Falling off - now what?

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cheekywelshie

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I hadn't fallen off my horse in two years - til last night! Typically it was the one and only time I didn't put my back protector on (sods law - lesson learned). Spent a reasonable time warming up, canter work was improving greatly and I lowered the jumps to about 2ft - 2''3 to start (if I do competitions `I only feel comfortable at the moment doing 2'3 but the spreads at 2'3 still seem big! although I find XC easier so can do 2'3-2'6 OK). Anyway, I was warming up on grass ready for my instructor...lots of transitions then one warm up jump, perfect. Then a spread, first time did it I felt we didn't have enough impulsion, something wasn't right - so I tried again, this time wobbly jump, landed then - something happened and I don't know what - but I felt myself propelled forward and stupidly didn't let go of the reins, he panicked I hit the ground hard and whacked the side of my face - ouch. Even my hat silk parted company from my hat!! MY instructor arrived just as I was getting up off the floor - she didn't want to teach me because I looked a bit dazed and was in shock. I know they always say get back on again but I did feel like I needed to sit down. Anyway all night I had a banging headache and some sort of whiplash feeling this morning. But I still don't know what happened whether he landed disunited, I lost my balance, stirrups too short, I was too far forward. Sadly my instructor didn't actually see me fall so I may never know!

Anyway, I had always felt confident about going round the XC, SJ at our yard on my own and trusted my horse and him me (I think) - but now I'm wondering if I should always have someone with me when I jump - for the next few times at least - to observe ?

I trust my horse and am not worried about getting back on again but am worried about jumping a bit (he does tend to land disunited a lot - I try and bring hmi back to trot usually - but this happened after we had landed - just).
 
I am a great believer in ALWAYS having someone with you when you jump, however experienced you are. I never jump without someone else on the yard now - last time I did it I had a cracker of a fall, concussed myself and then carried on jumping although I don't remember doing it, ooops. Having someone on the ground to do poles, etc, doesn't have to be an instructor, is always a good idea IMO.

Hope you are feeling perfect again soon. There has to be a reason why your horse is landing disunited, that isn't a very usual occurrence - has he always done it?
 
Weezy said:
Hope you are feeling perfect again soon. There has to be a reason why your horse is landing disunited, that isn't a very usual occurrence - has he always done it?
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Well there seems to be a bit of a pattern - he always does the first jump perfectly but seem,s to land disunited after the second - particularly if it's on left canter lead
 
If it's not being caused by rider/tack fit/teeth/etc...I'd be inclined to get a Mctimoney or Chiro out to check him over, maybe his pelvis or something could be out.
 
Ouchie.

I had a nasty fall on my head last week which gave me slight concussion. We were doing some schooling and everything was fine, then completely out of the blue, he bronked me off really violently! I initially thought he might have been using some other horses in a nearby field as an excuse, but thinking about his behaviour I am sure he must have been bitten as he reacts badly to horseflies.

I think it's important to get yourself a new hat if you had a headache like that, and I bought myself a new one at the weekend, as my fall was a nasty impact. I wanted to get the HS1 hat but it didn't fit me very well, so I have a nice Charles Owen J3 instead.
 
I think it is sensible to always make sure there is someone around when you jump just in case. You were luck your instructor turned up and that you weren't badly injured. In an accident a time delay in raising the alarm can make a huge difference to the recovery, so make sure you aren't alone.

Two thing occur to me, one I would do a nice easy practice jump more than once before moving on to a spread and asking the horse to stretch and think more. Even if it was a reliable jumper but as yours isn't that is even more important. Why move onto something more difficult for the second fence if you know that often the second jump is a bit ropey??? Secondly I think you need to address the issue of him going disunited, this shouldn't happen alot. Examine whether there is a pattern, always going one way or only when you want him to change over the fence???? Then talk to your vet, cantering disunited could be a sign of a back problem, if the vet is happy, the next things to check are the saddle and your riding. If your instructor is unsure or doesn't think it is an issue get a different one.

Hope you make a swift recovery.
 
I'd concentrate on why he's going disunited (so look into it), school over lower fences (so there is less chance of him landing awkwardly) and do some grid work, at least this way you may feel more comfortable doing this on your own as we can't always have someone around I appreciate.

Then when your horse improves, bob the jumps back up a whole, after its not about height, it's about technique. :)

Make sure your hat is ok, if you took a hard bang with your head, it may need replacing and you may need to go to your GP for your head looking at if you have headaches, in fact that's a must!
 
Agreed that you need to address the disunited landings before moving on. Could it poss be you that is throwing him out of rhythm?

And yes, hat needs replacing pronto!
 
Katt said:
Two thing occur to me, one I would do a nice easy practice jump more than once before moving on to a spread and asking the horse to stretch and think more. Even if it was a reliable jumper but as yours isn't that is even more important. Why move onto something more difficult for the second fence if you know that often the second jump is a bit ropey??? Secondly I think you need to address the issue of him going disunited, this shouldn't happen alot. Examine whether there is a pattern, always going one way or only when you want him to change over the fence???? Then talk to your vet, cantering disunited could be a sign of a back problem, if the vet is happy, the next things to check are the saddle and your riding. .
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I guess I thought as they were only 2ft (and we'd jumped exactly the same fences the week befor e in my lesson- but with my instructor present obviously) I thought it would be OK. With the disunited thing - it never happens on the flat (ie dressage etc, he always strikes off on right leg) and never happens when we do the XC - he finds that much easier - perhaps because it usually involves going straight in one direction! So is it something I'm doing when jumping? I wondered if I was leaning forward too much. I think I must be unbalancing him somehow - because he always goes much better when I am having my lesson - and sometimes sorts the leads out himself. We have been working on the canter for quite a while and he is getting better, but I am very reluctant to do any jumping without my instructor now there - only I can't afford to have lessons with her more than once a week.
 
Weezy said:
Agreed that you need to address the disunited landings before moving on. Could it poss be you that is throwing him out of rhythm?
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Yes I think it could but how do I correct this? We practiced doing one jump on a circle in different directions a few weeks ago in a lesson and he landed on the right leg then (she was asking me to look in the direction and ask for bend in the direction we were going - or something like that!)
 
Over small fences there is no need to fold too much. OK, try this - canter around in a slightly forward seat (XC seat) and change direction, etc. Does your horse go disunited? Then put some poles on the ground and do the same. Then incorporate some small jumps, do NOT change your position, there will be no need to anyway, and see if it makes a difference for him if you are off his back. Look up, look in the direction you want to go afterwards, that is deffo key. It sounds as tho you may be collapsing on landing, and thus throwing him out of his stride, but it is just a guess.

Of course, it would be great to have some vid to analyse :D
 
Yes - good idea to have someone around when you fall off.

However, I wouldn't bother analysing it too much - you've fallen off once in 2 years - that's bloomin good in anyone's book. it's probably just a one off (no pun intended). Just get back on and if it keeps happening that have a lengthy discussion.

From a mother who catches the pony first and then scoops daughter off the floor!!!
 
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