How often do you fall off?

[CatInTheSaddle]

As title says really! Signed up for the forums on Thursday and celebrated by getting chucked off in the arena which got me wondering: how often do you fall off? What's your "normal" fall rate? I remember my instructor saying that falling off is part of riding but how often is too often for you?

I think I'm doing well if it's 1 a year, a handful of unscheduled dismounts per annum is probably more like average for me!

 

[BatHorse]

It seems to come in waves, can go years without falling and then do it 3 times in a week

 

[BronsonNutter]

Depends what you’re riding!

My records for most frequent are four falls in five days, and two falls within five minutes. But most recently went five years with no falls - then had the worst fall I’ve ever had ? possibly as I’d forgotten how to fall!

 

[CMcC]

Whenever I think, “aren’t I clever I haven’t fallen off for ages”!

 

[Red-1]

I seem to average one a year. Usually when doing something really innocuous.

I even fell off Riggers last year. A bird flew out of a ditch we were riding next to. He launched forwards, I did not! ?

 

[mini_b]

I fall off probs once a month. Fell off today.
if I didn’t have so much neck to hang onto I think the number would be much higher as I have a lot of “ooo nearly” moments.

 

[chestnutwbz]

i haven’t fallen for around 5 months now—though that was my worst ever fall and had me out of the saddle until mid october. then before that it was probably a year. however, i’ve also had stints in which i’ve fallen off multiple times in a month!

it seems to come in waves for me, i can go through a period of coming off lots then not fall off for months

 

[ponynutz]

It seems to come in waves, can go years without falling and then do it 3 times in a week

Same here.
Fell off my youngster every day when I first got her now it's like every 3 years or so

 

[FestiveFuzz]

I hadn’t fallen off in years, then came off my new boy twice in so many weeks. He’s a lot sharper than my last horse and I’m nowhere near as riding fit as I used to be so I think I expected my core to save me like it usually does and instead came out the side door ?

 

[CatInTheSaddle]

Whenever I think, “aren’t I clever I haven’t fallen off for ages”!

This one made me chuckle!

 

[milliepops]

depends what I'm riding and what I'm trying to do. Last couple of years I've more or less only had my little dressage horse and although she's prone to moments of extreme sharpness she normally has the good grace to take me with her
Managed to not fall off the ROR despite his best efforts, and before that my little WB tested the superglue but I stayed in the plate...

coming up I have a 3yo unbacked TB to start so I'm sure to hit the deck next year

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I don’t like to say in case I jinx myself…

 

[Karran]

I fell off two weeks ago over a 45cm crosspole. Genuinely was not expecting the amount of effort ShareMare put in. She definitely was not in the good books after

 

[muddybay]

Too much

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Not that often been about 4/5yrs since I’ve hit the deck. I’m sure backing and riding Faran away will change that next year

 

[nersah]

I never want to fall.

 

[Palindrome]

About once a year. I have an airbag so I know by the number of replacement cartridges I go through. Last two falls were the horse rearing and falling over so couldn't help it really, I've said if she does it a third time some hard thinking is in order.

 

[Laurac13]

I only fell off Merlin once bought him as a 3 year old retired him this year aged 10, when I did fall off last year it wasn’t his fault he spun to get out of the way of my friends horse who spooked into him and I wasn’t paying attention ? before that was about 15 years ago. I fell off more in my younger days when competing cross country ?

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I’ve only come off DP twice in 8 years. He spooks but doesn’t actually go anywhere so they are easy to sit to but coming off both times he launched me over his head with an over exuberant buck. I can’t count the time in July when his hacking companion shot sideways and knocked us over because we both hit the ground at the same time. Neither of us could work out what was going on as it happened at warp speed.

 

[The Irish Draft 2022]

It depends my current horse is very spooky when I first got her I fell off 5 times in a year. I haven’t fall in years but I probably will now because I said it .

 

[spotty_pony]

It depends what I am doing and what horses I am riding. When breaking and schooling I fell off a lot more often than I do these days but I don’t want to jinx it!

 

[smolmaus]

Not often enough. I never used to worry about it and now I do!!

 

[Griffin]

I think it depends on the horse and the discipline. My mare is bombproof and we tend to stick to dressage, so we have fewer falls. However, if I attempt cross country, I always end up on the floor (with the exception of when I rode my friend's hunter, he was a machine).

 

[poiuytrewq]

Welcome to HHO Catinthe saddle! That’s the online initiation ceremony completed
Join, fall off.
I seem to go ages then have a few in quick succession ?

 

[Dave's Mam]

Usually a couple of minors in winter, sore bum style.
Annually, in June, something that puts me out of the saddle for the majority of the summer.
Broken hand 2 years ago, dumped on my head last year.
Hoping that 2022 might see itself to kindly keep me out of hospital.

 

[Starzaan]

I can’t remember the last time I fell off, it must be at least eight years ago.
Best thing for my riding - riding for a living. Riding ten horses a day will teach you to stick on!

 

[Adoni123]

As a child I fell off weekly. Started riding again at 21, didn’t fall off for four years. Fell off a naughty friends pony (bucked off) 4 times in one day. Then got bucked off twice two different horses I was looking to buy the year after. Haven’t since, luckily I manage to sit a lot, but when they are actively trying to get me off I certainly cannot stay aboard ?

 

[Hackback]

3 times in the last 11 years. My horse is very kind and has saved me on many more occasions.

 

[Widgeon]

A bit loath to answer this as it almost certainly means I'll get decked this week, but I haven't fallen off for years now. I try to only ride sensible horses, though (not that that always works out quite as planned) and I seem to be quite good at clinging on, limpet like, and heaving myself back upright on the rare ocassions that such action is necessary. I don't jump much either, just flatwork and hacking, which I think lowers the risk. My biggest fear is a big excited buck while out galloping - I don't think I'd sit that anymore! My last nasty accident was not a fall, but happened while I was remounting on a hack. Pony panicked, spun, and dragged me on my knees down a gravel track then a tarmac road before I decided that "never let go of the reins" might not always apply (for the sake of his mouth rather than my knees). I'm still not sure how things would have played out if I'd been onboard at the time.

 

[Annagain]

Last time was Sept 2020. I'm now touching every bit of wood I can find.

Before that I fell off twice in 6 weeks while looking for a new horse, ending up in A&E both times. With my two oldies, I'd lost track but it was several years. I remember it was due to a rogue goat in a hedge (literally in it and jumping out just as we passed) but not when it was.