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Barnyard Buddies:  Fell off a horse for the first time today  |
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dreamingofafarm
True Blue Farmgirl
157 Posts
Tina
Bangor
Pennsylvania
157 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 31 2010 : 08:55:25 AM
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Today was the first time I fell off of a horse during one of my lessons and it rattled me a bit. I am 15 lessons in now and loving every minute of it. This morning the instructor was working on my seat and leg control (I've been depending too much on the reins and not enough on my legs to guide the horse - I ride English). To practice this she had me completing exercises with the horse walking without holding the reins or having my feet in stirrups - I could only use leg pressure to guide the horse.
The first 1/2 hour of the lesson was fine. The horse I was on was in a bit of a mood, but she was responding and I was getting a lot out of the instruction. For some reason or another, as we went up the long side of the rink at an easy loping walk, the horse took off at a fast canter. I knew this lesson horse was trained for jumping and she was aimed right at the fence and the wide open field beyond. I got pretty scared and lost balance when I thought she was going to jump the fence - I don't know how to jump. I grabbed at the reins, but pulled upward instead of too my hip and tumbled right off to the ground over the horse right side.
There I was laying in the dirt by the fence and when I look up the horse was calm as can be, munching clover through the fence. My trainer had me get right back on and ride the same pattern again, which I did successfully thank goodness. No harm done, but I am pretty sore now.
I was just curious if any of you out there had stories of the first time you fell off of a horse that you could share with me? Like I said, I'm a little rattled by the fall and don't want it to set me back in my riding - I'm thinking some similar tales from fellow farm girls might pick me up
All the best,
Tina
Farmgirl Sisterhood #1355
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones afterall." - Laura Ingalls Wilder
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort" - Jane Austen |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jul 31 2010 : 10:25:51 AM
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Tina, all people that ride alot for showing, training , pleasure or working their land, have been thrown at least 1 time, and usually many more. So if anyone of these types of people try and tell you differant, they are lying to you, lol.
When i was much younger, i rode bareback most of the time (I also ride English), so any way, I would grab some mane and swing up onto my horses back, easy done, never a problem ,lol. So one day as I'm swinging up, I landed too forward, just as my horse was dropping his head to grab that sweet morsel of grass, I slide down his neck like I was on a staircase banister, going face first, and landed face first in the mud. Of course there were mulpiple witnesses, and it was years and me threatening lives before people stopped laughing. My point is, shake it off, and try and laugh about it, and your trainer was right on getting you back on the horse and doing it again.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - Jul 31 2010 : 10:42:18 AM
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Hi Tina!
Don't feel bad! My first time was somewhat similar! I had been working with this instuctor for a while and we were working on my seat while having the horse trot over caveletti poles. It was the first time and I was trying but got unbalanced as the mare had a very short choppy trott. She came down the middle and turned to go on the fence and I had no control. I tried to do the emergency one rein stop but instead of pulling to my hip I leaned forward to shorten the rein and I rolled right off her shoulder. Somehow my childhood gymanstics lessons kicked in and I ducked and rolled and actually rolled to my feet. It did rattle me though. I did get right back on but it made me realize that sometimes it is easy to come offand that is why the good seat is so important.
Then I have come off my own horse as I have been training her myself (green plus green sometimes does equal black and blue! LOL)
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
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Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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quiltin mama
True Blue Farmgirl
436 Posts
Heather
Crescent City
CA
USA
436 Posts |
Posted - Aug 01 2010 : 07:10:24 AM
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Oh Tina, welcome to the world of horseback riding! :) While it's not a frequent happening to fall or be bucked off it will happen. The first year I had my last horse I think I came off about 5 times. He was still a little green but he worked into a magnicifcent horse!
Way to get back on! :) That's what all cowgirls do. You've officially been inducted into the "club" once you fall.
my blog www.mountainhomequilts.blogspot.com
handmade quilts on etsy www.mountainhomequilts.etsy.com |
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Faransgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
895 Posts
Beth
Houston
Texas
USA
895 Posts |
Posted - Aug 01 2010 : 07:30:33 AM
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Hi, Tina,
One thing I have learned with working with many many horses over 12 years is that if you are going to be around horses at some point you will be, thrown, fall off, stepped on, bitten, kicked and run over.
The first time I came off a horse I had been working with them and riding for over 10 years. I was riding my big bay gelding on a trail ride with two friends. We were riding in a large treed pasture area that housed cows. We had found a long open electrical verge with good footing and had decided to do some cantering. The grass was pretty tall, up to my horses belly in some places. Faran and I were out front and we were moving at a pretty good clip. Well we came upon a thick patch of grass and the skeleton of a dead calf was there all bleached white. Faran saw it first and went instantly from cantering forward to running backward and I mean as fast as he could go straight backward. I managed to not fall and was just about resettled into the backward movement when one of the other horses with us came into his side vision and he went from running backwards to running sideways at a backward angle. That is when I lost it and came off over his right shoulder. Mind you he was still moving at a good speed. I saw the ground rushing up at my face. I was about to face plant when suddenly (I still had the reins in my hands) I hit the ends of the reins and his sideways/backward momentum flipped me over in mid-air and I landed on my back, shoulders first. That is when I lost hold of the reins. We were about three miles from anything. So once I got back up I got back on and we continued our ride. We then went to lunch and had a margarita and I went home, sat in the jacuzzi for two hours and went to bed. I hurt for a couple of weeks.
Farmgirl Sister 572
When manure happens just say "WOO HOO Fertilizer". |
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jill skane
True Blue Farmgirl
853 Posts
jill lillian
stacyville
maine
USA
853 Posts |
Posted - Aug 01 2010 : 07:35:23 AM
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I had a sulky trotter, she was crazy. She would grab the bit and run like Heck. One day low and behold right in front of me was a stone wall, she jumped it I landed on ground she stopped dead in her tracks and looked down at me as is to say what are you doing down there? I had no idea she could even jump so I was not prepared for that at all.
Jill Lillian |
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arabianhorselover
True Blue Farmgirl
422 Posts
Jennifer
Bedias
TX
USA
422 Posts |
Posted - Aug 01 2010 : 10:21:50 AM
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I can say that I have fallen off of just about all the horses that are rideable at my farm at least once. Just remember you have to get back on or your horse has figured out how to get you off of him or her. My dressage horse doesn't like my spurs and when I accidentally spured him when asking him to canter he he tossed me over the front of him. Was the best fall I ever had. He tossed me high enough that I was able to tuck my head and roll. I didn't want to get back on but my instructor made me and I am glad I did. Good luck with you lessons.
Breeder of Straight Egyptian Arabians and SportHorses
www.whisperwindsarabians.com
Farmgirl Sister #561
Never squat with your spurs on!!!
www.throughjenslens.etsy.com
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traildancer
True Blue Farmgirl
485 Posts
Loyce
Glide
OR
USA
485 Posts |
Posted - Aug 04 2010 : 09:44:02 AM
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I'll add to the topic! But this is by no means the first time to get dumped. Just remember that there is a BIG distinction between getting thrown and falling off. He, he, he.
Fourth of July, my husband and I were camping with the horses and decided to ride the Tenas Peak Loop in Southern Oregon. I was riding the four-year-old that I started last summer. All was well; we were on the way home when all of a sudden, Ka-Boom. Dancer bucked two more times and I hit the ground so hard I peed my pants! Ron said that he saw a deerfly buzzing around so we think that was the culprit. When I looked up, the horse was looking at me with that peculiar expression they get whenever you are inadvertantly on the ground. I walked for awhile to make sure everything worked and got back on. No problems the rest of the ride.
The trail is the thing.... Louis L'Amour |
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Barnyard Buddies: Fell off a horse for the first time today |
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Fell off a horse for the first time today
