Fell off!

[PrincessGraceless]

Was just having a riding lesson and fell off at light seat canter when horse suddenly and sharply spooked. I am 60 (ish) and been having lessons for a year. I so worry about breaking something - today was just bruises etc. I know it’s v risky and just wondering how others (especially more mature riders) reconcile themselves to this risk? I go to a good school and have a pretty good seat but instructor said would have struggled to stay on even if seated, such was the nature of the spook. I so love horses and still want one of my own. Am I/are we mad? Probably. Just sharing really. Thanks. (I guess I need to start wearing my body protector ). Get so HOT! PS Everyone seems to have had ‘an accident’! Chiropractor says huge part of her business.

I do see your point @m00rfarm
I’ve done a fair amount of instructing in my time. (A lot less these days and very very few novice riders now)
But I have taught some people who are cripplingly nervous, and I always say it’s ok not to ride, it’s ok to like being around and owning horses and not wanting to ride.
I don’t really teach novices any more as it’s more a hobby, and my passion is RORs so I’d rather teach riders on them. So by default very rarely see anyone novice!
But I do think there is a point that if you are not able to accept that falling off happens and falling off terrifies you that you don’t enjoy riding it’s just not enjoyable.
The OP did post asking if anyone never fell off and I think that’s unrealistic. I don’t like falling off but a few years work riding in Newmarket gets you used to eating sand a couple of times a week!

lastqueenofscotland - I hated falling off. I never got used to it, and believe that I actually sustained more pulled muscles and broken bones by trying to stay on ... I was lucky enough to ride top horses at a top level and fortunately had very few falls (one at Hickstead with the walk of shame sticks in my mind). And I was occasionally nervous the day before but as soon as I was in the saddle, my competitive streak kicked in and everything was ok. As you know, horses immediately pick up on nerves, and that rarely ends well.

Best of luck with the ROR - you have your work cut out for you there! We have had a couple of ex racers on the yard which were really quirky!

Haha yep I put my back out hanging on to a three year old once. Not ideal!
I’m very familiar with racehorses - spent several years riding out for some big name trainers. I think I’d prefer a hickstead walk of shame than walking back from Newmarket Heath praying your £500,000 mount had got home safely or been caught!!

God I’ve fallen off loads of times…. One of my horses in particular was v spooky and ultra sharp. Until my last fall the worse repercussion from any fall was bruises or a flare up of sciatica. My last fall (4 months ago) was on a new horse, I completely snapped my humerus as well as a vertical fracture, had to have a op to pin and plate, and only got back on last week. Stupidly I’d not worn my protector.

At the end of the day unless you want a total plod (and even then there are no guarantees!) they will spook and you may come off. If you can’t accept that, then I don’t think riding is for you.

You will learn to sit bucks and spooks and will learn to balance better in your light seat. I imagine this is something that's harder for an adult learning than someone who leaned it as a child and although some people will naturally have more balance and core stability it's something you can continue to work on. The problem with horses is they are so bloody unpredictable. I worked in a racing yard for several years riding up to 5 a day. The boss rode the worst of the worst but then I was next in line. I only ever fell off twice. Once when a normally well behaved horse suddenly bolted out of nowhere as we were walking back down the gallop on a loose rein. It was steep down hill and no room to turn as drainage ditches then fences both sides. We finally parted company when he (thankfully) took the last minute decision to make the 60 degree angle turn at a flat out gallop towards home at the bottom instead of ploughing through the fence in front of us. Never got to the bottom of why that happened and it never happened again. The other time, one minute I was onboard and the next think I knew I was sitting puzzled in said drainage ditch with an equally puzzled horse standing looking at me. I also agree I've had way more injuries on the ground than I have on board. Fwiw I also agree with the bad mouthed instructor and pp's who say it's counter productive to grab your saddle. Your instructor can't really teach you sitting trot with no stirrups, that's a balance you have to figure out on your own

I started riding again aged 55 and am now 57. Aged 56 I bought my first horse in November 2020, and like many people do I probably over horsed myself a bit.

My pony - she's only 14'2 ( less far to fall) is spooky and fast. she is definitely Not a novice ride, but she's a lot of fun.... I've had loads of lessons, including a lot without stirrups, and I think my seat is pretty good. It helps a lot that i learned to ride in the 70's and spent hours riding with no reins or stirrups .. i think that balance stays with you!
In the last 13 months Iv fallen off 4 times. 3 x when jumping and yesterday when my pony spooked, spun and my waterproof trousers did not help me stick on!

riding is dangerous, you can help make it safer, but inherently its dangerous. A horse is an animal and responds unpredictably .. falling off can hurt - and its risky - its a balance of risks though - and its been so good of my mental health and well being, I'm ok with the risk. I know several people who are so scared its no fun anymore and I wonder why you would carry on if you feel like that...

Just wanted to say thanks again for the comments, honesty and discussion. It all makes perfect sense. I still want my own and had a riding lesson yesterday (surprisingly managed sitting trot on a v bouncy horse without it hurting my badly bruised bum!) so maybe I didn’t bounce. And I’m back again tomorrow!

I'm 65 and have ridden on and off for 40 years, and fallen off quite a few times. I had one pony - a Highland - who had the distinction that no one had ever fallen off her, she was re-homed from me to be a brood mare, so I presume no one ever did. i think it was a lo;t to do with her being very friendly and extremely comfortable, no one could have been frightened of her. I honestly felt as if we were one being when she cantered, and I became a very confident rider then.
I no longer have my own horse and 2 years ago went on a riding holiday in India where very beautiful re trained race horses from the Calcutta track were used. Mine started bucking and bolted within a few minutes of me trying her out, she went at speed across the training field and when the groom tried to catch her she turned sharply and I fell off, i sustained a hand injury that I needed to go to hospital with. I was very nervous for the rest of the holiday, even though they found me another horse. My recent lessons have been on a Fell pony and I'm now resolved that a nice 13.2 native pony type with a broad back and a laid back manner is what I need for my nerves., if nothing else it doesn't hurt so much if you don't have so far to fall. Don't give up riding PG, the right horse and the right instructor can work miracles.

Thank you @ExConstance - that made me smile. I think that’s the type I need too - about 14hh. (Not saying small is always quiet of course, oh no , but I know the type you mean.) I’m sorry to hear about your experience on hol - I wouldn’t be brave enough to do that.

If you ride, you may fall off. I am older than OP & fell off last summer when my horse stumbled and fell. Broke my collar bone & out for 3 mo. I am now riding with a Point 2 Air Jacket, and have learned to avoid the mistake that caused my horse to lose his balance.
I will rid until I cannot physically mount my horse.

ride

Witnessed a few kids fall at a show jumping show today (one fell twice) and all got back on and continued to still jump higher heights in the next round. I really am amazed by horsey-kids' resilience The parents were telling them to quit, but they wanted to continue