Worst falls

Let's hear it. We are in it for the same gratifications and the same goals and the same ultimate passion BUT we have had our shares of falls, bad ones at that.

Not only do I want to hear about some of your worst falls but also what has kept you into horses, what drives you to get back in the saddle and keep going? Let's see some photos of you and your horse, the fall, or pics of what resulted from the fall.

I don't have any pictures of my falls but I do have a story of my worst fall.

When I was 17 I was working at a ranch putting miles on problem horses. My boss had bought a small two year old paint colt that had 90 days on him already (He was far to young and much to small) I asked my boss not to buy him. I was convinced that he would be sore and ruined from being worked so hard for such a young boy. But my boss bought him anyways. (He was a horse trader and didn't keep horses around very long anyways and his theroy was, "Well he is pretty and broke and I'll sell him before any problems come up!") Wrong!

I had to ride him, against my better judgement. My boss watched me work. I would only ride him for about 20 mins every 3 days, hoping that this would not make any problems come up. On our 10th ride together I brought him into the arena, lunged him and mounted up. As usual he was being a sweetheart. We walked around the arena 3-4 times and all of a sudden he lost it. He gave one hard buck and came up straight up in the air, his front legs collapsed and me and the horse when straight over. I broke my nose, cracked 4 rib, got the saddle horn in my leg.

I never once blamed the horse and I never thought abut quitting I just took some time off and I now refuse to ride horses under 3 years of age.

Thankfully I've only fallen off once, but it was horrible enough.

We were having a Valentine's Day party at the barn...we were running barrels. It was Sonny's turn...since I had just gotten him recently we just trotted around the barrels and he did great. We went around all 4 barrels (yes we used 4 for this) and as we were going back, my friend, who was timing us, yelled "you're going to win. Hurry!" so I asked for a extended trot. About 3 feet from the finish line, Sonny tripped on air (or his own feet) and fell forward. I was in an English saddle, and I lost my banace but stayed on. Sonny regained his footing...but when he did I lost my balance even more and fell directly on my chin. It was horrible. I laid there for a while and then got up and I couldn't walk straight. I was sore for a week afterwards

What got you to keep focus and keep on riding?

well mainly due to the fact that I knew it wasn't really his fault, after I fell he turned around and looked at me with his big brown eyes as if to say "I'm sorry, mommy, I didn't mean it"

One time I was riding a Gypsy Vanner and he reared up on me during a lesson for no reason and I was sooo afraid. I loved riding so I didn't want to stop, but I was afraid to ride that horse. So I simply switched horses...and finally after 6 months, I've gotten back on that horse.

I didn't really have that many terrible falls (luckily) but some were embarrasing. Lol.

Okay, so I was @ my barn's local show last summer. Lexi was being a little brat hehe she was kinda in heat so it's not like it was surprising. :P Plus, she used to spook a lot from crowds.
Anyway, we were cantering around the arena, when all of a sudden she starts spooking @ the crowd (people were loud) & started bucking out of frustration. She didn't really wanna work that day.
I kept turning her in circles, when all of a sudden she like SHOOTS off in the other direction (remember everyone is watching!) & I basically fly off, hitting my side into the fence. Ouch.
I was okay, but I really was embarrased. Then Lexi came & ran to me, LOL I thought she was going to run me over! But she didn't. I like how she does that though...comes right back to me, so I don't have to go alllllll the way to the other side of the arena (where she had run to). ;)

Another time, this fall was kinda painful:

I was hacking out with my friends. We were cantering, & there was this like huggeeee branch. Lexi of course was going pretty fast (we all were), so I didn't duck in time, the branch basically pushed me right outta the saddle, & I landed in a sticker bush!!!! My whole right arm had some scrapes from it, ouch. So I walked the rest of the way to the barn lol, owww.

OK... other than the obvious being a kid and doing stupid s...tuff.
- I have fallen off the rump trying to ride double up a way to big hill...kicked in the shoulder for that little trick.
- I have simply fallen off trying to ride bareback and bridleless :roll:
- I have tried to ride a green horse and ended up black & blue
- The worst I was ever hurt was I cracked my tail bone on a trail ride once...The horse behind mine bit my horse on the rump. My horse proceeded to kick and buck like there was no tomorrow...I rode the ejection seat deluxe flew up in the air and landed square on my arse. I waddled back to the barn after that one.

I have fallen more than that, guess its a good thing my momma made me drink my milk...no broken bones...knock on wood.

I have alwasy had this crazy NEED to be around horses, even when I didn't own one. Something inside me says...SHUT UP BRAIN!...GET ON THAT HORSE! YOU KNOW you WANNA

Most of you probably already know my fall story but for those that havent read it here goes. This last November I was riding with my husband as usual. We were at a full gallop when my husband stopped short in front of me at the same time I was turning Vida to go around him. I was ready to make the turn but not the stop. Which Vida did simultaniously. I lost my balance and fell off flat on my back breaking 3 bones in my spine. The little bones that stick out the sides of the vertibrae. I knew I was hurt bad, but we were a few miles from home so figured I could get back on and ride...NOT.
Tony got the horses home and came back for me in the truck then straight to the emergency room. I spent most of the winter flat on my back on very nice pain killers.
I was a little nervous the first time I got back on but there is nothing short of paralysis that would keep me out of the saddle. I'm not quite back up to galloping yet, but we're working on it

Wow vida, thatīs bad :o
I really havenīt had a bad fall, but I have had a fall that was pretty scary to me
I was around 6 years old and was trotting for one of the first times in a looong row of kids on a trail.
Then my saddle came loose and slid to the side and I somehow managed to stay on, but trotting feet at your face throwing gravel everywhere isnīt excatly something that puts your mind at ease ! Thankfully my horse was just lazy and stopped to eat after a while, and then I just let my self fall !
But being the happy-go-lucky kid I was I just asked for help to fix my saddle, got up and trotted home

Hmm. This sounds super-lame but it was pretty scary, keep in mind I was young

That gives a whole new meaning to perseverance. Very inspiring I think.
Had a bad fall a few years ago which resulted in some photos which might not quite be suited for this forum. I broke my wrist and hip and have had 9 surgeries to fix them all.

What keeps me in the saddle? I think its that thought of my horses when I go to bed at night. I think its that smell when I open the door of the barn, I think its the look on my horse's faces when they see me walk towards the front gate.

I could not imagine doing anything else.