Learning to Fall Off

Would you take it if you thought you had had an accident?

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Kate260881

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Following on from a conversation with a friend the other day I was wondering who was taught this? I never was and have a tendency to try and keep hold of the reins when falling off (had a horse that used to bolt when loose) to the extent where I was dragged backwards once (a blonde.. you do have to wonder sometimes). My friend was taught and also used to prefer to fall off in some situations... whereas I'm the cling on for dear life. So who was taught and who wasn't?
 
I've never been officially taught though I seem to remember there used to be courses in how to (though I think they were for jockeys / event riders).

That said - I try v. hard not to
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Yes I was - I remember getting told to keep my arms in when I was a kid getting bucked off for the umteenth time in a lesson. I actually got the you need to make yourself into a ball so you can roll away from the horse talk!

Came in handy when my young one bronced, I used to come off and land in a tiny ball avoiding hooves, legs, quarters etc
 
Nah, I didn't need lessons, falling off came naturally
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Once I realised how much it hurt, one pony apart, I became very, very good at staying on
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These day, on the whole, I'm too scared to fall off, much prefering a limpet-like cling to all and any parts of neddy's anatomy
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I was never taught to fall off, and i would recommend not doing it too often as it hurts!! I am still in lots of pain after falling 3days ago
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I think holding on can result in some quite nasty injuries because if you do come off it is a 'dead' fall by which I mean you slam into the ground and there is no roll to disipate the energy.
There are times when bailing out is the safest option!
 
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These day, on the whole, I'm too scared to fall off, much prefering a limpet-like cling to all and any parts of neddy's anatomy
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My thoughts exactly.... not very dignified though
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Don't care lol
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I think holding on can result in some quite nasty injuries because if you do come off it is a 'dead' fall by which I mean you slam into the ground and there is no roll to disipate the energy.
There are times when bailing out is the safest option!

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I find that interesting. I know that people do bail out on purpose, I've just always been too scared to
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I think holding on can result in some quite nasty injuries because if you do come off it is a 'dead' fall by which I mean you slam into the ground and there is no roll to disipate the energy.
There are times when bailing out is the safest option!

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I dither too much when it comes to bailing out - by the time I've decided it's the best option I've already been buried into the floor
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I think holding on can result in some quite nasty injuries because if you do come off it is a 'dead' fall by which I mean you slam into the ground and there is no roll to disipate the energy.
There are times when bailing out is the safest option!

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Totally agree, I used to fall off on purpose when my WB bronced. If you tried to stay on too long (and you were coming off hell or high water) you would just end up under his feet. I would just look down come out the side door and land relatively far away from the nutter.
 
I was never taught to fall off but had various ponies that meant falling off became a skill I quickly learnt. I also spent various times in the local A&E waiting for my wrist to be x-rayed.

However, my neighbours, after I left for uni, were vaulters - and used to do a session on how to fall off in a much more elegant (and probably safer manner) - I believe they taught several pony clubs how to vault on but also come off.
 
I've just seen a few people really hurt themselves with falls they are fighting. When you're going, you're going better to come off cleanly and be out of the way than grip on to the bitter end and fall really awkwardly. It's one of the reasons I'm not keen on modern jumping saddles with big knee and thigh rolls I find they hold me too much. If it is all going pete tong I want to be able to exit before the horse comes down on me.
 
Never got taught properly but have learnt the hard way!! I try to hang on these days - too far too fall and it hurts despite having my own in built protection! I gave my neice a lesson in how to hang on today whilst out hacking - it lasted a whole 20 mins as my boys single brain cell went into meltdown - prat!!
 
Yep - was taught how to fall in one of my first riding lessons - but it was in the 1970's! Was taught to roll, not put out an arm on landing and to go all floppy......
Can even remember the pony - a black shitland called Bunny!
 
I havent been taught to fall off, I tend to cling on for dear life, OK that sounds like I look messy clinging on, I tend not to look as if I am coming off and then in a flash I get whipped off, I dont make a habit falling off but it is spectacular when I do.
 
Never was taught technique but interestingly my mum was
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I'm a let go and let gravity do the rest sort of person! Sometimes I do wish I wasd a limpet though
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I was never taught but always try to 'stay floppy', if I tense up it usually hurts more. And roll, if the horse comes down too (only happened the once and please God never again, we were both very lucky)
 
my YO/Instructor is an ex jouster/stunt rider
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so tries to tell us how to/how not to fall off! he used to do some spectacular falls for shows!
 
i think it comes as instinct, thats why I like to give children naughty ponies, as the more you fall off as a child the less of a big deal it is as an adult and the less likely you are to get hurt by a silly fall. I had little shites of ponies when i was growing up, that used to take great pleasure in dropping shoulders, bucking or simply tricking me in to thinking they were going one way and then going the other. The trick is to keep your arms in and roll on to your side, i try and keep my head tucked in to. I would reccomend all those who haven' been taught to fall a few session on a trampoline also, with some bounces and landings! I have only ever broken one limb falling off in 20 yrs of riding, and that was my wrist off a terrible horse who was having abroncing fit , my boss told me to hit him and so I lifted away my right arm, cracked him one on the bum, sent him in to oblivion (this was a bad move as he was already sharp and it made him worse) and before you know it he had dumped me with my right arm still away from my side, hey presto broken wrist. had i just sat tight and ridden out the bucks or had he managed to dump me from a normal possition i would have been fine.
 
Hm. Youngest daughter has a 'naughty pony'. She's hit the ground a few times, as have most people who have ridden him, now she's given up riding.
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...she wants to take up sub-qua diving. I've suggested Tiddly-Winks.
 
i was taught, for which i am everlastingly grateful. sometimes i make a very definite decision, better to let go now, it's only going to get worse... as soon as my weight is really shifted off-centre, usually. then i just let go and somehow usually manage to relax totally. until that happens, i do my very best to stay on!
 
I was taught to fall off in the Pony Club, probably about 20 years ago.

Have to admit to being one who tries to hold onto their horse, despite coming off my old horse at a flat out gallop.
I got dragged for about 20metres, and then stood up to find my jodhs and knickers around my knees (and full of mud), and the back of my shirt shredded out.
It was somewhat embarrassing....
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I was taught to fall off in the Pony Club, probably about 20 years ago.

Have to admit to being one who tries to hold onto their horse, despite coming off my old horse at a flat out gallop.
I got dragged for about 20metres, and then stood up to find my jodhs and knickers around my knees (and full of mud), and the back of my shirt shredded out.
It was somewhat embarrassing....
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Haha!! sorry but that really made me laugh!!
 
Scarily I was sent an attachment to a riding club newsletter recently containing instructions on how to bail out if necessarily, unfortunately the instructions advocated falling on your feet- sure fire way to break a leg I was taught. It suggested practising at halt, walk then trot (cos thats really the same as horse buggering off with you) and pretty much outlined the same procedure as you would normally use for dismounting.

have never needed to bail out myself, just end up accepting the inevitable and try and make myself floppy, pone is good at avoiding me, he stood on my arm once but it just sunk further into the puddle in the arena and I didn't even manage a bruise.
 
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