Falling off.. any tips to land better?

Self-defence classes can be good: they teach you how to tuck and roll. I feel it's saved me on several occasions over the years.
Learning to land on your back isn't too useful in the horse context as normally some forward impulsion is involved but tucking up can help enormously and if you perfect the technique from the ground you're more likely to remember it when coming off from the height of a horse.
 
littleshetland said:
Please never never never try and land on your feet.....I tried this once and and now have an ankle that looks like a fetlock joint with loads of metal work in it and a permanent limp.....
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yep me too, in fact they had to take a great chunk of the calf from my other leg to fill the bloody hole that was created by the open dislocation. I wasn't trying to land on me feet at the time - just ended up that way.
 
In addition to the tuck and roll, Karl Greenwood (Centre for Horseback Combat/Rider confidence) advises making yourself into a cigar shape, although that's the recommendation for bailing off a bolting horse (still no sticking out bits - arms crossed as per tuck, lie back, throw leg over which gives you momentum and roll. Then keep rolling.) Method would depend on the situation I suppose, but we practised this and could see it would be effective.

GreyMane said:
- Wonder if Mark Rashid says anything about Aikido falls?
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He does - can't remember which book it's in though!

Keith_Beef said:
I used to have a colleague who reckoned that it was possible to fall flat on your front on a hard surface: head turned to the side and tilted back, arms out at 90°, and allow the air to be pressed out of your lungs by the fall, working like an airbag. He wouldn't demonstrate the technique for me.
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I tried this about 20 years ago - horse tripped coming off a jump, I flew through the air superman stylee landing square on my front. Winded, whiplash, broken ribs, internal bruising... I spent some time trying to convince the riding school that I was fine before passing out and being blue lighted to a&e as they thought i had a brain injury...
 
An air jacket is fab if you fall on your back, it's like landing on a mattress. I try to tuck in arms and legs as I got hit by a hoof once when failing off, the horse didn't do it on purpose but it took a long time to heal.
For green horses who might refuse or overjump I go in 2 points well before the jump but try to keep my bum back/legs forward as much as possible.
 
Palindrome said:
An air jacket is fab if you fall on your back, it's like landing on a mattress. I try to tuck in arms and legs as I got hit by a hoof once when failing off, the horse didn't do it on purpose but it took a long time to heal.
For green horses who might refuse or overjump I go in 2 points well before the jump but try to keep my bum back/legs forward as much as possible.
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I did wonder about an air jacket, but was a bit worried that if im landing on my back would my neck be protected by the air jacket or would I get more whiplash ?
Interesting you mention about the riding position. I asked my instructor what I did wrong, and he said nothing, but that I could push my legs a bit further forward, and try and sit up a bit faster on landing.
Im guessing from the replies that all of my reactions need to speed up a bit, which comes back to getting fitter maybe ?
 
Asha said:
I did wonder about an air jacket, but was a bit worried that if im landing on my back would my neck be protected by the air jacket or would I get more whiplash ?
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The point2 has a cushion under the neck, your neck remains aligned with your spine. Mine is too big so it tucks my head in towards my chest a bit when it inflates but most of the shock of the impact is absorbed in the cushions at the back.
 
Not sure if this has already been said but don't stick your arm out to cushion your fall as that's one sure fire way to break your collarbone, seen it happen time and time again.
 
Asha said:
I did wonder about an air jacket, but was a bit worried that if im landing on my back would my neck be protected by the air jacket or would I get more whiplash ?
Interesting you mention about the riding position. I asked my instructor what I did wrong, and he said nothing, but that I could push my legs a bit further forward, and try and sit up a bit faster on landing.
Im guessing from the replies that all of my reactions need to speed up a bit, which comes back to getting fitter maybe ?
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The reason I bought an air jacket was because when I fell off my body (usually hip or back) would hit the ground first and my head would follow through resulting in concussion. Having fallen off once after buying the air jacket in Nov 2014 I can tell you that on that occasion my head did not follow through as it was cushioned by the neck which inflates right out to prevent this from happening :)
 
hopscotch bandit said:
The reason I bought an air jacket was because when I fell off my body (usually hip or back) would hit the ground first and my head would follow through resulting in concussion. Having fallen off once after buying the air jacket in Nov 2014 I can tell you that on that occasion my head did not follow through as it was cushioned by the neck which inflates right out to prevent this from happening :)
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that's amazing news. Which air jacket do you have ? I may now refer to you as my crash test dummy !! Thank you:D
 
I was taught to roll into a ball as soon as you land, and just thinking about balling up tends to make you curl your neck and shoulders forwards as you land, which keeps your head off the floor. When I was a teenager a horse I had fallen off came thundering past me moments afterwards, clobbering my wrists and shins with its hooves, but as I was in a ball they were covering my face from being hit.

When I fall I do tend to try and save myself until I'm too far out the side door, so I generally end up actually falling on my thigh, which is probably the nicest bit to fall on (particularly for those of us that have a little padding in that area :p). Landing on feet or hands is the worst possible thing to do. If you smash that ball in your ankle you'll basically be impaired for ever, and life with a fused ankle can be really hard work.
 
I had stupidly felt safer on my 13.2 being nearer to the ground, in reality it meant my head hit first and i was knocked out plus my air jacket didnt fully deploy. My fault as lanyard was the length i had pn my 14.2! I dont remember the impact but from my injuries i was dragged. My worst ever fall from my smallest pony!!
 
If always when jumping get a decent instructor to assess your lower leg position & balance over a fence. Get them to check your stirrup length as if you're jumping with them too long then that's going to compromise your leg position. I'm a bugger for riding far too long (to be fair to myself there's only so short my dodgy knee will allow me to go for prolonged periods of time) & my lower leg likes to wander off backwards to somewhere near the horses arse if I don't pay attention & tell it off! You could try riding with a neck strap so you've something to grab if the horse launches itself.

Please DO NOT land on your feet EVER if you can help it. I know people who've broken their legs doing this sadly :( I can vaguely recall reading about someone who runs clinics for jockeys & such to teach them how to fall so may be worth looking into? I can vaguely remember reading that ideally you're supposed to try & go over sideways then tuck & roll away from the path of the horse... I generally try to land on my shoulder & roll if I have any control of the momentum but it does depend on how you fall (& last time I came off I did just sort of go splat & pony kindly caught me with a hoof or two on his way over / past me)
 
Asha, I’ve got the same brand of air vest as HB, we both have a Hit Air. These days I wear it every time I ride, though, fingers firmly crossed, I have yet to test it in action :oops:. Whichever brand you get, it’s important to get it fitted correctly. I like it that my Hit Air can be adjusted to fit over summer or winter clothing :).

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I have once landed on both feet facing the horses backside. No idea how... one sec I was riding the next I was standing up on the road. Holding a very surprised horse as if I was there the whole time.

You can never predict it. A fall isn’t something planned, you just hope it never happens.

Another time I fell off literally sitting on the floor legs outstretched with just the reins in one hand and a complete bridle on the grass. My so called friends laughing their heads off while my horse grazed several feet away.

The best one was when this very polite Arab said “after you!” at an upright and I was ejected at speed and landed complete with a trail face down in a sand school spitting stones out. I got a round of applause and won the “most like Thelwell” prize.
 
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hopscotch bandit said:
Not sure if this has already been said but don't stick your arm out to cushion your fall as that's one sure fire way to break your collarbone, seen it happen time and time again.
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Being old with slow reactions may save some of us. Touch wood I have not yet broken a bone in falling off a horse. In the 1940s when I was first put on a horse we kids were told that falling was normal and one just got back on. So I havent taken falls seriously.

But I may start wearing OH's airjacket to save my skull. Thanks for the advice.

But is anyone else afraid of air jackets?
 
Tiddlypom said:
Asha, I’ve got the same brand of air vest as HB, we both have a Hit Air. These days I wear it every time I ride, though, fingers firmly crossed, I have yet to test it in action :oops:. Whichever brand you get, it’s important to get it fitted correctly. I like it that my Hit Air can be adjusted to fit over summer or winter clothing :).

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Thanks for that TP , I’ve had a chat with the lady from hit air , and she’s gone through the sizing . So will get one ordered ASAP . No jumping until it comes .

I actually practised falling off in the arena yesterday , felt a right plonker . Sort of ran a bit and then threw myself on the floor and did a tuck and roll . Much to my dogs amusement as he joined In ! I got splattered by a golden retriever 😂😂😂
 
tallyho! said:
I have once landed on both feet facing the horses backside. No idea how... one sec I was riding the next I was standing up on the road. Holding a very surprised horse as if I was there the whole time.

You can never predict it. A fall isn’t something planned, you just hope it never happens.

Another time I fell off literally sitting on the floor legs outstretched with just the reins in one hand and a complete bridle on the grass. My so called friends laughing their heads off while my horse grazed several feet away.

The best one was when this very polite Arab said “after you!” at an upright and I was ejected at speed and landed complete with a trail face down in a sand school spitting stones out. I got a round of applause and won the “most like Thelwell” prize.
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Brilliant! Loving the prize for ‘most Thelwell like ‘ 😂😂
 
Asha said:
I actually practised falling off in the arena yesterday , felt a right plonker . Sort of ran a bit and then threw myself on the floor and did a tuck and roll . Much to my dogs amusement as he joined In ! I got splattered by a golden retriever 😂😂😂
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Now this requires a video so that we can laugh ourselves silly offer constructive advice as to your technique :D.

Glad you are sorted. I have always found the Hit Air peeps to be very helpful.
 
Asha said:
Thanks for that TP , I’ve had a chat with the lady from hit air , and she’s gone through the sizing . So will get one ordered ASAP . No jumping until it comes .

I actually practised falling off in the arena yesterday , felt a right plonker . Sort of ran a bit and then threw myself on the floor and did a tuck and roll . Much to my dogs amusement as he joined In ! I got splattered by a golden retriever 😂😂😂
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😂😂. My dogs would think you were the most fun human ever
 
Tiddlypom said:
Now this requires a video so that we can laugh ourselves silly offer constructive advice as to your technique :D.

Glad you are sorted. I have always found the Hit Air peeps to be very helpful.
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I may need a few vinos to do it on camera !
DabDab said:
😂😂. My dogs would think you were the most fun human ever
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😂😂 mine did for sure !
 
If you can afford it and can get to Hemel Hempstead area, then book yourself onto the Rider Confidence 1 day course at the Centre for Horseback Combat. It's a How To Fall Safely course, with how to sit rears, how to extricate yourself from underneath a fallen horse, and some excellent mindstuff and relaxation techniques thrown in too. The falling off practical work starts with work on a big plastic horse surrounded by gym mats and you progress onto a 15hh led-in-walk horse which you sit on, fling one leg over withers so you are sitting side saddle then slide off and as you get to ground, practise landing in the way they have taught you. "Hug yourself cos falling off isn't nice" - stops you sticking arms out and breaking them or collarbones, "roll to dissipate the energy". Highly highly recommended. Did it 7 years ago and it's still fresh in my mind.
 
Asha said:
Thanks for that TP , I’ve had a chat with the lady from hit air , and she’s gone through the sizing . So will get one ordered ASAP . No jumping until it comes .

I actually practised falling off in the arena yesterday , felt a right plonker . Sort of ran a bit and then threw myself on the floor and did a tuck and roll . Much to my dogs amusement as he joined In ! I got splattered by a golden retriever 😂😂😂
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Rachel is amazing. My jacket went for service following my only fall in it and it went missing for about ten days. Parcelforce had got some scribbled name as proof of delivery. Rachel sent me a brand new one out until such time mine was found (if it ever was). Eventually it just turned up on her door step around ten days later, no note or explanation. So it was serviced. She let me keep lots of the bits that had come with the new one which were better than the original stuff and sent mine back. Once i was in receipt of it collection was arranged for the new one to be collected. Amazing customer service. Lovely lady. Big cheer to HitAir.
 
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