Falling off over 40 😂

[Turmerictea]

So Im a returning rider in my 40s who went from zero to 100 and now have 2 horses. One is an ex racehorse.

Said racehorse has been on box rest and got.a little over excited on a gentle hack the other day. I ended up in a ditch via a hedge. I ended up badly bruised leg, back, scratched and winded.

This isn't the first time I've fallen off since returning, but my goodness recovery is so.much harder! I used to own horses as a teenager and fell off all the time without a care.

Is it just my age?!!! Or will it get easier when I've had a few more tumbles?!

And yes, racehorse and I are getting lessons now 😁

Nope, sadly falls and hangovers get worse with age 😂

I’m over 60 and now always, always ride with a hit air jacket - if you fall off it inflates. The one time I have fallen off since I started wearing it was painless and significantly less traumatic ! It’s not cheap, but worth it for the peace of mind !

Haha well I dont drink but I know my mates complain!

Thanks, someone at the stables has one so I'll borrow it!

I returned to riding at 55, and have broken a few ribs, my femur and fibula … the hit air gives my kids some peace ! Oh and I have a much calmer horse now !!! 🤣

It’s your age. Don’t let it put you off though!

Gosh bless you. Im grateful I've not broken anything (yet!)

Ive been a sharer since turning 50 and am now 59. I definitely don't bounce as well! 2 yrs ago I got knocked out but managed to keep hold of the reins! My last fall was a few weeks ago on my very strong quarter horse who had been lame for a while and was on her tippy-toes... got very excited and did a couple of bucks, then one big one that got me off! I had a huge hematoma on my inner thigh and cracked a bone in my finger - still managed to keep hold of the reins lol! Got back on and rode around for a bit but was bloody stiff the next day.

Welcome to the club! Never mind not bouncing, once you're having towards past 60 you don't even plop/drop, more crunch and crumble 😂 I reckon I'm beyond even air jackets saving me now, my only hope is to not fall in the first place which sadly curtails my riding a great deal, things that in my heart I feel perfectly capable of like quietly backing and riding away a green 4 year old with kind eyes, or popping a 90 cm course on my jumping machine Connie, or even taking the lead past the spooky farm machinery have had to be graciously given up in favour or others and allow discretion to be the better part of valour. The risk of irreparably breaking myself just too great at my age. I still ride the Connie who thankfully (although he doesn't know it) needs to stop jumping and galloping and other fun extra-curriculars too for the sake of his joints and we are relegated to granny hacks only now, although he's allowed a very occasional jolly with a teenager, and I've adopted the attitude of I'd rather get off and walk home than fall off and be stretchered home so we do a lot of walking past scary ditches and so forth. Boring!

I’ve ridden most of my adult life, but got my first horse 14 months ago at the age of 51. I had a nasty fall off him last January, when he took off with me out on a hack. I bruised my back/bum badly, and could barely walk for at least a week, plus I had scratches on my face and narrowly avoided breaking my nose. Since then, I have invested in a body protector, which I always use when hacking/jumping, and got safety stirrups.

I’ve subsequently fallen off another 4 times, because he’s a very sharp horse, and I have been very glad of my body protector. Lessons have really improved my seat, and my confidence in dealing with his spooks. I do tend to stick to flat work, and if I was jumping often I’d definitely get an air jacket. I’m lucky to have a very supportive instructor who has helped improve my safety in the saddle and manage him better, and, on occasion, I’ve jumped off and walked home when he’s been especially excited out hacking.

I have found that falls have got easier over the last 12 months, but I guess I started the year with probably the worst fall of my riding career. That’s even with having fallen off twice within the space of a week in November when he went extra-fresh with a reduction in turnout.

I definitely think that there are things you can do to reduce risk of falling, although you can obviously never avoid it. I’d also suggest making sure you take a good vitamin D supplement and have a calcium rich diet. It’s important to maintain bone health as we age, particularly for those of us with hobbies that might involve bouncing.

Don't borrow one! I fell off in one that wasn't properly fitted and ended up with nasty whiplash from the inflation. Seriously, a badly fitted one is more dangerous than not wearing one at all. They're a worthy investment if properly fitted though. I love my one that fits me!

Well done you!
Yeah I've got a huge hematoma on my inside calf, it was manageable for a few days then became agony. Docs said swelling was blocking the nerves. Im reluctantly resting instead of hacking today!

Oh bless you. Im hoping at 44 I'm a little way off that yet, but I will be very careful!
The problem is, galloping, jumping ditches and hedges are all fun!

Thank you! This is my third fall i think, and not the worst in terms of drama, but the worst in terms of pain.
I wear body protectors at little jumping shows but find them so restrictive. I may splash out on a superduper one. The other thing is, each time Ive fallen its been my legs/arms affected not my body!
I take all the supplements and pain killers as required!
I hope you're really enjoying your horse though ❤️

I suspect that age makes us think more about falling than when we were younger. I remember childhood lessons where I fell off
multiple times without a care, but now that would definitely give me pause for thought. It’s only having a good, supportive instructor that has kept me happy riding and having fun with my boy.

Take good care of your self as you recover, and keep taking those painkillers. Speaking from experience (fall no 2 resulted in a large haematoma on my bum), haematomas can take time to resolve, and see your doctor again if the pain keeps getting worse rather than better. I hope you’re back in the saddle soon!

Sticky bum and leg riding tights are a must for a bit of extra grip too

Oh definitely! No riding in shorts or flimsy leggings for me!

Thank you.
I should probably put an app on my phone like Life360 too as I tend to hack alone!

If you do get an airbag don't forget to connect it before falling off!

Don't ask me how I know.