What has been your worst fall??

[SecretSquirrell379]

The pain of the dislocation was unreal, I didn't know what to do with myself and begged for pain releif when I got to the hospital. They thought at first that I had broken the socket joint as my shoulder had gone down so far and it looked odd so I had to wait a whilst they xrayed it before I could have any painkillers. If it had been broken I would of gone straight to theatre but luckily it wasn't as as soon as they had the ok I had pethadine. I was in agony and I had to have the jab in my leg but it was too painful to take my jods down so (whispers) I persueded the doctor to give me the jab through my jods

I think he just wanted to shut me up as soon as possible!!! I was really lucky that I was sedated to have it put back and I do not remember a thing about it. Have to say that A&E were fantastic that day, I was in and out in 1 1/2 hrs, hhhhmmm thinking about it maybe they just wanted me out of the hospital as soon as possible, I may of been a tad noisy

 

[patchandloopy]

Can only think of two that stick out. The first i was on my youngster in a jumping lesson she pecked on landing and went right over ,we both ended up lying next to each other luckily i didnt land under her and although shocked she wasnt hurt.

The second was back in september 2006, having a Sj lesson again! On Nigel he decides to stop at red fence but only at the last minute, he actaully took off and then put back down again and spun on the sixpence, so i decide to fall off landing on the small of my back first..never felt pain like it my arms and legs were shaking!! I couldnt walk upright for 3 days, i probably should have gone hospital or Drs but didnt! I now have muscle balled up on either side of my spine get pain from it from time to time.

 

[dozzie]

Having had both back feet from a youngster, breaking and dislocating arm, I now always wear a body protector and hat when lungeing my big beastie!!!!! A body protector wont stop breakages as such but they do protect you from bruising!!!

 

[juliebrewer]

I remember XC schooling when I was a kid and every thing you did was at top speed. I gallopped down some banks and my pony went flying and so did I, all the way to the bottom. I never did that again..

 

[Hettie]

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Hmm worse fall would have to be when my old horse reared up and went over backwards on me

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Me too!! Really horrible, broke my butt (coxics) and it really hurt! Still a bit worried hacking youngsters out...

 

[Tierra]

I have *touch wood* been rather lucky in this department. Ive had a couple of nasty falls but nothing truely horrendous like some people.

My worse one was probably when I took my little mare cross country in a pairs class. I remember walking the course the day before and noting that at one of the fences, there was a very large oak tree just the other side and you needed to jump to the right.

I should have predicted that she'd want to race and stupidly Id agree'd to go behind... We came to said fence and she darted out from behind and jumped over the left side of the fence, slammed the breaks on to dodge the imminent oak tree and dumped me on the floor. I landed (how on earth I managed this is beyond me) on my right knee cap and dislocated it and also knocked myself out

I can remember waking up with one of the first aid guys next to me and the first thing i said was:-

"Have you caught my horse?"

Him: "Yes and she's fine"

*Sees chestnut streak go whizzing past the bottom of the woods"

Me: "OMG Catch my damn horse!!!!"

Second to that has to be when I was showjumping a horse Id literally had for a week. He stopped at a wall and I went straight over his head. I remember feeling *something* on the nape of my neck before realising it was his front foot. Bless him, he was only a 5 year old and he'd obviously unbalanced himself and ended up with his hoof resting on the back of my neck. The little darling (ok, not little, 17.2 dutch wb) never put his weight down and eventually managed to back himself up.

As luck would have it I was fine but I dread to think what would have happened if he'd put his full weight down

I do dressage now... its much safer you know

 

[vicijp]

The most horrific was probably when I got bolted with, into a post and rail fence. He hit one of the posts flat out, chucked me 10 ft in the air and somersaulted on top of me. He lay on me for 10 mins winded, then got up to reveal a 6 inch deep gash across his front (wither to top of opposite front leg). They ended up shooting him, I got away with bruised ribs and a snapped stick (was still holding it when I got up).
Injury wise was when I got airlifted with suspected broken back. Horse put 2 front feet in a ditch, turned over and bropke his pelvis. I was unconscious for about half an hour, but walked out of hospital that evening with nothing more than pulled muscles in my neck and shoulder.
Bust my right ankle when a horse smashed through a wing with me, havent been through the wing since.

Bust 3 ribs and got serious sprained neck in a simple fall schooling round a point to point course.
Bust my left ankle when dog ran out of hedge in front of flat out piece of work. Both horses turned over and I ended up in the middle somewhere, completely crushed my ankle and didnt sit on a horse for 9 months.
Also dislocated both my shoulders coming off a breaker when I was about 13, again, learnt not to do that since.

 

[passie]

this is the same post for me as "what was your first pony!" bucked me off and trampled me. I got back on and then 5 years later I was X-rayed and had broken my pelvis!
however, I don't mind that as much as the time I fell off my brother's section C when she trotted into a jump and stopped. (never been so embarrassed in my life!)

 

[JaneMBE]

I had so many as a child I forget!
Worst, as a child, was when we were having a lesson (Hartwell stables Aylesbury in case you want to know!) I was on Yogi, nice little grey (my fav) and one of the foals in next paddock decided to gallop around. Yogi thought it would be funny to do the same, so he charged off...... the saddle slipped (girth not done right!) and I couldn't get my foot out of stirrup, so I was underneath him getting booted in the head every second before finally plopping to the ground.........

About 4/5 years ago I was out on a hack on Basil, 16.1 TB x CB. Cantering across the sheep fields, pretending I was a cowboy (you know, sitting back, one hand, shouting yeehah!) Horse came up behind so Basil decided to race (well, his rider wasn't in control!) Galloped like the wind, me no balance, gracefully and slowly slid over his head and he stopped pronto. I did a perfect landing, jockey style, knees tucked and still had hold of him

Pride more than anything hurt!

4 years ago, on a pub ride, was re-mounting in pub car park, adjusting myself, horse spooked and ran. I had no reins and unable to balance started to lean backwards desperately trying to grapple reins... horse ran into trees, nearly decapatating me and I came off when a branch hit me in the face. Only had a bacardi breezer too!

That was my worst, I had whiplash and lost my confidence for about 6 months. Luckily no broken bones, only shattered nerves..

 

[Chex]

I've not had any really bad falls *touch wood* but my worst injusy was my broken leg

. Was jumping Hooch, he leapt 4 foot over a foot high jump and I completely lost my balance. I actually had a split second of "yes, I landed on my feet!" before SNAP and I was on my ass

. I couldn't ride for almost 6 months, and I was shaking like a leaf when I got back on! Luckily Chex has been an absolute star so I'm back to normal now

Leg still really hurts though, 8 months later

and I'm left with 3 scars where they had to operate

 

[harrihjc]

I think *touch wood* I've been quite lucky so far!
An evil woman put me on her evil pony to warm it up for her daughter at a show, took the stirrups off so they would't get dirty (!) Pony went mad bucking and rearing, I came off and landed full force on my elbow on the metal bit that joins a trailer to the tow bar. VERY painful, lots of blood and couldn't move my arm for months (I don't do hospitals tho, ran away when they told me i needed stitches and an X ray!)
A dog attacked Maddy out on a hack and I came off and got dragged on my back nearly a mile home across a field. A couple of months later a dog attacked her in the sandschool and she freaked and fell and squashed me, I landed on my side and she landed on top of me. My shoulders are awful as a result of that, I can fit my finger in the hole where my arms aren't properly in the joint. Similar thing happened again a few weeks later.
Was fine and got backl on after all those incidents, even insisted on riding with my one arm.
The most recent nasty fall was on my last horse, had had her on loan for about 6 months and she had always been as quiet as anything. Was walking round the school on my own and she just went crazy and bucked until I came off. Really hurt my back and was completely paralysed in the sand for over half an hour until someone spotted me. My back went completely purple. She did that with my sister too, and I didn't get on a horse again for nearly 4 years, then just decided I wanted to ride and bought Flash

I'm definitely so much more aware of the dangers now I'm older, my sister was in a serious accident in October and was in hospital after getting trampled and breaking her collar bone and being kicked in the jaw, ribs and hip by a supposedly bomb proof horse. She won't get on a quiet horse now, only completely loopy ponies

 

[cazza]

flat out up the pitch, checked my horse, lovely sliding stop, back legs hit some damp ground, knocked front legs out from underneath my horse and we did an instant backflip, with her going over on top of me - my saving grace was one of the other players was next to me at the time and managed to grab my shirt, she pulled me to the side, so my horse only got my legs and not my torso.

Last one was the biggie - horse pannicked I checked it, it bucked, I ended up sitting on it's neck, tried to get back into saddle when horse tripped, I went between her front legs and she ran over the top of me. Resulting injuries - metal plates in my arm, metal plates and wire in my jaw (was shattered) and a fractured Kneecap.

 

[zoesophie]

I've had a couple but the bone breaker was nothing special - my old pony was a gymkhana pony and was just so fast... she went round the corner and left me behind - just slid of sideways but managed to land in a heap and chipped a bone in my elbow and had to have it pinned!

Best thing was I got a couple of weeks of school!

Next was first time I ever took Oscar XC was going great then I lost concentration (think i got a bit cocky to be honest)he went left and I went right - ended up with really bad concussion - still have no real memory of what actually happened!!

 

[RachelB]

Mine aren't very spectacular... but it would be a toss-up between the following:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/rachelbraz/lilyracheltidpitxcpc0204200217.jpg
At a PC XC rally, I was terrified but was jumping most things between 2'3" to 2'9". The hedge on the left of the pic was a big long row, we had to jump through that over a trough in the middle, turn left and jump the oxo fence as the last one of the lesson. The girl before me was better and jumped the rail thing, or at least her horse did and she got wrapped around the post. I should have known, but no I kept going, jumped the trough fine, turned to the oxo and flew it, then pony decided that it was all too much and bronked all the way back across the field. This pic was accidentally taken by mum when she started running full pelt to catch me! I'm on the other side of Lily, just falling off.
Or it would be the time I went XC schooling for the first time, the third fence was some 2'3" ish tyres and my pony cat-lept them and I came crashing down into the hedge next to them, which was full of nettles and sticky weed. But the thing that makes it the worst is that Lily then proceeded to bolt across the farm, we were terrified as it is bordered by two very busy main roads and we had no idea if they were fenced in! We ran for three miles to catch the damn pony! I was also not impressed when my mum made me get back on! I think that one affected me though as I've never been the same XC since, I always hold back a bit in case I fall off and my horse runs off and gets hurt!
The worst fall I've seen though was at the last Spire Park BE, it was the first fence which was a nice small sloping fence, and the horse cantered up to it, it's back legs decided to take off before it's fronts, and it flipped right over and narrowly missed the rider. Completely demolished the fence, it was then taken out entirely. The poor rider had to go off in the ambulance and the horse (which didn't have a scratch on it) was left for the officials to take away. I think the rider came on her own too, as I kept hearing calls put out for any friends to come and collect the horse. That was very scary, I seriously thought the horse had landed on the rider! Huge beast too!

 

[ginnyspinner]

I am slowly recovering from my worst fall - before Xmas, horse did major spook in wind - I came off broke tib and fib in 3 places. Got impressive metalwork in place now and can walk (nearly) without a limp. Its put me off big time and so am giving up horses for a while.

Pity no-one looking for lovely ISH mare, rising 5, unspoilt and fab.

 

[malibu211211]

I took D XC schooling with my friend, her mare and our instructor.
D was quite full of it and was doing little bunny hop bucks in the warm-up

I think it was the second jump we went over which was a brush fence on top of a hill, D leapt over it which pinged me up in the air (never had much stickability

) I landed on his bum

, he bucked again and I landed in a heap on the floor

So I'm told, I cannot remember even being there

I think it was worse for my friend and our instructor as they had to put up with me asking what happened EVERY couple of minates

 

[1CTrenowath]

Good grief - I wonder how many pins there are between you all -

I seem to have come off very lightly over the years - broken finger when about 7, couple of years ago was squished in a horsebox with dumb hoss who thought the most obvious way out was over the breast bar and out the personnel door stopping to 'hug' mummy and crack her ribs on the way past. Scariest moment was stoopid ginger tb mare who stuck her back feet down a riverbank, panicked and reared (the obvious solution to back feet disappearing!!) and we both ended up in the river down a 12ft drop.... no injuries, but I can't swim...

 

[Bright_Spark]

This thread is making me feel squimish

Had a couple of bad falls but not too serious. First was cantering Gypsy in a field, she slipped and went down on her side, I think, or she ditched me. I just remeber getting to my feet them promptly collapsing again. I think I may have passed out, I know I was telling myself my name, address etc to make sure I hadnt hurt my head

Ached all over the next day.

Other fall was when Septre chucked me into a barb wire fence and I split my ear in half. Felt fine and tried to get back on. My instructor said I would need stiches and then I say the blood.

Oh another time I was riding in the field next to a main road and Septre flipped at a lorry coming towards her, she started spining and rearing on a steep hill, she then spun the other way and I went underneath her. How she didnt trample me I'll never know.

 

[MagicMelon]

Ive had heaps of "near-misses" and had the odd horse fall on me, including falling off the top of an embankment and landing on a rusty barbed wire fence etc. But Ive never actually broken ANYTHING! Ridden 20 years (OMG, I sound old!!) now and no broken bones, I think thats pretty amazing actually especially as I event etc.!

Ive had the odd run in with barbed wire fences and have ended up with quite a number of stitches and my back is covered with lovely barbed wire scars... Think Ive been pretty lucky though by the sounds of the rest of you lot. If Id read this when I was 5, I would have never taken up riding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Happy Bird]

My worse was last year when my young mare spooked at a tractor just as I was mounting. She went into rodeo mode after getting mounting block mangled between her back legs whereby I flew out of the side door causing ACJ dislocation of the collar bone. I now have a big lump where my collar bone sticks out which my OH says helps to keep my bra strap up (thanks for the sympathy NOT). Got carted off in ambulance and pumped full of morphine.

Another time I fell off my old boy doing Wye sponsored ride. As we jumped XC jump I simply passed out (probably forgot to breathe LOL!) and banged my head on landing and had bad concussion/put in ambulance.

Lastly broke my finger - very painful - it kinda got bent completely backwards when my other gelding spooked at something during a lesson (think it was the judge's box but you never can be sure with him !)

 

[CastleMouse]

My worst fall probably was out hunting about a month ago. We were jumping a kind of white gate xc type fence, we were going over it one by one behind each other (with a good distance between us) and I thought the horse in front had cleared it fine to the very right, but when I was about to go over the jump I saw that the horse had got one of his back legs caught in it, Castle cleared the jump on the left, but in mid-air I felt a very hard kick and the feeling of a horse-shoe against my cheek, I was hit with quite a lot of force, which threw me completely off balance and came off. The horse has lashed out at me with his free leg. I tumbled along right in front of Castle's path, but he just stopped and waited for me to hop back on him. I woke up the next day with a large bruise on my cheek, and actually couldn't put my head against a pillow on that side. It could've been much much worse though. Luckily I haven't had any major falls, *touch wood*!

 

[old_girl]

I've only had one bad fall ever.

was jumping last year and my mare took off over a 2"3 upright. I knew in the air that it was all going wrong. Horse had somehow taken off from all 4 feet, and couldnt get front legs down in time.
She went crashing down after the fence, dumping me hard onto the sand. I was winded but got up, horse didn't. She did eventually, but with front leg dangling. Horse eventually put weight on leg, and it turned out that she was just shocked and bruised.

Once I knew the horse was fine I thought about me, realised that I hurt in lots of places, especially my arm, which I had fallen on. I then almost passed out (had also hit head hard) and was given sweet tea (bleugggghhhhhh).

I eventually drove home (probably concussed...), ate tea and went to bed, thinking arm was just bruised. Woke up next day, arm purple, swollen like balloon, and I couldnt lift a spoon to eat cornflakes. Went to casualty and came home plastered. They couldn't believe I hadnt gone in straight away. I'd never broken anything before though, so didnt know what a broken arm would feel like

On the plus side, hubby learned to ride, ,muck out, mix feeds and groom that month! My right hand was plastered almost to the fingertips so I could only watch and instruct!

 

[mickey]

Fallen off loads of times as a child. However, have owned my horse for 7 yrs almost and only fallen off him once. Unfortunately this was when I broke my L2 vertebrae - nasty unstable fracture requiring titanium rods/bone grafts. I am very lucky to be fully recovered.
Until that time I had never broken anything!
Trying not to fall now, the consequences could be beyond contemplating.....