[nirvana]

I have been riding for 5 years, and like most riders I have had my fair share of falls.
My problem is that I seem to break bones REALY easily.

The first time I was being really stupid. I was riding my green horse, on a borrowed saddle, that didn’t have stirrups, and I had just washed it. (hadn’t bought my own yet) Me being an excited new horse owner took him down a trail beside an electric fence. (You can put the pieces together) he took I fell off and chipped my wrist, but I learnt my lesson.

Last year, I started jumping small jumps, and this time I was super excited because my dad had some old barrels for us to jump. Trooper jumped them really awkwardly. Then he wouldn’t jump them at all, after a few tries I gave up because he made it clear he didn’t want to go over them. So I just cantered him by them but he went absolutely nuts (bucking and what not). Of course I fell off and separated my shoulder. I own a protective vest but in the excitement of jumping I forgot to put it on.

This time we were just trotting along and then trooper completely out of nowhere spooks. I am really mad at myself because I can normally easily stay on for a spook, but not this time. I don’t know what he spooked at, but he was just getting over Uveitis, but he didn’t spook from his bad side. In hind sight maybe I should have waited a day or 2 longer, but it was so nice out! either way I am now stuck with a dislocated elbow.

I feel like I am so brittle and weak…like a porcelain doll. I am very frustrated with the fact that my bones break so easily. My parents are very upset, and think its time I quit riding. Everything seems to happen on my right side and my mom thinks I’m really going to feel the effects when I’m older. I am very depressed right now, and don’t know what to do, I love riding, but its starting to get embarrassing.

Sorry about the rant. Congrats if you got through it all!

 

[thunderhooves]

I have been riding for 5 years, and like most riders I have had my fair share of falls.
My problem is that I seem to break bones REALY easily.

The first time I was being really stupid. I was riding my green horse, on a borrowed saddle, that didn’t have stirrups, and I had just washed it. (hadn’t bought my own yet) Me being an excited new horse owner took him down a trail beside an electric fence. (You can put the pieces together) he took I fell off and chipped my wrist, but I learnt my lesson.

Last year, I started jumping small jumps, and this time I was super excited because my dad had some old barrels for us to jump. Trooper jumped them really awkwardly. Then he wouldn’t jump them at all, after a few tries I gave up because he made it clear he didn’t want to go over them. So I just cantered him by them but he went absolutely nuts (bucking and what not). Of course I fell off and separated my shoulder. I own a protective vest but in the excitement of jumping I forgot to put it on.

This time we were just trotting along and then trooper completely out of nowhere spooks. I am really mad at myself because I can normally easily stay on for a spook, but not this time. I don’t know what he spooked at, but he was just getting over Uveitis, but he didn’t spook from his bad side. In hind sight maybe I should have waited a day or 2 longer, but it was so nice out! either way I am now stuck with a dislocated elbow.

I feel like I am so brittle and weak…like a porcelain doll. I am very frustrated with the fact that my bones break so easily. My parents are very upset, and think its time I quit riding. Everything seems to happen on my right side and my mom thinks I’m really going to feel the effects when I’m older. I am very depressed right now, and don’t know what to do, I love riding, but its starting to get embarrassing.

Sorry about the rant. Congrats if you got through it all!

Are you serious? You want to quit because youve fallen 4 times? And your parents are upset because you did stupid things with him and are now feeling the effects of it?!
Most people on here have fallen MANY times. falling is a part of riding. heck, ive fallen.
If you want to quit, quit. it shows your devotion to your poor horse, though.

 

[alexischristina]

Are you serious? You want to quit because youve fallen 4 times? And your parents are upset because you did stupid things with him and are now feeling the effects of it?!
Most people on here have fallen MANY times. falling is a part of riding. heck, ive fallen.
If you want to quit, quit. it shows your devotion to your poor horse, though.

She said her parents think she should quit riding, I didn't read anywhere that she thinks she should quit... She's just frustrated with her breaking bones, as I would be too. I've fallen MANY more times than you have, but haven't broken anything (cross your fingers that I wont)... but honestly, it doesn't sound like your falls were very severe, yet they lead to severe outcomes? Maybe you should get checked out? Perhaps you're lacking something that means you have weaker bones and THAT could be a cause for concern.

 

[BarrelracingArabian]

maybe you need a horse better suited to your level of riding. Thats just a suggestions but you should most deffinately not give up. Just try to think things through everyone falls and gets hurt thats just something that comes with riding and it can't always be prevented. Quiting riding won't mean you won't ever fall and get hurt again so don't give up.

 

[nirvana]

I have fallen many other times as well these are just the ones that are well, eventful. I love ridding so much, and I realy don't want to quit, it is my passion, but my mom especialy worries too much. When I go to the doctor for the follow up on my elbow I am going to ask him if there is any kind of multi vitamin type of thing that I could take.

I cant realy blame my falls on my horse because these are all things I could have prevented. And Trooper rarely spooks, probably part of why I wasnt ready for it, but it was also 10degrees above normal, and I was just beggining the long weekend so I might have been too relaxed.

My parents are probably going to let me continue riding this time, but basicaly there saying where do we draw the line? They think it makes them look like bad parents because I keep getting hurt.

Even if I wanted to sell Trooper I dont know if I could. He is a good horse, but ever since he has been diagnosed with uveitis he has had 4 flare ups in 7 months. so id be lucky if someone took him for free.

 

[nirvana]

She said her parents think she should quit riding, I didn't read anywhere that she thinks she should quit... She's just frustrated with her breaking bones, as I would be too. I've fallen MANY more times than you have, but haven't broken anything (cross your fingers that I wont)... but honestly, it doesn't sound like your falls were very severe, yet they lead to severe outcomes? Maybe you should get checked out? Perhaps you're lacking something that means you have weaker bones and THAT could be a cause for concern.

yes thats exactly it, im very frustrated. The only one I can say that was reasonable that I got injured would be the second one. That was a really hard fall and I landed directly on my shoulder, then my hip. I ended up with a bruise on my hip nearly the size of a soccer ball, so you can imagine the impact on the shoulder. My friend thinks that the protective vest wouldnt have made much of a differance.This time my dad jokingly said he should get me some elbow pads to the nurse and she said at that hight they wouldnt make a difference. but im just angry because something has to hit the ground fist, and it aint goona be my face (i hope!)
My parents arnt mean or anything (theyre the opposite actualy), and as much as they like seing me do what I love, seing me get injured hurts them more than it does me

Thanks everyone for your support
-I may get hurt easily but acording to my instructor, I get better quickly.

 

[kathryn]

Sounds like you need more milk haha.

Bad things happen sometimes, but kudos to you for not blaming your horse or getting too mad. I hope you have better luck in the future

 

[nirvana]

^thanks. thats what my mom said. lol. Although I could use this to my advantage if I play my cards right. mayby I can convinse my mom to buy me chocoate milk. lol.cause chocolate milk is mutch yummier, and would encourage me to drink more milk

 

[jamesqf]

I second the suggestion about checking for possible medical reasons why you might have weak bones.

Another thing I'd suggest is doing yoga for flexibility, and taking some martial arts classes in order to learn how to fall.

 

[nirvana]

ok thankyou. i do pilaties. I don't know if I would be able to do martial arts, because I don't have alot of spare time, but I will look into it, because mayby I do fall akwardly.

 

[MyBoyPuck]

If you switch to a cheap deep seat synthetic saddle, you'll stick to it like glue. You would be able to sit out spooks and bolts much easier. Just a thought.

I also agree to seeing if there's a medical reason for why your bones are breaking so easily.

 

[nirvana]

If you switch to a cheap deep seat synthetic saddle, you'll stick to it like glue. You would be able to sit out spooks and bolts much easier. Just a thought.

I also agree to seeing if there's a medical reason for why your bones are breaking so easily.

I do own a synthetic saddle. My instructor says Ive developed a very good seat.I don't usualy fall that easily, but the few time I do there really bad results.

 

[Kayty]

Dislocations aren't breaks. I'd say you've just fallen badly. The more flexible and strong you are the less likely it is that you're going to dislocate something. Also make sure you keep an eye on the ligaments in your shoulder and elbow. If you get pain in either joint, I would go and get an ultrasound done to make sure the ligaments are healing. If the ligaments are not strong enough then you will be likely to dislocate that joint more easily if you suffer trauma to that area again.

 

[nirvana]

^thats true... my dad says Im too boney, so I plans to lift some weights to add some muscle, when my elbow heals.

 

[speedy da fish]

some people are more brittle that others, i have a friend with osteoporosis (he doesnt ride) so i have an understanding, maybe you should look that up if you think you break that easily. for now wear as much prtective clothing as possible and try not to fall off

 

[nirvana]

^hehe ya. a couple weeks ago we seen medevil times (great show by the way ) and so now my dad thinks I need a night suit!

 

[SorrelHorse]

Bad things happen toe veryone. We ain't equestrians until we hit the ground at least a few hundred time xD

But anyway, I would definately try some of that bone-stuff that docs subscribe.....don't remember the name. Definately ask though.....my cousin was on it for awhile and Day-um it made a differance.

Hope it all works out....I've had my fair share of dirt-biting incidents....spent some days in the hospital and spent hours picking thorns and burrs from my hair and my horse's hair....been rolled over on, stepped on, number of concussions, kicked by a number of friskly young horses....And ironically, nothing hurt more then when I fell off Jester pole bending and landed on one of the poles. -huffs- Lolz

Good luck!

 

[nirvana]

Bad things happen toe veryone. We ain't equestrians until we hit the ground at least a few hundred time xD
haha.thats what my instructor said the first time I fell.

But anyway, I would definately try some of that bone-stuff that docs subscribe.....don't remember the name. Definately ask though.....my cousin was on it for awhile and Day-um it made a differance.

Hope it all works out....I've had my fair share of dirt-biting incidents....spent some days in the hospital and spent hours picking thorns and burrs from my hair and my horse's hair....been rolled over on, stepped on, number of concussions, kicked by a number of friskly young horses....And ironically, nothing hurt more then when I fell off Jester pole bending and landed on one of the poles. -huffs- Lolz

Good luck!

thank you its good to know Im not the only one who has ended up in the hospital a few times.

 

[Phantomcolt18]

falling off is one of those things that happens lol ....i actually just recently posted up my worst fall in the videos section (falling off-- big time) i was only in the hospital once for a fall and it was because (even though i had my helmet on) i hit my head hard enough to crack my helmet so they took me just to get checked out and ended up having a slight concusion. Got a new helmet that thing saved my butt haha. If you are worried about not getting enough calcium (brittle bones) i know there are these supplements my friend takes because she has weak bones its chocolate flavored and it adds more calcium to your diet you could try those i think they also have vitamins in them too i tried them and they taste just like candy its called viactiv.

 

[Vidaloco]

It sounds like you might need to do some thinking before you get on your horse as well. Is my saddle correct and tight? Is my horse capable of what I plan to ask of him? Is he trained properly, am I trained properly?
Its not unlike checking your tack before you just take off. Being prepared mentally and physically will cure a lot of ills.
Not saying that you won't take a tumble even when all things are perfect. Preparation will cut down your odds of injury though.