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Pooh! now I know what it feel like to fall off a 17hh horse!

4K views 42 replies 26 participants last post by  jaydee 
#1 ·
Well, it had to happen. I managed to fall off Z today.
We met the elusive wild jogger coming around a corner, and Z disappeared out from under me, started to head for home, and I landed on some VERY hard packed ground. basically, the consistency of concrete. Fortunately, landed pretty evenly, though my sacroilliac will be screaming tomorrow.

we were trotting along a wooded trail and he was really sucking back, so I had been putting more leg on him and the whip, too. He would surge forward, then suck back, surge forward, then suck back. I was having some little trouble staying perfectly upright when he did this. I haven't been in the saddle for nearly 3 weeks. But, that is all excuses, because I simply don't have a strong enough, stable enough seat to stick to a horse that spins out from under me. I have come off in this kind of spook something like 7 times now! It is really disheartening.

I walked him to the biggest log we could find and remounted, and we walked on, but I knew that my back and neck would freeze up. I didn't want to kill my ride, but didn't feel confident enough to trot on the wooded trails. So , we walked all the way to the arena, and there I trotted some, but it was simply awful! He was falling in, fighting the bit, my balance was bad, I was flopping all over. Just THE worst ride I have had in years. I handed the reins to my buddy, took Mac, and she rode out his 'tude. I couldn't do it. I hate giving up. I hate it!!!!!!

I can pat myself on the back for getting back on and riding out the ride (like an hour), and making him trot. And, in a strange way, I now have that fall over with and know that it is surviveable (talk to me tomorrow, though), but, it has made me realize that in many ways, I am overhorsed on Z, from time to time. ARGH! I feel extremely discouraged right now. I jsut wanted to whine on your all's shoulders, since if I tell hubby , he will only say that riding is too dangerous.

(drinking a beer and taking my anti inflammatories now, with ice on my backside)
 
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#4 ·
Oh man that's rough. We all have our bad days. I seem to be on a steady stream with them and I'm just never happy with what I do in the saddle lately.

That's quite a fall. I bet you'll feel it in the morning (as if you don't feel it now!) but it gets better. I'm glad you stuck with the end of the ride!
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#7 ·
I hate it when they *poof* disappear! Glad you're okay.

Did you have time, on the long trip down, to write a poem? Maybe some Haiku? A friend of mine came off a draft cross and claims the poem she wrote about it (3 stanzas) came to her on the way down!

NO. before this, when he's spooked sideways, his big drafty neck has saved my clams, but this time, i had nothing. I mean, i was in the saddle, then on the ground so fast i don't know how I travelled there.
 
#8 ·
Awwyyyy Tiny I wouldnt want to imagine what that is like falling off a 17hh horse..(Mine is that tall!) I almost had a spell w/him last weekend when a spook took him eight feet to the right suddenly....Good thing I stayed w/him but for a second I did see the ground and thought "Oh this is going to hurt!" Then oh H#44 no I am staying on lol!!! Hope you feel better soon sorry that happened to you.
 
#10 · (Edited)
So sorry to hear that Caroline. Eating dirt sucks :( I hadn't came off of a big one in decades until last year and Missy (16.3) unloaded me good in the same fashion. I, like you was pretty darn mad at myself. I should've been ready for it even though I couldn't have seen it coming.

Glad you didn't get seriously hurt. Hope it's just a bit of being sore and back at it soon. My go to - Absorbine 50/50 with vinegar. Great for the aches and beats the heck out of icy hot.
 
#11 ·
Oh I hope you're alright!

And you didn't give up.. if the horse is being a pain and you can't quite get on the same page as him, it is noble to hand him to someone that can. Sometimes we get frustrated/emotional even when we can't necessarily feel it.. but the horse can and therefore ends up 'rebelling' or acting up.

:) Feel better; rest up!
 
#14 · (Edited)
Awww, *hugs*!! I'm glad you're ok, besides your new "battle bruises." Falls are the worst.
Silly Zulu, doesn't he know that magically appearing joggers are new best friends?! They might have snuggles to offer or even goodies!
That's Lacey's view, at least. Sometimes I have to force her to NOT try to follow joggers we find home... :lol:

And, in a strange way, I now have that fall over with and know that it is surviveable (talk to me tomorrow, though), but, it has made me realize that in many ways, I am overhorsed on Z, from time to time. ARGH! I feel extremely discouraged right now.
If it makes you feel any better, I often feel that way about Lacey. I love her to death...buuuutttt when she gets hot, man, she is TOO much for me - on the ground and undersaddle. Just too much.
Thankfully I haven't fallen off her yet but I know that when/of I do, it's going to be a huge blow.
I already find that I avoid times and scenarios that might get her riled up. I have a "system" for dealing with her in the event of hottness, but still, the idea of her getting worked up is not something I relish.

Anyway, you are not alone in feeling overhorsed at times and it's ok to feel discouraged! Remember what someone [John Wayne??] said about courage: "Real courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway."

Superduper glad you're ok. :hug:
 
#20 ·
Just saw this. Hope you are feeling OK today. I keep 'Flexaril' (Cyclobenzaprine) handy. It is a miracle worker for sore muscles and wrecks. I use it more than pain and anti-inflammatory meds for my arthritis and degenerative joint disease.
Is this available over the counter?

I woke up today not nearly as sore as I thought I'd be. I mean, I flew right over his head and landed flat on my back on hard pack. You'd think that would do some damage. But, other than a sore lower back and shoulder, I am fine. I'll be in the saddle tomorrow.

But, what gets me is that I have a real problem; why is this happening to me over and over again? I have been spun off of the horse so many times in the last 5 years. (6 times!) And now, I am hesitant to trot down any trail where I cannot fully see what's around any corner. Even on the straight away, I am always a bit concerned about this happening. I didn't expect it on Z, who has never spooked that big before, but it's hard to erase the worry and expectation . you can say, 'be confident" but actually BEing confident is hard when you keep having this happen. And, it says something about the way I am riding, and I think, the fact that I have too much belly (making my center of gravity too high).

I asked my riding buddy, "what should I do?" and she says, "think more about your eguitation". Ok, I thought I was thinking about my equitation.
I have seen her ride through spooks like this without even coming near to coming off. I know the problem is me, and there is nothing to do but cowgirl up and keep trying. I just have to admit to feeling discouraged and wondering if I can fully shake off any internal hesitation, that might be affecting the horse, so that this wont' happen again. Getting too old for this.
 
#21 ·
It's the third day that's the worst. The day it happens I find I can get through with ice, day two NSAIDs take care of (no flexeril is RX still as far as I am aware) but day three is pure, well, rhyming word here. Now ask me about allergies and sinus swelling with a fractured cheekbone, I'll trade anything, anytime just about... Hope you're feeling not so sore.
 
#23 ·
No -- It is not available OTC but Drs. usually do not have a problem writing scrips for it. It is not addictive and has no side effects other than making some people drowsy. I take them 2 at a time but I have really bad problems. They do make my mouth dry. If I do much of anything, I cannot get out of bed without help the following AM if I do not take them at bedtime.
 
#24 ·
Tiny, I'm sorry you came off like that. Isn't there a song that says "keep your mind in the middle while your butt spins round and round"? I've had to do that a few times. I once had a horse that did not spook and run, he'd just randomly start doing reining spins. And he was never trained in reining. It was just his go-to, you've-made-me-mad, so-we'll-do-this-for-a-while move.
 
#26 ·
Tiny that can happen to anyone. I dont think its just "You" or your riding skills.
I have had my spook monster now for almost a year...I still have not brought him to a trot under saddle because of his spooks, WE are working on it.
It gets better with time and lots of work'
Hope your not to sore and getting better.
 
#27 ·
Bummer Tiny. If it helps, I think there was bad ride lingering in the air today. I was just about to post a whiny rant about my inability to jump over my own shadow today when I saw yours and decided my complete lack of riding skills was just a bad day. I can't sit those damn spins out either. I'll take and up and down spook any day over a spin. A little whining, followed by a little wine, and a nice bubble bath should help.
 
#28 ·
Something very similar happened to me today! Except it was a deer instead of a jogger and my horse ran home -__- I feel the same way you do, it's the second time in two years he's gotten me off this way and it's really frustrating. I hope you're not too sore!!
 
#29 ·
Just a note for those with spinners...an Aussie-saddle is pretty near designed to help keep you on in a spin. The poleys slam into your thighs and force your hips to stay aligned with the horse. I bought one because I was hurt while riding - OK, when the riding stopped - and could barely sit in a saddle. About a week later, little Lilly spooked at a dove, did a 180, jumped a couple of lengths and then did another 180. I was caught totally by surprise. I ended up with a big, mickey-mouse shaped bruise on my left thigh...but I was still in the saddle.

Just a thought. I understand different preferences, and have been playing around with using an Abetta western saddle on Mia lately, after a month of riding her in an English saddle. But for just staying on a horse who spins, an Australian style saddle is hard to beat. Yeah, it is cheating...so sue me!

 
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