I fell - talk me into going on!

E

E. Bainbridge

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I fell and broke a vertrebra. Now, the fracture has somehow grown together, and even though it might look funny on the X-ray, my back seems to be fine again.

I don't know if I fell well or badly, concerning the "technique", but I can say with a good conscience that it wasn't my fault the horse threw me. Given that, it's just clear that it could happen again any time. What do you think - is there any chance I'll take it up again? And have you any good arguments so that my wife will ever allow our son (five yrs old) or me to ride? (Of course, she wouldn't actually want to forbid it to me, but she'd be in constant panic.)
 
Ouch, sounds sore! Falling is all part of it I'm afraid, sometimes you bounce, sometimes you really hurt yourself. Sometimes it's scary, sometimes it's funny. Sometimes (most often!) it's the riders fault and other times the horse just ditches you.

We've all had bad falls that have no doubt shaken us up a bit and resulted in injuries, some people never get on again, others clamber straight back on with broken limbs before grudgingly going to hospital :)
 
You were very unlucky and you could injure yourself tripping on the pavement too. It's a risk horseriders take for the love of their sport. You can minimise the risk by wearing appropriate safety equipment, like a back protector and if I had fractured my back I think I would using one regularly.
 
I know a boy who fractured 3 vertebrae in his back and was in a plaster cast. His Dad never wanted him to ride again, his Mum said he must always ride in a back protector, he is all grown up and still rides.
I suppose it depends on what is an acceptable risk, more men fall off ladders and get head injuries every weekend than fall off horses. I known someone who died after falling changing a light bulb. My husband with a chainsaw is my worst nightmare. I think if you are fit, ride a horse suitable to your ability, wear a back protector I would rather you rode a horse than rode a bike in London.
 
I'm one of the 'Got back on ones' although not on the day of the fall because having half ton of horse slip and fall on you hurts. Plus he was shaken up and hurt too. However I was back at my regular lesson slot 10 days later. Ouchies ..trotting hurt and getting off was more falling off than dismount. Lol. I asked RI to hold horse and tried to swing leg over but kept other in stirrup. Of course it did not turn out like it does in the cowboy movies and I almost landed on my behind as my leg swung forwards. :o
Will you want to get back on? I suppose it depends on how confident one is before the fall and also how bad the injuries are.
My OH worries about me but knows that horses and riding is important to my happiness so he supports my keeping on. My family and sons are less keen and suggesting knitting as a hobby. :)
 
I broke my back ( a wedge fracture ) silly fall , the consultant who looked after me was looking after a lady who had exactly the same fracture see tripped over the storm guard putting a milk bottle out .
I was wearing a body protector in my case it's believed to have contributed to the injury as it prevented my back flexing when my face hit the ground first.
Mine was not an inpact injury my spine fractured when the forces coming back down my spine from my face hitting the ground met the momentum of the rest of me coming forward I felt it break.
You can wear all the safety stuff in the world but if an accident has your name on it it's fate .
In my case I did everything right and got hurt .
My strong leg postion meanlt I was on the horse as it hit the ground I was pushed into the ground for less than two feet above it it's felt the body protector meant the vertebrae had no where to flex when the two forces met .
I had grasss stuck way up my nose I was lucky my neck was ok as it was forced right back and was bruised by the body protector.
It's never put me off riding as soon as I could I was back on .
 
honetpot said:
My husband with a chainsaw is my worst nightmare.
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Me too!!

OP - what does your doctor say? If he/she says it's no more of a risk than before then why not if you really love it? Can understand your wife's POV but if she sees you're not taking any unnecessary risks then surely she will come round to the idea..eventually..?

Definitely use a back protector though - I have to! and they're not so bad these days (my OH freaked out when a good friend of mine had a bad accident and bought me one, I get into serious trouble if he ever sees me out without it)
 
I too fractured my vertebra - actually this time last year (thank god it wasn't this summer - would've missed all the lovely weather to ride!). I bought a Hit Air post fall and a seat gel pad thingy; feel v safe in both.

As others have said, its a high risk sport but we can do lots to help minimise the risk/consequences. Good luck with the decision making - perhaps allow your wife to read our responses ;-)

Goldenstar; that sounds completely horrific and I'm amazed that didn't put you off. Good for you. Hope you're fully mended.
 
E. Bainbridge said:
I fell and broke a vertrebra. Now, the fracture has somehow grown together, and even though it might look funny on the X-ray, my back seems to be fine again.

I don't know if I fell well or badly, concerning the "technique", but I can say with a good conscience that it wasn't my fault the horse threw me. Given that, it's just clear that it could happen again any time. What do you think - is there any chance I'll take it up again? And have you any good arguments so that my wife will ever allow our son (five yrs old) or me to ride? (Of course, she wouldn't actually want to forbid it to me, but she'd be in constant panic.)
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Because this was the horse's fault in that he threw you, and I can more than understand your nervousness and that of your wife's. I had a severe accident 10 years ago when I broke 2 vertebrae in my neck, ischial ramus, right ankle and several other bones and other injuries. However, this was NOT the horse's fault in any way, so I am not at all nervous about riding again, and I have done several times.

The only advice I can give you is this. Go to a reputable riding school that you trust and that have some quiet schoolmasters. Explain what happened to one of their instructors, and get them to put you through your paces in the school on the horse that they recommend as being suitable for you. If all goes well, then go out for a quiet hack with you mounted on your schoolmaster, and the instructor mounted, and see how you feel after a hack on and off road, consisting of walk, trot and canter and if you feel up to it a gallop and even a jump or two if appropriate and you are up to it.

Then have a good think about how you feel. There is absolutely no point in riding if you are frightened of having a fall, or your family and scared witless that you will have a fall. Taking a tumble is all about riding, and we all do it, even on our quiet schoolmasters. But if you are terrified about "what if", then it is not fair on your horse, on you or your family and you need to hang up your boots and maybe have a go at driving if you still want to be involved in horses?
 
It's not the falling that worries me, its the landing badly and hurting myself.....Seriously, I broke my leg very badly a few years ago, involving a frame many ops and stretching it back to the normal length (not nice!). I went to a local riding school and literally rode 'Muffin the Mule' when I could canter confidently on that, I got myself a new horse... Good luck, don't give up if you love it and wear a body protector....
 
Hello, L3 burst fracture, L1-L5 instrumental fusion ( my avatar.) Spinal cord damage, t12 incomplete paraplegia, ta da!! Not allowed to ride until Feb, when I do i'll be wearing my new airowear bp, and a point 2 air jacket. I'll be going to my local RDA, at first. You must protect the area of your back that's damaged. You must also weigh up the why? If you, like me feel a life without riding, a life without the company of horses, a life without the adrenaline release from riding is a miserable one then you have to go for it. I tell my family & friends who are now mostly , "horsist" that I could be splattered crossing the road or popping to the shops! A gentle plod, a few lessons and you should know whether or not its something you want to pursue. Whatever you decide, good luck.
 
Thanks again, everybody!

It's not much of a phobia or a horror of ever sitting in a saddle again, but the cold, rational knowledge that I couldn't have done anything about it and so won't be able to should this happen again, however good-natured the horse is and however confident I am. (From the doctors' point of view, by the way, nothing speaks against taking it up again.)

That I could be run over by a bus tomorrow is something I never quite got. Risks are different, and what's more they add, so that point doesn't help me much.

I thought about back protectors, but then there are cases like what happened to Goldenstar - some people are of the opinion that the such dangers outweigh the possible protection, also because they might make it difficult to roll well.

I wouldn't say I could never live without riding, but it felt bloody right, would be good for my health and anyway, simply normal. We wouldn't be under any social pressure at all from family or friends, but I always took it for granted our son would ride, just like riding his bike - now I think a bit differently, and my wife is even less convinced.

Ah, well. I think I'll have a closer look into that back protector business.
 
This is going to sound very grim but stick with me ! You could fall walking down the street and break your leg, you could have a car crash that's not your fault and break a few bones. Everything in life has a level of risk to it including riding and yes you might fall off again but do you do a risk assessment every time you head out the door ? Probably not. We only have a short time on this earth and I am a firm believer in doing everything that makes you happy during that time. It's up to you if you ride again I hope if you do enjoy it the safety side doesn't put you off again I know a bad fall wakes you up !
 
OP - Hit Air is not a traditional, stiff back protector. Its an air bag that goes off as soon as you and the saddle part company. It was originally designed for motorcyclists and is an amazing piece of kit. My instructor was there when Laura Collet had her fall and he spoke to the paramedic afterwards who said that it saved her life. Its blinkin' expensive though. There's another brand - Point Two (I think) but both in same price bracket.

Happy investigating.
 
E. Bainbridge said:
Thanks again, everybody!

It's not much of a phobia or a horror of ever sitting in a saddle again, but the cold, rational knowledge that I couldn't have done anything about it and so won't be able to should this happen again, however good-natured the horse is and however confident I am. (From the doctors' point of view, by the way, nothing speaks against taking it up again.)

That I could be run over by a bus tomorrow is something I never quite got. Risks are different, and what's more they add, so that point doesn't help me much.

I thought about back protectors, but then there are cases like what happened to Goldenstar - some people are of the opinion that the such dangers outweigh the possible protection, also because they might make it difficult to roll well.

I wouldn't say I could never live without riding, but it felt bloody right, would be good for my health and anyway, simply normal. We wouldn't be under any social pressure at all from family or friends, but I always took it for granted our son would ride, just like riding his bike - now I think a bit differently, and my wife is even less convinced.

Ah, well. I think I'll have a closer look into that back protector business.
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You just have to go with your gut instincts ... I know that despite an horrendous accident I will ride again ... I have ridden again and it felt bloody fantastic ... but I also know that if I had had an horrendous accident due to my horse, I most likely would feel different.

Back protectors will not save your life in a really serious accident ... it is YOU who need to decide whether your desire to ride is greater than your fear of having a serious accident or even be killed, and leave your son and wife without a father and a mother.

My advice is simply to do what I did, which was to book a 2 hour menage lesson followed by a hack with a lady instructor who I trusted on a quiet Section D cob which was tiny compared to my horse. She felt so safe I couldn't possibly be scared, and I wasn't, and had a wonderful time.

Do that ... and see how you feel. If you still feel uneasy on a quiet schoolmaster in the menage, then you will know it is probably time to hang up your riding boots and quit.
 
Think you'll only know when you get back on a horse whether you want to keep riding, despite the risk. No shame in giving it up, if you decide not, though.

I used to scuba dive and I was always hyper aware that any mistake could be disasterous and that spoiled it for me eventually. That and sharks. :)
 
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