Falling Off! I have a problem..

[Firewell]

The problem is...

I haven't fallen off in ten years!

The problem with it is this suggests to me that I don't push myself. When I was a kid and then in my teens I was always falling off doing crazy things with my pony (tried to jump a dyke once on a fat 12.2hh and ended up wedged in the middle of it!).

I'm worried I am becoming too cautious and the fact I haven't fallen off for ages makes me super paranoid about it and I'm worried I'm cruising for a big bruising so to speak!

My last horse was young TB I brought on and I had her for 4.5 years and never fell off. I came close a couple of times as she could be sharp but managed to cling on and calm her down before anything happened. The same with my current horse, I've had him for 18months now, got him as a 4yr old he's now 6.

I go out competing twice a month on general, sometimes less, sometimes more. I only ever ride my own horse, I don't ride anyone elses other then my mums horse occasionally.

I think that I very much stick in my comfort zone, pushing myself out of it only now and then and very carefully knowing I can do it.

I don't pick plods for my horses, young TB's but again I don't take any chances. For instance galloping over a field if the horse feels really fresh I'll school in the corner first, gently easing it out of a canter once I know it's listening and settled. I never 'let go' so to speak, I always check the brakes and make sure I can stop at all times.

Competing I know myself and my horse have so much more ability then I take advantage of. I'm always SO careful. If he's naughty in the warm up, I take him out and walk him around before going back in, I never take any chances.

I'll do a hundred 2ft9 courses clear before I step up.

I won't go hunting in case it damages my horses legs or he gets excited and I fall off.

Even cantering out in a group I'm always the one saying 'let's take it steady, if anyone has problems shout and we'll pull up straight away'.

I get fed up of being so careful all the time! Wish I could learn to relax and maybe take a few tumbles and not let that put me off. I feel we could really do well if I let myself go a bit.

On the other hand I'm pleased my horses are nice well behaved horses, that don't get away with anything and I like not falling off! I'm scared I'm too restrictive and cautious with them though.

What do you think? Is it odd I haven't fallen off for ages? Has anyone else not fallen off for a while?

 

[BigRed]

I am bloody glad to say that I have not fallen off in years, why on earth do you think it means you are a more adventurous rider ? Some people fall off a lot because they have bonkers horses, or do a lot of jumping which is more likely to involve falls. Some fall because they are not secure riders.

Falling off is a dangerous hobby.

 

[Firewell]

Lol!! It is not nice and thats why I do my best to stay on lol!

I read somewhere though that to be a good rider you have to fall off or you aren't learning and progressing?

 

[jenbleep]

LOL why are you worrying that you are not falling off?! I would only be worried if I kept falling off!

I went to Stockton Lovell camp a year or so ago and fell off three times in one day - it wasn't something I was proud of!

 

[Farma]

I had a run like that maybe 9 to 10 years of not falling off then fell off twice in a month, once horse fell over on top of me at xc going round a corner, got up big bruise and cut but all ok, felt none the worse confidence wise and carried on round the xc.
Then lost balance through a double sj, tried to pull up before 2nd part and lovely genuine horse decided no Im heading that way so Im going over and I couldnt regain balance so landed on my feet the other side.

Tbh I was relieved to have the falls because you do worry about coming off then when you do you realise its not that big a deal.

Being thrown off is a different story though!

 

[9tails]

Lol!! It is not nice and thats why I do my best to stay on lol!

I read somewhere though that to be a good rider you have to fall off or you aren't learning and progressing?

I must be excellent then.

 

[YorkshireLady]

really not sure why you are worried. Do you want to fall off?

I had a fall recently my first for years and years and broke something

as long as you are happy with what you are doing with your horses just be pleased

 

[Firewell]

Yes I think being thrown off would scare me! I'm hoping my next fall will be a snapped stirrup leather or something and I gently tip onto the ground lol.
The last falls I did have were jumping falls.

 

[Firewell]

I'm pleased in that I don't want to hurt myself but I don't think I push myself. I think being worried about falling off stops me from doing things I am capable of and that is what i'm concerned about.

I just have an awful feeling I'm either cruising for massive bruising or that I'm going to be stuck in my comfort zone forever.

 

[soulfull]

The reason why you don't fall off is because you are sensible, you take precautions to avoid silly naughty behaviour!

It is something I do myself, although the one time I let caution go I had a silly fall and badly broke my ankle 3 yrs later I just had more surgery!!

Keep being cautious!!!!! you are also teaching horses to behave and not be naughty!! I wish more people would be so sensible

Why would you want to have a horse lose its confidence by not going clear at 2ft 9in before you move on?? that is a good thing for horse and rider, again I wish more people would do it

 

[Firewell]

Thanks Soullfull.

Oh I would be mortified if he lost his confidence! He has never ever refused a fence ever in his life. That's not what I meant, that I want him to be bad or for me to fall off. I would hate that!! I would just like be confident to take the next step and trust in the training ect. It's almost going the other way and he's becoming too bold and he's ready to move on but I'm being to careful! I also wish I could accept that falling off happens and it's nothing to worry about, just get back on and get on with it. It's going to happen, I'm not invincible lol.

 

[kerilli]

as above, nothing wrong with being sensible and taking precautions, using your hard-won wisdom and experience.
also, if "riding is the art of keeping the horse between you and the floor", you're the most expert of us all i reckon.
tbh it amazes me when people are so matter-of-fact about getting ditched frequently... okay, very often you'll bounce and be absolutely fine, but sometimes you can think you'll land fine, but actually do a lot of damage - i've twice landed on my feet from a serious bronc'ing session, both times blown my right knee apart and needed surgery, and had to have many months off. i was bronc'd off a friend's loony youngster years ago and ripped all the ligaments off my ribs at the back, couldn't ride for 4 months, missed 1/2 the event season on my good grey horse. chuffing annoying, to put it mildly. i've seen video footage of someone getting bronc'd off and paralysed.
when i had stable jockeys here (2 last year) i was very careful with them, i always made sure the horses were well lunged etc first, never took chances with the rider's necks etc. okay, youngsters will have the odd little skip into canter, or after a fence, but that's not the same as trying to stay on a full-on bronco display. nobody hit the deck... which i regarded as a great result. it doesn't do horses any good to realise they can dislodge you, let alone what they might do to themselves while loose...
hence my new quest for the ultimate in mega-superglue-sticky breeches (ha, found some!!!)
i will continue to push myself and my horses (slowly!), but if i NEVER fall off again i'll be very very happy.
if you feel you don't push yourself enough (must admit 100 clears at 2'9" sounds excessive!) then i'd find an instructor who will be positive and encourage you to move up sooner.

 

[NicoleS_007]

10years wow ... the longest iv went without a fall was a year!! If i never fall off again it will be to soon For some reason if i think about falling off it tends to happen ... unintentionally that is lol My mare through me off into a fence last monday, and it hurt!! In total shes catapaulted me off 3 times within nearly 5 months, she has had other attempts mind you but thats the most iv fallen off in a while. Oh and i once fell off twice within 20 mins!! Session went like so; buck, canter, buck, buck, canter, buck ... and continued like that for a while! That was with the ex racer, and the second time flippin hurt, probably wasnt a smart idea to get back on ...

 

[Firewell]

Thanks Kerilli,

Sometimes I think I'm my own worst enemy.

We haven't quite done 100 2ft9's lol, that's a slight exaggeration on my part! But we have been jumping 2ft9-1m for nearly a year now. I did a 3ft3 course at a clinic last time out actually and I was really pleased with that. He's only just 6 so no rush but we are more then capable of doing a BN now I just need to pluck up the courage!

I really don't like horses that throw me. I wouldn't keep one that did I don't think! Bit different if it's a one off due to pain or something really terrified them.

I think Im just getting paranoid that I wasn't pushing myself. I won't worry about it so much now, I'll try my best to continue my cling on impression.

 

[Firewell]

Blimey NicoleS, you sound brave lol. The horse I had in my teens would catapult me off every now and again, he had the most enormous jump and if he gave it everything I had no chance lol. Current one is a bit better at sticking his head up to keep me on!

 

[BeckyD]

Don't think of it as a bad thing! I think it's just the luck of the draw. My first proper horse, I had for 7 years I only fell off once - she ducked out at the third part of a bounce grid when I had no stirrups or reins (on purpose) - landed on my feet ok. I then didn't fall off again for 10 years, as was riding friends' horses, riding school horses etc. Got very nervous of falling off, then fell off twice in quick succession at 2 refusals at fences in my mid-20s. I would say that I do push myself - I'll happily hop on a troublesome horse/one with a reputation. I ride and hack out in high winds, snow, hailstorms. I will take a fresh horse out for a gallop and just sit tight throught the gymnastics. I fell off Ronnie a few times, and I've already sort-of fallen off Bill (he spun when I put my foot in stirrup to mount, then he immediately jumped the 3-foot mounting block when I was still trying to clamber on. I let go and gave up at this point ). Because I have the odd fall, I am fairly philosophical about them and I don't worry like I did when I hadn't fallen off for 10 years.

Try not to let it bother you. I know how much it bothered me when I'd had 1 fall in 16 years, and I was frightened it was really going to hurt when I did. But it didn't I was just left dangling under the horse's neck and she stood patiently while I lowered myself to the ground, in fits of giggles.

Whatever you're doing, you're obviously doing it right. There's no point putting yourself in danger unnecessarily.

If you think your fear of falling is holding you back, have falling-off lessons.

 

[OneInAMillion]

I don't think you have a problem. We went to look at a horse yesterday and I refused to get on it once it started messing around with the girl on it. Call me a timewaster or whatever you like but I wasn't going to risk myself just to sit on a horse.

However in a way I have the opposite problem to you. I have no fear about falling off. I rode my friend's 17hh horse the other day (I'm only 5ft4) it has an enormous jump and pinged me off over a jump about 2ft high. The ground was pretty hard (had a bp and hat on) and where I landed on my leg it is very bruised but then it all just seemed a challenge to get on and do it properly. The thing is with my first pony he was amazing to jump but very fast and would sometimes throw in a dirty stop. I came off him so often that now it is "just another fall" . I know I should think "am I damaging my body everytime I come off?" But to me falling off is just something that happens. But I won't get on a horse knowing that it probably WILL try to get me off or it ALWAYS bucks etc (apart from my own who dumped me on the road )

I think though because when I was younger I suffered so much from lack of confidence doing anything horsey that if I dwell on the fact I have come off I would probably never ride again.

 

[Leg_end]

I think you are being perfectly sensible and there is nothing at all wrong with that! I think sometimes, as riders, we feel that we have to be a bit more gung ho than is perhaps necessary, especially if you rode during your childhood. I always find myself comparing my 'bravery' to when I was a teen and some of the things we used to do were so dangerous - yes I was brave but I was also pretty darn stupid and I have far too many responsibilities and know far more now to risk mine or my horses neck.

I don't want to fall off and I know that when I have fallen off sometimes its just one of those things and you just have to dust yourself off and get back on board, thats part and parcel of riding but I wouldn't keep getting on something that seriously wanted me off. Call me chicken if you like but I think there's a big difference between a horse thats having a strop and one that just does not want you on its back

 

[Perfect_Pirouette]

Firewell, with this post you have put into words exactly what I have been thinking over the past year.

My situation is a bit different, because my first horse was awful, bronced me off time and time again and I did a lot of damage. My confidence was in bits, I went to uni and didn't ride again for 3 years. Cue to just over 2 and a half years ago where I got G (cob in sig) on loan. Now he IS the safest horse in the world, doesn't do anything. I have fallen off him twice in 2 and a half years. Like you, because it'd been so long since I'd fallen I was really worried and paranoid about it. But took G XC training, I put him to a fence on a really bad line (poor boy) he refused, I went sailing over his head. I was fine. Got back on. About 3 months ago we were on a hack and unfortunately 2 riderless, bolting horses galloped straight past us the other side of the hedge, he spooked shot sideways and fell, I came off under him. Again, wasn't hurt, got straight back on.

However, I too have been wondering this past year whether I really am pushing myself enough. So much so that I now have a new horse, a totally different horse to G. 15.2 TB Ex-racer. Now he is a relatively good boy, however would I let him go and gallop across a stubble like I do G? Would I jump him tomorrow? Would I ride him at 9 at night in the hail, wind, rain like I do G? NO. not yet. And this bothers me. I went for my first hack on him at the weekend and him and the other 2 horses I was with stopped, spun round and ran off because of a speed bump (FGS!!!) Now if that had of been G I'd have laughed. But it was with him and I was not laughing! I was thinking 'oh god, what if he doesn't stop/bucks/rears' etc etc.

I too don't fall off often and am exactly like you in that I now with my new one won't take risks. But after reading this post and the replies I'm not going to beat myself up about it. I'm glad I don't fall too often and I'm glad with my new one I won't put myself in stupid situations like I have in the past with G becuase it is a lot more likely I'll take a fall with him as he is a lot more likely to do something stupid.

 

[4faults]

Its good that you havent fallen off in years definetly something to be avoided if you can haha

The only time I had fallen off in the last 5 years was when my OH legged me too high and my girl at the time decided she was going to walk on without me, I ended up sliding down the side of her bum and landing on mine!! Untill I bought my 4yo who put my in hosp twice last year, shattered my confidence and I sold him because I couldnt face getting back on him after the second time.

I think you are doing the right thing in being cautious, yourself and horses are confident and capable and you will do the things you want to do when you are ready to

ETS, just read your post SummerXstarsX and I feel the sam with my new girly, shes relatively good but very spooky and sharp, everytime she jumps sideways Im thinking oh god im going to come off, I dont like taking risks with her but I know I will do all the things I want to do with her(in time) haha

 

[MissSBird]

Tbh what you have described is more a sensible attitude which more people should follow!

If you are really concerned, it might be worth contacting local riding schools or gymnastics classes to see if there is somewhere were you can learn to fall correctly. This may then help you to feel a bit less 'cautious' as you won't worry so much about getting hurt from a fall.

 

[Dizzydancer]

I am also like you!! I used to do all sorts of stupid things with my pony and came off pretty much everytime i sat on his back It wasnt far to thr ground and i bounced. Now i am 21 just started riding an ex racer and i am wearing my BP and being super calm and safe i dont fancy that fall.
You shouldnt worry too much about being safe ans sensible. i think its something that comes with age and having responsibilities (i have a mortgage and cant afford to be broken!!)

 

[Perfect_Pirouette]

See this is it. Was talking to my friends down the yard the other day and saying that I just can't afford to risk a bad fall. I'm 24 and have responsibilities, bills to pay, car to run, job to go to. If I'm broken and can't drive for 6 weeks I can't get to work, can't do/ride the horse, can't go out, can't pay bills. I have a financed car, credit cards etc to pay off each month.

Just too risky!

 

[leflynn]

I daren't make comment in here either way as I'm sure I'll jinx myself (normally do)

At least if you don't fall off you don't break so many bits

 

[JustMe22]

Madness

Also, may I add - you have DEFINITELY tempted fate now. Expect something major

I've fallen off only once in the last..I dunno..two and a half years (touch wood, cross fingers and everything else necessary to make fate realise it is not me doing the tempting here), and it was over a cross pole (literally, over it. I catapulted!). This is despite having a young ex-racer, who is prone to some aerobatics, doing dressage and jumping, riding lots of horses and not being overly cautious.

Before that, however, I had a couple of phases when I fell off about 4 times in a row. Often because of silly things. One pony I put my leg on too hard to stop him drifting into a gate, I was talking to someone in the middle of the arena at the same time, pony jumped and threw a tiny buck and I promptly fell off the side :rollseyes:

Really wouldn't worry about not falling off Sometimes I think it's pure luck. Better just enjoy the roll you're on!

 

[MadisonBelle]

Oh dear now you have done it!!! I said more or less the same thing although my span was 7 yrs and last Sunday I came off twice in 10 minutes!!!!!! Whoops! ( I blamed the new saddle which obviously has some kind of eject system built in)..........

 

[NeilM]

As a bit of a late starter to all this horsey stuff, I took falling off a bit more seriously than many beginners, as I had the (dis)advantage of age and experience on my side.

I took my share of falls and as my seat got better the falling off pretty much stopped. I still push myself, albeit at an extremely modest level in comparison to most of you, and I still take the occasional tumble, my most recent killed my Champion skull and left me with a nice upright shaped bruise on my leg.

During all this, my extremely experienced OH has watched me in the slightly bemused way that instructors often view the antics of their pupils. She does pretty much everything I do, less jumping but that's it, and she takes on new challenges, but she knows her limit, she has an excellent seat and most importantly she knows her horse (they have been together for 8 years), and I think that in their case, that is the vital part.

Fallings not so bad, provided you can stay out of the way of your horse, the fear of falling is another matter entirely.

 

[soulfull]

Thanks Soullfull.

Oh I would be mortified if he lost his confidence! He has never ever refused a fence ever in his life. That's not what I meant, that I want him to be bad or for me to fall off. I would hate that!! I would just like be confident to take the next step and trust in the training ect. It's almost going the other way and he's becoming too bold and he's ready to move on but I'm being to careful! I also wish I could accept that falling off happens and it's nothing to worry about, just get back on and get on with it. It's going to happen, I'm not invincible lol.

Your welcome

I see what you mean now lol

However don't think of it as pushing yourself, think of it as just the next step like you did going from ground poles to x poles to 2ft jumps to 2ft6 etc etc

You will no way be pushing him or you, you only PUSH when you are not ready (not enough training) yours would be natural progression

 

[marmalade76]

I haven't fallen off for ten years now either *touches wood!*

I also fell off loads as a kid and did plenty of thing I would not dream of doing now! I used to hack for miles, alone, with no phone, never went through a gate if I could help it, jumping fences instead. What if I'd fallen off then?

There are a few reasons why I haven't fallen off for so long, I spend less time in the saddle than I used to, I'm more secure/have a better postition than when I was a kid, I am more cautious about what I do, more aware and respectful of the ability of the horse I am riding and when I was young I would ride anything - I'm a lot more choosy now! I am a bit of a scardy when it comes to jumping these days because I am scared of falling off!

 

[MissTyc]

I fell off two weeks ago - first time in about 8 years and it was a bog standard getting bucked off - how boring! I landed well, and got back on feeling younger than I'd felt a few moments earlier!