First Fall! Your experiences?

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SaddleUpSin

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Well, I had my first fall today! Went for a ride on my cousins Ex-racer. Completely my fault, was warned about speed control but forgot when turning to go back down the hill to spend longer pulling up BEFORE going down hill at a canter. Started losing my balance and slipping and I was gone, smacked down and knocked myself unconscious. Woke up with amnesia and in shock,in a field alone as my cousin chased her rather hyped up mare down the track! Thankfully, not a scratch on her (and no broken bones for me!). Safe to say I'm glad I was with my cousin who I love and trust. Threw me back in the saddle and took me home. Pretty sure I'm concussed and if not better in the morning will probably get a check up. Well, can't say my first fall wasn't special, complete KO! Oh dear xD

Please share first fall experiences with me?:)
 
I'm not sure I remember my first ever fall but my first fall off my current boy was rather amusing.

At the time he had a nasty habit of dropping his shoulder and spinning at things. Out with a friend I joked that I'd got so used to this manoeuvre that I'd developed an incredibly sticky bum and doubted he'd ever have me on the floor. Realising my mistake I quickly followed up with "no doubt I'll be eating dirt in the next 10 minutes now!"

So we're merrily trundling up the bridleway when H starts jogging. Not being able to see what was upsetting him I decided to push on into canter to get him past whatever was unsettling him. Suddenly there was an almighty "thwack" and my 15.1hh boy disappeared from under me leaving me head down in the mud. Turns out there was a rather aggressive game if tennis being played at one of the houses backing on to the bridleway. Given my bragging beforehand I couldn't help but laugh as I hopped back in to the saddle.
 
My first fall was pretty nasty, Landed me with a bad back for about 2 years, about 6 months excruciating pain, I never did get it checked, but that was some years ago, I tell you, It taught me not to fall off, but to exit side door by choice, or hold the ---- on!
 
First fall.. Learning to canter lost my balance fell towards P&R wood fence in arena tried to grab it but scraped my wrist instead.. good 4 inches down from the bottom of hand.. Was wrapped up and then got infected - that was the grossest part so went gunky and grim. Scarring on my wrist. :)
 
Child on lead rein desperate to canter- dad kept letting me but at 3 I just kept bobbling off much to mothers distress!
 
Glad you're OK!

I Remember my first fall, fell off Jane Grover's pony Shandy going over a jump, fell out the side door and really hurt my shoulder. Dad made it worse by rubbing Sloanes linament into it!
 
Great stories! Going to see if the gp can fit me in today. The worst part was the amnesia when I woke up alone in a field, my jaws swollen at the side which is painful and my arms very stiff. At least I can say I've fallen off now! XD
 
broke my collar bone first time off although it was not diagnosed for a few years-never told my parents about that fall (I was 7) as I knew they had reservations about the yard and thought the 12hh pony bolting off and trying to jump the 5 bar gate might mean my riding days would be over.
 
Riding school pony stopped at a cavaletti and I fell off onto the top of the X at the end. It hurt a lot and put me off attempting another jump for a long time. I was about 11 at the time.
 
First fall for me was while having a lunge lesson. I was learning to canter and the pony I was riding was quite lazy, so riding instructor flicked him with the whip lol he jumped forwards and off I came. Think I was 9 when this happened.
 
I can't remember my first fall - it was well over 45 years ago and there have been very many since. I'm now 52 and have moderate arthritis in my lower back and severe arthritis in my neck both of which would have been much less serious if I hadn't believed I was bullet-proof and had had had proper treatment when I'd made my most serious falls. Insure your future - get yourself checked over and take the treatment they recommend.
 
Firstly anyone knocked out MUST MUST get checked over!! I am a medic at equine events as well as a First Responder for West mids ambulance so know

First fall was uneventful, only second or third time I had ever sat on a horse. long story I was thrown in the deep end with a 5yr old Welsh Cob to learn on. all was fine until he spooked and I went out the side door. Broke a rib, but got straight back on
 
got the head and shoulder drop and flew off! but i was back on in seconds! but i have fallen off many times but mostly has been something upsetting the horse and me shooting off in the wrong direction!

Your not a rider until you have mastered the art of falling off! haha :)
 
I can't remember my first ever fall, but the first one that I can remember was quite funny...

Learning to jump on a naughty 12hh welshie, landed in front of the saddle and had no control! She trotted off out of the school and onto the yard where all the feeds were being made up along the fence line. She put her head in one of the buckets and to try and stop myself from sliding down her neck, I held onto the fence... Then pony shoots backwards, dumping me in a bucket of feed!! :D

However my first fall from new pony was a little more extreme. Was having an argument in the school because he was being a nappy b*gger and he just launched himself into space, bolt upright and I just wasn't ready and somersaulted off backwards landing face first. Could have been quite nasty but luckily wasn't.. Taught him a lesson though as touch-wood he has never reared to that extent since!
 
I was about 5 and I just bounced out of the saddle! It was my first canter and I didn't realise how bouncy it would be! Pony was a saint and slowed when I started slipping, but it just couldn't save me :P Good ol' Lucky!
 
SaddleUpSin said:
Well, I had my first fall today! Went for a ride on my cousins Ex-racer. Completely my fault, was warned about speed control but forgot when turning to go back down the hill to spend longer pulling up BEFORE going down hill at a canter. Started losing my balance and slipping and I was gone, smacked down and knocked myself unconscious. Woke up with amnesia and in shock,in a field alone as my cousin chased her rather hyped up mare down the track! Thankfully, not a scratch on her (and no broken bones for me!). Safe to say I'm glad I was with my cousin who I love and trust. Threw me back in the saddle and took me home. Pretty sure I'm concussed and if not better in the morning will probably get a check up. Well, can't say my first fall wasn't special, complete KO! Oh dear xD

Please share first fall experiences with me?:)
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I read this with my eyebrows almost in my hairline! No-one should EVER leave an unconscious rider to go and catch a horse, and anyone who is knocked unconscious should not be "thrown back in the saddle".

Words fail me - the consequences could have been unthinkable
 
On a riding school pony, flock of geese shot under his feet unexpectedly, he went up, I went splat, then got reversed on and lay there for about five minutes in shock. I was 7 at the time and thought it was thrilling, mum did not, although I did have a hoof shaped bruise on my arm for about 4 years :)
 
SaddleUpSin said:
Well, I had my first fall today! Went for a ride on my cousins Ex-racer. Completely my fault, was warned about speed control but forgot when turning to go back down the hill to spend longer pulling up BEFORE going down hill at a canter. Started losing my balance and slipping and I was gone, smacked down and knocked myself unconscious. Woke up with amnesia and in shock,in a field alone as my cousin chased her rather hyped up mare down the track! Thankfully, not a scratch on her (and no broken bones for me!). Safe to say I'm glad I was with my cousin who I love and trust. Threw me back in the saddle and took me home. Pretty sure I'm concussed and if not better in the morning will probably get a check up. Well, can't say my first fall wasn't special, complete KO! Oh dear xD

Please share first fall experiences with me?:)
Click to expand...
Sorry it was back in the 60's and Cannot think that far back.
 
My FIRST fall - It would have been 1976, I was 9 years old, and it was my first day at a riding school. I had done 3 days on a trekking holiday before that, and because of that I was allowed out on a hack, with a leader. "Leaders" in those days were just other kids who wanted to spend time with horses.

We came to the canter place on the ride, and I persuaded my leader (all of 11 years old herself) that I could canter, so she let me off the lead. About 8 horses belting across the field, me on my 4th time on a horse, I guess the result was inevitable. I recollect my wrist hurt.

One of my funny ones was when wearing a wide topped pair of riding boots, going through a gateway, the gate blew shut on us and the handle for opening the gate went right down my boot. The horse carried on and I was scraped off, and left hanging by the boot on the gate. I was so glad I did not get caught up on the horse.

One other time (back to riding school days) was riding horses back from the field bareback, we had a cut through the woods, and my cagoule hood caught on a branch, I was swept off backwards and I was very glad that the branch snapped so I could fall to the floor.

At a similar time I was riding one and leading 3 back to the field, and something startled them and they went in different directions. We were out on the roads, and I hung on, and was lifted clean off the horse's back. You know, it was actually a good riding school, and I am grateful for my bareback experiences, but I can kind of see why it has been stopped by most schools.
 
Auslander said:
I read this with my eyebrows almost in my hairline! No-one should EVER leave an unconscious rider to go and catch a horse, and anyone who is knocked unconscious should not be "thrown back in the saddle".

Words fail me - the consequences could have been unthinkable
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I too was thinking exactly this. Also thinking that perhaps someone who sounds as inexperienced as the OP should not have been cantering in an open field on a fiery ex racehorse?
 
Just a note I forget to mention, apparently I woke up immediately after (which I have a vert hazy memory of) and said I was okay and I'll wait here. I obviously slipped back out after she left after checking I was okay. She didn't just leave me straight away. It's not the first time I've ridden her/cantered in open spaces and it was my fault entirely, I turned too fast instead of heading straight on and slowing down as I was advised too which off balanced me and where it's the summer I haven't been riding as regularly so I slipped of the side like a sack of spuds. Plain error on my part, breeze was a saint. Not strong/pulling or silly. And in all honesty I'm GLAD it was my fault because I know what I did wrong and it hasn't knocked my confidence! :)
 
SaddleUpSin said:
Just a note I forget to mention, apparently I woke up immediately after (which I have a vert hazy memory of) and said I was okay and I'll wait here. I obviously slipped back out after she left after checking I was okay. She didn't just leave me straight away. It's not the first time I've ridden her/cantered in open spaces and it was my fault entirely, I turned too fast instead of heading straight on and slowing down as I was advised too which off balanced me and where it's the summer I haven't been riding as regularly so I slipped of the side like a sack of spuds. Plain error on my part, breeze was a saint. Not strong/pulling or silly. And in all honesty I'm GLAD it was my fault because I know what I did wrong and it hasn't knocked my confidence! :)
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Well that is good to hear but you really do need to be careful, especially if you are a bit unfit and out of practice. Ex racers however kind do move quickly, both forward and sideways, and are not always the best things for novices to ride because of this.

I am glad you know what you did wrong and that it hasn't knocked your confidence but I still think you should go and be checked out, concussion is very unpredictable. When you do get back on just take it steady, there are no prizes for being a hero.
 
It took me about 5 years to finally fall off, and now I can't stay on :(

My first fall was from a very silly green horse, having a lesson over some very small xc fences and horse decided to jump a fence of about 60cm as if it was ten times the height. As he landed he spooked and I went one way, he went the other. Apparently I very nearly landed on my feet and it was actually a very graceful fall lol.

Definitely not my worst though - despite breaking a wrist and being fallen on by my current horse I think my worst fall was off the same boy as above.

Jumping (again) he went a bit higher than expected. That many people fell off this horse he'd learnt that if he stopped when rider became unbalanced he would 'save' them. Unfortunately, after he's landed from a fence is not the best time to stop. I felt a bit strange but got back on him and went over the fence. Later found out I was concussed and had bruised my shoulder quite badly.

First fall off my horse I can't remember. He's a hard one to jump and he used to get excited and rush and then he'd go long, flat and launch you into the air 2 strides off the fence :D thankfully that seems to have stopped
he also went through a phase where he'd be cantering along and as soon as you took your mind off getting him into a steady canter he'd stop and send you out the side door. Did it as he landed fences and I came off and broke my wrist. Later found out his saddle might have been pinching him - however he still tries it when he doesn't want to work or someone other than me or mum rides him so I'm not convinced on that theory.

I'm quite proud of myself that I was able to ride the greener, younger horses when I got my lessons in the RS, I only ever fell off them when they were behaving, not when they had all 4 feet off the ground :D although that probably says a lot about my riding.

I used to ride a young, green cob in lessons who learnt how to buck. He struggled with picking up his right lead and originally started off with learning flying changes, and then a 'hop' to pick it up which evolved into a buck the more stubborn he got. Never came off him when he decided he was having a 'tantrum' and instead of picking up his right lead or he turned xc lessons into rodeo lessons, but came off him once when I went into my jumping seat early which made him stop at the fence.
Thankfully, it was the little tire jump and I had a cushioned landing as I hit the tires and was bounced back onto my feet. Poor horse was looking at me in shock, as if he was saying 'So I can buck you 5 feet into the air, but you fall off over that?'

I haven't had any falls in a few months - touch wood.
Last one was in either March or April when I was jumping a small cross pole as part of an exercise.
We now know my horse is capable of jumping 1m30, even when he's not asked :D

ETA - if you have a fall and think you've hit your head/possible concussion/are knocked out it's a very bad idea to get back on and even if you feel fine, take it easy for a while.
Even minor concussions or knocks can be fatal, look at what happened to Natasha Richardson - and she got up and said she was fine.
I have a close relative who suffered a very serious brain injury, it's not pretty and has made me very very cautious with any falls and knocks to my head and always make sure I replace a hat if I've had a fall and there's dust/sand/dirt on the hat or any other signs of impact with the ground.
Your head is one of the most important parts of your body, make sure you look after it.
 
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I can't remember the specific first one, probably some time in the late 1980's, I can tell you for certain that it would have been off Pebbles, 13.2hh blue and white Welsh gelding. I was pretty good at staying on out hacking but in the school he had a habit of dropping a shoulder and heading into the middle of the school, at which point's I'd usually carry on in the original direction without him.

I have to say he gave me a very firm grounding in the art of staying on!
 
I fell off baby mare while experiencing her first attempts at jumping in a menage, was all going well and approached pole and small jump for the second attempt which she did nicely, landing in canter, one stride and started whoopie broncing getting higher each time we travelled about 30 metres with dangly rodeo legs then she stopped dead and I went over the top landing on my right shoulder still holding the reins in my left hand. Instructor held up 'how many' fingers and I replied '17' so we decided I was fine. :) I got back on and continued and even went back for another week with my other horse. I do still have a very achy left shoulder having pulled muscles in my arm/shoulder/boob region. I don't bounce like I used to!! :(
This was our following attempt a a bit of grid work in the paddock....
beejumpingatcamp_zps7a29bbb1.jpg
 
My first fall was also an ex racer. He spooked at drain and jumped into the middle of the road (on his hind legs) spun around and took off in full gallop into oncoming traffic...one week after my wedding, I was in and out of conciseness for a while until ambulance arrived, had no feeling from the waist down for 3 days, was in hospital until I could manage to walk with crutches...never ended up following anything up afterwards but definate nerve damage as I still have no feeling on my left hip and a small part of the top of my leg, the cold affects me more. This was almost a year ago. So yeah after that essay...pretty bad really for a first fall.
 
Normally I ride her quite well, but I was trying to practice my light seat (clearly a bad judgement and my legs aren't as strong as they were a couple of months back!) Basically I didn't judge the situation well but thats my fault, and that's how you learn I guess. Lucky for me a&e is a short walk from my house so if I still feeling bad I can head over. Shoulder is acheing a lot as the bruise is still coming up which made it hard to sleep so I woke at 5. At least I can say I've actually fallen off now so people can stop saying I'm "not a proper rider"!
 
Good god you can't honestly expect me to remember that far back do you??? I'm nearly 50 and started riding when I was 5, so I'm guessing my first fall would have been when I was about 6, a mere 44 years ago!
 
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