Bouncing back after a fall.

[ArklePig]

Sorry, I've had a lot of threads recently! But I'm really interested in other people's experiences of this and what helps. So, I had an almighty fall yesterday-not by normal standards but by mine. Was only trotting circles but Jack was fresh as a daisy (time off, new hard feed.. Spring air.. Here we go) and long story short, bucked me off. Nothing is broken, but I feel absolutely battered.

Now, I know this is minor and I'll get used to it but I'm aware that proper riders have falls all the time and get up and at it unless seriously injured. Is there anything I can be looking into to improve my bouncability? I've heard yoga and pilates can help, but I'd like to hear some first hand experience! Thanks

 

[Flowerofthefen]

The only thing I can suggest is a course, think karl Greenwood does it, where you learn how to fall properly. Hope you feel better soon x

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Get yourself an air jacket, you can get a reconditioned Hit Air for £22 per month for a year if you can't afford one outright. I came off wearing mine yesterday (and my boy is 19hh so it's a long way down) and I was shocked at how little it hurt with the jacket. I won't get on without one now, as the two falls I had off of him prior to buying it were horrendous.

Hope you feel better soon - solid meal and a hot bath will help any aches and pains.

 

[Dexter]

Get yourself an air jacket, you can get a reconditioned Hit Air for £22 per month for a year if you can't afford one outright.

Where does that please?

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Where does that please?

I'm sorry, having just looked I got confused between the two main brands. Point Two does it for their Pro-Air jackets, you have to go on their website click on refurbished, and then they have the option of 0% finance on checkout.

 

[ArklePig]

Thanks for the suggestions and replies. I'm definitely going to look into an air jacket, I never really considered them before I felt a bit silly as I don't do 'proper' riding, but I can't afford to be knocked for six everytime I take a tumble.. I shuddered at falling off a 19hh horse though a shetland... Jack is 15 hands but god knows how high he threw me, I felt like I was flying ?

Have had OH waiting on me hand and foot and he's helped me balance while stretching so delighted to announce I'm now walking with a limp as opposed to the hopping I was doing earlier. He also fed me whisky when I came home yesterday and that helped loads. I got some shock and I'm only slightly ashamed to admit I cried like a baby.

 

[canteron]

If you find it inhibits your riding then it is well worth trying hypnotherapy to minimise the impact. To move on, I think you have to have a plan ie grow wiser (air jacket and risk assessment), improve your skills (push the horses forward when it bucks?) and work on stress management (breathing techniques etc) I second looking at Karl Greenwood.

 

[ArklePig]

I don't think I'm traumatised or anything, I'm just a bit nervous. He was bucking a good bit and I was sitting it pretty well and then he stopped long enough for me to relax and then gave another almighty buck. I'm just so so sore and I wonder if there's any routine exercise or things I can do to put me in a better position for my next fall if that makes sense? Have been watching some videos on how to fall safely and they've been really helpful and when restrictions allow I'll try to get help from a pro in that area. I'm only 30 I just feel I shouldn't be this knackered.

 

[gunnergundog]

From a physical point of view it certainly helps the younger you are, the fitter you are, the more flexible you are, the stronger your core strength is and the more you have learnt to curl up and roll away from danger when thrown.

From a mental point of view it helps the more focussed you are, the more single minded you are, the more you WANT it more than anything else.

From a common sense point of view ( which comes with age), doing things like lunging a fresh horse before mounting helps no end!

 

[ArklePig]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Looks like I'll have to put practicing to fall off on the long finger, I'm just back from the physio. I've twisted my pelvis resulting in soft tissue damage and I've a bulging disc. Just what I needed after a concussion but we live and learn (to lunge a fresh horse before mounting) ?

 

[bouncing_ball]

Over size breast plate and R-Stor

 

[ycbm]

Another recommendation an air jacket, especially if you have a damaged disc.

All my falls since owning one have resulted in nothing more than cursing about £20 for a new cannister. One was on to the edge of wooden boarding from a rear, one over a five foot hedge and one backwards onto a road.
.

 

[w1bbler]

I'd also want to know why he was bucking so much. If I remember he's an older riding school horse you are loaning & he had a period of lameness.
Are you sure the bucking is not being caused by discomfort?

 

[ArklePig]

He had a while off with my first fall (which was all me, failure to mount, wobbled and hit my head) and was fresh as a daisy. He was ridden by someone else after he bucked me off and he was fine once he got all his zoomies out. Someone else is riding for me this week since I fell and he's been going fine so I'm satisfied it's not discomfort. He's not done it before or since.

 

[Mule]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Looks like I'll have to put practicing to fall off on the long finger, I'm just back from the physio. I've twisted my pelvis resulting in soft tissue damage and I've a bulging disc. Just what I needed after a concussion but we live and learn (to lunge a fresh horse before mounting) ?

That explains why you felt so bad after the fall

 

[ArklePig]

I know mule and there's me thinking I was just being a wimp ? according to the physio it should heal with some exercise and about 8 weeks of physio so it could definitely have been worse.

 

[Mule]

I know mule and there's me thinking I was just being a wimp ? according to the physio it should heal with some exercise and about 8 weeks of physio so it could definitely have been worse.

Go easy on yourself so