Saw an accident today and its knocked my confidence

Q

Quartz

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As we all know horses can be quite fresh in this weather and more playful than at other times of the year. I know my horse can take on turbo speed and then buck for France, but most of the time I can see it coming and can adapt my position to try and stay on (fingers crossed). During a dressage lesson today, almost at the end the horses started to play up more than the beginning. We were doing canter trot transitions through cones, all was fine until we changed directions. Then my horse broke into turbo and threw a couple mini bucks but all was OK. However the horse my friend was on, who had been fine the rest of the time suddenly threw a massive buck and she flew up in the air and then landed in a sitting position so her spine took the full impact. She is in hospital with suspected broken vertabrae. I am waiting for news as to how bad she is. It is the second time in 3 years that I have seen someone at this yard break their back. Thats what has really got to me, its not the first time I've seen this and it just makes me feel worried about riding. I know its a dangerous sport, but how many bad accidents have you seen?
 
I saw my boyfriend have a rotational with his horse, thankfully he came away with only a broken shoulder. I have to say it didnt shake my confidence (one of the only things that didnt LOL.....), but I can imagine it was scary to see. Have a hug - hope your friend is ok. Lots of people on here with broken backs to advise atm!
 
Oh god what a shame hope she is OK...yes horses are so unpredictable.

I sadly know someone that lost their life whilst riding..her new horse slipped and fell on top of her even though he tried to get out of her way that hit home hard.

I've also seen a girl get thrown from her horse at canter towards jump...she went over the jump followed by her cobby type to land on her...she broke her neck and arm, leg badly.

It is a risk we all take when around horses....
I hope that your friend is OK and will make a good recovery
 
Hope your friend is ok, sounds like a horrible thing to have seen :o It might sound a bit insensitive but try not to dwell on it. This kind of accident does not happen to everyone by a long shot, if you always dwell on what might happen we'd never go near a horse. Stay within your comfort zone and just go for a few quiet hacks or something, you might find as soon as your on board again your nerves disappear :)
 
It's natural to feel rocked after witnessing something like that. Riding is a risky sport but thankfully accidents as potentially severe as this are relatively rare events. Good advice from Dobby.
 
I don't know if this will make you feel any better but I had an accident quite similar to what your friend did and landing sitting down in a very hard school after being ejected out of the saddle and falling from quite a great height. I couldn't move for quite a while and was terrified I had broken my back. The pain was quite indescribable.

Needless to say I was fine although was in a lot of pain for quite a while. Fingers crossed she will be ok.
 
Thanks everyone for your words of wisdom. The first time I saw someone broke there back, I didn't dwell on it with the thinking that it is probably quite rare. But this is the second time. Anyway, will wait to hear what exactly the prognosis. Just feel a bit sick with worry. I cannot tell my husband as he doesn't like me riding because of these kinds of accidents and I really would not sell my horse. Will take things easy till I get my confidence back up. Maybe just lunge him tomorrow.

Carolineb, interesting to hear about what happened to you and glad you were ok. Thanks for your comment.
 
Accidents are always going to happen when animals are involved, its just unfortunate that youve witnessed some nasty ones! But dont let it knock your confidence, it doesnt happen to everyone that badly! And i hope she gets better soon!

The worst accident ive seen was in a little 2ft jumping class (that i was in, anything bigger is scary ;) ) and someone came off, they jumped before the pony did and the pony tried to miss them, but couldnt quite manage it, and ponys hoof scraped down her back. LUCKILY they pony wasnt wearing studs and the girl was wearing a body protector! I think she was okay after it though.
 
Hello, a couple of years ago I saw a very serious accident when jump judging BE - a rotational fall where the rider was unfortunately killed.
I tried for over a year to cope with this mentally, denied to myself that the images that kept replaying in my head and waking me up at night were having a negative effect on me - but they were.
I eventually admitted to myself that I had a problem, and went to see a counsellor - this really helped and I can now think about the accident without it consuming my mind. I've even managed to start jumping again, and enjoy it!
I guess what I'm saying is that if you find your confidence is still knocked after a few weeks or so, going and seeking professional help is possibly a good idea.
Good luck with it - I'm sure after you've been on a few more incident free and happy rides your confidence will be back and you'll have put what you saw behind you. But if you haven't don't feel bad about seeking help xx
 
Teasel said:
Hello, a couple of years ago I saw a very serious accident when jump judging BE - a rotational fall where the rider was unfortunately killed.
I tried for over a year to cope with this mentally, denied to myself that the images that kept replaying in my head and waking me up at night were having a negative effect on me - but they were.
I eventually admitted to myself that I had a problem, and went to see a counsellor - this really helped and I can now think about the accident without it consuming my mind. I've even managed to start jumping again, and enjoy it!
I guess what I'm saying is that if you find your confidence is still knocked after a few weeks or so, going and seeking professional help is possibly a good idea.
Good luck with it - I'm sure after you've been on a few more incident free and happy rides your confidence will be back and you'll have put what you saw behind you. But if you haven't don't feel bad about seeking help xx
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You poor thing, that sounds awful to have witnessed that. I am glad you are ok now and appreciate your advise. Thanksx
 
Not seen too many, but been in three. First was a bleed on the brain, second was a cracked forearm, third was a broken back.

I was going to give up the last time, but heard of a lady who went for a jog. She tripped. She's now paralysed from the neck down.

Things happen.

We take the best precautions we can and we get on with enjoying what and when we can :)

Hope your friend is okay and that you are feeling better very soon.
 
I haven't seen many bad accidents although recently sadly one of our riding club members died as a result of an eventing accident. However, I still think the chance of severe, life threatening injuries are thanfully fairly rare. I have taken flyers off horses over the years and not broken any bones or done any damage but I have tripped up a step before and severly sprained my ankle. Oh and ended up in hospital with a suspected broken nose after a drunken fall down steps - oh AND got knocked off a moped in greece......!!! Basically, we do things ever day that out our lives in danger and, although it may make us more aware of what could happen i guess you just have to think - "I may as well just get on with it!".

If you really did feel it was affecting you then i would advise chatting to an impartial person - ie a counsellor as someone as said above. It may help you put things in perspective. I have to say i worry more about my horse injuring itself than I worry about myself - i think I'm probablty easier to 'fix'!

Of course seeing an accident does make you concerned and worried but that is life and we need to make the most of it whilst we're here - you can't wrap yourself yourself in cotton wool. god, if you thought about all the accidents you hear about you'd never go out in a car or go walking on a street on your own etc etc.

I hope your friend is ok and is just a bit bruised.
 
I dont think I've ever seen someone really hurt from a fall and haven't really had bad one myself! I've had two that hurt quite a lot, once I came off a mare at a riding school whilst going over poles and she jumped onto my leg and then used it as a take off point to jump again, and my other was when riding a 17.2 in a rock hard field who whipped round and I went straight down his shoulder and landed on my knee. I think montyforever on here is bad luck for me, whenever she's around I seem to fall off and she was there for both of my "bad" falls :p

The worst fall have seen was on a trampoline, my friend lost balance and put her arm out to save herself, only landed on the bit on the side that covers the springs but landed with so much force she broke her arm.
 
I havent seen many bad ones, the worst was my own. I had a horse rear and flip over and broke my femur. Any closer and it would of been worse, I was very lucky. But everyone who saw it was very shaken up. We reckon if the owner (who is a nervous rider) had seen it she would never have got on her horse again. I was only standing to dismount and he napped as a pony went out of sight.

I wasnt worried about getting back on was more worried about the pain and having a fall and rebreaking my leg.
 
I hope the rider turns out to be ok. Sounds awful.

I haven't seen anything too terrible myself, other than seeingmy younger sister get hit by a car whist riding out with me, TWICE! However she and the pony were fine both times, just bruised. My friend was also airlifted to hospital after falling which was also scary but she was ok.

A friend of mine was out hacking a couple of years ago when he passed a lady and her daughter also riding out. He went for a canter round a field and turned back, only to find the woman had fallen from her horse and hit her head on a post (she was wearing a hat). He had to call an ambulance and wait with her and her daughter but sadly she died at the scene. I can't imagine how awful that would have been :(

I also have lessons with a lady who was paralysed when eventing a few years ago, which does make you think, but I doubt she would change her choice of sport given the opportunity to start over.

One more - YO broke her back a few years ago - slipping on the ice. As someone else said, things happen. I wouldn't want to live my life never taking any risks only to fall down the stairs not be ABLE to do anything!

Have a read of this :)
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/timesappeal/article2830755.ece
 
Jo Jo - That is a bit how I feel at the moment. I am DESPERATE to get back on and try again. But the fracture to my back was nasty and I know I was lucky that the spinal cord wasn't damaged. It was a simple accident - a flight of pigeons flew into her and she bucked, reared and went into a gallop. I fell onto concrete hard grass (snow would probably have been fine >g<). I know it could happen again and the thought of the pain and the potential disability is awful. The prospect of being paralysed frightens me and I know it wouldn't be fair on my family.
 
I hope your friend gets better soon, thats a horrible thing to happen. We all know the risks but as long as you make yourself as safe as you can be then theres not much you can do- you hear about people having terrible accidents doing the most mundane everyday things! i think what happened to your friend was a bit of a freak accident and she was just extemely unlucky- but then some might say she is extremele lucky as her injuries could have been worse! try not to let it bother you. If you think about the amount of horrific accidents people have on the roads you would never drive again.
 
ive been in and seen a few!

earlier on in the year at an Oatridge showjumping night a girls horse reared up on came back down on top of her with her still aboard. broken pelvis and ribs in a few places i think.

personally, iv been kicked in the face and had my jaw broken in three places. im all plated up.

and a ex racehorse reared up and fell on top of me. luckily it only broke my ankle and ribs, but my ankle is now permanatley buggered! it took me a while to ride again after that, although i did try to get sraight back on out of habbit when i got up... oops!
 
Firstly best wishes to your friend and i hope she get better soon!!
I was at Thirlestane the year Polly Phillips died and happened to be standing at the fence and witnessed it all happen! I was very small at the time (definately under 10 although i think i was under 8!) so i know cant actually remember it now at all but my mum who was with me can!
I also was in the warm up when i was about 15 with a woman who broke her back, it was just me and her in the warm up and her horse reared and flipped over on top of her! I caught her horse and sorted him out for her (took him home etc) as she was taken to hospital, i have never seen her again but have wondered if she was ok!
Neither have affected me as i think i am quite pragmatic and understand that accidents happen, we do our best to avoid them but they do happen, but they can happen walking accross the road , driving the car etc!!
Q
 
jendie said:
Jo Jo - That is a bit how I feel at the moment. I am DESPERATE to get back on and try again. But the fracture to my back was nasty and I know I was lucky that the spinal cord wasn't damaged. It was a simple accident - a flight of pigeons flew into her and she bucked, reared and went into a gallop. I fell onto concrete hard grass (snow would probably have been fine >g<). I know it could happen again and the thought of the pain and the potential disability is awful. The prospect of being paralysed frightens me and I know it wouldn't be fair on my family.
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My problem is that if I fall off and land on my leg the rod thats holding the break together can break and shatter the bone. I am taking a big risk riding. I only got back on my own pony and the odd ride on my sisters pony. I am thinking of having the rod out in the furture.

I cant begin to understand how u feel as mine is not way near as serious as yours.
 
I had an awful accident that nearly put me off riding for life. my horse fell over a really narrow but deep ditch out hunting. I fell to the bottom on the ditch on my back, and the horse landed on top of me with his legs folded, so he was sitting the same position a cat would, but directly on top of me.. he legs were bent on top of me. and his front knees were at my neck. luckily thank god the sides of the ditch took some of his weight, but i was completely pinned. i honestly thought i was going to die, especially when the only way for him to get up was to put him feet and weight on me. i haven't a clue how he did it, but he managed to push himself to standing and place his hooves at the side of me. then they could pull him up and i could be moved. someone was definitely looking down on me that day because i was fine apart from sore ribs. and i really appreciated my cob, because i could see he was absolutely terrified but he still knew not to stand of me. and i'l never forget the feeling of relief when i realised he was trying to avoid standing on me. it put me off hunting for ages and i'd still stay away from certain ditches.

when i started back riding tho i would have panic attacks, cause the realistaion of the danger of it really sunk in. i used to get a weird terror in my stomach and my whole body would tense if he even jolted slightly, if its any consolation, the feeling did ease off over time. gradually i started to loose the terror and i'd say im back to normal now.
 
So sorry to hear about your friend. Lets wish her a speedy recovery bless her. Ive seen lots of accidents with horses and have had my fair share. I had a horse slip over with me and break my knee, leg and big toe but this never put me off even though my foot has never been the same since. A few weeks ago whilst out showjumping, my friend fell off and popped her shoulder out of its socket backwards. Needless to say she went off in an ambulance and I took the horses home. Horses are so unpredictable but we love them. I feel that I really know my horse now, and how he may react, however im not always right ! I must say that i am seriously thinking of riding in a body protector now, not just for competing.
 
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