Pictures Crazy falls?

[Normsrp]

Anyone else had any crazy falls/horse related incidents recently? This weekend I was riding a pony I'd never ridden for a (my first real) jumping lesson, walked it around and it was very sharp, asked it to trot and it took a stride of canter, did something that threw me a little off balance, then spooked and completely bolted! The funny thing is that a few days before this lesson I'd been thinking about how I'd never had a horse I was riding properly bolt and wondered what I would do in that situation. So I kept very calm, leaned back and attempted to turn it in a circle to slow it down. As it came towards the straight side of the arena (it had took off just before the corner) it came very close to the fence and I remember worrying that I was going to catch my leg and get dragged off. Next thing I know the horse is in the air and I think that was probably the most surreal moment of my riding life so far

We more or less went through the fence and the pony attempted to jump the hedge behind it, I got dragged off somewhere in the midst of this and found myself on the floor in the undergrowth, still holding onto pony's reins (and maybe still halfway in my stirrup?) which was quite alarming because it meant I was tangled in branches practically underneath this terrified pony. I can remember detaching myself from the reins and getting out of there as fast as I could, didn't waste time trying to stand up just half dragged myself to the fence, expecting a foot to come down on top of me at any second! At one point I felt her hoof almost land on my foot but it only clipped my boot and I managed to reach the fence untrampled by some miracle. I only turned round when I was safely over the fence and watched her go through the hedge and gallop off through the field behind it...

The weirdest part is that I felt pretty level-headed through the whole thing and wasn't scared at any point (probably because it happened so fast I didn't have the chance!) But even afterwards I didn't feel at all shaken up likely I usually do after much less dangerous falls. I wish someone had been recording so I could see exactly what happened but my riding instructor assured me it looked horrendous and maybe one of the worst accidents he'd ever seen, and we were both very shocked that I came out of it completely uninjured

 

[redredruby]

Well that sounded awful!!!! Was the horse OK?

 

[poiuytrewq]

Wow! At a riding school?
Glad your ok, as above was the pony ok?

 

[Mule]

This isn't really dramatic but it did surprise me. I was getting up from a mounting block (a couple of crates stuck together). It was pouring rein and I slipped. The block fell over, I went with it and ended up on the ground underneath my horse's belly 😱 Luckily he's pretty much bombproof.

 

[Normsrp]

Not at a riding school, at my livery yard, but thankfully (and shockingly) the pony seemed okay. She was rightfully in a bit of a panic but was walking fine and we didn't see any big marks on her, I'm definitely going to ask how she's getting along next time I'm there.

And I'd like to add that after this incident I went on to have my jumping lesson on my own loan horse and it went great, so it wasn't all bad!

 

[Normsrp]

This isn't really dramatic but it did surprise me. I was getting up from a mounting block (a couple of crates stuck together). It was pouring rein and I slipped. The block fell over, I went with it and ended up on the ground underneath my horse's belly 😱 Luckily he's pretty much bombproof.

Maybe not dramatic but no one wants to accidentally find themselves underneath a horse -- it's always my biggest fear when I'm coming off that I'll end up underneath them! I'm glad your horse was sensible about it

 

[SEL]

It was many years ago but my friend's Sec D who I had ridden 100s of times bolted without warning in an outdoor school with me. I thought he was going through the fence so leant hard left to try and turn him - except the saddle went so I hit the deck hard. Only time in my life where I thought I'd done myself serious damage because my legs wouldn't move. Nothing serious but it was 2 weeks until the swelling on my back went down. The force tore my jods open.

You were lucky looking at the damage to that fence. Don't be surprised if it does shake you up a bit. Any idea what caused the horse to go?

 

[Normsrp]

It was many years ago but my friend's Sec D who I had ridden 100s of times bolted without warning in an outdoor school with me. I thought he was going through the fence so leant hard left to try and turn him - except the saddle went so I hit the deck hard. Only time in my life where I thought I'd done myself serious damage because my legs wouldn't move. Nothing serious but it was 2 weeks until the swelling on my back went down. The force tore my jods open.

You were lucky looking at the damage to that fence. Don't be surprised if it does shake you up a bit. Any idea what caused the horse to go?

The fact that you couldn't move your legs sounds terrifying! And you really must have hit the ground hard to tear your jods
My instructor thinks it was water coming out of a broken pipe that scared her because he was riding a youngster that spooked at the same place in the school earlier that day when water came out of the pipe -- but we're not 100% because he didn't actually see it.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I had a horse bolt with me down the gallops and out onto the road. I was 16yo and had only been working there for 4 months.

It was peeing down with rain so I had waterproofs on riding in a plastic Wintec saddle. Horse went to go left to swing back up the gallops then dodged right to go out the gate then left again to go home. In the process I lost both stirrups. So I was flat out galloping down the road on a horse that I had never sat on before and had only been in the yard a few days. He went to turn into the road home, I slid off got my legs tangled with his back legs and brought him down on top of me. We slid across the road entrance at high speed. He got up a fraction of a second before me and tanked off away from home in a direction he had never been in before. I was totally winded trying to run after him. Rang the boss to try to tell her where the horse was going - she hung up on me! So Here I am chasing this ruddy thing down the road when I see a pick up swing sideways to block the horses path. 1/4 of a bloody mile this thing ran for! I stumble up, still gasping for breath - it's amazing how much you can put your body through when you have to! The guy holding the horse was pointing, gasping and gagging whilst trying to say - cut, blood, injury - he had a phobia of blood and was on the verge of passing out (so I discovered later!)

I gave the horse a quick check over before heading back up the road to find the boss and the rest of the string. The boss came trotting up - 'Sorry for hanging up on you! I looked at my phone and thought 'I don't want to talk to anyone just now I am waiting for you to ring!' without processing the fact that it was me who was ringing! So she hopped on the horse, I got on hers and we went back up the gallops then headed home down the track at a walk.

For hitting the ground at speed the horse walked away with cuts and scrapes to it's joints. I shredded my waterproof trousers, jacket, hat silk, 1/4 sheet and scratched the saddle to high hell! But we both walked away with very minor injuries all things considered! I don't think I have ever, to this day, told my mum about that! I was scared she wouldn't let me go back to work if she knew! Lol!
I honestly could not tell you if there was any traffic on the road! I couldnt say if we ran straight out infront of something, went past anything, swerved anything or if there was nothing on the road at all! I could think of nothing but stopping that damned horse! And nothing that I tried worked.

The horse bolted a few more times in various situations so he was fully retired as a companion as he was sweet as a nut in the box and a genuinely nice horse if you never sat on it! There was no rhyme nor reason to his bolting, nothing physical that could be found. He just did it.

The other bad fall I have had was off of a shetland! I got torpedoed through the air, landed on my head, crashed onto my back and skidded along the ground before being wrapped round a fence post - whilst unconcious. I was out a for a good minute or so. Apart from that and an incredibly sore back again I walked away scott free. The pony was with me to be broken to ride after a bad experience in a previous yard. She was a funny one, you could ride her side saddle anywhere but you could never put a leg either side.

 

[Mule]

😱

 

[Mule]

I had a horse bolt with me down the gallops and out onto the road. I was 16yo and had only been working there for 4 months.

It was peeing down with rain so I had waterproofs on riding in a plastic Wintec saddle. Horse went to go left to swing back up the gallops then dodged right to go out the gate then left again to go home. In the process I lost both stirrups. So I was flat out galloping down the road on a horse that I had never sat on before and had only been in the yard a few days. He went to turn into the road home, I slid off got my legs tangled with his back legs and brought him down on top of me. We slid across the road entrance at high speed. He got up a fraction of a second before me and tanked off away from home in a direction he had never been in before. I was totally winded trying to run after him. Rang the boss to try to tell her where the horse was going - she hung up on me! So Here I am chasing this ruddy thing down the road when I see a pick up swing sideways to block the horses path. 1/4 of a bloody mile this thing ran for! I stumble up, still gasping for breath - it's amazing how much you can put your body through when you have to! The guy holding the horse was pointing, gasping and gagging whilst trying to say - cut, blood, injury - he had a phobia of blood and was on the verge of passing out (so I discovered later!)

I gave the horse a quick check over before heading back up the road to find the boss and the rest of the string. The boss came trotting up - 'Sorry for hanging up on you! I looked at my phone and thought 'I don't want to talk to anyone just now I am waiting for you to ring!' without processing the fact that it was me who was ringing! So she hopped on the horse, I got on hers and we went back up the gallops then headed home down the track at a walk.

For hitting the ground at speed the horse walked away with cuts and scrapes to it's joints. I shredded my waterproof trousers, jacket, hat silk, 1/4 sheet and scratched the saddle to high hell! But we both walked away with very minor injuries all things considered! I don't think I have ever, to this day, told my mum about that! I was scared she wouldn't let me go back to work if she knew! Lol!
I honestly could not tell you if there was any traffic on the road! I couldnt say if we ran straight out infront of something, went past anything, swerved anything or if there was nothing on the road at all! I could think of nothing but stopping that damned horse! And nothing that I tried worked.

The horse bolted a few more times in various situations so he was fully retired as a companion as he was sweet as a nut in the box and a genuinely nice horse if you never sat on it! There was no rhyme nor reason to his bolting, nothing physical that could be found. He just did it.

The other bad fall I have had was off of a shetland! I got torpedoed through the air, landed on my head, crashed onto my back and skidded along the ground before being wrapped round a fence post - whilst unconcious. I was out a for a good minute or so. Apart from that and an incredibly sore back again I walked away scott free. The pony was with me to be broken to ride after a bad experience in a previous yard. She was a funny one, you could ride her side saddle anywhere but you could never put a leg either side.

😱 If I was your mum I wouldn't have allowed you to go back!

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Yep early August! Horse tossed his head and tripped over his own feet going down on to his knees. I flew out the side door apparently did the splits in the air and on landing managed to completely tear both MCL, ACL and fractured top of tibia. Today was the first time I've been able to ride since 🙈

Best thing, it was at a walk ( 😳 ) at Eland camp which I'd only booked on that week and only took that particular horse as the one I was supposed to take decided to be utterly vile to ride so rather than lose the money I'd only just paid I took idiot horse instead 😖

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

This isn't really dramatic but it did surprise me. I was getting up from a mounting block (a couple of crates stuck together). It was pouring rein and I slipped. The block fell over, I went with it and ended up on the ground underneath my horse's belly 😱 Luckily he's pretty much bombproof.

I did similar once after surving an xc lesson and being pleased I'd not fallen off my back protector got caught on saddle and I ended up underneath 😮

 

[Mule]

I've just remembered another one. I was riding out through fields near the stables. The horse I was on decided to bolt for home.

The helmet I was wearing came down over my eyes so I couldn't see properly. She galloped under a tree and because I couldn't see properly I didn't duck far enough 🙄 A branch whacked me on the chin and swept me off the back of the horse. Id say it looked like something out of a western 😂 Strangely enough, other than a cut on my chin I wasn't hurt.

 

[Mule]

I did similar once after surving an xc lesson and being pleased I'd not fallen off my back protector got caught on saddle and I ended up underneath 😮

Whenever I think to myself "I haven't fallen off for ages", it's guaranteed to happen 🙄

 

[Normsrp]

I had a horse bolt with me down the gallops and out onto the road. I was 16yo and had only been working there for 4 months.

It was peeing down with rain so I had waterproofs on riding in a plastic Wintec saddle. Horse went to go left to swing back up the gallops then dodged right to go out the gate then left again to go home. In the process I lost both stirrups. So I was flat out galloping down the road on a horse that I had never sat on before and had only been in the yard a few days. He went to turn into the road home, I slid off got my legs tangled with his back legs and brought him down on top of me. We slid across the road entrance at high speed. He got up a fraction of a second before me and tanked off away from home in a direction he had never been in before. I was totally winded trying to run after him. Rang the boss to try to tell her where the horse was going - she hung up on me! So Here I am chasing this ruddy thing down the road when I see a pick up swing sideways to block the horses path. 1/4 of a bloody mile this thing ran for! I stumble up, still gasping for breath - it's amazing how much you can put your body through when you have to! The guy holding the horse was pointing, gasping and gagging whilst trying to say - cut, blood, injury - he had a phobia of blood and was on the verge of passing out (so I discovered later!)

I gave the horse a quick check over before heading back up the road to find the boss and the rest of the string. The boss came trotting up - 'Sorry for hanging up on you! I looked at my phone and thought 'I don't want to talk to anyone just now I am waiting for you to ring!' without processing the fact that it was me who was ringing! So she hopped on the horse, I got on hers and we went back up the gallops then headed home down the track at a walk.

For hitting the ground at speed the horse walked away with cuts and scrapes to it's joints. I shredded my waterproof trousers, jacket, hat silk, 1/4 sheet and scratched the saddle to high hell! But we both walked away with very minor injuries all things considered! I don't think I have ever, to this day, told my mum about that! I was scared she wouldn't let me go back to work if she knew! Lol!
I honestly could not tell you if there was any traffic on the road! I couldnt say if we ran straight out infront of something, went past anything, swerved anything or if there was nothing on the road at all! I could think of nothing but stopping that damned horse! And nothing that I tried worked.

The horse bolted a few more times in various situations so he was fully retired as a companion as he was sweet as a nut in the box and a genuinely nice horse if you never sat on it! There was no rhyme nor reason to his bolting, nothing physical that could be found. He just did it.

The other bad fall I have had was off of a shetland! I got torpedoed through the air, landed on my head, crashed onto my back and skidded along the ground before being wrapped round a fence post - whilst unconcious. I was out a for a good minute or so. Apart from that and an incredibly sore back again I walked away scott free. The pony was with me to be broken to ride after a bad experience in a previous yard. She was a funny one, you could ride her side saddle anywhere but you could never put a leg either side.

I'm not exaggerating that sounds like a literal nightmare -- its like a combination of all the things that could go wrong that would scare me the most: sitting on a bolting racehorse, bolting down a road, horse landing on top of you and (almost) losing someone else's horse

 

[Mule]

I'm not exaggerating that sounds like a literal nightmare -- its like a combination of all the things that could go wrong that would scare me the most: sitting on a bolting racehorse, bolting down a road, horse landing on top of you and (almost) losing someone else's horse

I've always had a fear of being bolted with on the road and the horse coming down on top of me. What EKW describes is my worst horsey accident nightmare.

 

[Snowfilly]

That sounds a horrible fall! Glad you both walked away.

I've had a few belters over the years, including getting jumped off the first part of a one stride double, landing somewhere on the mare's ears and her dropping her head so I finally landed on my stomach across the second fence, and a broncing fit after a horsefly bit my old boy.

Silly falls - the gymkhana special of vaulting onto a pony, straight over the back and landing on the other side. Did that a few times!

Rode a spooky mare in the flag race, she protested about the flag, I ended up sitting behind the saddle on her loins still clutching the damn flag and I didn't have the sense to drop it when she took off. A hedge stopped us eventually and I came off sideways, still wih my flag.

And best of all, cantering along a forest path bareback when a branch swept me off backwards. Landed on my feet, watching my horse's bum disappearing round the bend. Caught him grazing a bit further on!

 

[Mule]

That sounds a horrible fall! Glad you both walked away.

I've had a few belters over the years, including getting jumped off the first part of a one stride double, landing somewhere on the mare's ears and her dropping her head so I finally landed on my stomach across the second fence, and a broncing fit after a horsefly bit my old boy.

Silly falls - the gymkhana special of vaulting onto a pony, straight over the back and landing on the other side. Did that a few times!

Rode a spooky mare in the flag race, she protested about the flag, I ended up sitting behind the saddle on her loins still clutching the damn flag and I didn't have the sense to drop it when she took off. A hedge stopped us eventually and I came off sideways, still wih my flag.

And best of all, cantering along a forest path bareback when a branch swept me off backwards. Landed on my feet, watching my horse's bum disappearing round the bend. Caught him grazing a bit further on!

I love how you held on to your flag 😂

 

[Normsrp]

Yep early August! Horse tossed his head and tripped over his own feet going down on to his knees. I flew out the side door apparently did the splits in the air and on landing managed to completely tear both MCL, ACL and fractured top of tibia. Today was the first time I've been able to ride since 🙈

Best thing, it was at a walk ( 😳 ) at Eland camp which I'd only booked on that week and only took that particular horse as the one I was supposed to take decided to be utterly vile to ride so rather than lose the money I'd only just paid I took idiot horse instead 😖

Oh my that sounds incredibly painful And the fact it happened at walk just goes to show you're never really safe.. Why did any of us choose this hobby!?Congratulations on getting back in the saddle today by the way!

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Oh my that sounds incredibly painful And the fact it happened at walk just goes to show you're never really safe.. Why did any of us choose this hobby!?Congratulations on getting back in the saddle today by the way!

It's been more annoying than truly painful to be honest. I couldn't drive and was in a leg brace for two months followed by a months swim walking then been beasting it at gym for last few weeks. Super annoying thing is it will probably need an operation so will be back to leg brace/rehab plus no riding for another 5 months 😫

 

[Normsrp]

That sounds a horrible fall! Glad you both walked away.

I've had a few belters over the years, including getting jumped off the first part of a one stride double, landing somewhere on the mare's ears and her dropping her head so I finally landed on my stomach across the second fence, and a broncing fit after a horsefly bit my old boy.

Silly falls - the gymkhana special of vaulting onto a pony, straight over the back and landing on the other side. Did that a few times!

Rode a spooky mare in the flag race, she protested about the flag, I ended up sitting behind the saddle on her loins still clutching the damn flag and I didn't have the sense to drop it when she took off. A hedge stopped us eventually and I came off sideways, still wih my flag.

And best of all, cantering along a forest path bareback when a branch swept me off backwards. Landed on my feet, watching my horse's bum disappearing round the bend. Caught him grazing a bit further on!

I'm quite impressed that you managed to land on your feet in that last one!

 

[Meredith]

And best of all, cantering along a forest path bareback when a branch swept me off backwards. Landed on my feet, watching my horse's bum disappearing round the bend. Caught him grazing a bit further on!

OP, I hope you and the pony are both OK

I did something similar to you Snowfilly
We were just walking along a woodland path on one of those lovely days when the sunlight filters through the trees. Unfortunately this camouflaged a branch. My pony walked under it, I tried to lift it up but it hit me in the midriff. I ended up on my back with my head at his tail. Then as he walked on my legs were each side of his hindquarters and I then landed flat on my back on the ground looking at the sky through the branches. I had to pick myself up and run and catch him. So much for horse and rider connection as I don’t think he noticed I wasn’t on his back.

 

[Normsrp]

It's been more annoying than truly painful to be honest. I couldn't drive and was in a leg brace for two months followed by a months swim walking then been beasting it at gym for last few weeks. Super annoying thing is it will probably need an operation so will be back to leg brace/rehab plus no riding for another 5 months 😫

I can understand that -- I had surgery on my leg years back that required 8 screws and 4 plates in my knee (not because of an accident, it was corrective surgery because of a condition). I've considered having another surgery to have them taken out in case it fixes the pain I get when I put weight on it bent, but its the thought of not being able to ride while it recovers that's stopped me. Not being able to walk while it recovers is a secondary concern!

 

[SEL]

EKW - I remember keeping quiet about a lot of my falls when I was young in case my mum put a stop to it!

 

[SOS]

That’s scary OP! Had a fair few shocking falls and have been fortunate not to get seriously hurt, one off a bolting horse across a deep ploughed field which I still have several scars from and another jumping a tiny oxer on a pony, the front pole got stuck between his front legs and had a rotational where the ponies pelvis landed 2ft away from me. The shock of such an extreme fall over a small jump has stayed with me.

But the scariest/most “freak” fall was out hunting last season, horse was on edge due to cattle running around in field, went to pop a small hunt jump (telegraph pole style) out in the corner. As he locked on, he ran towards it in panic and didn’t get his feet up in time, we started to flip forwards and were plummeting towards the ground. Didn’t fully flip, stumbled and slid to the right.... there was a ditch there... we then flipped. I was thrown into the bottom of the ditch and horse onto the other side who got up and ran away. Thinking back the part that makes me feel sick is seeing my horse gallop away towards a road with his reins around his legs. We were both completely fine.

 

[Normsrp]

That’s scary OP! Had a fair few shocking falls and have been fortunate not to get seriously hurt, one off a bolting horse across a deep ploughed field which I still have several scars from and another jumping a tiny oxer on a pony, the front pole got stuck between his front legs and had a rotational where the ponies pelvis landed 2ft away from me. The shock of such an extreme fall over a small jump has stayed with me.

But the scariest/most “freak” fall was out hunting last season, horse was on edge due to cattle running around in field, went to pop a small hunt jump (telegraph pole style) out in the corner. As he locked on, he ran towards it in panic and didn’t get his feet up in time, we started to flip forwards and were plummeting towards the ground. Didn’t fully flip, stumbled and slid to the right.... there was a ditch there... we then flipped. I was thrown into the bottom of the ditch and horse onto the other side who got up and ran away. Thinking back the part that makes me feel sick is seeing my horse gallop away towards a road with his reins around his legs. We were both completely fine.

It happened so fast I didn't have chance to feel scared -- but my instructor looked terrified!
Glad you were both OK! Whenever I watch videos of falls (let alone in person) it gives me such anxiety seeing reins hanging around galloping horses' legs, I can't imagine if it were mine in that situation

 

[alainax]

Hope you and pony are ok op!


The ones which made my memorable list were-

1. Vaulted on, in the frozen darkness up the field whilst putting out hay(nothing sensible like tack or head collar). Horse would usually trot me back to the gate for his feed. He decided to bog off and I landed coccyx first on the frozen concrete. Lay there in the pitch black for several hours, till I found the strength to army crawl to the road. Over a decade later I still can’t sit for too long on a chair! GP reckons as I didn’t scream upon examination, there was no injury.

2. Got thrown at a 5 bar gate as the horse decided last minute he was jumping it. It was the gate to the arena, we were supposed to be schooling.

3. Got cantered “on”, when I stupidly kept hold of the reins out a hack. Have a heamotoma the size of a large squashed orange on my calf which docs say isn’t an issue, 7 years on... weirdly after injecting heparin after giving birth it is now going down.

Had a couple of rotationals, and a bunch of the usual exit stage lefts!

 

[HashRouge]

Some horrendous falls here! EKW that sounds utterly terrifying!

My worst fall was as a teenager. At the time, my horse was turned out on the hillside between my parents' house and the yard, which was at the top of the hill. So I always used to catch her on my way to the yard and ride up the hill, usually with my hat on (I was 16 or 17 and not hugely safety conscious!). On this particular occasion, I decided that it would be a clever idea to carry a bucket full of stuff AND ride without a hat on, and sadly my horse did not appreciate the rattling noise of the bucket. She bucked me off and I landed on my back and, because we'd been going up a steep hill and it hadn't rained in a while, I landed really, really hard. I was badly winded, and when I could finally breathe again, I couldn't walk. I had to crawl up to the top of the field to retrieve my horse, then lead her back down to her field and make my way home. I do remember panicking that I would be stuck in the field for hours because I didn't have my phone and it was agony to move. I can't quite work out how I got L back into the correct field! Obviously when I got back I couldn't tell my Mum that I'd fallen off doing something incredibly stupid and riding without a hat, but I couldn't hide it because I could barely walk, so I had to make up some ridiculous lie about falling over. Turned out to just be very bad bruising, but I was incredibly lucky!

That's the worst so far though *touch wood*. Most of my falls have been comedy falls. My friend and I used to reminisce a lot about our past falls! I used to ride her little Welsh A gelding and he was a devil for bucking so I'd fall off all the time, but luckily it wasn't far to fall, and usually ended with us in hysterics. A particular highlight was when I came off over his head and he stopped dead, but was standing on the back of my t shirt so I couldn't get up! My friend still cracks up when she remembers turning around to see me stuck on the floor, shouting, "Jenny, I'm OFF the horse"!

 

[Pippity]

Most ridiculous fall: I'd gone on a beach ride/bareback swim with horses in Antigua, and was put on a lovely grey OTTB mare. We'd been in and out of the sea with no problem, gone for a bit of a swim, and then I walked her up on the beach for some photos. When I turned her to take her back in the sea, she suddenly got very keen - walk turned to trot, trot turned to canter, canter turned to jumping over the incoming waves, and I got washed right off her back. The most annoying thing was that I'd left my headcam on the beach, so didn't even get any footage!