Cross with myself...I fell off today!

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bex1984

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Went out for a hack today with my friend and her pony. It was all going really well, me and Murphy haven't done any hacking for a few weeks so he was a little bit nappy but I got him going, and made him go in front through all the "scary" bits. My friend was totally speechless when I was brave enough to have a canter on my own while she took pictures
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But after that we were walking along the edge of the field and something startled my friend's pony, which in turn spooked Murphy, and he jumped and turn round and I came off. I hung on to him and got dragged for a few metres and then let go and he went cantering off to the nearest bit of grass.

I really do need to improve my balance, I really shouldn't have fallen off today
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and I think I need to get a neckstrap. I thought it was getting better at not falling off but apparently not, grrrr
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Pre fall piccies are in PG
 
Don't be angry with yourself, the only way your balance and ability will get better is by sitting on it! I came off my mare when she bucked, but the only way you get better at sitting on a bucking horse is by sitting on bucking horses!!! Don't know how much a neck strap would help as you aren't going to go along the whole hack holding it, the spook was just unexpected! Hope you are ok though
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Dont beat yourself up about it chick, i rarely fall off to bucks but always fall to big spooks especially they spin round! i think you would need glue on yer bum to stay on to that LOL.

Sophie XXX
 
Aaah i see now, I asked this on the photos post. Sometimes you just get completely taken unawares! I would have thought you'd have enough mane to grab not to have to worry about putting a neckstrap on! I never think to grab in time in those situations and still end up hanging off! If I had a neckstrap (which I do sometimes!) I would still not instinctively go for it in that split second.
 
I just know I could have and should have stayed on! I fell off how I usually do and nearly landed on my feet but ended up flat on my back (was glad I was wearing my body protector!!)
 
aww, don't worry, i've had some very embarressing falls (and near misses - i once went over a jump with both my legs on the same side of the horse!)

how about practicing balance by doing loads of non-stirrup work? and even bareback! a bit of practice makes perfect
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i've never found neck-straps useful... but then my boys all have tonnes of mane to cling on to!
 
Totally know where you're coming from. Cat was a spooky-spinner & I had a LOT of near misses out hacking cos I wouldn't know he was going to do it til after he'd done it, & he really didn't do things by halves.

Anyway, as he spun I used to push one hand into the base of his neck (still holding the rein) just for 1/2 second to stabilise my upper body & stop me spinning off. Then I could take up a normal contact again straight away cos I hadn't let go of the rein, in time to stop him galloping off with me. If that makes sense??

My top tip would be to have a good lunge first before you hack out if it's windy!!
 
Oh poor you, hope you are ok and not too stiff/sore? Don't beat yourself up we all fall off, and I often do it for the daftest of reasons! I agree with some others about work without stirrups, I have started doing it to try and improve my balance/security. At least you know Murphy doesn't run for home if you fall off out hacking!
 
hehehe! Sorry Bex but it always seems funny when you fall off for some reason! It always amazes me how you manage to do it without getting tangled up in all that mane! Bless him! I'd prescribe riding without stirrups for the next six weeks (solid - no stirrups ever!) then occasional riding with no reins as well!
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In all honesty you've improved loads, so you'll keep improving - you don't fall off NEARLY as often as you used to (if you remember it was like twice a week I think...) so you've come a long way
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Hope your coat didn't get dirty?
 
Don't worry about it too much, it is only a fall and it WILL happen even if you ave the best balance in the world!! I can stand for 5 mins on a balance board without a wobble but I still came of on Friday ( We both got scared of a big jump - he jumped and I went forward then he stopped and went backwards - I still went forwards - haha. Took me 10 seconds to actually fall off him and I almost wet myself laughing)

Just remember - DON'T HOLD ON!! I know you don't want to lose the horse, but you also don't want to break anything!!
 
I normally let go if we're in the school, but I was worried he'd go for home - via at least three cattlegrids!! I hung on to him long enough to establish my friend still had control of her pony, and then let go because I knew he wouldn't go far from his little pony friend!
 
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Hope your coat didn't get dirty?

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That was the first thing I checked!! When i got home I took my jods off to find a load of dirt and stones in my knickers....nice!

And yes, I will be riding with no stirrups...but not with no reins, because we'd just end up at the school gate constantly!
 
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