before we were married I was riding with DW and fell off - despite being really experienced. DW stared down at me from her arab whilst I was lying winded in a stubble field and - without any concern - just said "you need riding lessons" !

[CMOTdibbler]

No bruises today at all - just some marks where I am obviously allergic to rape plants as they are all squiggly.

Joey makes me laugh - he's so like Mac who does the legging it while mounting thing. Ben just stands there and goes to sleep.

Orm - does your DD have a body protector ? It might make you feel better, knowing that her ribs and back are more protected. DS wears his all the time

[OrmRenewed]

Body protector? Nope. I think one of the kids in her class has one. I suppose it might be a good idea - suspect she won't think so

[Butkin]

DD rides well but we expect her to fall off occasionally and she rides in a body protector - as natural to her as her helmet.

I have to admit we're not so careful although we would always wear them if competing X country.

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

Well done you, you have now discovered one of the 'doors' there are amazing number of doors to exit through! Ive been out every one, have landed in a ditch, on my bum, (left a huge bum print in the manège which slowly filled with water!) on my face into huge puddles several times, on my head and got my hat jammed over my eyes, (saw little dicky birds like in Tom and Gerry!), ended up hanging from a tree trunk, have bruised my coccyx and badly broken my arm! All of these on a 13hh new forest! Falling off goes hand in hoof with riding! The most embarrassing moment I ever had was actually trying to get off! Was riding my huge Shetland who was in a cashel soft saddle. They are lovely but do tend to eat you! Was approaching a main road so wanted to dismount and lead. Went to get off, leant forward and tried to swing a leg over, she put her head down, I went with it an ended up laying down her neck with my bum still stuck in big squishy saddle! When I finally managed to get off, I stood up, turned round and there was a posh horse lorry, right behind me. The occupants had had a prime view of a short birds fat arse and legs flailing in the air, trying to get off a Shetland! I would rather fall off any day!

[sykes]

I fell off three times in about 10 minutes riding quite (very small) show pony in front of a vet I had a massive crush on. Every time out the side door. Kept getting back on, kept falling off. Felt so stupid, but it happens.

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

When I broke my arm, I was in the manège, walking in a circle at walk! Wanted to turn right, pony turned left, I didn't! Was very embarrassing explaining how it happened!

[frikonastick]

when i broke my ankle, i was just walking round the school!

i was actually selling my horse and someone came to see him and i was going to put him through his paces. so was walking in the school and i see his cheek strap is flapping around, so i lean forward to tuck it back and as i do, my stirrup leather breaks and i fall off going forwards over his shoulder, land on my feet (i thought that was pretty impressive) and then realise i have really really really hurt myself......

and when i was much younger i was riding a pony out and a cow stood up out of really long grass giving both of us a fright, the pony shot up in th eair all four feet off the ground like a cat and when he came down, stumbled and fell onto me. i was paralysed for about a week from swelling in my spine. but i was fine after that.

given the huge number of times i have fallen off in my riding life, only 2 falls worth mentioning is pretty good i recon

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

Crikey, it's mad innit! Why do we get on horses?!

[oldernowiser]

CMOT, we have hunting breastplates on horse and pony as they feel lovely and secure, and look like essential tack rather than the comfort blankets that they in fact are.

I wish I hadn't read all this, my confidence was getting better, and I'm now definitely going to fall of tonight in an undignified and painful way. Do I really have to fall off again? I came off loads and loads of times when I was young and brave, so can I please be excused?

Orm, my GS hasn't fallen off yet either, and I'm convinced that's one reason why he's much less confident than his sister who's been off times. I'm thinking of running up behind him and giving him a shove, to get it over with.

[Butkin]

My most embarrassing dismount was at the walk at a county show - when my parents had come to watch and video me!

We were doing the final walk around the judge waiting to be called in for our rosettes. My horse (who was only a youngster at the time) was getting keen so I tried to half halt him and he reared up and I slipped off over his tail (another door!).

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

Older, you could be right. I didn't fall off for years and was terrified, once I'd done it I thought 'wow, that was easy'! .. Although have now amended that to 'wow I haven't painfully broken anything and will be able to work for the next six months!'

[SpiderObsession]

I've had a giggle at some of these stories but it isn't funny when it happens to you, only funny later on when all the bruises/bones/egos have mended.

I've fallen from mine 3 times in 7 years, one of which I cracked a rib and was lucky I didn't break my hip. I have a natural weeble ability to somehow stay on my spooky little arab x but to give him credit there have been times he's kept me on by fixing his neck up while I scambled back in position.

I don't remember falling off too many times as a child. There may have been more than I can recall but I was never badly injured and always bounced back on. I do say it hurts a lot more as an adult.

A friend of mine fell off while dismounting. She claimed the "official rider" award but I said that type didn't count!

[Mermaid2]

I had a lucky escape today, out with a friend, lovely chilled ride, few trots, short canter, nothing too exciting, until we stopped to say goodbye! Mountain bike appeared from no where, that was it. Two horses went in opposite directions, unfortunately for me, we went at full gallop down v steep rocky hill. Held on for as long as possible, landed on side.

Biker was riding off without stopping until I screamed after him. He came back and basially said we weren't in control even tho we on bridle path and both standing. Arrrrgghhhhh I know about live and let live but not impressed. Have bad bruising and had to have stones removed from back.

Need to get back out but will leave it a couple of days. My first serious fall.

[SpiderObsession]

Ouch Mermaid. What an idiot that cyclist was.