First Fall! Your experiences?

EbonyJayne said:
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.
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Oh dear sorry to hear that!
 
I accidentally slipped off a shetland pony called Tom Thumb and landed in a little heap. I then started crying, not because it hurt but because I thought I should cry and my riding instructor told me to stop being silly and chucked me back on. I was probably around 3 at the time.
 
I am OP's cousin who was with her yesterday, and it was my horse she was riding.

I would just like to clarify my first and foremost concerns were of course my cousin - I was at her side as soon as I could get to her and checked her over. She was responsive, able to move and communicate clearly, but obviously shocked. I waited as long as I could with her before leaving to get the horse, who was conveniently heading for a busy road... I am a qualified nurse/midwife and there is no way I would have left to catch the horse if I wasn't happy with my cousin's condition. I returned as soon as I'd caught my mare to a very upset and shocked young girl.

I would also just like to say that I am very precious with my mare and my cousin, and no way would I let her try something beyond eithers capability. My cousin has ridden my mare a fair few times now and has cantered plenty of times before, I wasn't anticipating problems!

I have strongly suggested she gets seen today by the docs.
 
I'll never forget my first fall. I was 11 & had been riding for about 3 years. We were jumping in the outdoor school & the pony I was riding (He was called "Dimple", I'll never forget the little git) napped towards all the other ponies, sending me flying out the side door & straight into hospital for 4 weeks in traction for a broken elbow!
 
Yes, Please go to A&E ASAP if you have a head injury/knocked out - NO MATTER HOW LONG. With a brain bleed if not treated, it can kill you in two days I think it is.
 
My first ever jumping 'lesson' aged about 10, at a very dodgy riding school. The ride of mixed ability pupils were pointed at a cross pole in turn and told to get on with it. The pony I was riding had a nasty habit of popping a jump, then planting his head between his knees and I just flew over his shoulder.
 
Broken my humerus in 2002 falling off a youngster who did a good buck. For a first break it was a good one! my head was spinning with the pain. But the hospital didn't think I had broken anything until they saw the x-ray and got a shock.
winded myself falling off in canter - horrible feeling.
once concussed myself falling forward onto my chin which obviously sent shockwaves into my brain.
Done a fall in canter and doing a forward roll which hurt my forehead and bruised my ribs.
 
OP glad youre ok but get checked over by a doctor please!

I don't think I remember my first fall? However my funniest one was as a teen, full pelt at canter through a huge puddle which stretched for ages.... saddle started going and I landed smack bang in the middle with saddle round the ponies stomach standing over me like I was a fool! I was only about 13. RI was currently in the process of telling me to let go of my leg as I was tight.... turns out probably very tight and a reminder to always check your girth!

Broken ribs are not fun, landed on my back after a big 16.3 through in a huge buck (I was 15 and the first one he did I landed on my feet and laughed)- however broken ribs are a drop in the ocean compared to some of the injuries I have seen and heard about!

p.s. Nemlin, sorry to see you feel you have to stick up for yourself on here, especially given your profession. Unfortunatenly on a forum sometimes it is hard to potray the whole story and so people pick up on the missing bits and question them (sometimes with good reason, sometimes not!).... just glad OP, you and horse are all ok!
 
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I remember mine quite well, considering it was nearly nine years ago! Five minutes before my first dressage test, warming up in a spare field and the horse (lovely Campsie, bless him) suddenly tripped on a little stone, of all things. I found myself on the ground with an achy wrist, a helper and Campsie just staring at me. Looking back it was a ridiculous, but very safe, way to fall!
 
Not my first fall but the last one age 58. I wound up in hospital . Doctor ,(rather arrogant) comes over. "So you you fell off a horse !" Yep!. It happens. So you have fallen off before ? Yep . How often ? Oh about every couple of months. To the shock and consternation of the nurses with him ,he then says "Have you ever considered that you might just be no good at riding?" .....Yep!.
I had my revenge the next day as I set my laptop screen saver ,and left it prominently as he came round again. Picture of horse and rider coming up over a very big hedge (over 5 ft) . Who is that? .... Me.... How many years ago ? .... Last week!
 
Can't remember my first fall but remember my last!

Luckily I have a very sticky bum so rarely come off, if I do it's usually a corker.

Last fall was off a TB that had been on box rest. Owners felt it would explode on lunge but would be more manageable under saddle and asked me to ride it.

After walking about very well for a few minutes, it exploded. I knew I was coming off after the first 30 secs but was trying to hold on until I could find a soft landing place as direction I was going was into fence. Managed to fling myself off towards inside of arena, landed in a crouched position still holding inside rein, stood up then horse spun, knocking me flat on my back with it's hind end then stood on my shoulder, dislocating it (luckily as they dislocate so often they just pop back in now), kicking me in side of face and ribs as it's legs travelled over me.

Got back on and it was good as good, as if the whole thing hadn't happened.

When I got off the inside of my knees felt oddly damp and a bit sore. When I got home and had a well deserved Radox bath, I realised I had split (1 inch or so each knee) and severely bruised the insides of my knees from gripping that hard on the saddle to stay on.

That fall increased my determination not to fall off again and so far..... *runs round house touching everything wooden*.... it seems to have worked.

Hope your ok OP and don't let this stop you from enjoying riding.
 
When I was 6? Do a tiny little grid not long after I started jumping. RS pony overjumped the first fence, I lost my stirrups, second fence I lost my reins and then I hit the deck after the final fence. All credit to the pony who was genuine enough to keep going and then stopped and waited when I hit the deck.
 
I think mine was off my Great Uncle's donkey when I was about 6. How on earth I managed to fall off I don't remember. I do recall hiding my sprained wrist from my parents though
 
First fall was off a Fell pony in a riding school when I was 3. The evil Exmoor bit him on the bum and he retaliated so I came off. Thought it was great. :)

Last fall was off my old dressage horse. She retired just for light hacking so we were out for a mooch and it was blackberry season. I over reached to grab a juicy blackberry and hadn't checked the girth properly so the saddle slipped. Slid off and landed on my bum. Didn't think that one was great as there were cars coming the other way and my sister (also present) didn't stop laughing about it for 3 days. The shame!
 
First fall was during my second ever riding lesson. Over a jump. I'd have been about ten years old at the time. I'm now mid-thirties. I'd love to say that I got better at jumping but I think it's just best if I stick with my flatwork...

Scariest fall would be from my old mare. Walk to trot transition turned into walk to warp speed; she tanked off up the school, made a few sharp turns, stirrup leather slid off the bar and I lost my seat. Came off the side door and into the post and rail surrounding the school, no body protector, ouch! Broke a few ribs, and cracked my sternum. At least I missed the post itself, or I doubt if I'd be here at all. Should probably have gone straight to A&E, but any fall you can wobble away from, etc...
 
Wow! What a way to have your first fall. ;)
I don't remember my first but I can garuntee it won't have been as good as that. I do have memories of me aged 6 or 7 sort of tumbling off the side of the little dartmoor ponies that I used to ride, nothing that spectacular haha. But hey, to look on the bright side, it's the best way to encourage to riders to learn to stay on properly!! :)

Worst experience with a horse wasn't actually a fall (all of my falls have actually been relatively ok), but when I was doing some ground work with my horse. I got way too close to his back end (I trust him far too much haha), and he kicked me right in the stomach. Was on the ground for about 5 minutes trying to just breathe- it was horrible! Whilst he just wandered around the arena eating stuff... Lol. But anyway there was no real damage done to me or the horse and after a while I just caught him and carried on where I'd left it hahaha!! :)
 
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OP hope you are OK and that you have been checked out today.

I can't remember my first fall - when I was a kid I fell off all the time and didn't think anything of it. The funniest was when I was cantering bareback from the field at the stables I helped with, aged about 14. I was riding Gulliver, who had a wither about 6" higher than his back, which wasn't all that comfortable but was quite secure. My friend was in front and was bouncing about and looking really funny, so I started giggling and the more I giggled the weaker my legs got until I slid off the side. Totally my own fault!
 
I must have been about 7. Only my 5th time riding and we where out on a trek. I was allowed to go for a few strides of trot off of lead rein but pony saw a lovely patch of grass and I done a rolly poly down his neck and into a lovely big puddle of mud. Lovely white hoodie ruined, I thought it was hilarious and in the words of the girl who was leading me 'oh Snoopie you greedie blimmin' horse'

My first fall from current horse wasn't as good. She was in heat and I took her into the stubble field for a good trot (only been broken for 2 weeks at this point), all is good and we get to the top of the field then she spots the boys in the field over, then comes the dancing act, spin, rear, twist midair, land, huge buck, I go flying at this point then she gallops off squealing and bucking. Then single footing as fast as a her gallop down the drive I manged to catch her eventually after waving some grass in front of her face as she passed me for the third time. Thank goodness for thick damp ground.
 
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I cant remember my first fall.. would have been at a riding school around age 6 but I can remember aged 7 being bronco bucked off a pony in canter! I was in a learning to canter on my own lesson, pony went down the longside and stuck its head between its knees, I did a roly-poly off the front. Shook me up a bit I can remember, but didn't stop me getting on next week, where I must have obviously thought falling off wasn't so bad, and decided upon loosing my balance I would rather fall off than attempt to regain my balance. boot got stuck, dragged me across the school and eventually the boot popped off, resulting in a broken collar bone :( first broken bone :D
 
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