I feel awful!

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Benji1

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Ok, I feel awful, went out for a hack yesterday and was put on a horse who is known to throw in an excitable buck, I'd ridden him before, without any issue, so wasn't overly worried.

Got to the first canter stretch and he exploded into a series of violent, yet playful bucks, and I came off, over his head, landed on the back of my shoulders, legs came flying over my head and i hit my pelvis on the floor on landing, tried to stand up, went white and nearly passed out. It was not pretty, anyway, I didn't get back on the horse I'd started out with as was already in pain, so got on a lovely cob called Diesel. The poor woman, who I reguarly hack out with, that was out with me was horrified and visably shaken by it, she was still upset that I'd got thrown 2 hours later when we arrived back at the yard, safe and sound albiet me being very sore!

Noah (the horse that threw me off!) behaved himself for the rest of the hack and obviously felt guilty as when we stopped for a break he wouldn't stop snuggling into me, bless him, normally he's far too interested in feeding his belly to take notice of us mere humans!

I know I need to get back on him, but to be honest, I'm terrified, not of him as a horse as he is normally a sweetie, but of having another fall like that with him.

Feeling very sorry for myself today as I'm in a far bit of pain, feeling sorry for Noah & Diesel, and particuarly for the woman who was 'escorting' me on the hack...

Hmmpft!
 
erm..... I would get youself xrayed. I had a similar fall a few years ago now, got back on etc but it turned out that I had factured my pelvis.
 
To be honest, unless I HAD to get back on him for some reason, I wouldn't get on him again! I would be much happier with 'Saint' Diesel :) My days of falling off and barely noticing are long gone, it hurts too much these days and I have too many responsibilities to risk injury from a horse like that :)

I hope you feel less sore soon!
 
Phew that is a relief. Yes brusing does hurt, as does a compression sprain of the pelvis (another one of my injuries!)

TBH, I wouldn't be riding that one again out on a hack as at the end of the day we take part in a highrisk sport as it is, without upping the anti!
 
I didn't nessasarily mean hack him out again, but I don't want to have that 'mental block' with him that sometimes happens when we fall off!
Haha, Diesels not always a saint, but his bucks are so small you barely notice he's done it.. bless him!

I do miss the days of being a kid and having that bounce-ability, but at 20 I'm already noticing I don't bounce as well as I used too!
 
Why are you pushing yourself to get back on? Don't beat yourself up. If he was your own horse and the only one you had to ride then it would be a different story. But if you're hacking for enjoyment and have the choice to ride others, take your time to build back your confident and heal those bruises!

I'm in my mid-forties now and have definitely come to the conclusion that 'pride comes before a fall'! Life's too short and I don't bounce like I used to. LOL! You wouldn't see me getting back on a bucking horse - even a playful one - not for a million quid. ...... well, maybe for a million! Who am I kidding. If I had a million I could afford to book myself into a posh private hospital for the inevitable convalescence I'd be needing. Tee hee.

Hope you're resting this weekend :)
 
To be honest, I don't know exactly why I want to get back on him, but there is certainly something special about that cheeky beggar!

I am resting mostly this weekend, apart from walking the doggie, as I want to be back in the saddle sooner rather than later.
 
I think I've seen that you ride at TPEC in previous posts.. if you still do, I know the two horses you've mentioned!
I've ridden Noah before and he was lovely, and I'm sure that if you wanted another go on him the staff wouldn't say no, and you wouldn't have to do anything too strenuous :)
And I agree, Diesel is a lovely boy :D
Hope you decide what's best :P If all else fails you could ask for a lesson on something like Molly! (Though I'm not sure if she's still around!)
 
Yeah it was TPEC, and they were absoutley lovely about it, including another ride that went past as i was sat on the floor, white as a sheet and shaking.

I'm sure you'll have heard about Noahs excitable bucks then, but he is a sweet heart!

I also have a soft spot for Bob, and Ginger, have taken Bob out before but not Ginger
 
Benji1 said:
Yeah it was TPEC, and they were absoutley lovely about it, including another ride that went past as i was sat on the floor, white as a sheet and shaking.

I'm sure you'll have heard about Noahs excitable bucks then, but he is a sweet heart!
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I should hope they WERE absolutely lovely about it. I presume that you had paid for this hack. If this horse is known to buck they should take steps to ensure the rider's safety at all times. I appreciate that falling off is part of learning to ride and is an unavoidable hazard in some ridden activities but it shouldn't be an expected part of hacking. I don't quite understand who was present but you should not have been allowed to get back on any horse after that fall but instead taken immediately to A&E.
I can understand that you want to ride this horse again but please do ensure that you ride in an enclosed space with a soft surface. If I were you I would only ride Noah on one more occasion - in order to 'lay the ghost' and then insist on riding something that does not buck habitually.
 
I was checked over, and felt perfectly fine to carry on riding, and was offered the chance to go back.
 
Benji1 said:
I was checked over, and felt perfectly fine to carry on riding, and was offered the chance to go back.
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My friend fell off another friend's TB 4 weeks ago (her own cob was being ridden by the friend). She landed on her bum, felt fine, got back on the horse she fell off and then swapped back to her own cob to finish the hack. She then mucked out, drove her children to stay at grandma's, drove back the following morning, took to her bed in the afternoon and rang me 48 hrs after the fall to ask for a lift to A&E. I had to help her out of the house to the car. There they put her on a backboard, in a cervical collar, and did a series of scans & x-rays, suspecting either a dislocation or a broken neck. Fortunately she was eventually diagnosed with severe concussion. She had to have over 2 weeks off work and is riding, with a 'safety net' for the first time today. My friend is a ward manager in a local hospital, so you might think she would be a bit more cautious about injury.
If you are charging people to ride horses their safety should be paramount and in the event of an accident, there should be no compromise about getting the customer checked by a medical practitioner. There is a reason why competitors in many affiliated competitions are not allowed to remount after a fall.
 
Why not ride him again in a school. If it's freshly raked it will be a softer landing than hard baked soil. I speak from experience as my lad used to throw in some massive fly bucks when he got excited. :D

I am fortunate as I have over 25 years Martial Arts experience, and so I know how to roll, breakfall and (crash) land. I have even fallen on rocky ground and walked away without a bruise, but if I have to take a tumble, I would prefer to land somewhere slightly forgiving.

It might not be the consensus of opinion, but I think 'good for you' for wanting to get back on and give him another go. Chances are he'll be a saint.
 
I've had horses in the past that have been less than easy rides, I'm not what I'd call a novice!, and to be honest, he is a little lamb 98% of the time. I think he's a little misunderstood, and I'm a sucker for that sort.
 
I'm sure no one means to make you feel small, none of it at all was your fault and no one sounds to be blaming you. It is the establishment which did not follow the procedures which should have been, and it is lucky for them as well as you that you were actually not seriously injured, as continuing could have made any such injuries worse. No one wants to make you feel bad, they sound to be worried about what could have happened to your health.

I understand you wanting to get back on this horse again to dispell any demons etc (i'm the same!) but i agree with others to do it in a safe area and maybe try something different next time. I would also maybe check that they have had this horse checked if it is a regular bucker, as it could be back or saddle problems.

Glad you are ok and hope the soreness goes away soon x
 
You poor thing, I am terrified at the thoughts of falling. I havent fallen off in nearly ten years, and I def dont bounce like i used to. I fell off so many times, I think I should be in the guiness book of records. I still hold the record with the hunt for the most falls in one day, I came off 11 times in 2 hrs, went home in shame at that point.
i'd be in no hurry to get back on the horse, especially as you dont have to!!
Hope you recover soon!!
 
That sounds like a record my old horse, Bronko (oh yes he took after his name!), would have been proud of!
 
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