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Children's health

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Original poster

fall from horse - now sleepy and irritable

42 replies

MmeLindt · 05/08/2009 17:07

DD 7yo fell from horse today, banged her head.

now, 5 hours later she is sleeepy, irritable

What are her pupils supposed to be doing? When I open her eyes they don't react much.

OP posts:

seeker · 06/08/2009 07:17

She should most definitely not have been galloping on a lead rein. Or in a school - you need tons of room to gallop. Or at all unless she's very confident and has been riding for quite a while.

There should definitely be a responsible properly qualified adult there all the time with children of this age.

She should have been seen by a 1st aider at once and probably taken straight to a and e if she banged her head.

I would read the riot act and find another riding school. Seriously.

belgo · 06/08/2009 07:27

I have no experience of riding schools, but that doesn't sound normal. You really need to speak to them. As seeker says, there should have been properly qualified adults there, and they should have taking her to a&e.

I'm glad she is ok.

Owls · 06/08/2009 08:32

Agree with Seeker no way should be have been doing more than trot whilst being led. The school does sound too lax. Glad she's ok.

alicecrail · 06/08/2009 08:45

When i worked at a riding school, it was normal for the trainees to supervise the 'helpers' but if they were paying they would mostly get a semi qualified/newly qualified instructor.

It seems very unlikely that she was galloping and on a lead rein. Are you sure she wasn't cantering? A lot of children come off when learning to canter, especially round the corners when they lose their balance, which is why they generally just canter up the long sides of the school to start with.

If she wants to go back today i would take her, but have a word to whoever was teaching her and if you can stay around for an hour or so then i would do so.

Original poster

MmeLindt · 06/08/2009 08:55

It is difficult to get the full story as the girl leading the group does not speak english and my French is not good enough for this kind of situation.

DD said they were doing "gallop" on the lead then slowed down. The girl was running beside her but nit holding on to the pony.

She enjoyed the grooming and preparation better than the riding.

The normal classes that she attends there are taken by the owner, she wants to keep going to these classes as her friends go there.

Will ask around for alternative riding schools, there seem to be loads in the area.

OP posts:

alicecrail · 06/08/2009 09:03

Gallop is canter in french! We had a french exchange student come to our pony club camp one year and when the instructor asked her to canter, the girl would asked confused "gallop?" which nearly sent the instructor into a panic

TBH, that sounds perfectly normal. It may not have seemed like a bad fall at the time and they thought she was ok. From what you have said, i wouldn't have said that there was anything to be concerned over.

seeker · 06/08/2009 09:11

Ah, sorry, language problems! I was imagining someone riding one horse and leading another at the gallop!

Falling off going round corners while learning to canter is quite common - has she been cantering in lessons or was this her first time?

MitchyInge · 06/08/2009 09:31

I was also trying to work out the logistics of a pony galloping with someone on the other end of the lead rein!

'Slowing down' perhaps means lapsing from canter into quite a fast bouncy trot, people often just ping off then too especially if they've lost a stirrup or two.

Owls · 06/08/2009 09:55

Ah right I thought the same as Seeker someone was leading from another horse which sounded completely mad.

Sorry for hijack - Alice I've been waiting for you in the tack room.

Original poster

MmeLindt · 06/08/2009 10:44

Ah, that eases my mind. Thankyou.

I do not ride so only have a basic understanding of the terminology in English, never mind in French.

She has cantered and trot (trotted??) before so sounds less serious than it was.

I will let her go back to the lessons with the owner but not to the summer camp.

I know that the French are much more laid back about health and safety concerns so I do have to adjust my thinking a bit and weigh up what is an acceptable risk.

Thanks for all the help.

OP posts:

MitchyInge · 06/08/2009 15:38

she probably is going to have a few falls now and then, it seems to be part of the package - does she wear a body protector as well as a hat? am not a massive fan of them myself but they seem to make some mums feel less anxious

those inflatable ones look cool though

diedandgonetodevon · 06/08/2009 15:40

Glad to hear she was ok!
It's a good sign that she want to go back to lessons- she obviously hasn't lost her nerve which is excellent.

alicecrail · 07/08/2009 14:14

Owls was it about feed? I have posted on that thread.

Original poster

MmeLindt · 07/08/2009 20:32

I don't know about the body armour stuff. I have seen some of the other children wear them. Contrary to the impression on this thread, I am not actually an anxious mum so have not considered it for DD.

OP posts:

OhYouBadBadKitten · 08/08/2009 08:43

At the riding school dd goes to you aren't allowed to jump without a body protector.

dm623 · 10/08/2009 20:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

MmeLindt · 11/08/2009 07:47

Thanks for that, DM. Interesting website, have bookmarked.

OP posts:

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