It was all going so well....

Wimbles

Wimbles

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Since returning to riding after injury a month ago things have been going really well. I've attended my first dressage comps, done my first horseball training session and plenty of hacking.

Last night after work I thought that I'd have a little ride in the field to practice my dressage for the coming weekend's Team Quest outing.

Dangerous Brian wasn't feeling very co-operative but that's nothing new. We were merrily trotting a circle when a pheasant ran past. The next thing I know is that there's a squeal and it launched into the air like a rodeo bronc! I managed to sit this but then he just dived from under me and catapulted me towards the ground, landing straight onto my left side which is where my bionic arm is of course.

I lay in the grass with no one around to help, shaking like a leaf and hyperventilating slightly as Brian naffed off merrily up the field, horrible memories came flooding back. I then realised that the good news was that my leg hurt more than my arm!

I hobbled up the hill to fetch the ridiculous creature who was having his arse kicked by one of the other horses so was happy to be back with me for some protection. I popped a lunge line on him and gave him a few minutes on each rein before shakily climbing aboard once again. I made him give me a few circles of nice work and then called it a day.

Looks like I have had a lucky escape, have a large haematoma under my left knee. My arm is sore but seems to be working OK so hopefully I've got away with it. Not sure, however, what this will have done to my fragile confidence. I'm so cross, why did it have to happen??

How should I go forwards from this?
 
Oh gosh, after last years fall and the repercussions from that, it's no wonder your confidence is in a rocky place.
Dangerous Brian sounds very much like my hooligan so you have my sympathy.

Unfortunately it sounds like it really was just one of those things- we have a resident pheasant and I'd shoot the dam thing if I could as it's been the cause of so many near misses for me!

Could you spend a few days just getting on board and having a tootle in walk? Do you have a school to ride in or somewhere pheasant free?
 
Ouch!
Wimbles, you say you are cross - thats good, better cross than shakey.
Sorry you are so sore, I think poss lunging before you get on for the next few times might get settling, but you can never factor in random eejit missiles.
Hope you heal soon
 
Oh wimbles, what appallingly bad luck :(
Can you arrange to have someone around for a few times when you are ready to get back on board?
 
Oof glad you seem ok! Can you pop him on the lunge or trot him inhand before getting on to get any of the sillies out? Or was it just a spook with extra pizzazz? Different bit to just give a bit of extra control?

When I got back on Topaz after busting my collarbone I used the gag to give me extra stopping power, and I knew in the gag I could get her head up quick smart if she wants to bronc.

Edit to add trying to have someone there when you next ride wouldn't be a bad idea either.
 
Thanks guys, will definitely try and organise someone to be there when I'm next riding. It's just bad luck that the lady that loans one of the horses has just had surgery so is not coming up.

There's no school, just pheasant/rabbit/pigeon infested fields. The thing is, Brian's not actually a high spirited silly or strong type of horse but when something isn't quite to his liking he just reacts in a big way. He's like one of those people who is just massively over dramatic and does flailing arm movements and flicks their hair. In brief, he's just a bit of a nob!

I might see if someone wants to come with me to hire a school but it's just left me feeling a bit deflated :(
 
Oh no, little toads (pheasant and DB)!
Definitely make sure someone is with you when you ride - I won't work any of the youngsters without someone in earshot at the very least, even though they rarely put a foot wrong, after flying through the air off my old TB with enough time to think "**** nobody knows where I am and my phone's in the house".
Also if I'm not feeling wonderful I'll just stick my BP on whatever i'm doing - gives me some reassurance and makes me more willing to tackle monsters ;)
 
Wimbles said:
I might see if someone wants to come with me to hire a school but it's just left me feeling a bit deflated :(
Click to expand...

that sounds like it might be a good idea - a change of scenery with no critters, something positive to focus on, and a bit of company.
 
poor you. I think I would be inclined to lunge him in the field before getting on to get rid of and pheasants lurking there waiting to leap up and grab him be the throat if you are going to ride there. and make sure someone is around whenever possible. if nobody there its a good idea to phone someone trustworthy (and who is not going to forget you) when you are about to get on and again when you dismount safely so that if anything does go wrong someone will call you in say 30 mins if you have not called to say you are ok and will investigate if there is no reply. that just gives you a bit of confidence that if something bad did happen you would not be stuck out in a field for hours until someone misses you or turns up to do their horse :) hope you feel less deflated soon
 
Rubbish beast! Trying to find the positive in all things look at it this way - you were going to fall off again at some point (as much as we don't want to!) and the up shot is now its done with, you have come away with a few minor boo boos but it's happened and you survived (the bionic arm is clearly made of the good stuff) :) that makes it sound ridiculous I know. Again though couple of lessons learnt - make sure you have someone with you and secondly run round the field first to scare off any pheasants - will do wonders for your fitness!! :D )

Seriously though its a massive relief that you didn't hurt yourself and it's the risk we take with our delightful choice of hobby. I'd say though it was just proper bad luck/timing. Confidence is a funny old thing as it always reappears without you really noticing :) stay positive!!
 
I vote you need to rent a spaniel to do pre riding field pheasant clearance :D glad arm seems to have survived
 
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