Hard lesson for an older (old?) beginner!

[Crazy Canuck]

Cheery greetings, all!
Am a ‘new’ older rider - not in the first blush of middle age- first lesson last October. Taking regular lessons and up to canter. Doing really well until a disaster in Greece. Was with a more experienced rider friend who persuaded the stable we were ‘experienced’ riders. Five steps of canter turned into a full blown gallop, and I’d never galloped before! Ran the litany of what my teachers told me, and stayed calm - and stayed on.
Stupid me! Metres from stable ( while I was busy patting my head and rubbing my tummy in self-congratulation) the horse bolted and I flew off at the gallop.
Now home nursing the end of two months of enforced no exercise because of an inferior pubic rami fracture.
Considering my age, I got off lightly. Was WAY over my grade! You could not PAY for the lessons I have just learned!
And you know what? Can’t WAIT to get back on a horse again!

 

[Spotherisk]

I’m sorry for your injury, and yes that was a hard lesson.

There are many of us who’ve been riding and owning, maybe competing, for decades but still describe ourselves as ‘confident novice’ or similar.

 

[Skib]

I am so sorry to read this. I too was an older beginner and I had read so many reports of accidents while riding in Europe that I avoided riding on holiday.

It may be a common risk to come off right at the end of a ride. I dont know the statistics but the most serious accident that I know of to a friend happened at the end of a ride.

 

[View]

It’s great that you want to get back on! You must tell your instructor what has happened because you may well be sore, or sit differently or move differently.

I’ve noticed while escorting hacks that towards the end is when people tend to come off (apart from real troubles earlier on eg a Hells Angel chapter causing chaos).

 

[PurBee]

I learnt never tell a RS trek centre you have any riding experience, even if you do - otherwise you’ll be put on whatever ‘rocket’ they own (that rarely gets ridden due to most clients being novice holiday trekkers).
In my case it was a 16.2hh TB who had been on box rest for 3 weeks with a cough, and my ride was it’s first ride out! (Told this by stable hand upon returning to yard)
You can imagine how that went along narrow welsh forest paths on steep hills. I returned to the stables on the lead riders horse. She got herself and TB back in one piece with very generous use of her crop.

I hope your injury fully heals and your belated riding hobby has a chance to fully flourish!

 

[ArklePig]

Sorry to hear, but sometimes we just learn lessons this way! I'm another one who always tells riding centres abroad that I can't ride. In Britain and Ireland I tell them I'm nervous and I usually get someone who'll take care of me but not bore me! Hope your next ride is better.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Wow, everyone!
Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom. Dear Silver was 4, my normal riding school horse is 20!
A much sadder and wiser girl is going back to working on a secure seat. And steering the beast!
My first venture will be on a faux dressage horse at Wildwoods Stables in Epsom. Caroline Baldock is my side-saddle teacher and I’m really keen ( after viewing the ladies championship at Hickstead) to really work on that.

 

[Oreo&Amy]

Cheery greetings, all!
Am a ‘new’ older rider - not in the first blush of middle age- first lesson last October. Taking regular lessons and up to canter. Doing really well until a disaster in Greece. Was with a more experienced rider friend who persuaded the stable we were ‘experienced’ riders. Five steps of canter turned into a full blown gallop, and I’d never galloped before! Ran the litany of what my teachers told me, and stayed calm - and stayed on.
Stupid me! Metres from stable ( while I was busy patting my head and rubbing my tummy in self-congratulation) the horse bolted and I flew off at the gallop.
Now home nursing the end of two months of enforced no exercise because of an inferior pubic rami fracture.
Considering my age, I got off lightly. Was WAY over my grade! You could not PAY for the lessons I have just learned!
And you know what? Can’t WAIT to get back on a horse again!

Love this story! Don’t forget you aren’t a proper rider until you’ve had a few nasty falls well done and good luck getting back on! X

 

[SBJT]

I learnt never tell a RS trek centre you have any riding experience, even if you do - otherwise you’ll be put on whatever ‘rocket’ they own (that rarely gets ridden due to most clients being novice holiday trekkers).
In my case it was a 16.2hh TB who had been on box rest for 3 weeks with a cough, and my ride was it’s first ride out! (Told this by stable hand upon returning to yard)
You can imagine how that went along narrow welsh forest paths on steep hills. I returned to the stables on the lead riders horse. She got herself and TB back in one piece with very generous use of her crop.

I hope your injury fully heals and your belated riding hobby has a chance to fully flourish!

Lol I have learned this lesson too. I think they do it to see if you really are. Generally the more experienced you are the less you’ll admit it to a stranger.

 

[Quigleyandme]

Only one pelvic fracture? I’ve got six ??? My incident was four weeks ago today and I‘m now able to walk short distances unaided although it is more comfortable with a crutch. My pubic rami and other fractures seem to have healed but my left anterior inferior sacrum to SI joint is a bit of a problem. I’m able to look after myself, my farmlet and my horses and even managed to unload 20 kilo sacks of feed from the car today. I’m really pleased you haven’t been put off riding. Good for you. I’m not ashamed to share I’ll be on a lead rein when I get the all clear.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Oh, my dear! I will immediately cease feelings of ‘hard-done-by-mess’ and ride to your aid!
I’m eight weeks in, and after reading a runners’ forum was having a fit of the glums. Some of them were able to start training carefully after 6 weeks, and some not until 11 weeks, and these were tri-athletes. Well, that’s certainly not me! I just happened to land on my assets. The NHS has been a bit useless on the care and feeding of this injury. I paid for visits to a physio and got some useful advice. Fortunately, I’ve been a dancer and a runner, and a regular gym-goer and know my body pretty well. Alas, it’s telling me it’s not quite ready for full on normal and I’m grumpy. Despite my impatience, I must grit my teeth and await the results of the bone scan I had June 24th, and was sent to my GP the same day. Obviously they’re not as obsessed with the idea of me - cantering side-saddle, wearing an elegant habit and dashing hat with a feather, and accompanied by four streaking borzoi - as I am, and therefore consider giving me the results of the scan as ‘non-urgent’. I can’t get an appointment until July 12.
Where do you live? Do you have family to help you? I live alone and despite sending my two Siamese to college to learn housework, nothing gets done. I’m breeding dust-bunnies.

 

[smiggy]

Well you are certainly brave ?
lve been riding for over 50 years and the thought of riding strange horses abroad terrifies me !
went on a tourist hack thing with work a few years ago on the ploddiest cob but found it really scarey as like driving a car with no steering.
glad it hasn’t put you off and hope you get back on board soon.

 

[Quigleyandme]

I sadly cannot claim to have ever been a dancer, runner or regular gym goer. I have dedicated a lot of my life to lying on the comfy couch reading which has clearly been instrumental in my rapid recovery. Don’t worry OP you will soon be “perched audaciously like a wing” on that sidesaddle x

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Thanks so much for your kind words! I wish you equine happiness in equal measure!

 

[Bob notacob]

Wow, everyone!
Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom. Dear Silver was 4, my normal riding school horse is 20!
A much sadder and wiser girl is going back to working on a secure seat. And steering the beast!
My first venture will be on a faux dressage horse at Wildwoods Stables in Epsom. Caroline Baldock is my side-saddle teacher and I’m really keen ( after viewing the ladies championship at Hickstead) to really work on that.

Crazy Caroline, one of the first female professional jockettes . Worked for Monty Roberts, Sailed on the replica of the golden hind as cook. a wealth of knowledge. at 75 has recently given up going to Glastonbury. She is a wonder at long reining. A real expert . Makes very good Jam too. A well chosen teacher.EEEK shouldnt hve mentioned her recent birthday ,Jam supplies might become rationed.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Hehe! I promise not to tell her! ( otherwise sh won’t let me wear her riding habit for my lessons- when I have them again, that is! Fans probably know she teaches out of Wildwood Stables. A heads-up for any lovely ladies who want to learn side-saddle!

 

[Crazy Canuck]

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Oops! Didn’t mean to post two of me - but I’m on Wildwood’s Honey, wearing Caroline’s habit. And, below: the lovely lady, herself.