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Rider Down

8K views 55 replies 21 participants last post by  Celeste 
#1 ·
We had a rider come off her horse on the trail today. Two ladies rode out together. From what I understand, a gunshot went off in the woods near them. One horse spooked, and the rider came off her 16hh horse hard. The horse ran off, back towards the barn, and her companion called 911, then the barn.

Fortunately, they were in a state park with a well defined trail system and knew how to tell folks exactly where they were. The BO scooped up myself and another boarder to go out and help. We got to the vehicle access gate at the same time the ambulance did. My job was to take the horse from the companion rider, try to find the loose horse and take them both back to the barn. The others stayed with the injured rider.

I found the lady's phone on the ground about a quarter mile down the trail. About that much farther out, I met a large group of riders coming from the opposite direction. They had met the loose horse and caught him. I thanked them, and warned them that they would encounter the ambulance and crew farther down the trail. Then I headed back with both horses. The BO met me on the paved road with a trailer. I handed off the riderless horse, and rode the rest of the way in.

I noticed a few things in all of the excitement.

I don't like neoprene girths. But I was glad the horse I rode had one. The lady has very short legs, and rides a very tall horse. I was barely able to get my foot high enough to reach the stirrup, and was glad the neoprene girth kept the saddle from slipping as I pulled myself onto this beastie.

These trails are in a multi use area that includes hunting. It's our responsibility to ensure our horses can handle the things they will encounter.

It's also our responsibility to be the best rider we can be. The lady who fell is an experienced rider who got married, had children, and didn't ride for several years. I have no idea how skilled she was before. But my experience with recreational riders is that many equate years in the saddle with skill, and overestimate their abilities. Not saying that is the case with this lady because I really don't know.

I found her phone on the ground, a quarter mile from where she fell. It had been in the pommel bag. She had a companion with a phone. I ride alone. A lot. My phone stays in a secure pocket on my person.

The lady who handed her horse off to me warned me that the horse was nervous about the rider on the ground. He was nervous about the loose horse. He was scared of being alone. The horse worked fine for me. I'm pretty sure it was the lady's own nervousness that was translating to her horse.

I like quick release reins. The loose horse had short barrel racing reins. I was able to unclip the off side to make a suitable lead for ponying him back.
 
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#2 ·
Holy! After my accident I agree with most of what you say. Although (like pretty much everything) it depends.

I'm a novice rider who had an accident, quit riding, and is now re-riding. I ride a three year old colt who I started, alone without a helmet or phone. When I put it in perspective it sounds VERY dangerous, but I'm taking a calculated risk. If I had to ride with someone every time I rode, I'd never ride. I remember my phone only sometimes as it has zero features other than emergency calls and is usually tucked away somewhere.

After my accident I will however be wearing my helmet. If I didn't land on my face I would have landed on my head. I'd take two black eyes over a cracked skull any day.

Horses are unpredictable. Sometimes they will spook at something they've passed thirty times. Sometimes they will spook at nothing. I'm lucky to have a horse that stayed by my side when I fell off, but most aren't.
 
#4 ·
A couple of years back, I had a squirrel hunter shoot as I was riding up the trail toward them.

So, yes, there are things in the woods other than us.

I will admit, that on a long trail ride I often ride one handed and without my heals down.

Thankfully that day I was on Miss Lacy who spooked in place rather than one of my quarters who would likely bolted.

That said, when I ride the quarters, I'm not near as relaxed, usually have both hands on the reins, and heals down.....just don't trust them quite as much as Miss Lacy, but then they don't have the miles on them that Miss Lacy does.
 
#5 ·
I agree with everything you said---- every THING:)

Many kudos to you for saving the day and riding the loose horse back to the trailer. A calm and unflappable rider was exactly what the horse needed, at that moment.

It sounds as if everyone else involved stayed calm and very well organized ------ or were you giving all the orders that kept everyone calm? That would be my guess:)

I hope the lady is ok. But I'm betting she will have mental issues getting back on any horse and may even put this one up for sale for something he doesn't deserve to be sold for.
 
#8 ·
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Tiny!

I agree with everything you said---- every THING:)

Many kudos to you for saving the day and riding the loose horse back to the trailer. A calm and unflappable rider was exactly what the horse needed, at that moment.

It sounds as if everyone else involved stayed calm and very well organized ------ or were you giving all the orders that kept everyone calm? That would be my guess:)

I hope the lady is ok. But I'm betting she will have mental issues getting back on any horse and may even put this one up for sale for something he doesn't deserve to be sold for.
It was the Barn Owner who was orchestrating everything. After it was all over, I was really impressed with how smooth everything came together.

The companion rider dismounted to check on her friend. She first called 911, then the BO. I was just finishing up with the horse I'm working when I heard the BO on the phone with Park Services to get a ranger out to open the access gate. I hustled my horse back out to the field. The BO scooped up another boarder, then me in his truck and we drove to the access gate, only about a mile from the barn. We arrived at the same time as the ranger. The ambulance was close behind.

I rode out after the loose horse. The two ladies and the BO stayed with the down rider until the ambulance picked her up. Then, he drove the two ladies back, picked up a trailer and began patrolling the paved road, waiting for me to come out of the woods.

Pretty smooth, and reinforces why I've worked with this barn for several years.
 
#6 ·
I agree with the phone being on your person, does no good when the horse takes off on you.
Even the steadiest horse can spook, my mare is pretty good but if she does it is a bad one so I have a strap on the pommel of my saddle and when I am relaxing and riding along I hold this strap so if she does move fast, hopefully I will stay with her. When I was younger I never would have thought of this but now I don't think I can ride out the same stuff I could then.
It's also good not to ride out alone, I do this often and my husband is starting to make noises about this and would feel better if I was with another rider.

It sounds like you folks handled the situation very well and I hope the lady is ok.
 
#9 ·
Well, where I ride, cell phones are useless, so don't carry one, But I also don't ride in mountains, alone for that reason, and also, because I don't carry a gun, nor have learned how to use bear spray
I don't ride with closed reins ever, except when I shoe English
When you ride in the back country, you have to be aware, should something happen, you might need to ride out, in whatever condition you are in, after a wreak, or hope that stars (helicopter) can get you out, once someone makes that contact, either by first riding out, or, if very, very lucky, you come across someone with a satellite phone
I know of one experienced outfitter, who had to ride out with three broken ribs
The incident also underlines as to how importaNT it is to dampen that spook reaction, or at least, not follow it up with trying to bolt, spin or buck.
It is natural for me to ride with my heels down, and I don't even make a concienous effort to do so, and sitting in balance, relaxed, not difficult to stay with a horse that might spook suddenly
I don't like the straight neoprene cinches, and many horses will object to them. I do use the Weaver Airflow cinch, trail riding.
 
#10 ·
I agree with what you are saying but would like to add - horses spook - people fall off - even experienced riders.

A random gun shot to a horse who is normally used to gun fire can still cause a horse to shy.

I feel sorry for the rider and hope she is fine and that she continues to ride. I see no issue of this being the horses or even necessarily the riders fault. Accidents happen.

If only experienced riders who rode experienced horses rode - the horse industry would die very quickly.

I do agree that a phone should be kept on a person at all times not in a pommel or cantle bag.

if
 
#11 ·
I agree with what you are saying but would like to add - horses spook - people fall off - even experienced riders.

A random gun shot to a horse who is normally used to gun fire can still cause a horse to shy.

I feel sorry for the rider and hope she is fine and that she continues to ride. I see no issue of this being the horses or even necessarily the riders fault. Accidents happen.

If only experienced riders who rode experienced horses rode - the horse industry would die very quickly.
carshon, I hope you weren't thinking that I expected rider to sell her horse and not ride. Not at all. I hope she continues to ride! I've had weird accidents that landed me in the hospital, paramedics, etc. Not anyone's fault, just was. BUT, when it came to gaining my confidence I went to a horse that was easy on, easy off. I don't believe in "bomb proof" but a horse that had been there done that. All I'm saying is start slow and move up.... But DON'T QUIT.

Is there any update on rider's condition?
 
#12 ·
Glad you guys handled the situation properly and it looks like you did a very good job. :) I applaud you for that & I hope they are OK.
I second wanting you around for that! Seems like you handled it very calmly.

I always have my phone on me in my pocket, zipped up. I wouldn't have put it in the bag either, but she may not have had pockets.
 
#13 ·
Great story in that everything ended reasonably well. And good tips on rider safety. However, I will add that like Smilie, I ride in an area where cell phone reception is often non-existent. I don't always have a riding companion either. I do bring my phone, because if I'm not too far from home I might have some reception, or might be able to drag myself somewhere where there is reception, but honestly, it's probably going to be useless most of the time. Not sure what else I can do to stay safe. I've always gone hiking and snowshoeing alone in the back woods where there is no cell reception. It's a risk, but the alternative is never going anywhere further than 200 ft from my house. That doesn't exactly appeal to me.

I have, however, taken things very slowly with my horses (who are fairly new to me, a fairly new rider). We've stayed close to home many times when I didn't feel they were ready to venture too far. I took an equine first aid course and carry a small first aid kit. I tell someone where I'm going riding. Beyond that, I'm not sure what else I can do. There aren't any "riding" trails around here, just backroads and logging roads. Options for trail riding are limited. Horses aren't allowed on most public trails.
 
#14 ·
Another ditto for the phone securely on the person not the horse. Horse ain't gonna dial 911.

I also am a believer in matching horse size to rider on trail rides. A short legged nervous person on a tall horse is, to me, making things riskier than they have to be. Being as I'm a short legged person myself. I have a friend, also short and short-legged, and older, who quit riding her rather unpredictable OTB on trails, because she couldn't stay on her well, and when she fell she would always get hurt. She replaced her OTB with a 14 hand Arab and hasn't fallen off since.

Even on a 1 hour ride I carry a phone, a multi-tool, hoofpick, and a meal bar. My saddle has emergency contact info attached to it. I like those snap on reins too!

Phones even without reception still have GPS on them and can be used by emergency services to locate you.

A half day or longer ride, I add an equine and a human first aid kit, water, more food, an extra sweater and waterproof windbreaker, and a few other things. I am not an experienced trail rider and my horse is young. I've been a hiker and backpacker all my life, and I've had my share of unforeseen incidents where hiking out to civilization isn't one of the options. To me, being "over-prepared" is just being skillful.
 
#15 ·
You are lucky there was an access gate. Most of the areas I ride, If you come off, You either walk out and get back on the horse and ride out. There are no roads, No access for ATV's, jeeps etc.

Last February, a good friend of mine was on my 20 year gelding, Horse walked across some mud and stepped on some smooth rock and went down in a heartbeat. Horse pop'd right up, but my friend got a bad concussion. We were two hours into Zion Wilderness. After 30 minutes of letting his head stop swimming, He had to get on the horse and ride it back out. As we approached the truck he asked me, "How did we get back here?" I told him he got hurt and I was taking him to hospital. He said, "I got hurt" He couldn't remember the last 2 hours as we rode out.

As we got in the truck, he was saying, Naw, I'm fine, Not going to hospital. But I would not take no for an answer. If he can't remember 2 hours of his life. He is going to go see a Doctor. Turns out it was a mild concussion and he was fine after a couple days of rest.

Lesson learned, Even the best horses slip once in a while.
 
#19 ·
My horse was boarded for 5 years at a barn about 2 miles away from a gun manufacturer-any horse that came not liking guns got used to it pretty quickly ;)

Seriously though, hunting is such a thing here it's just not something my horse or I even notice anymore (except when my through-the-woods neighbor is firing off something that, without exaggeration, sounds like a cannon boom). Since the exposure to gunshots is near constant in their day-to-day lives, they get desensitized just being turned out. I don't think you need to do anything since it sounds like they'll get used to it just because it's part of the ambient environment.
 
#18 ·
Thanks for asking, He recovered ok and was his normal self after a few days.

Back when I did CTR, One judge used to frequently ask us to mount our horses as if we had a _______ ( fill the blank ) broken.
It was often a real challenge to try to get back in the saddle assuming you had a broken arm and couldn't use one f you arms or a broken leg. But the practice was good. It made you think about what would I do if I got hurt.

I blew out several tendons in my wrist one day. Riding by myself and ponying a second horse. Had to ride for 3 hours to get back to the truck. Next day went into the Doctor thinking I had a badly sprained wrist. I ended up in surgery with pins in my wrist for 6 weeks.

The point is stuff happens in the back country and sometimes we just have to cowboy up and ride through the pain to get out. People should give some thought to preparing for this kind of stuff. It happens. It's great when emergency crews can get to you. But trail riding is often done in roadless areas where motorized vehicles can not get to you.

 
#20 ·
I start off by holding my horses lead and having somebody fire a small caliber gun 15-20 yards off to the side. Fire away from the horse. When the horse is used to that, then we move closer and closer until we can fire a gun off their back.

Horses will usually always flinch at the sudden noise. The trick is to teach them to spook in place and not go crazy because of the noise.
 
#21 ·
Love mounted shooting. I decided to try it with my guy after we slaughtered a few goats on property. We did it next to the fence, and Trouble was very curious as to what was in store for his little friends. I expected him to jump out of his skin when the rifle fired but he didn't even flinch! He wasn't concerned about the blood either. I gave it a go and I can now shoot my .22 off his back while he sleeps. I've decided he'll be a great horse for packing out game when we go hunting via horseback!

What I strive for in general is a horse that will spook in place, regardless of what it is. Some horses are easier to instill this in than others. A strong sense of trust and leadership goes a long ways with anything.
 
#23 ·
Sounds like a lengthy recovery. I've heard a collarbone is one of the most painful breaks, but I've broken four ribs and my sternum. Think I'm hard pressed to consider much of anything more painful than that, and this poor lady has both. Best wishes to her for an uneventful recovery.

Thanks for the update.
 
#28 ·
Great and better ideas to learn flexibility:thumbsup::thumbsup:

At least I got the "learn it" part right:bowwdown::bowwdown:
:falloff::falloff:
 
#30 ·
Sorry to hear about the rider. This certainly gives me food for thought, since my mare started out spooking badly twice when I first got her - both times throwing me in the dirt faster than I could figure out what was going on. Makes me wonder how safe she will be on a trail next summer.

But I think that to learn how to fall, you'd have to do it so many times, it would become instinctive. There is rarely time to think about tucking in your shoulder when you are in mid-air. My daughter, who was watching my unplanned dismounts with great glee, described my first fall as a Superman jump. Apparently my arms instinctively shot out in front of me as I fell. Lucky I didn't break an arm! My point is, I don't even remember doing that. And I don't want to think about how many times I'd have to practice "falling" to make it instinctive (neither do my bones). I do think background as a gymnast would help.

All things to ponder for this summer's trail rides... not to mention my daughter's new interest in vaulting! :shock::shock::shock:
 
#31 ·
There is rarely time to think about tucking in your shoulder when you are in mid-air.
I find that when I'm falling time slows WAYYY down and I have time to think think think. Something like:

Ok, I'm not getting back up now, better pick a good place to fall, ok that patch of sand looks softer than the rest ok, get my foot out of the stirrup, tuck chin try to roll cause i read that gives a better chance of not getting bones broken oh **** that sand doesnt look as soft as it did before nooooooooo this was a bad idea this is gonna hurt

*thud*
 
#32 ·
This is a very timely reminder for me. When I used to have a real BTDT horse, I rode alone a LOT. Never carried a cell phone because I don't own one. Rarely ever put a helmet on, because it's just never been a habit for me. I am a very experienced rider and USED to be able to ride anything out.

The other day I was riding one of my very green horses, and she got downright pissy. Enough that I called my trainer over to hold her while I got off the horse. He started to give me some guff about it, then thought about where I am at right now, today. Due to some health concerns and surgery issues, I can't pick a fight with a horse and have the stamina to just ride through it. At that point, I was tired and concerned that if things escalated, I'd be in trouble.

So reading about this lady made me re-think about going out alone this weekend on a green horse. I'm going to call a friend (with a cell phone) and see if they want to go have a ride at the local state park.

Oh and I HATE those short barrel reins with a purple passion. I don't necessarily mind a closed rein if they have at least one quick release snap, especially on a short horse, but let's go for at least 8 feet of rein and a git down rope, k? Nothing like having a horse you don't know in your lap on the way back home after a wreck, which is what ponying with a barrel rein would be like.
You guys did an awesome job, Cordillera Cowboy! I bet that rider is very grateful to you for your help, I know I sure would be!
 
#33 ·
When I was a younger man, Hitting the ground wasn't as big a deal. Even skiing and crashing at 50 mph. You might have a yard sale of your gear being spread all over the mountain, But I always walked away.

Now I'm older, not sure I can roll into a ball. A little extra weight, a lot stiff joints and less flexible than my younger days. Not near as fast in the reflexes. So I'm sure if I come off, I'm going to look like the ironing board.
 
#36 ·
Ain't it the truth? I guess I'm lucky....as I came off twice last year and managed to walk away relatively unharmed.....the first time in soft mud....landed on my back....wearing an oil skin slicker, no harm......the second time.....I managed to tuck and roll.....while I walked away, I felt it for about 6 months....

Dang if Mr. Jack didin't bolt on me again yesterday......again, it was touch and go, but I managed to stay on and get him stopped.....sure didn't want to come off....again!
 
#35 ·
I injured my knee the beginning of last Nov and am still on crutches, but starting to walk on it a little and am thinking about how it will go the first time I ride when that time comes.
I'm older and my reflexes are definitely not what they once were so I will take it slowly, I don't anticipate any problems with the mare as she is well trained but I have to get my mind working in the right direction so my confidence is at it's best.

This injury is not horse related, I was trimming trails and fell off the back of the ATV but I do feel not as capable as I should be.
 
#41 · (Edited)
Yes, both collar bones and ribs can really hurt, when broken, I broke a collar bone and six ribs, but not at the same time.
The collar bone happened, when one winter , I decided to take two three year olds to an indoor arena,to start them loping. I had them going well in the snow at walk and trot, but after having had another young reining horse go down with me in snow, teaching her flying changes,suffering a concussion, as a result, I decided to ;play it safe'
First three year old, full sister to my Einstein, thus very athletic-no problem
The second three year old, somehow managed to fall over her own front feet, stumbled and pitched me onto my collarbone OUch!
The 6 broken ribs were hubby"s fault, and partly mine, trusting a young horse too much, thus sitting on that horse as one never would on a colt !
This was another full brother to Einstein, and I had him going pretty good. Not much buck in this family. I had been riding him out in the snowy fields, and on that particular day, was giving him a quick ride in my outdoor arena, before we went to Calgary. I though about getting off and walking him back tot he barn, but then decided, he was 'broke' pretty well, so even though ground was frozen and slippery in places, I rode him back,
On the way back to the barn, we passed a black barrel on it;s side, so Newton spooked at bit. No worries, nice colt, so I urged him up to it, to have a look.
It was lying on it's side, and had a hole cut into it's side, as it was hubby;s black bear hunting bait barrel. The barrel was lying against a corral.
I gave Newton his head, bent way forward, letting him have a good smell, which probably was not too great, and must have still had some rotting meat smell leftl. Not ideal for a prey species!
About that time, hubby slammed the back door, of the house,located not too far away, letting the dam cat it.
Well, that smell, plus the slam did it, and since Newton could not jump forward, he spun and took a giant leap. I of course, leaning forward, reins pitched away, was way out of position. I could have re gained it, but that spin and leap, combined with my position, shifted my weight enough, so that Newton threw in a powerful big buck, that took me right to the back of the house, and drilled me onto the frozen ground
Yup, very painful, tot he point I needed a hospital bed to sleep in, but by 5 weeks, I was back riding our ex stud, showing him under saddle to the person who bought him, and has remained a friend
We had a good laugh, several months later, when I told her that I was riding with 6 broken ribs, not yet healed. I always believed in riding any horse we had for sale, versus using some excuse not to, even if it was really legit!
 
#42 ·
A friend of mine got bucked off of a 17 hand horse that she was riding with thoughts of buying him.

She ended up at the ER. They took X-rays. The doctor came out and showed them to her.

He said, "All you have is severe bruising on your ribs and pelvis. It is lucky for you that you have excess padding back there or you would have had broken bones."

I think kind of comment does not win him any love with the ladies.............
 
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