When did you break rather than bounce?

[Pink Gorilla]

So after falling off my horse yesterday (first fall in 11yrs) I’m pretty sure it didn’t hurt this much when I fell in my early 20’s. I only landed on my back and elbow, but every muscle in my body is sore as though I’ve done an intense gym session which involved whiplash and I’m walking like an old lady. So I’m only 35, but was wondering what age did you realise you were getting less bounce and more brittle and decided to stop doing more high risk activities like riding ‘problem horses’ etc and then stick to lower risk riding? I honestly don’t know how people like Mary King and Lionel Dunning had the guts to go on for so long!

 

[HappyHorses:)]

In my 40s now and tend to get winded more than I used to 20+ years ago. Saying that I did a mega spectacular fall today. First attempt at arena eventing and flying round until a roll top appeared and confused him. Went to go, stopped last minute and I rolled across the roll top somehow avoiding knocking the pole on top of it off ? Pony was a tad confused when I popped back up on the other side of the jump ? didn’t hurt tho so I must be well’ard ??

 

[EllenJay]

I'm old! Had a very gentle fall earlier this year - was only in walk, horse did an unexpected 180 spin and I just plopped off over his shoulder. Very slow motion fall - but it hurt. I was out of action for over 2 weeks. My back seized, my neck seized, my legs hurt, my arms hurt. My last fall was 10 years before, that was at speed over a XC fence, and I was back on-board the next day

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I was in my 50s, I think I would be 53, I fell walking across the yard for a halter and broke my ankle. I had never done myself any real harm falling off until that point but then the rot set in.

 

[w1bbler]

Approaching 50, fell off, dissected my carotid artery & had a stroke.
Realised I definitely wasn't invincible & now only ride very sensible horses ?

 

[Surbie]

Last year, late 40s, tried jumping again. Cobbus disliked the idea. Woke up in the scanner at hospital. 6 weeks off riding, had post-concussion syndrome and have permanent memory loss. Three weeks after starting riding again I came off when Cobbus spooked in canter out hacking and I damaged my rotator cuff on landing on my back. That took 6 months to heal.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Had a rotational 3 yrs ago at 55, v lucky to get away with bruising and it's made me more circumspect about being a bit gung ho with my jumping.
V glad it was indoors, caught a pole, pole flipped (on the back of an 85 oxer), tripping us up in mid flight, crashed hard and went over together and all I remember was that I heard coach shouting to keep still. L Fuzzy laid on the floor whilst I was extracted from under, no lasting ill effects, amazingly! Nobody knew how I hadn't broken anything.
Still have it on film, scarey!

 

[Spotherisk]

I had a real purler when I was 47, four years ago, still trying to level myself up after that one but I think there’s irreparable damage. I slipped over last summer and found I lay still for a bit whilst mentally assessing the damage, before I got back up instead of leaping up as if nothing had happened.

 

[Lois Lame]

At age 39 I picked up a shuttlecock that had landed under the camellias, and maybe I did something to my back. All I know is that straight away I had to stop playing as my back didn't feel quite right.

It seemed to be my leg (hip? knee?) that was affected. It's more or less perfectish now. No one would know there is a problem at all, as long as I don't make a certain maneuvre with that leg.

Some people reckoned I was getting old

At 39?

Took me a long time to believe that, yes, the body was ageing. It was no long made of rubber.

I think if not for that shuttlecock going astray like that and a somewhat awkward bending over while feeling a little cross that daughter who whacked it there didn't retrieve it, I could have lived in ignorant bliss of ageing til I was decades older.

 

[Winters100]

About 2 years ago in my mid-40s. I am obviously a slow learner as it took both a broken back (sounds dramatic but it was not a dangerous break and spinal cord was fine), and then a year later a concussion that lasted more than 6 months. I sold super ferrari horse and bought nice safe volkswagen horses who have been just wonderful for me. An added bonus that without paying a trainer 6 days a week and endless lessons I now keep 3 for not much more than I used to spend on 1.

That having been said even sane sensible horses don't always save you. 6 weeks ago I fell after 1 of them tripped, broken hand, no big deal I thought. Fracture is now mended, but hand has developed Sudeck's atrophy, unbelievably painful and very poor movement in the hand which will last for anything between 2 weeks and 5 years. So right now I am not even sure if / when I will ride again and am just a bit shocked by the whole thing

 

[dreamcometrue]

Avoid falling off after 60. It’s more painful and the after effects are more severe.

 

[asmp]

I do know that I bawl my eyes out if I hurt myself these days! Last time I came off (I was feeling fragile anyway having just recently been in hospital for pneumania), I sat there and cried for ages, even the horses got concerned ?. Due to a bruised back, I then bought an air jacket as I definitely don’t bounce well anymore.

 

[rabatsa]

Late 40's here after a plop off after a jump one day and head first into some arena boards the following week after a spook & spin.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Never mind falling off a horse, falling over one of my dogs is bad enough.

 

[stormox]

Age 65 I was bucked off onto hard gravel after a young mare I was breaking got a plastic bag caught on her foot! I had a bruised hip and shoulder and a damaged hat. Got straight back on and still have the mare.
2 days later my friend 2 months younger slipped on a grassy path and broke her hip.
I think being hurt is more due to luck than age

 

[COldNag]

I had a very long gap between falls. Definitely falling off in my 40s was very different to in my 20s . Rarely ride now but wouldn't get on without a BP and wouldn't get on anything sharp.

 

[Not_so_brave_anymore]

I'm 36- I slipped over yesterday in the mud, from my own two feet, and I'm SORE today! I'm also emotionally much less resilient- I lay awake half the night worrying about all the different ways it could have ended up worse ?

 

[Skib]

I wear a body protector every time I ride. And a very high spec hat. I fell regularly while learning, average once a year, age 62-73.
The only time I needed A&E was after hitting my head (on tarmac from canter) two years ago.
I did trip over a post while walking daughter's dog and fall on one wrist, and did break my ankle on a coastal walk.

I agree with luck more than age. Plus, it isnt so much age, as how fragile one's bones are? And possibly relaxing as one falls? I am really too slow witted in old age to do anything but flop to the ground.
I grew up knowing that riding involved falling off. I would not mind so much if I owned a horse but it is the humiliation of entering it into the RS accident book. Which is often doctored to present the RS as blameless. And you have to sign as otherwise you are banned from riding.

 

[suebou]

About 55, broken ankle, followed by broken ankle(other one) followed by collar bone, rib and shoulder......it’s now takes longer to not hurt(if ever) and I’m now averse to getting on anything remotely sharp. I’ve also had a knee replacement and spinal surgery in there but flatly deny any connection with falls off horses over a 45 year period!

 

[fabbydo]

35. Broke lots of things all in one go and got squashed. At 34 and 11 months, I bounced. Now I just go splat.

 

[Goldenstar]

45 , I had had bad falls before that but bounced back

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

32. Ish I broke not bounced for first time. Now every time something unplanned happens it takes so long to recover...

 

[MagicMelon]

Definately changed when I had my first child. It hurt falling off from then onwards (athough didnt help my first fall after having him was off a 17.2hh). I still event and back my own horses etc. so still do "risky" things but I wouldnt choose to get on a nutter of a horse these days. I'm sitting here 6 months pregnant with my bum bone on fire as I injured it about 10 years ago falling off a horse, gives me job nown and again but pretty bad when pregnant for some reason...

 

[Durhamchance]

I broke my first bone at 35, I bounced for a few months prior to that. Now I always wear a body protector. I try not to fall off now, especially at events- too much paperwork!

 

[Coblover63]

Aged 49, I got thrown by an unexpected bronc and hit tarmac. I was wearing a Racesafe. Initially I thought I'd winded myself, then started thinking that perhaps I'd damaged a lung as the breathing difficulty went on and I realised that it hurt my side if I tried to move my arm. A subsequent hospital trip revealed 6 broken and displaced ribs, a partially collapsed, bleeding lung and a damaged spleen ..... and a four day stay at their pleasure. Oops!

Although the BP didn't stop broken bones, the medics said it saved my life.

 

[Lady Jane]

I was discussing this with a friend this weekend - what is the scientific reason we don't bounce anymore? Is it because we are less flexible? At what age do bones become more brittle? And why are the bruises so spectacular? 60 here and did break when I was younger too but with good reason

 

[J&S]

I came off a small pony who fell last summer, I literally crawled around for a week and had to have several sessions of Bowen Therapy. Fell last night because of terrible cramp and now have very bruised eye and cheek bone. I am old but I don't usually feel quite so broken!!