Hmm. I might be a little concerned about the tripping, that his feet may not be trimmed right.
But anyway, I just had to say that I had a similar experience that really improved the relationship with my horse too.
I was doing something similarly foolish, letting my horse gallop up a trail that went up a hill. I was on one of my Arabians that had tons of GO. So I let him run up this hill and I swerve to miss a tree branch. The saddle rolls right over onto the horse's side with me! (Side note, I believe the breast collar saved my life because it kept the saddle from rolling completely under the horse).
So I ride a few strides on his side like a circus monkey and realize that there is no way in heck that I am getting back upright onto the horse's back, and that if I stay hanging there I might pull him over.
So I let go and drop off. We were running mind you! So I fell off and was in incredible pain for a few minutes, and was trying to figure out if anything was broken.
I always thought this particular horse would just run home and leave me for dead, even though I loved him very, very much, I didn't know if the feeling was mutual. He actually came back and stood by me until I was able to get to my feet.
That turned out to be one of the best experiences I've had riding because I wasn't hurt, just really bruised and after that I felt like our relationship was so much better. Like he actually cared for me a little bit, lol!
So that's my story. And I am a big believer in breast collars now. My saddle was probably too loose and it didn't fit that horse very well, but given the right circumstances, I think almost any saddle can slip.
But my Arab didn't run home and leave me for dead after all. He was a really wonderful, fun horse. I kept him until he died at age 24 of colic.
