Do you remember the first time you fell off a horse / pony?

Baywonder

Baywonder

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Just thinking back over my horsey years (both as an owner, being horseless, and a horse mad (horseless) child). I was obsessed with horses, and I drove my parents mad asking for a pony. Mum and Dad couldn't afford to buy me a pony, but they were able to take me horse riding once a week at our local stables. Thinking back, I remember very well the first time I fell off!

I was about 10 years old, and rode a little bay pony, probably about 13.2hh. I hadn't been riding very long, but I had mastered walk, rising trot and canter. After our hack one week, we went for a canter, and my little pony bolted. Unfortunately, the girth was a bit loose, and both the saddle and me slid off the side door at full tilt! I was a bit shaken up, and because the pony I was riding was by now merrily doing laps around the field, I got on the instructors pony and rode back to the yard. I wasn't hurt in the fall - but I did break my glasses. When I saw my dad, I got upset, and he said to me, very sympathetically, "I don't suppose you want to ride any more do you?" His face dropped when I told him that I did want to carry on riding, and I was only crying because I had broken my glasses, and I thought he would be mad!

It never put me off, and over the years I hit the deck more times than I care to remember! So, it's over to you lovely lot.....do you remember your first ever fall? :)
 
Yup pretty sure it was my first canter (or attempt at).
pony called cheeky (grey sec A/Shetland type, was a much nicer version called sugar at the same establishment!)
grass verge
pony promptly stops and puts head down, I somersault over the top.
I've ridden that grass verge a lot since, mostly on welsh who spooks at the bench on it every bloody time!
 
Can't remember how old I was but it was on the pony ride at Rhyl fair. From what I remember I was dragged for a bit much to the horror of my parents. I got up and said I want to get back on, and so it began.
 
I think so I was on a black pony I was wearing a brown anorak and gloves with different coloured fingers the pony put its head down and then I was sitting in front of it .
 
A little bay roan pony called Rupert, at Bowfield Country Club near Glasgow. (The riding school is now a spa, which is quite sad.) I was about seven, trotting round with everybody else, when he just dropped a shoulder and nipped into the centre of the school, while I toppled off. I got up, went to catch him, and he promptly bit me, which was just the last straw and I burst into tears!

At that point, I was put on Sam, who looked about 16.2hh to me at the time but, looking back, he was probably about 15hh. For midgey little me, that was still Very Big Indeed. I LOVED it. He was very patient and looked after me every time I rode him.
 
Goldenstar said:
I think so I was on a black pony I was wearing a brown anorak and gloves with different coloured fingers the pony put its head down and then I was sitting in front of it .
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I did similar. About 4/5 yrs old on my black Shetland pony. Being led round the cow field. Gladys(pony) put her head down. I slid head first between her ears and straight into a wet cow pat.

Those riding hats with the elastic straps were good for something. ?
 
Not really, I’m told I regularly got bucked off a naughty 12.2
I remember the first fall - that hurt! - aged about 8.
I was winded, thought I was going to die ?
 
No actually I don't. I was basically the yard's crash test dummy so I fell off a lot. Although i remember falling off i don't really remember the circumstances of any falls
 
Brushed off a trekking pony aged about 6 or 7. It trundled off piste with me and dislodged me under a branch ?

After that there were multiple bucked-off episodes with a friend's shetland ?
 
The first fall I remember was coming off the little Welsh pony we had when I was a kid.... he was startled by a dog and did a sharp 180 turn, I came off and my foot caught in the stirrup and I was dragged across a field by one leg..... I was about 7 I think? Didn’t ride again really until I was 21 ??
 
I have no recollection of it happening, but I'm certain that I must've fallen off so many times from my hand-me-down pony (two cousins and my sister before me) that I damaged my memory ??
 
My first fall was off my rocking horse Dapple. I even got my foot stuck in the stirrup, luckily Dapple stood still and waited for me to be rescued by my dad. He was a fabulous schoolmaster.

tP4FJU7.jpg
 
Fell off in my first lesson, naughty rey Welsh sec a jumped the gate in the field we were eiding in, I did not manged the whole episode with him. It was a family outing and a very expensive one for us. We also all ended up with nits from the riding hats.
I went on to work at the same yard for 2 yrs on YTS when I left school.
 
No idea the first time but 2 falls stand out:

The pony who carted me to a huge puddle that covered a large portion of our 60x50 school, then proceeded to rodeo in said puddle until I fell off.

The pony who I attempted 4 times with to jump a double and fell off all 4 times. I flung my hat across the yard in frustration and stormed off. Faced an almighty telling off from my then instructor ?
 
No, but it happened A LOT!

I was 3 and used to get bucked off a small blue roan called Smokey more times than I remained in the saddle. But I do remember assuming that falling off was utterly normal every time you did manage to get back in the saddle (which had a red felt seat and leather flaps and a handle. The handle didn't help much ... :D )
 
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Yes, I would have been 6 or 7, at the local riding school. This was back in the days when you were taught how to fall off by rolling over the shoulder, which I did over my first ever cavaletti. My Dad was watching and was less than impressed ?
 
Yes, I was riding a 17.2 ex racer, we went to trot a 20m circle, I felt his back tense like he was going to bolt so I sat back but he threw three huge bucks, I sat the first 2 but the third got me. I refused to get on him as he was the sweetest horse id ever ride and it was so out of character, he was just telling us his back was hurting.
 
Mine was also at a riding school, I'd have been 9, on the 'own a pony' week they ran in summer hols. We were jumping a tiny course and the pony I was riding decided this was much more exciting than her normal riding school duties and started ballooning all the jumps. I sat a few but one caught me out and I fell off as she jumped which meant I ended up flat on my back and winded.

I got back on but she was too het up to carry up on jumping at that point.
 
Baywonder said:
Just thinking back over my horsey years (both as an owner, being horseless, and a horse mad (horseless) child). I was obsessed with horses, and I drove my parents mad asking for a pony. Mum and Dad couldn't afford to buy me a pony, but they were able to take me horse riding once a week at our local stables. Thinking back, I remember very well the first time I fell off!

I was about 10 years old, and rode a little bay pony, probably about 13.2hh. I hadn't been riding very long, but I had mastered walk, rising trot and canter. After our hack one week, we went for a canter, and my little pony bolted. Unfortunately, the girth was a bit loose, and both the saddle and me slid off the side door at full tilt! I was a bit shaken up, and because the pony I was riding was by now merrily doing laps around the field, I got on the instructors pony and rode back to the yard. I wasn't hurt in the fall - but I did break my glasses. When I saw my dad, I got upset, and he said to me, very sympathetically, "I don't suppose you want to ride any more do you?" His face dropped when I told him that I did want to carry on riding, and I was only crying because I had broken my glasses, and I thought he would be mad!

It never put me off, and over the years I hit the deck more times than I care to remember! So, it's over to you lovely lot.....do you remember your first ever fall? :)
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too many moons ago but hurt my wrist
 
Yes, vividly! I was on holiday near Bognor and I was about 5, I had begged relentlessly for a riding lesson, and so my Mum gave in, and rode a chestnut shetland called Ginger who bucked me off and I kept hold of the reins and Ginger took off galloping round and round the little sand school, and I refused to let go of the reins. I still remember feeling the sand on my face and bumping along as the little mobster dragged me. Once the pony stopped the instructor (very old school BHS) picked me up and put me straight back on, and I had a great time for the rest of the lesson. When my mum came to collect me later the instructor told my mum what happened with great pride, she told my mum that I had refused to let go, so I would be a great rider one day, I was so excited, my mum was just disappointed that it hadnt put me off.

After we came back home I used to ride another shetland called Sid who I fell off several times every time I rode him, that didnt put me off either, but I was glad when I got too tall for shetlands!
 
Bonny the 20 odd year old Shetland who put her head down to eat grass. Saddle and I went down her neck.

I used to tag along hacking behind the adults and that blessed saddle would always interrupt their canters with me shouting STOP as it started to roll.

But she was incredible. First jump, first hack & always there to give me my comfidence back after her field mate would chuck me off!! Shame I grew.
 
Sussexbythesea said:
My first fall was off my rocking horse Dapple[/QUOTE

I had a metal, spring mounted Tri-ang metal rocking horse, whom I called "Horsey" - and I spent hours riding on it. I used to get a bit too enthusiastic though, and I got smacked in the mouth many times, and took chunks out of my leg when I slipped off the darn thing. I still have him even after all these years!

I am loving all of these stories - some of them have certainly given me a good old giggle! :D
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Baywonder said:
Just thinking back over my horsey years (both as an owner, being horseless, and a horse mad (horseless) child). I was obsessed with horses, and I drove my parents mad asking for a pony. Mum and Dad couldn't afford to buy me a pony, but they were able to take me horse riding once a week at our local stables. Thinking back, I remember very well the first time I fell off!

I was about 10 years old, and rode a little bay pony, probably about 13.2hh. I hadn't been riding very long, but I had mastered walk, rising trot and canter. After our hack one week, we went for a canter, and my little pony bolted. Unfortunately, the girth was a bit loose, and both the saddle and me slid off the side door at full tilt! I was a bit shaken up, and because the pony I was riding was by now merrily doing laps around the field, I got on the instructors pony and rode back to the yard. I wasn't hurt in the fall - but I did break my glasses. When I saw my dad, I got upset, and he said to me, very sympathetically, "I don't suppose you want to ride any more do you?" His face dropped when I told him that I did want to carry on riding, and I was only crying because I had broken my glasses, and I thought he would be mad!

It never put me off, and over the years I hit the deck more times than I care to remember! So, it's over to you lovely lot.....do you remember your first ever fall? :)
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I don't know if I do.

The first fall I remember having was the time I opted to ride Star, the newly broken part Arab mare rather than Pony, the grey (white) mare who I never really trusted. Star would obviously be the better choice.

My friend was a bit surprised but, oh well, her friend wanted Star so Star I got, and we set off.

Up the road a bit, going passed the high school at a normal walk, everything was fine until a motorbike went by on the road. We were riding on the grass verge, or whatever that verge was made of then, and Star 'took off'. I don't know in what manner, but maybe just a canter. All I knew was that I fell off.

I don't remember what happened next. I do know that I wasn't hurt. We might have just gone home leading the horses or maybe we switched horses. I do have a vague memory of my friend saying, "Ned fell off," so maybe we walked the little way home, after catching Star.
 
A jumping lesson. Pony refused...i didnt, so went over neck and whacked my knee on the jump wing. I was 11. I wanted to cry but the bully male instructor was unkind so i fought tears as he made me get back on, which was hard with my knee throbbing!
Next lesson of jumping, same instructor and pony on drenched field of jumps in the lashing rain. Ended up in the mud of course!
Thankfully i did ride a pony who loved jumping so confidence wasn’t completely destroyed...;-)

i always wince when i see someone fall bad...just want to run up with a cuddle and a cuppa!
 
I was 3 and it was at a riding school. I was allowed to choose which pony I wanted to ride and picked a large roan one, much to big for me. I can't remember how I came to fall but remember I was being led round an indoor school and one moment I was on the pony and the next I was on the floor! I remember standing upset in the centre of the school being comforted by the instructed before being coaxed to get back on.
 
I can’t remember the first fall, remember the first fall that hurt.
Age 8
Canter left bottom of the arena, cue bronking from the 11hh chunk which rapidly unseated me. I landed head/shoulder, everything went purple. Felt very faint it was awful. Trip to hospital later I broke my humerus.
I continued to ride this pony on and off over years (I was a v light teen) and he gave me concussion too. He bucked from excitement on rides out and was a nightmare to stay on due to our size/shape compatibility!

i remember absolutely dreading riding a chestnut pony called Alex, it used to try get me off every time I rode him. I couldn’t hold the thick rubber reins which probably p*ssed him off to the point he wanted me off.
he threw me off into a post and rail and that’s the first time I was winded...
 
I was 14 I think. Hadn't had any lessons, picked up what little I knew from books and pony rides at local fetes. Back in the 60's there were lots of these so we went to every one we could find. Finally found a riding stables within biking distance and booked there. On about my 3rd ride I was given a bay mare to ride called Warwick, think she might have been about 15hhs, hard to judge when you are small. Anyway we were just doing our own thing in the paddock, Warwick cantered and I remember losing my right stirrup and just sliding down her side. Leapt to my feet and rushed to get back on. All very casual in those days. First ride my friend and I had there they just put us on a couple of ponies then two girls took us, they set off in front chatting and left us to follow. Don't think any one even asked if we could ride.
 
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