The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

I FELL off during my first ever lesson...Feel so stupid!

2K views 11 replies 10 participants last post by  Poco1220 
#1 ·
I've been riding on my own, just western, for awhile now on my own mare. She's hot and has a lot of go, and I feel like she's made me better. I watch a lot of videos on youtube as well, but I knew I couldnt teach myself to ride english. Which is what I want more than anything.

Today, I had my first ever formal riding lesson, in the history of my life. The lesson horse was like 20 years old, and lazy as all get out. I've never ridden in an english saddle. I was completely fascinated. Every theory and concept I've ever read about made sense. It was great. Going around the arena, I posted on the right diagnal, etc etc. The instructor kept saying to me "You're doing really well."
Then, she set up a little trot pole, and then said, "Well, lets go in the round pen to canter first."

Went in the round pen. I should have told her I dont like round pens. My own mare, routinely slams my knee caps into the rail,and since then, I flinch and dont like to be close to a rail, hence I havent cantered in a round pen.

I was cueing him into a canter, and several times it went well. Felt great. Then she commented "You have a natural seat." I was so happy. I felt like I was doing okay. Then, I was just focusing on position and my weight in the stirrups, and I went to cue him, and THEN i saw the rail. i flinched, my weight was off balance in that transition between trot and canter, and i saw a vision of the ER. My family is out of town. I remember thinking, "Can I drive myself to the ER with a broken arm?" I saw the hard pipe rail and I thought "this is it". I grabbed hold of the rail, and came off...holding to the rail I set myself down on my feet. She told me "ive never seen someone save a fall quite like that."

I got back on, but instead of figuring out how to change leads like we'd been doing, my arm hurt, and I was a little shaky. I feel so stupid. I felt so good, and like maybe I was a little bit of a natural like people ahve told me in the past. Instead, I fell off..doing NOTHING DIFFICULT! I felt like a moron!

Has anyone else fallen off doing something simple, like a first lesson? She told me at the end "you did fantastic." I thought, yeah, you tell everyone that!
My arm has a big knot on it that is turning black. But other than that, i just feel STUPID :evil: I've been riding for how long, by myself, in the woods, and I've never FALLEN. But today, the first time I've ever ridden a horse in public..I not only fall, I fall doing something ridiculously easy! Maybe I suck more than I ever imagined :oops:
 
See less See more
#3 ·
There is absolutely nothing to feel stupid about. I think maybe you have a natural feeling of being embarrassed that you fell, that's not the same thing as being stupid.

It was your first lesson riding English, and your first lesson period. I think it might have been a bit too soon to have cantered.

I am glad that you got back on, don't let it shake your confidence, it sounds like you were doing great before that happened. Did you talk to your coach about your feelings about round pens? If she knows, she can probably lunge you instead until you have more confidence.

Sorry about your arm. Take a few Advil's before bed, and then as soon as you wake, as it will likely be more sore tomorrow.
 
#4 ·
I agree. Even though you're an experienced rider, I think cantering on your first lesson was too much, too fast. Riding English is very different from Western - don't let your experience trick you! You will have to relearn a lot of things.

Kudos to you for getting right back on!
 
#7 ·
:wink:
For the future - please be open and honest with your trainer about your comfort with what is being asked of you. Not doing so can cause you to find yourself in a situation that endangers you and/or the horse - and that is not something any trainer wants to do to a student.

I DID tell her prior to tacking up that it is my first ever formal lesson, and my first ever time riding in an english saddle. And I was comfortable, with walking and trotting posting and even cantering right up until I didnt pay attention and totally got what I was asking for. haha :shock:

It didnt hurt, it was just embarrassing, especially because it was all me, and the poor old chap looked back at me like "that idiot..look..she came right off my back! I didnt do anything but not want to canter!" I've never been a timid rider, and I dont break easily, but I really dont want to go sky diving again soon :wink:
 
#6 ·
My son fell off his horse during his first ever lesson!!! and the worst part was that the horse was standing still. LOL
 
#8 ·
Don't let it get to you too much - first time and all that, it happens a lot.

More to the point, I think, is the issue of your mare running your knee into the rails. This is something you can (and should) make her stop doing. The lesson horse I ride picked up this bad habit too last month for some reason, and I've been learning how to keep him from doing it. I don't know how you manage it with Western tack but I do (now) know what to do when you're saddled up with English tack...and I bet your instructor does as well.

As long as you're taking lessons, you might explain what's going on with your mare and the rail - especially since it's given you confidence issues that created trouble for you at your last lesson. I bet the instructor will be happy to help you learn to fix this problem...and that, I think, will go more to helping your transition to English than anything we can tell you. :)
 
#10 ·
Things happen, falls happen, and there is NOTHING to be ashamed of in this situation. If I'd be ashamed of everything that goes wrong on my lessons I'd be permanently red then. :oops: :D

Just take it easy and keep learning!
 
#11 ·
Has anyone else fallen off doing something simple, like a first lesson?
Your incident is much more than simple. You have a natural inclination to protect your knees - I know the feeling!

Here is a truly stupid fall off story -

College equestrian team rider - has run through instructors like water. Friend of a boarder asked if I would take and look and see what I thought. Girl (early 20's) comes for eval. I put her on a dead head boarders horse.

FIRST time WALKING in the indoor arena, the horse takes a right hand turn, saddle slips, the girl doesn't correct it but leans to the LEFT and takes the saddle with her.

Remember as a kid playing with Barbie and her horse. Barbie is stiff so if she slides - the whole thing goes? EXACTLY what it looked like.

REALLY sad thing is the saddle wasn't that loose - unbalanced rider leaned OUT of the turn.

No one hurt - girl tried to blame the horse. There are four of us watching and we all were so dumb founded we didn't know what to say.
 
#12 ·
Trainers are never upset by the fall. It's the fact that you got back on and tried again that matters and shows your true colors. Don't let it get to you just think of it more as "well at least I got that out of the way"! Everyone has falls and eventually you just laugh it off, dust off, and try again. You did fine!!!
Posted via Mobile Device
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top