Take the fall, or hang on to the horse's face?

I've been seeing so many young riders gripping with all their might and weight on the reins when they come out of the saddle, I wonder if that is the new trend... screw the horse, just claw your way back into the saddle? What happened to the emergency dismount, or at least, taking the fall and walking after your horse? I can understand if this happens out on a XC course or trail, but these riders are Hunters, in a show ring, right next to their barn. Personally I haven't fallen off in a year as we've been taking it slow, I would always rather take the fall and brush myself off than kill my horse's mouth... I saw three girls come out of their saddles yesterday, I went and practiced emergency dismounting just to make sure I remembered (my horse did better than me; she stopped every time I came off and looked at me like I was going to give her treats for it).

Thoughts? How do you fall off? Do you e-dismount?

I doubt it's intentional, it's just your survival instinct and fear taking over and telling you to stay on or else something bad's going to happen (fall, pain, death, ect).
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If I'm alone in an enclosed area, I let go tuck and roll. If I'm somewhere he can run off and leave me, I try to hang onto the reins, but usually just take the fall if I know it's inevitable. If it's a marginal thing where I'm at a show, and he's only got me a bit out of the tack, sure I'll give it a try before I bail. I've noticed with falling, it's an intrinisic thing. If you think you'll stay on, you usually find a way to make it happen. Once you decide you're coming off, you're coming off.

I can see it happening with beginners or some Puissance riders but when you're hanging there... all the way out of the tack.. with just a foot over the saddle... for a good 15 seconds... and it happens twice a week... should probably stick a foot on the ground ._.
My survival instinct has always been to tuck, bounce, and stand up too quickly. I strained my ankle pretty bad doing that once from a 17hh TB

If the fall is slow enough, I have the presence of mind to know when to quit trying to reclaim my seat, but if it's a fast one, I am not the master of my reactions, and I'll try my darndest to save my skin. Cant' help it.

The last thing on anyone's mind when they are flung from the saddle is "My horses poor mouth!"

It's more or less "My life is at stake!"

If you have enough time to think about your horses mouth then you had enough time to evade the fall.
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I know when I get dumped it is usually a good 5 mile walk back anywhere. I hang onto at least one of my split reins when I hit the ground. If I am in roping or barrel reins, well depending how I fall determines what I end up having in my hand. Purely a "if I am hurt I do not want to walk back that's for sure" reasoning.
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Katieandscooby, is it easier to hang on with split reins? I almost tore my shoulder off trying to hang on once since the reins were still over my horse's head. Are the chances better of not having to walk home with split reins since there are technically 2 instead of 1?

The only reason for me to fall (lately anyhow, knock on wood) is if my horse pitches a huge fit with definite intent to get me off or has a HUGE unexpected spook.
Thus, I will cling and hang on to anything I possibly can; be it mane, reins, neck, saddle, or even an ear (not sure I could grab for an ear and actually get it..but to make my point, lol). My horse was the reason for me becoming unbalanced and on my way to a fall..it'll get over the yank on it's mouth or a jerk on their shoulders/back from the saddle.

If I know a fall is enevitable (such as my fault because my horse lept more than expected straight into a canter/gallop or if I'm just too far off the horse) then I'll jump off with reins in hand and dig my heels in. I've done it before and I'll be d*mned if the horse didn't spin around and stand stock still while I got up/collected myself. Split reins are generally longer than a set of barrel/trail reins..but I never use a set of reins that aren't long enough for me to be able to grab and brace for the jerk on my shoulder/body if I'm out and about on a trail or such..and now it's never becauase I found my perfect reins.
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I will disagree. Maybe I'm unique. Everytime that I've come off, the first thought is "Oh (crap)!" The next thought is "Let go". That happens faster than you reading that. I made a choice when I started riding to be conscious of doin it. If you don't think about it beforehand, it won't happen because instinct it to hang on to stop from falling. I have, however, been out in the middle of nowhere and decided to hang on so I didn't have to walk miles back. The horse bucked and then tried to bolt while I was up in the air.
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