How best to land when you fall off?

Camilla's Aunty Em said:
Good point JFTD, but this was my first fall & I had nothing to base it on.
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I'm not criticising! Believe me, I've done some stupid things falling off, and sometimes there's nothing you can do. I was jumping once, obliquely downhill on firm ground - as I fell, I tucked and rolled but gravity overwhelmed me and I rolled sideways downhill and cracked my head off the ground = concussion.

xgemmax said:
I don't think there is a safe way really, I cracked my shoulder blade doing this! lol
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No way will prevent all injuries under all circs, no. But that's the standard way that's advised by most pros which will minimise injuries on most occasions...


BTW, Horseback Combat place are awesome. I've done archery / jousting stuff there and they're fab :)
 
Suechoccy said:
The theory is Tuck and roll. Aim to rolling as you hit the ground rather than landing (on shoulder) and then rolling. Convert your downwards energy into rolling, forwards energy to dissipate the landing force.
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They key is definitely to be rolling as you land or the compression of ground + shoulder = brokenness. Though I do think the speed you fall will have the biggest impact, being fired into the ground will generally have a much worse outcome than a gentle slide off!

x x
 
Most falls I have gone out the side door and done a roly poly, no serious injury jsut a few aches and pains and dented pride. My worst fall I was catapulted face first into the ground. My daughter said my body then bounced up off the ground about a 2 foot, I had whiplash and problems with my shoulder for about 18 months, not to mention a fabulous action man scar on my jaw bone where I connected with a flint.
 
I wish I read this before as I fell off yesterday after horsey decided to refuse a fence all of a sudden! I fell off with my foot still in the stirrup, was pulled under her and the last thing I saw was the hooves running over me and felt them catch me in the arms, leg and belly! Quite sore, but luckily she is barefoot and I was able to get back on and ride!

Both of us were fine, but wish I'd seen this sooner, she got scared and ran off, but I find the fall so quick to even think what I'm doing... I remember trying to roll out of the way once my foot was released from the stirrup
 
I also think in a safe environment it is often better to throw yourself clear for a planned fall rather than cling on and end up under or being dragged by your horse, or landing awkwardly, I did an excellent superman fall where the horse was motorbiking and spinning around so I decided to eject, my friend was confused why I did this until the horse slipped and fell down on his side, thank goodness I didn't try to stay on I would have just unbalanced him more!

I really want to do the falling course, I thought it was about 250 though, will have to check
 
I once managed to come over the horse's shoulder, tuck, roll, and end up back on my feet holding the reins. I got a round of applause for that one, and I have absolutely no idea how I managed it! Suspect I wouldn't be able to do it nowadays...
 
Duh, sorry yes it is £240. Dunno why I thought it was 90. It was my special treat to myself ahead of backing my youngster which was how I justified it! ;-)
 
I was always taught from a young age to curl yourself into a ball so it's instilled in me to do that in the split second it takes between falling and landing!
 
When I've fallen off it's all happened so quick, I've usually hit the floor before I get chance to think about how I should be landing LOL
 
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