Getting hurt

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BigBlue

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May 24, 2000
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Hi, here is my story. 42 years old. Just took up riding in Feb. of this year. I take one or two private lessons a week. I love it. However, I have broken an ankle skydiving a few years ago. I also tore up my knee playing football when I was in school. I know what being injured is like.
My instructor says at some point I will fall off. It almost happened my second lesson when my horse stumbled. I read on another bulletin board about someone breaking their back. This is obviously a dangerous sport/hobby. Does anyone else feel anxious about riding?
 
Hi Bigblue

I think you'll find that most people on this site, especially us 'more mature'!! ones are afraid, anxious or just plain terrified! about falling off. I'm the one you've read about who broke her back but I'm now riding again and don't intend to let it beat me!! There's a lot of talk about not being a good rider until you've fallen off but I for one don't really hold with that, I certainly don't intend to fall off again. I think the answer is not to do anything that you don't feel confdent doing. Don't be afraid of telling your instructor that you don't want to do something and don't be bullied into doing it. Of course you have to give in to a certain amount otherwise you'd never learn, but if you really don't want to do something then don't do it. Similarly if you're asked to ride a horse that you don't feel comfortable on then ask to be changed. Since my accident I sometimes feel that I've become a real wimp and complainer, but better that than flat on my back in hospital again!!

Riding is supposed to be fun so make sure you do what you enjoy on a horse you feel confident on, it is a dangerous sport but by learning to ride properly and sensibly we can reduce the risks.
 
I have had some bad accidents, mostly on motor bikes and horses. The worst was on a motorbike. I have a plate in my leg which will stay there for ever. I still ride, I love every minute.
Make sure you know your limits and don't be scared to stick to them. I also have a degenerative bone problem in my back. Riding is the best physio for it.
Riding can be as dangerous as you want it to be. That will never take into account freak accidents of which we have all heard!
Kepp it up, it's a lot of fun.
 
Hi. I had some quite bad falls when I rode as a teenager, which led me to give up through lack of confidence. I have just taken up riding again as an adult, with some trepidation. About my fifth lesson I fell off twice - the first time the horse shied, and the second he decided to jump three trotting poles in one go! What I wanted to say to you is that, far from making me feel worse, these falls actually increased my confidence! When we think about falling off I think we tend to exaggerate how likely we are to get hurt. In a school, with sand or a similar material on the floor, it's actually quite a soft landing. Also, whilst you're doing basic beginner-type things on beginners' horses you're unlikely to get flung off at high speed like an eventer might be. Pretty much every fall I've ever had has involved losing my balance and not being able to get it back, often with a comical will-she-won't-she bit in the middle. The falls I had recently left me only with a bruise,as did almost all the falls I had as a teenager. (The quite bad falls involved jumping a horse which wasn't a novice ride.) BTW, if you do find yourself falling, I think it's meant to be a good idea to try to roll.
So although your instructor is right in saying that you'll almost definitely fall off at some stage, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll get hurt. I hope you have fun with your riding
Rebecca
 
I think it would be better to say you MAY fall off at some point noone can say you will definately! I have friends who have been riding for years and never properly fallen off. I have been riding for 12 years + and I've only had three falls - (many times when I stayed on only by the skin of my teeth though!) they were all stupid too - once my horse bolted so I though **** this and threw myself off! second time my horse stopped dead right in front of a jump and I got dumped and thirdly and most stupidly I fell off into a nice muddy pond. I dont think I'll ever hear the end of that one! Word of advice - keep away from any kind of low branch at all costs.
I understand you being worried but you don't have to be -don't set out being afraid of falling off cos then you will get nervous and then unbalanced etc - it won't necessarily happen to you. Just enjoy yourself and as you go along you will find your balance improves and its easier to stay on and anticipate if your horse is going to shy or do something silly etc.be confident and don't be afraid to speak out if you don't feel like you are ready for something...
 
You are certainly not alone with fears of injury. However, I agree that speaking up about something that you are not comfortable trying is an important part of staying whole. There are times when I'm feeling very unsure, but I either cut my ride short or review the more basic aspects of riding. Other times, things are going well with the horse and I am confident enough to try the next step. I guess I'm rambling. Just don't beat yourself up about your anxiety. But don't let it stop you from having fun and enjoying the horses. I rode as a teenager and took it up again in the past year at 41 years.
 
Ouch!

Hello Big Blue ... I agree with everyone who answered your email ... I've had fractured ribs, an injured neck, lots of bruises, and recently had to stop riding because after some increadingly breath-stopping pain, it was discovered I had an enormous cyst on my liver which, because I've had a number of falls, kept bleeding and obviously causing a reaction ... anyway, I had it dealt with,or it would eventually have ruptured, but have given up jumping for the time being, since that's when I've fallen off ... but I'm still,like everyone else, obsessed with horses, and will NEVER give up, even when I die!!! So, be aware, but feel comforted and encouraged by everyone's sympathy and support ... and in any case, you may or may not fall off, but it isn't always painful, I promise ... just a possibility you have to be aware of, and try to become as competent as possible by having as many lessons as you can afford, from a good, sympathetic and experienced instructor.

I'm still learning, and have a long way to go .... :) Anne
 
Hi there
I think if we're all truthful we're all a bit afraid of falling off (I mean who likes getting hurt??) but I guess the secret is not to expect it or let it spoil you're enjoyment. As Heather says in her book, the most important thing to a new rider is how to stay on and why isn't this explicitly taught? Take things slowly and work on your seat and balance, thereby reducing the chances of falling off.

If you do happen to part company, then try to relax as putting out arms/legs to break your fall may result in getting a broken/dislocated limb (it's like trying to push the earth out of the way !!)

I once heard a saying "you're not a rider 'til you've fallen off" - I thought this was a bit silly because surely the objective is to stay on !!

Good luck and happy riding

Sonia
 
I agree with everyone eles falling off is just something that will happen when you ride turst me i know ive come off that many times its not funnie when i was a little kid my teacher just used to throw me bac up on the horse every time i fell off and now days i thank him for that since im now 20 and have fallen or been thrown off tonnes of times the worst was when i came off a Clyesdale X and landed head first on hard soil but i got back up. If you are a little worried about riding after a fal i sujust you do what my teacher alway told me to do and thats get back on as soon as you can that way you know its ok and you dont worry about your fall a lot.

Hope this helps you

Bel
 
Don't forget to keep your heels down! :)
As soon as a horse spooks our reaction is to lean forward in the fetal position. this leads to falling off. After a while this reaction can be overcome, but it is fairly certain you will fall off at some point.
I am 15 have been riding since i was 8 and have fallen off atleast 150 times...not exaggerating
The first time i fell off i landed in a split with my ankel twisted, but i was forced to get back on, and though this sounds mean i'm glad because if i hadn't my fears would have kept building up. I have had falls where physically i should have broken something, but for some reason my bones all stay in one piece :)
Now when i fall off i black out till i've hit the ground so there isn't much pain or fear involved.(i don't know if this happens to anyone else...mabe i'm just wierd) If you "know how to fall" it can even be (dare i say) fun. Accidents and bad falls happen, but almost everyone who has suffered an injury from falling has also many falls that only resulted in a brused bum. It would be interesting to find out the ratio between falls causing injury and falls that don't. I'd be willing to bet that the injury fall would be much lower.
I don't know where you ride, but if there is deep snow at any time, take the horse out, have someone hold him and roll off so you'll know what it feels like.
Hope (if you do fall) it's graceful.
Allie
 
Hi Bigblue,

I am 40 and have been riding for just over 1 year. I have fallen off 3 times, because the horse I have been riding has spooked. Luckily it has always been in the arena so it cannot bolt to far. I am always nervous for the 1st ten minutes on a new horse, but once I know it is not too stupid I do settle down a bit. I believe some of the fear is from starting to ride later on in life (plus we do not seem to bounce the same). My biggest fear is the horse bolting whilst on a hack, but I will still go out as I am determined to overcome this.

I have had lessons at the same riding school for 10 months and I am still nervous, even when I know the horse is okey.
I have just started the BHS stage 1 course at a different school and I have to ride a different horse every week, but I am not as nervous about this, I think this is really wierd, and I do not have an explanation for this.

Anyway enjoy the riding and good luck

Beverley
 
I started riding when I was 34 and so I am also a 'mature' new rider and I think the older you are the more you realise that you are not indestructible. However, you can't let your fears ruin your enjoyment - otherwise you wouldn't do ANYTHING. I would say that household DIY is more dangerous than riding! So is driving! So is cycling! In fact it is probably more dangerous (statistically speaking) simply being a pedestrian. You only hear about the really bad 'horsey' falls because they get the publicity, you don't hear about the many tens of thousands of harmless tumbles. Think about it logically just how many times people must take a tumble and not just from a horse - they certainly don't all result in serious injury. My friend used to work for a breeder and she was involved with breaking young horses and she has had so many falls that she has lost count. It is all relative to the type of riding you want to do. If you want to do eventing or something similar you can expect a few falls along the way. Look at how many times Jockeys take a fall. It is better to enjoy and stop worrying about what may happen because the odds are that even if you do fall it won't be a serious one. Worrying about what may happen in the future usually spoils the present.
 
Yes, I often do worry quite a bit when I get large, bouncy horses to ride, but it's no use getting all worked up over it. It'll just spoil your ride. Instead, think positive thoughts, and think of how much you love horses (hey, that worked for me!)...and maybe your fears will lessen. I get scared when I think of getting injured, because I've not really had much experience with injuries, but if you don't dare to take risks, you won't get anywhere... :D
 
Recently I posted an email when fear was being discussed and I mentioned how unhelpful attitudes ofsome of the younger ones at yard. Well, for some miraculous reason, everything has changed and they could not be more helpful or friendly ... I don't know why it has changed, but I'm enjoying it, and it makes a great deal of difference to my confidence when I make a fool of myself and have a bad ride day!

Anne
 
Hi! My heart starts racing everytime the car pulls up to the riding school I go to!!! Every single time I get on a horse I'm worried something bad will happen, but I try to breathe deeply and not think about it. Riding is supposed to be fun, so I try not to tense up in the saddle (which, my instructor told me ruins your seat and unbalances you anyway!!).
I'm very anxious about cantering because the first time I fell off was at a canter. But, with the help of my instructor, I slowly regained my confidence and then, wouldn't you know it, just recently I fell off again!!! The horse stopped dead from a canter and I went over her head and took the bridle with me, would you believe!!! But I got back on and did it again because I knew I wouldn't ever canter again if I didn't try straight away. Of course, it doesn't help that I'm 18 in a class with all 7-10 year olds who have no fear!!!!:confused: :rolleyes:
So try not to worry and I agree with the others, don't be pressured into doing something that you're not ready to do.
 
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