How often / how many times have you fallen off?

B

bellsinheaven

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 October 2019
Messages
55
Visit site
I was discussing this my friend the other day and she was saying she falls off at least once a month (!) She says it's mainly spooks or refusals, but I wouldn't say she rides loads, maybe 2-3 times a week, and does a bit of competing. Her horse is pretty standard too, the odd spook but nothing skitty or silly....I was quite shocked! I rode for years and then came back into it and I think I fell off maybe 3 times and my boy was a skittish ex racer, and since I returned to riding I haven't fallen off yet!
 
How many times - couldn’t tell you, lost count over the years (lots!)

How often - these days very infrequent because I ride less often and limit the risk of falling off! Last time I came off was nearly 2 years ago.
 
I lost count by the time I was 8yrs old (so over 25years ago)
in the last 5 years I've had 2 falls, one of which was caused by me passing out in the saddle and another was when a corrugated panel blew off the stable roof and straight to where I was cantering a newly backed horse in the school. Bless his cotton socks (he had only been sat on for the first time 3 weeks before) he just came to a rather rapid halt, unfortunatly I didnt come to as rapid a halt and went sailing over his head.
 
Last time I fell off was when Reg spun with me after he'd already put me off balance (joys of dyspraxia!). Before that I fell off twice in one week, but Reg face planted, then the baby arab I was riding spooked at some cows and fell into a ditch so I really didn't stand much chance in either case!

But silly things like that aside, I don't tend to. Most of the time if I come off it's because I really had no choice in the matter (aka the horse fell over too) or because my balance wasn't right when the horse did something unexpected

And the above is including charging around bareback with Reg, scrambling up, down and through some almost impassable bridleways (that I wasn't aware of until I got there), and all sorts of other stupid things like that that I have done with him and with previous horses!
 
Far too many times to count, as a child I always had the difficult ponies no one else would ride including one that got me off at least once every time I rode. Thankfully not a frequently these days but I do have a legacy of stickability and an extensively damaged body from my many falls.
 
Last year I fell off my mare on the road, neither of our faults really, she took a scare from a donkey and went to leg-it and lost me out the side door when she slipped on the tarmac.

Hurt like hell for the next day but we were both ok the next day :)
 
Pretty much what Pansymouse has said - I have fallen off a lot over the years because I would sit on anything and didn't care at all - 4 times crossing one field was my record and the only reason it wasn't 5 was because after the 4th I decided I would just lead the bloody thing to the gate and get back on when we were off grass!
These days it hurts more and I try to avoid it - my favourite compliment from my last lesson was that I have good stickability - it's been hard earned lol, I don't take risks the way I used to but I am pretty sticky now
 
Over 50 yrs many times and always thought nothing of it, my most serious a few months ago was walking and did the most damage. I’m still out of action and awaiting more scans and physio
 
Possibly about 30 times in all but lost count. Twice since returning to very cautious and sedate riding late last year. Obviously I don't stick very well :- ))
 
will probably fall off tomorrow now.
But in the last 5 years or so I can only remember falling off twice, once from a horse that reversed out from under me at speed, while I was reaching to do a gate, and once from Kira who teleported herself while spooking at a squirrel, not taking me with her. Before that I remember falling off Millie twice in 15 years, both times while jumping.

I've come close many times, comes with the territory when you have project horses. had a near miss 2 weeks ago when TB shot off humping but managed to limpet myself on :oops:
 
Lost count over the years but genuine fall offs are pretty rare. I mostly get ejected in a variety of ways, in the rudest possible manner.

If you fall off reasonably frequently you kind of keep your hand in. I went something like 17 years between falls and ended up being carted off in an ambulance.

I don't limit myself to a horse either, I have been bucked off my mountain bike a few times.
 
I've fallen off twice this autumn - once when someone else's horse bucked spectacularly without warning, and the other time xc schooling someone else's horse (see the theme here!) when he spooked at sheep in the hedge and span. First time, I tore my collarbone away from my sternum, second time, sprained my ankle.
Prior to that, can't remember the last time. These two falls have stuck with me, and I'm feeling more broken than from pretty much any fall in the last 40+ years riding. I don't generally fall off much, despite hunting and eventing some very interesting horses over the years!
 
I'd lost count by the time I left my 1st RS! Although I can remember the individual falls off my own horses. I would be mortified to be falling off routinely at spooks/spins tbh. I think OP's friend needs to work on her core.
Having said that, about 3 yrs ago, my sadly missed Draft mare was mortified on my behalf - and extremely embarrassed,, the day I fell over as I dismounted in the field after a schooling session, I simply mis-stepped and sat down. The mare checked that I was ok and then studiously ignored me, flailing around to get up.:D
 
I think it’s a numbers game. I fell off as a child all the time, particularly on my pony who would often have me off multiple times in a row. Then getting older I have ridden more “spirited” horses and partaken in riskier activities. This summer I was riding up to 6 a day and didn’t fall off at all so whilst there are lots of rides without falls, there have still been lots of falls in the past. Haven’t fallen off since spring actually I think... definitely jinxing myself here!

When we were kids we used to say that it took 100 falls to make you a good rider!! If only it was that simple
 
Been riding for 9 years and only fell off twice, off the same horse and that was whenI first started riding so I haven't fallen off in 8 years.
However I don't ride often and I only lightly hack and am verrryyy cautious because the 2nd fall was a bad one and has made me a massively nervous rider.
 
I've fallen more times than I could count. Nowadays its about once or twice a year. I ride lots of different horses and break one or two a year (funnily enough, I dont tend to come off those!) Last time was this summer whilst eventing.
 
I've no idea how many times I've fallen off - plenty, mostly as a teen doing stupid things. How often I fall off depends on how old the horses are and what I'm trying to do.

I fell off my mare in summer 2018 - miscommunication about a jump, I swung my leg out of the way of the wing so I didn't knock it over, and - er - kept on going... Fergs fell on me the previous year when we got caught in deep mud on the edge of the river. Before that? Who knows!
 
Depends on the horse. Little horse is 22yrs old. I've fallen off him once his whole life. Big horse is a tw*t, so sadly have about 17 empty air canisters, over the last 4 years. He rarely bins me, he's a spook and spin kinda guy. But at 16.3hh vs 5'2", the result is not usually good.
 
I've lost count over the years but it's been a lot!
Out of my two current horses I've come off my mare twice in six years, once she got caught up on a gate and the second time I did ?
My boy I've come off twice in three years, once involved a spook and a buck the other a rear and spin. I got a good hatcam image of the rear one lol
 

Attachments

  • 20191205_191946.jpg
    20191205_191946.jpg
    466.3 KB · Views: 14
I hate answering these threads because I feel like it’s asking for trouble!

I don’t come off easily. I was blessed with a secure seat and have a pretty good knack of staying on in times of trouble. Unfortunately, that means that when I do come off, it’s usually something pretty horrific that’s got me there!
I probably fall of an on average once every 4-5 years.
Last fall was a couple of years ago when I was spooked off by a new pony who got spooked by a pellet gun being fired a few feet away and just disappeared from under me. Time before that was 2012 when the hooligan did a very naughty duck out at a fence that he’d been locked on to. I went head first into the ground, my jods ended up slipping down and the top of my bum was on show. I just remember lying there, face down in the indoor surface, barely able to breathe, being ordered to stay still and thinking “god, I’ve got my a**e on show!”
 
I don't even want to write this in case I curse myself. I've been riding 7 years (well not much in the last 2-3 years as my horse was lame a lot and is now retired) I fell twice from my first horse in 3 years, four times in 4 years with my second horse and so far (******knocking wood and praying to all the powers that may or may not be) once with my new horse that I've had just over a month. All of the falls have been stupidity on my part, not anticipating something, not paying attention and being novicey. Twice I've fallen because my girth was not done up tight enough, including the most recent one. I don't mind falling as long as it's not at speed, that scares me. I need to improve my riding fitness and balance, I think that would help a lot.
 
I rode briefly for a dealer in my late teens. I think 3 times in 30 mins was my record there, but one of her nut job ponies would usually dump me most weeks.

I've been riding for over 40 years so really only remember the ones that hurt or were a bit spectacular. I'm too old to get on idiots now.
 
I don't know how many times I've fallen off. It would be a biggish number I suppose but I never kept track. They were simple falls.

These days I feel that the most important thing to do on a horse (when I get on my old pony once in a while) is to stay put. I'm too old to fall off because if I do, I'll be very sore for ages. (I'm not ancient, don't get that idea, but I'm not young either.)
 
Oh gosh... at least fifty? In about 8 years? Current dude is very good now but used to be spooky, nervous and fast - which meant he accelerated into jumps, then slammed the brakes on, and spooked to the side. Many falls. Plus all the buckeroo riding school ponies I got put on to ‘sort out’ - again, many falls, often two or three in the same session. I will ride almost everything though, I will only draw the line at habitual rearers, I have never ridden one and would be terrified they would fall backwards on me. Anything else goes though, might as well take advantage of being young and bouncy
 
Gosh I am quite nervous of these threads too - always seems a bit like tempting fate to me. But reading this thread has made me ask myself have I been damn lucky or what? I have been riding now for over 60 years and I can truthfully count on less than two hands the times that I have come off.

Believe me the ponies and horses I rode in my younger days were often unbroken and deadly at planting their riders ASAP if they were given half a chance, usually we managed to not give them that chance if at all possible. And no, I was not an exceptionally gifted rider in my immediate group of horse riding friends and acquaintances, we just had very good core strength and excellent balance due to how we were taught to ride I guess.

I do wonder reading this thread if there is an element of too much caution and elf and safety when teaching kids these days - my friend who is the local hunt master remarked to me not long ago that parents are too cautious to ever allow their children to gain a really good seat and basic riding skills these days, and of course nobody wants to see children seriously injured but has it gone too far I wonder?

if I fell of as many times as some of you my nerves (and bones) would be shattered and I probably would have stopped riding years ago! :oops: I think some of you are incredibly brave to say the least :D
 
I’ve fallen off twice in the last 14yrs once jumping and once a big spook. Nearly came off today though as friends horse suddenly decided he was going to jump the mud spooked mine who spun around. Before that from age 5 around 20 times.

I’ve never hunted or done lots of jumping and I’m sure I’d have come off a lot more if I had. Now hoping I haven’t jinxed myself! ?
 
bellsinheaven said:
I was discussing this my friend the other day and she was saying she falls off at least once a month (!) She says it's mainly spooks or refusals, but I wouldn't say she rides loads, maybe 2-3 times a week, and does a bit of competing. Her horse is pretty standard too, the odd spook but nothing skitty or silly....I was quite shocked! I rode for years and then came back into it and I think I fell off maybe 3 times and my boy was a skittish ex racer, and since I returned to riding I haven't fallen off yet!
Click to expand...
Too many times from aged 5 to now, I would expect it would be nearly hundred
 
A lot! Usually in a stupid fashion! I tend to fall off every 2 years or so. I last fell off in August so I am safe a good while yet ???

The last time I came off was at a trot on the buckle end. One second the horse was underneath me, the next she was gone. I was on the floor before I even realised I had fallen off! A bloomin duck flew out of the ditch next to us!

The one before again the horse spooked and spun trotting on the buckle end - but that one was SLOOOOOOOOOOOW motion! The ones where you know your going down, you can't save yourseld but your taking forever to actually hit the ground! Being on a 17hh tank doesn't help with the hitting of the ground quickly! That time a deer jumped the water trough and fence right infront of us!

I don't mind falling, it's the hitting the ground part I'm not so fond of!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top