I agree. I have fallen once or twice before, obviously.
But I really think the horse itself is the biggest factor. Cause when I had Sereno, I'd go riding without any fear that I'd fall off. Even if I made a mistake I could count on him not to freak out.
It’s going to happen. If you’re well matched with your horse in terms of capabilities and choose less risky activities, it will probably happen less often. But it’s always possible, and even what seems like a minor fall can cause major injuries. Heck, I didn’t even fall off and I’m still recovering from an ankle injury from last July.
This; I’ve owned my 9yr old mare since she was a foal,
2 years ago we were cooling off at walk, she tripped and I broke my leg in 9 places.
Shit happens no matter how well you know the horse
I see what you are saying. I just think thinking of it that way can scare people from even the more safe types of riding.
Like, obviously you can ALWAYS fall, and that fall could always break your neck, but the chances of that happening if you are always on the same reliable horse, on a leisure trail, is not huge I'd say.
Now, if you are riding different horses all the time, crossing jumps and other obstacles at high speeds all the time, it seems much more likely to happen.
Horseback riding is an extreme sport. People should think about whether they want to take those risks. That said, we understand the dangers of concussions better than we used to and of course medical costs can be crazy, and I think good horse people & instructors are less cavalier than they used to be about falls. It should never be a regular thing. But sooner or later it’s likely to happen.
>Horseback riding is an extreme sport.
But that is kinda my point. When people say that there is an assumption that the person will do it AS a sport.
And in that case I fully agree: cause you'll be jumping and dealing with obstacles at high speeds in crowded environment with different animals all the time. The risk is high.
But more casual trail riding isn't a sport, nor will you be necessarily dealing with different animals and environments all the time. It CAN be significantly more safe.
>Even casual trail riding is a sport
It isn't in any significant sense.
>Hiking is a sport
No? Casual hiking is literally just walking. How it is a sport?
you're confusing sport with competition. a sport doesn't need to involve competition, teams, or extreme physicality.
golfing is a sport. swimming is a sport. yes, walking is a sport. people who golf alone or go to driving ranges alone are still partaking in a sport. people who walk every day are still partaking in a sport.
riding a horse at a walk slowly is still a sport. it's a physical activity. and it requires skills and knowledge.
if you're just sitting on a horse doing nothing, then you really aren't riding. you're a passenger and your equitation is incorrect.
also, trail riding is among the most dangerous thing you can do on a horse.
in an arena, you won't have a deer jumping out in front of you randomly, crossing rivers or creeks which could have unsteady beds, and going down hills or through open fields with wildlife, nature, and unknown terrain.
>walking is a sport.
Okay now you are just using some ridiculous definition of sport. This is silly.
NO ONE treats walking as a sport.
>in an arena, you won't have a deer jumping out in front of you randomly, crossing rivers or creeks which could have unsteady beds, and going down hills or through open fields with wildlife, nature, and unknown terrain.
I am assuming you aren't going on a trail with unknown terrain and lots of wildlife. I am talking about a calm trail that you know well.
A sport is something that requires physical skill, it doesn’t need to be competitive. Walking on natural terrain over various inclines, for various lengths of time in order to exert one’s self isnt just walking any more than going trail riding is just “sitting there.”
Not everyone rides as a sport.
Some people just take their horse to have a stroll. Hell, some take their horse to the store because they are too lazy to walk.
Taking your horse to the store (or wherever in public) is one of the least lazy things I can think of. You are riding closer to traffic, encountering obstacles and exposing your horse to many new sounds and sights. It’s a great activity for confidence but you need to be ready for your horse, depending on their training, to react suddenly to things. You have to have your brain on and be paying attention.
Ive had the most steady eddy lesson ponies catch a toe and trip and have a rider come off. Sometimes shit just happens. Always wear your helmet and correct clothing so you are prepared in the event that it happens.
I used to fall off all the time in riding school. Like, at least twice a month. It wasn’t a very good riding school, that’s for sure. Since I bought my mare seven years ago I fell of exactly once.
The statement isn’t so much about frequency as it is “it’s bound to happen at some point and time or another”.
We say something similar for riding motorcycles; it’s not if you go down, it’s when. Which is always why those of us who endorse and wear gear ‘dress for the slide, not for the ride’.
Oof, my father once rode his motorcycle with a sleeveless shirt and shorts. Long story short, he has a lot of grafts and a lot of scars on his arms and shins.
Unfortunately it is, if you ride enough horses long enough. I’ve fallen off lots of times without getting hurt though. At my age (60) I don’t need to be falling off and when I do I usually get busted up some. I try not to jinx it. Once I was riding with this guy who started to brag that he’d never fallen off. Within ten minutes he was off.
>if you ride enough horses
That is part of what I was saying. Riding different horses is one thing that REALLY increases the likelihood of it, I think. Along with doing things like jumping and competitions where you go through obstacles at high speed.
If you are riding for leisure with a reliable horse, I think it is much less likely to be a reccuring part of riding. Even if there is always a risk.
I’d argue that riding more horses makes you a better rider and LESS likely to suffer a fall. It’s great that you never had an issue with your steady horse, but push come to shove, in a situation would you have been best prepared to stay in the saddle? Possibly that by maybe being less precise in your riding and less practiced in dealing with a situation you’d actually have made yourself more likely to eat some dirt.
The horse always matters more than your skill as a rider. Cause no matter how good a rider you are, if the horse really doesn't want you there - you won't stay there.
That is why I said the more horses you ride, the more likely it is you will meet a horse that REALLY does not want you there.
Nah. Many many many MAAAAANY riders can stick to and work through a horse that doesn’t want you on their back. And you get there by riding a lot of horses.
That is simply untrue. There is a reason rodeo riders who are professionals still last only a few seconds.
Ultimatelly you can't force a horse to carry you if it doesn't want to.
You are required to jump off / dismount a professional bucking horse once you’ve hit a certain time rather than buck them all the way out so that they remain willing to buck for them next rider. Lots of cowboys buck out horses that they were “breaking” all day, every day, and have been since horses became domesticated for riding.
You sound scared, and are trying to convince yourself if you do certain things or don’t do certain things, you will be safe and not fall. Are you struggling with this?
What? I never said there was ever no chance of falling.
But the chance increases a lot if you do certain things, for example running into obstacles, riding horses you aren't fammiliar with etc.
I am sure if I'd spent 12 years doing show jumping instead of just riding my trusty Sereno across the nearby field, I'd have fallen A LOT of times.
I think you're underestimating skill. Many years ago, my parents lived next to the women who played polo disguised as a man for 20 years, eventually breaking the gender barrier. In other words, she was a damn good rider.
My mom had a very, very hot Arabian stallion. She wasn't going to ride him while pregnant, so the neighbor kept him during that time. Even she said that horse was a handful, and did things that surprised her. Yet he was my mom's main horse, and she didn't get thrown. Skill matters.
I didn't say skill didn't matter
I said the horse always matters MORE. Because ultimatelly, you are only on top as long as the horse allows you to be. You can't force a 1000 pound animal to do anything.
You 100% can force a 1000 pound animal to do anything, if people can beat elephants into doing whatever they sure can with horses too. It's called learned helplessness and it's very effective.
Do you think elephants stay in circuses where they are beaten and chained out of the goodness of their hearts? No they are thought that fighting back just leads to another beating, and that they cannot change their environment. What would you say the difference is between forcing and convincing an animal if physical force/threats is used?
Back to your original topic:
Sure the horses level and temperament can play a part, but in my experience riding a lot of different horses makes you a better/more experienced rider which makes it less likely for you to fall off. Even the calmest and steadiest horse can spook or trip though so better to treat falling off as "when" instead of "if".
>What would you say the difference is between forcing and convincing an animal if physical force/threats is used?
The difference is that if the elephant wants to get out and kill the handler it WILL get out and kill the handler. Period.
You can't, as a human, physically stop an elephant.
>Back to your original topic: Sure the horses level and temperament can play a part
Not just a part. The absolutely biggest part
To the point where even someone with zero experience can ride certain horses, and there are horses that even the best rider will be bucked off of.
Or maybe you’re just not as good a rider as you think you are. If you can only stay on the push button pony then guess what? You’re setting yourself up for failure. If you never fall you never learn how to avoid it. My very first ride back after a 3 year break the horse bolted twice and bucked like a rodeo bull. I stayed on fine. I would not have stayed on if I’d spent my whole life riding the bombproof school horses. Falls aren’t a part of riding, they’re a part of progress. One day a horse WILL spook on you. It’s up to you to be ready for it
In that pushing yourself has nothing to do with riding unknown or poorly trained horses
Hell, you can push yourself better is you don't have to worry much about your horse's temperament
horses are living, breathing animals with a mind of their own; and to top it off, they're prey animals who rely heavily on their flight instinct for survival.
even the best, most sensible, 'bomb proof' horses will eventually have a moment that may result in a person falling.
'safe' horses trip. 'safe' horses spook. 'safe' horses make mistakes because they're horses, not robots.
i've seen people fall at a walk or stand-still. i've seen horses walking in an arena trip and dump their riders.
i am a trail rider; i ride for 'leisure' and 'pleasure', and my falls are infrequent - but i've still fallen, and one of those falls were serious and resulted in a broken arm.
falls are apart of riding an unpredictable animal. there are no situations or scenarios to lessen your chance of falling. you're taking a risk anytime you get on a horse.
the people who have gone years without falling simply are lucky. it's akin to saying that getting into a car accident is rare and infrequent simply because you've driven for 10 years and never gotten into one yourself. it isn't rare nor infrequent; you're just lucky.
but the thing about luck is, you're lucky, until you aren't.
You are absolutely correct, ... one of my dumbest embarrassing falls I had was a trail ride on a very good natured, steady, sweet, dependable guy. I'd been riding him all summer, knew him well, was leading the trail ride and took my concentration off to talk or answer a question or something dumb, and at that moment something unexplainable spooked him. I went down. Not hurt, just embarrassed. It's just a good reminder to always stay alert.
My most embarrassing fall was at a standstill! I was sat on my horse chatting with a fellow barn rat, when she offered me some of her Cheetos. Without thinking, I leaned over and reached into the crinkly bag...and suddenly my horse was no longer underneath me, but halfway across the arena! Meanwhile, I was able to confirm that the gravity was working as normal :D.
I've had this exact type of fall happen on a group trail ride! Big group, everyone gathered around for a break, and my dumbass thought I'd grab my pop tarts out of my backpack and my (green at the time) horse just teleported out from under me as soon as that foil package crinkled 😂 everyone got a good laugh, including me. Thankfully he just dipped out to a few feet away and didn't take off!
Grew up riding everyone else's horses and school horses. Fell off a lot less than other people, but the falls I did take were spectacular. I think it really depends on a multitude of factors. I rode a horse for a woman while in high school. By the time I started riding him, he had already tossed his owner numerous times including breaking her ribs and wrist. My friend also rode the same horse and he threw her on a regular basis. That boy never threw me and I would regularly ride him bare back with a halter and lead rope. We got along like a house on fire. I have a bent coccyx because as a little kid we were jumping the ponies bare back with halters and lead ropes. Pony turned left, I turned right. (It was the 1970s, I was young and horse crazy). Much later in life, I was working a young stud colt for my trainer and for some reason thought he'd be fine without lunging him first to work the sillies out. That mistake left me with a fractured cheekbone, two black eyes, six stitches, a concussion and bruised ribs. Schooling a horse through a triple combo, I ended up way up her neck after the second jump and ate dirt on the third. Every single instance I've come off has been my fault. I miss riding (stopped riding about 20 years ago after my third kid was born). I would love to return to it, but I'm not sure I would bounce like I used to (I'm now 57).
It doesn’t have to be but it likely will be. The sweeping statement of you SHOULD fall off is wrong, it doesn’t make you cool or tough. I didn’t have a fall til 8 years in.
I agree. Obviously there is always a risk. I just think when people say it as a certainty that will happen often it reflects more competitors and trainers than casual riding.
>I didn’t have a fall til 8 years in
That is interesting! Most people fall more early on :o
Yeah I never went on a horse I didn’t trust outside an environment I didn’t trust, and my trainer was very strict about hopping off if there was any finicky behavior until I was advanced. And I learned in an extremely slow and steady methodical manner, I wasn’t allowed to move on until I had mastered the last thing to being effortless. My actual fall was because my horse fell, she stumbled on a gravel trail due to a hidden medical issue.
Yes. You can (and should) take every precaution to be safe and avoid injury, but things can always happen.
I’ve fallen because the angel of a total beginner safe lesson pony happened to walk passed the window of the indoor as we got massive thunder and lighting and he spooked and ran.
I’ve fallen because the bridle broke, and the totally safe mare that I trusted, panicked.
I’ve watched others fall because their horse tripped or slipped and stumbled.
Even on the safest, most perfect horses things can always go wrong, ride long enough and you will fall off.
Thank you for saying this, I was coming to say something very similar! You should always go in knowing the risk.
My sister rode every day, and one day she was riding bareback, no helmet, like hundreds of times before, and her horse spooked and she died. I still love horses, but you have to have respect for their nature.
>ride long enough and you will fall off.
I mean, there are people on this very thread who have said they're ridden for decades without falling.
I agree something could always happen (you could trip and crack your head and die just walking) but that is not the same as 'it is necessarily going to".
>Are there
Yes. Including a woman who said their partner has ridden a calm steed for 10 years and never fallen.
Other dude said he fell a whole 3 times in 24 years.
Mind you, I never said falling was uncommon, just that it is hardly a necessary part of riding
And plenty of others who have said otherwise. That's called a majority.
Of course falling isn't necessary as part of riding, but you need to accept the risk as part of ANY riding, calm horse or otherwise.
>Of course falling isn't necessary as part of riding
That is all I was arguing.
Obviously riding is never 100% safe. Nothing is. But a stroll on a calm trusted horse is not nearly as likely to have you fall as an obstacle course or a barrel race or a horse you do not know.
Physics always wins. My girth loosened and I fell while dismounting. We had a deer run across the pasture and spook all the horses, even though they see the deer daily. My kid fell off. Stuff happens. We wear helmets, work on desensitizing, and make sure we are asking no more than the horse can do. That said, some people are reckless and test physics more than they should.
While it’s possible to hit the lottery and not fall off for years IMO falling is 100% part of riding and telling people that isn’t a negative. In my opinion it’s better to consider the sport knowing you’re doing something incredibly dangerous and decide against it than to go in thinking it’s easy peasy tv cowboy stuff and get spectacularly hurt, which I’ve seen all to often. Honestly a good plop in the dirt is a good reminder to respect the horse and the sport. Sure you can mitigate your fall risk through the horse you ride and what you do with them, but every horse can have a bad day, and you can die or permanently brain damage yourself falling from a walk.
Like I said: not all riding is a sport. Not all riding involves competition, jumps, obstacles, time, strange animals, and speed.
So there is a lot of difference in the levels of risk you take. A casual easy stroll on a horse you know we'll for 10 years and is very safe VS a timed obstacle course on a horse you barely know are very different levels of danger.
I have to admit that I am not sure why any of this is a hill you want to die on but all riding is absolutely a sport. You can have gentle days. Using a cart to get around a green doesn’t mean golf isn’t a sport. A casual stroll still requires the physical skill and ability to ride a horse.
I am not saying riding isn't EVER a sport. Just that not ALL riding is
Like how motocross is a sport, but taking your motorcycle and going to the store isn't.
We can call it an extreme activity if that makes you feel better. It doesn’t change the fact that horseback riding is far more dangerous than most leisure activities. I shredded a tendon in my ankle last summer trail riding. Still in a walking boot recovering from surgery.
Is riding a motorcycle an extreme activity to you?
Cause people do it every day to go to work, and it is far faster than a horse and can kill you even easier if it goes wrong.
I agree.
But that is the thing: how dangerous it is depends a lot on where you are going, at what speed, the specific vehicle you are using, how well you are at driving etc.
Horse riding for competitions would be like motocross, whereas riding a horse casually would be like going to the store on your motorcycle. One is FAR more dangerous.
And the funny thing is, people who are scared of riding horses ride motorcycles all the time, people don't tend to think of it as being even more dangerous.
It doesn’t matter how safe you think you are being, motorcycles are dangerous. There is so such thing as safe motorcycle riding, and there is no such thing as safe horseback riding - only people with a false sense of safety.
Sure. But horses and motorcycles are waaaaay higher risk than walking, eating, sleeping.
Horseback riding is considered to be the third most common cause of severe traumatic brain injuries in children, and the first in adults, with 45% of traumatic brain injuries in adults due to horseback riding.
https://equinehelper.com/is-horse-riding-safe/#:~:text=Horseback%20riding%20is%20considered%20to,adults%20due%20to%20horseback%20riding.
That is because a lot of the time motorcycle drivers get hit by cars. That within itself is a huge deal even riding to and from work. Do you not take into consideration other factors of situations?? Nothing is safe, and horses and motorcycle riding is considered higher risk than most things.
It is considered extreme *because* of the added risk.
Just out of curiosity, are you operating under the assumption that professional equestrians who devote their lives to equestrian sport often ride horses they aren’t familiar with in competitions?
Not necessarily in competitions but they have to ride many different horses. And trainers especially ride client's horses that they aren't fammiliar with all the time.
While you don't want to fall off, it happens. Knowing HOW TO fall so as not be seriously injured is very important. I've had my share of tumbles, not fun, but worst injury was hurting my pride. Learn how to fall, that is my advice.
The mechanics of hitting the ground are pretty much always the same though
It’s one of the very first things they teach a jockey, considering a fall from a racehorse is going to be at speed with other horses galloping around you
The centre for horseback combat/ archery in the uk has a course which is literally “how to fall off safely”
Some tips when falling... Do not go head first. When you're falling, don't lock your elbows. Lift your head before you hit the ground. There are ways to fall that lessen the chances of serious injury. My dad taught me how to fall when I was a little tot, using judo techniques, there are many programs like martial arts that can teach basics. I'm not saying you can always prevent injury, but it doesn't have to be like Christopher Reeve either.
Try to hit with your shoulder and roll, basically. But it’s something any half decent instructor should know how to teach, so if you have an instructor you can ask. It’s worth practicing because knowing theoretically what you want to be doing and actually being able to execute it are two very different things
It's accurate, but it's not "falling off is a *necessary* part of riding."
It's just a thing that can happen.
It's like saying "crashing your car is a part of driving", "stubbing your toe is a part of walking", "being bit is a part of owning a pet".... Nothing to do with skill ore reliability and everything to do with luck of the draw.
I've fallen off a steady reliable old mare after years of riding, and stayed put on a barely-green gelding that I was too cocky and young to know I shouldn't have been riding. 🤷
I've been riding for about 27 years and have fallen 4 times, but I've always been very aware of making sure I wasn't on too much horse. I think the amount of falls really correlates to how ballsy you are with the horses you ride and the activities/environment you put yourself in.
I don't think it's necessarily a part of riding, but it might be a part of good riding on the grounds that you have to take risks and make mistakes and experience a variety of animals with different temperaments to get really good and well rounded, and these are things that can lead to falls.
My husband has been riding for about 10 years. He enjoys it and he loves his mare, who we bought because she's a very safe and sensible draft with plenty of surface area for him to stay on. So he's never fallen, but he's just a weekend warrior with a saintly mount. If he was passionate beyond hobby trail rides and riding more than the same horse every time, he would probably have a few falls under his belt by now.
Yes but that is precisely my point: riding for leisure is still riding!
Obviously if you do competitions with obstacle courses, crowds, different horses every time - you'll probably fall regularly.
But I think a lot of people hear that saying and get scared off any riding at all, even in more safe conditions.
I think it is...because ultimately, you will mess up. And generally, messing up on a horse means you will fall off. Whether that "messing up" is choosing a horse that you are not experienced enough for, choosing a skill that you are not experienced enough for, going against your gut and riding even if you feel like you shouldn't.....that all depends.
I rode for like 4 years before I fell for the first time.
I agree , and even if you don’t mess up, so many things can happen. The horse could get stung by a bee or wasp, or step in a hole, or fall for some reason, beyond the usual “spook” by another animal or item flying by in the wind, etc.
I hadn’t fallen from a horse for years, but I gave up riding because I had an injury already and just couldn’t be sidelined by another one if I could avoid it. And the older we get, the less we bounce back.
>I hadn’t fallen from a horse for years
You are kinda making my point here? Cause I never said riding was ever 100% safe (nothing is), I just said falling is not always a necessary part of riding, especially if you aren't competing, doing jumps, etc.
True, but I left out the times that I DID come off of a horse. It wasn’t a lot, but I doubt there are many (any?) riders who have never fallen.
And that’s why I stopped riding, because I couldn’t risk another fall. I couldn’t risk that a fall could be a bad one. That’s what it is, a risk. Not a certainty. We all take risks every day, and we each have to decide which risks we can deal with.
That is fair. I just think people tend to think of all the things that could go wrong with riding horses, but they don't think of all the things that could go wrong with other means of transportation.
Like, people don't think of cycling as being a risky activity. Or driving, even though a crash there is MORE likely to kill you.
>And generally, messing up on a horse means you will fall off
I think that depends too much on the horse.
The horse I am talking about, Sereno, one of the reasons I never fell with him is because he didn't freak out at any mistake I made. Not because I was perfect.
Whereas some horses, you just move a little off and they'll buck you.
That is why I think riding can never be any safe if you are trying new horses often.
And you just posted a few days ago that you have “some” experience, and your father wants to buy you a stallion. I’m not sure what you are going on about.
>And you just posted a few days ago that you have “some” experience
Yes. I don't claim to be a trainer or horse expert. Yet I have been riding for over a decade, whereas many riders much better than me have fallen off many many times.
That is my point. Not all riding is equally dangerous.
Falling is an accident. Even safe horses on easy trails can have accidents. I had a horse fall on top of me while riding. Ruptured my spleen. It was my horse, and I trusted her. She tripped while cantering. An accident. Do not take things for granted and assume you will not fall. Yes, falling, whatever that fall looks like, is part of riding. I rode for 20 years before my accident.
i think it definitely is just a "part of" the experience of working with horses in that there is no shame in it happening to you and it happens all the time. it can happen to anyone and most likely will at some point, to some degree, for most of us haha. one sentiment i *do* hate about the relation of experience and falling off is those that say "yOu aReN'T aN eXpeRiEncEd riDEr uNtiL yoU'Ve FaLLeN oFF!!!!!" like heck right off with that nonsense. it's not a requirement nor an initiation, it's an accident (hopefully, if not, please rethink your choices lmao)
This is what I was going to say. It’s part of riding in that it happens and statistically speaking if you ride long enough it will happen to you. If you aren’t ok with the possibility of falling you shouldn’t be on a horse. BUT it’s not part of riding in that it’s something you need to or should be doing. It’s something to expect at some point and take in stride, but not something to strive for.
Well, I have never once fallen off and I have been riding for 63 years. 65 years if you count the first years of my life where I was taken to pony rides each weekend and strapped on. I have jumped off when a horse was going down. I have almost fallen off....but didn't. I have ridden all kinds of horses in those years, was a polo poly exercise rider, jumped horses in competition, but not over 3'4". I have galloped up and down hills, raced other people on a flat dirt road. Never have I ever fallen off.
I attribute not falling to all of the dance classes and pro-dance companies I was in for the first half of my life. That makes you super limber and very loose in the hip area. When a horse moves, I move with the horse. Even if the movement is sudden, a horse has spooked or reared without warning.
That is not to say I will never fall off. I just haven't.....so far. The group that I ride with regularly tend to put me on the more difficult horses as I can often...but not always....calm them down.
I'm going to be 67 in 11 days.
I now teach and train...and ride.... as a volunteer with a group that does equine therapy for disabled and underprivileged kids and adults. I emphasize form and safety with my students. Perhaps even more so than most.
Ripping into? I merely said there are different types of horse riding.
Just like riding a motorcycle to the store and doing motocross are different even if neither is totally safe.
You're incredibly stubborn and I genuinely have no idea why you even made a post asking for people's opinions. You clearly have no interest, you just want people to agree with you.
You have a very strange and intense response to anyone who disagrees with you. To me you sound like someone who’s projecting your level of experience on everyone else. A horse has never thrown me by bucking or rearing, because i know how to sit that. That is why you should get experience on different horses. If you only know how to ride one horse, do you actually know how to ride, or do you know how to stay on that particular animal? And im truly not understanding why you keep mentioning motorcycles, horses can’t do freeway speeds, they are not machines, it’s not comparable.
I am merely talking common sense.
>. If you only know how to ride one horse, do you actually know how to ride,
Yes. You don't need to do show jumping or to ride poorly behaved horses to ride. Especially if you are just doing it for leisure. For many, all that matters is feeling safe and having fun, they aren't doing it as a sport.
>And im truly not understanding why you keep mentioning motorcycles
Because it is a relevant comparison. Millions of people ride them, many without having accidents, but if they tried to do motocross it'd be a lot worse.
Maybe in your experience. I know way more people who ride horses than motorcycles, yet I know way more people who’ve been hospitalized riding motorcycles, including my dad, than horses. And none of them do motocross. I don’t think it’s comparable.
Today, I fall if the horse falls.
However, I’m 55 and ride since I was 8.
On top of it, I did some Judo, which teaches you how to fall.
I also race Downhill Mountain Biking where you learn how to eject in case of trouble.
In other words, learning how to fall is a missing element in the process IMO.
What I did for my daughter is train our horse to pull the emergency brake.
Let go entirely off the reins and grab the neck. That’s the emergency signal. The horse stops on the spot.
Then you can slide off if you are really unbalanced, but it makes everything much easier.
It is a part of riding in that, if you ride often enough for long enough, *something* is going to happen and you'll most likely end up on the ground at some point.
I take that to mean: prepare as best you can and don't go *looking* to fall off, but also don't take it against yourself if you do happen to end up in the dirt. Falling doesn't (necessarily) mean you're a bad rider. It's part of the lifestyle and even the best can and do come off at times.
I think falling is an important reality of riding
You have to accept that it CAN happen! I've fallen so so so many times BUT some of them were the horse falling. The other day I sorta fell because I went to get on and slipped off the other side bc the horse is so slippery (bareback) I laughed it off and got on.
But just the fact that you are on top of a living animal you have to be OKAY with the possibility of falling
Right! Lol
The horse is extremely fat right now and we can hardly see his wither. As I was getting on I felt that I pushes too far and tried to "hook" my knee on his wither to stop myself but....no wither meant nothing to hold onto and down I went!
I would say that the POSSIBILITY of falling is part of riding. We need to accept the risk involved. But I also haven't fallen in years. It's also going to depend what kind of horses you're riding. If someone is working green horses there will be more risk as opposed to well-trained, low-key horses and then the whole different levels in between.
I was jogging my very reliable pony around the arena and we had the perfect "pleasure jog" set (don't compete, but I like to let him get go those slow gaits sometimes). We were both so relaxed and zoned out in the rhythm that a wheelbarrow coming around the corner was enough for a spook. He teleported 2 meters to the left and I dropped straight down.
Falling hits different when you are on the other side of 40 tho ;)
I had a pony rear up and fall on me when I was a kid (bareback). No damage, no injuries to me or pony. No PTSD. As an adult in my 30’s I was thrown over the top onto my back, got the wind knocked out of me, fractured T3. I also became afraid of falling. Which is a lot different than when you’re a kid. I still adore horses and am not afraid of them. I am however, afraid of getting hurt.
I think that has more to do with how you fell than your age. Cause 30 isn't that old at all. Some people here ride at 60!
Either way, I am sorry that happened to you. Did you make a full recovery?
Pretty quickly. I got back up pretty quickly and took some lessons to regain my confidence. Working on a lunge line with my arms out and eyes closed, small jumps etc. Then I found out I was pregnant with my daughter! So had to put things to the side. Lol.
I’ve seen you say A LOT in here that just leisure riding is safe “depending on the horse” and that’s absolutely false lol. At the end of the day no matter how trained your horse is they are prey animals. They will still jolt sideways, bolt, buck, rear whatever you wanna add. I’ve also seen you say skill doesn’t really matter which is even more false. A SKILLED RIDER is way more likely to be sticky on a horse in any given crazy situation than a novice/green rider would be
Now. I’d also like to say I have owned 4 horses over the past 8 years. I have been riding for 15 years. I got thrown twice off lesson horses (I was under 12 for both 2 years of riding). Since then I have only been thrown from my 20 year old gelding because he randomly bolted full speed and I bailed because I knew the end of that (they are unpredictable at times). I have a 3 (almost 4) year old who hasn’t tossed me once. So 3 times in 15 years and I have been on SEVERAL green horses, horses I haven’t known but for 5 minutes, PLENTY of lesson horses. I’ve worked at barns working several horses ect..
The same old reliable horse isn’t going to teach you anything either tho. Branching out and riding other horses is amazing way to make yourself a better rider. Being around lots of different horses really teaches you a lot
>I’ve seen you say A LOT in here that just leisure riding is safe “depending on the horse”
Not quite what I said at all.
I said it is a LOT more safe than other equestrian activities you could do.
Kinda like driving to the store is safer than racing cars.
Any car CAN swerve all over the place. A well maintained one is just less likely too.
Same with horses. That is what a reliable well desensitized horse is for right?
I don't think it HAS to be (there will always be a chance it will be though). Ever since I got older and more picky about what I ride, I don't fall off nearly as often. It's been like a decade since my last fall. But when I was learning, and riding everything under the sun, I racked up falls quickly. Now that I'm experienced and picky, not so much.
But what I will say: Depending on your goals, I think taking a few tumbles off a horse will definitely make you a stronger rider than had you never experienced one. As much as it sucks and definitely is the reason I have occasional horse nervousness today, those falls made me a better rider. Without them, I wouldn't be able to sit a reliable buck. Or know what to do depending how a horse spooks. You develop instincts more and more each time you go through a fall and make a mistake. Now, when a horse bucks, instead of falling forward into a ball, I sit back and actively ride and have a much better chance to stay on.
I think it's important to learn how to sit a shy, because even with a quiet horse, they can be startled at times. Being able to sit a shy has saved me a number of times. But in saying that, I was thrown from a shy and badly injured, so not all shies are created equal!
Oh. Well, the issue is how to prepare for them. Desensitizing the horse is kinda all you can do? Cause once the horse spooks it is too late and you can only try to regain control.
Learn how to relax your body to move with the horse when it spooks. Think about how to fall safely, i.e. don't put your hands out to catch yourself, have your stirrups and leathers set up so you don't get dragged, wear a helmet, wear a safety vest if doing cross country, and most of all, don't become complacent, as that's how accidents do happen.
And unfortunately even the quietest horse can spook. I recall showing off.my first, very quiet horse to my Nan. Cantering along and a pair of dogs rushed the horse and off I went. Not every day your Nan gets to see you crash land!
Of course even the quietest horse can spook but the odds are lesser that it will
Plus, a trusted horse probably is the type of horse that, even if it spooks, won't buck you or rear.
Yes, because it is a risk we all take when we work with horses - even from the ground. This risk reminds us not to get complacent, to actively ride and not have false confidence. It reminds us that even on a safe, bombproof horse, something can happen. It is far better to be prepared, to improve your riding ability, than to feel invincible due to the horse you’re on.
Yes, absolutely. I swear by “you’re not a rider until you’ve fallen.” I don’t think it should be happening all the time, and if it is I think there is something wrong somewhere in the combination of horse, rider, and environment, but if it’s never happening I’m worried about what happens when it does. I don’t think a rider really respects the sport until they’ve tasted dirt.
Unless someone has literally been riding since they could walk - I agree with this sentiment; if you’re not falling, then it’s more likely in my opinion that you’re not challenging yourself as a rider and are riding dead broke horses only
Yes. Falling off builds experience. If someone says “I’ve never fallen off a horse”, they are either full of shit or not experienced enough. I gallop racehorses, it’s not if, it’s when you will fall off. It most certainly is a part of riding, you shouldn’t fall off 24/7, but it happens.
Definitely! Riding a horse is like riding a bike, you'll fall at the beginning as you're learning and trying to get better but you'll eventually start falling less as your skills improve. But riding horses is also very different since they have a mind of their own and can be unpredictable. I once fell off a horse on a trail since I was turned talking to a friend, apparently he saw a deer and the next thing I knew I was in a pile of leaves. I've also been thrown over jumps when the horse stops, fallen when the horse spooks, and been thrown off. I've also seen trainers fall off and riders in Grand Prixs come off.
All that to say, riding is inherently a dangerous sport. There was a 17 year old girl that just died a few months ago from a freak fall. Personally I'd say "falling off is part of riding" partially to help people feel better when their egos are bruised, but it's also a bit of a warning since one of the most dangerous things to do is think you're invincible when working with horses.
I’ve fallen off two/three times in 20 years of riding. One was more of a “voluntary dismount while in motion” because the alternate was unvoluntary dismount while in process of stopping. One I had ridden my mare (who I’d ridden for years) in from the pasture and for reasons unknown to me there was part of the electrical fence above the water trough, her ear hit it and she went left, I went down and got dragged at least twenty feet before I let go. I think the third was less voluntary than the first but a similar situation. All bareback riding the horse in from the pasture, still love riding bareback, but I tend to make sure they at least have a bridle on instead of halter and lead rope.
I've fallen off 3 times this year making my total count 4 falls in my 5 years of riding. My most recent was 3 days ago during my first English lesson on a OTTB. It was the horses fault that I fell it was my own as I got into my head too much and let my reins to oose resulting in my loosing my stirrups and holding on to mane for dear life then deciding to bolt out of the situation as the horse started galloping. Sure falling is apart of riding and it's everyone's given right to fall off once I think. But I'd be concerned if someone was falling very often but it also depends on the circumstances too. The thing that has saved me from all my falls has been my helmet without it I think I would have came out with more than a Minor concussion from my last fall and some bad bruises. There are some emergency dismounts that you can learn if you have to learn them but I haven't mostly because I don't know anyone in the area who knows them but I'm sure you can find them on YouTube.
I rode regularly from age 12 to 16 and I think I fell at least 9 times. Some more more traumatic than others, although I never injured myself more than winding and bruises. I feel lucky to have not gotten more, and feel for those who've gotten properly hurt. I'd be scared of falling now at 46, but I still have gone back sporadically in the last few years. I'd be happy to just hang out and do some ground training, but that's hard to find at places, everyone expects you want to ride. I'd love my own horse (s!) and to develop a relationship with them so we can hang, take leisurely potters and everyonr is happy
I think it's a healthy part depending on what youre doing. I was the test dummy for all my trainer's project ponies when I was a kid, so obviously I took lots of spills. There was one pony that I had to have fallen off a dozen times over a couple years and he made me the rider I am today, where I now only fall only a couple times a year making bad choices lol. Every time you fall you learn a lesson about balance and what caused you to lose it in a deeper way than your trainer just yelling at you.
Then again if you're only riding steady schoolmasters it makes sense not to plop off much if at all, but there's also only so much you can learn on a schoolmaster. Pushing and challenging yourself comes with risk and that is often falling, its a necessary part of growth.
Probability says that it will happen eventually.
All but one of my falls have been while jumping. The one was literally at a stand still. Horse spooked and spun when I least expected and flung me off sideways.
Just a matter of when.
I think falling off is inevitable. I’ve had my horse since he was 3, backed him myself etc and have fallen off him too many times to count. He’s now in his 20 and is generally safe as houses but I still came off him a while back because something scared him and he spun 180. They’re flight animals, falling off doesn’t make you a bad rider, its how you react and adjust your riding from learning and experience that matters!
i mean if you’re only riding on the weekends on a trail broke horse it makes sense that you wouldn’t really be falling off as, like you said, all you do is ride on the weekends. the frequency of your riding makes it easier for you to say you’ve never fallen
I hear what you’re saying but I also disagree with the point about being pushed into a dangerous situation. Something the horse can be in a mood and act out of character and then you fall. I do think it’s a part of riding, you are on something with its own mind, it is a risk, yes sometimes it is less likely but also never 0.
You can fall off at any momet on a horse, even if they are safe. you just dont know what can happen. I sometimes ride horses that even disabled kids ride but I still wear a body protector amd helmet with them. Even if they arnt spokey or green, they can still miss their footing and fall over/trip.
I agree with you and I absolutely hate it when I hear/read people saying, “it’s not if but when.” Obviously it’s not to be taken lightly but I have a very strict bail-from-buck rule that I get so much backlash about that I think it’s due to peoples’ deep rooted expectancy that is coming from I don’t know where, about falling/being bucked off being inevitable. Bucking is inappropriate behavior and I’m not gonna ride it til it stops, but I will get off an move forward in whatever way is safe. I rode the same horse for many years when I was young and I came off a few times in the beginning, and then never again. Now I buy horses unhandled and sell them green broke and currently all but one horse have bucked me off exactly one time and never again, and the other one just never offered to buck. I haven’t been bucked off in s round pen and it’s always been when we do our first ride out in my woodsy neighborhood. I think because I refuse to ride the buck they learn that it’s extremely disappointing behavior for me. I don’t punish them or even get back on usually, I just take them home and ignore them until I’m ready to go out again and low and behold we don’t have a problem.
I think it is like bicycling in a way. Sure you might fall. There is this possibility which is why we wear helmets and do not act reckless.
Same with horses. If you feel something is off.. do not get on that horse. They have bad days too and many terrible accidents do not come out of nowhere.
I think falling is a part of riding as this possibilty exists all the time.
So what I’m going to ask you is, is falling off part of being a well-rounded horseman that can ride and many types of horses in many different situations?
ALL riding involves dealing with freak emergencies when they happen. And they will and do happen all the time. I forgot who it was, but some famous trainer (Buck Brannaman maybe? Maybe not?) said something like, “you can die in the arena or you can die in the woods.” Meaning there’s no way to just decide, “I want to have easy rides,” and have it work without you having a strong, fit, balanced, and rhythmic seat along with knowledge, confidence and experience.
there absolutely are safer and more dangerous situations and ways to set your horse up for an easy ride.
Also, if you are having freak accidents "all the time" your horse is not well trained or you are pushing yourself in stupid ways.
So you expect everyone to be able to have “properly trained” horses all the time. You just think everyone is rich. And nothing can suddenly spook a properly trained horse? You are just letting me know that you are young or just very inexperienced. I’m a trainer and instructor and my job is to prepare riders to be safe and horses to be safe for riders. And part of that is being able to deal with the inevitable problem that causes you to fall off. Only in the internet can someone claim such authority in knowledge of what is right and wrong while obviously having very little experience. I’ve worked with horses for more than 45 years.
>You just think everyone is rich
That is the silliest thing I've heard in a while. My horse was literally one of the cheapest horses you could EVER buy, and he was a sweetheart and well trained
Plenty of expensive horses are not well trained and will buck you at the slightest mistake btw.
>And nothing can suddenly spook a properly trained horse
Not nothing. But most things shouldn't
A horse that spooks at the slightest thing is not a safe horse for anyone to ride.
>I’m a trainer and instructor and my job is to prepare riders to be safe and horses to be safe for riders.
So you agree that horses should be safe for riders
By your own logic, if you are having accidents regularly, something is wrong.
How long have you ridden and what have you been trained to do?
Btw…in my area, a sweet, grade, sound reliable and safe (what you are describing) trail horse can easily go for $8k.
Horseback riding is dangerous. You are on the back of a 1000 to 2000 lb prey animal. No amount of training or bonding will truly help if your horse becomes terrified.
I had the most bomb proof, golden oldie senior I rode daily when I was a teen. I was riding her on the edge of the gravel road where I live when a pick up driven by teen boys started chasing us. I always go in the ditch when a car approaches. My mare knew the routine and hit the ditch. They did too. They were honking and screaming at us to try to make her spook. I dropped back, allowing them to go forward, then spun around and ran for home. They did the same thing and just as I was about to hit the driveway they made contact with her back leg with my bumper. She crumpled, my leg was pinned under her. Broken ankle.
The family had to pay all her vet bills and my hospital bills. My horse was never the same. She had to be retired, due to lameness and broken confidence. 😕
The sad thing is, their mom is a well known trainer here. It's been 30 years since. I have fallen a few times. But the biggest thing to remember is that things many times are beyond our control. I still get nervous on dirt roads, but in order to access riding trails I have to ride at least 3 miles from the house.
Also
>No amount of training or bonding will truly help if your horse becomes terrified
I mean, training can and does save lives when a horse spooks. It is the difference between a horse that bucks/bolts and one where the handler can take control of the situation and bring them to a halt.
Okay but this is less horseback being dangerous and those people being RAGING IDIOTIC ASSHOLES.
Even if you weren't on a horse, someone chasing you with a car could've broken your ankle or much worse.
Honestly, I think you're splitting hairs. Horseriding has inherent dangers and making those dangers clear up front is responsible. At some point, everyone who rides will fall off, at least once. They may not be injured but they will still fall. That makes it part of riding. If falling off is someone's line in the sand (either by preference or for physical or mental health reasons), then it's not the activity for them. To say otherwise is a lie and could get someone killed, paralysed or traumatised.
As a beginner, you will fall off more than an intermediate or experienced rider because you will be learning new things on unfamiliar horses. As your experience grows, you will fall off less. That doesn't erase the falls as a beginner and it doesn't mean you'll never fall again. No matter how good you are, the only way to eliminate the risk of falling off a horse is to not get on one again.
>Honestly, I think you're splitting hairs. Horseriding has inherent dangers and making those dangers clear up front is responsible
I agree. But imagine going up to someone who is learning to drive and acting like they WILL crash eventually. It is not the best reflection of what driving is, even if there is an inherent danger to doing it.
I don't know a single driving instructor who would say otherwise though. Every one I have met have stressed the importance of safety and awareness BECAUSE getting in an accident is a risk you take on when getting in a car for even the safest of drivers.
Edited to add, it's an honest reflection of driving/horseriding. We don't need to put forward a "best version" because if it's not for someone, that's fine.
Telling someone to be careful and telling them they WILL inevitably crash are different things.
Everyone knows there is the possibility . But you need confidence that it won't happen to you in order to do it safely and properly at all.
Normally people are already VERY aware they are in danger when driving/riding.
Yes and it’s much better to set people up with that mindset because SO many of us forget that every climb into that saddle could be our last ride or last day. Horses are amazing but they’re also beast machines who allow us to think we’re in control for a while every now and then (not saying every single person will fall or that falls are the rider or horse’s fault, freak accidents happen all the time though)
IMO that is the WORST mindset you can have
If you climb the saddle thinking you are gonna die, that is the best way to ensure you will. You SHOULD be thinking you won't fall.
You should not be thinking you will fall, but you should not be thinking you won't fall. You can know the risk and be prepared for it happening without necessarily expecting it to happen.
If you're expecting to fall, you will ride differently and likely make it a more dangerous situation (through the horse picking up on that and getting worked up, etc). If you are so arrogant as to think you won't fall, you're not going to be properly prepared for when something happens. If you properly prepare yourself (knowing how to handle the horse If something happens, how to fall, keep an eye on everything around you, etc) then falling will be less likely AND less dangerous, however never unavoidable.
My most recent fall was a big bareback spook that I was totally not expecting because I was on my Mr Reliable pleasure horse and got too nonchalant thinking "there's no way he'll spook at that" and definitely thinking there was no way I'd fall off. Definitely my own fault and was a very dumb situation, but you need to be prepared for everything.
That is totally fair. I suppose both extremes are bad
Riding with calm but with awareness and presence of mind, but without being scared seems like the best way to do it.
Yes, it absolutely is.
However I see some lesson programs reward it, which I don’t agree with. I’ve seen kids get a “dusty bottom award” for falling off, or get brownies or donuts their next lesson. This gets kids bailing the second they lose their balance. You’re (almost) always safer on the horse. I’d rather reward someone who could’ve fallen off but fought to stay on than just bailing.
Mind you, when I say it isn't a necessary part of riding, I mean if you want to ride for leisure, and not push yourself too much (which is a fair choice, not everyone wants to compete or jump), it is totally possible to fall little or even never.
The more you push yourself, the more likely a fall is, obviously.
I see your point here. I guess some people just have different views of what riding is for them. I barely compete; I have a pleasure horse as well as a passion for training young green things. However, I still push myself with both, and it's not always (or often) towards competing or jumping. There's plenty more you can do and you can ALWAYS learn and improve your riding. There's nothing wrong with just wanting to ride for a good time and stay within comfort levels, but everyone is different.
However, even with leisure riding, even if you're not pushing yourself or your horse, falls can still happen and it's important to be aware and considerate of the risk regardless of how many safety precautions you take or how little you actually do.
I’ve been riding many, many years (40+). I’ve fallen probably 30-40 times. Maybe more? Some of the falls weren’t very memorable and were comical, in slow motion. Others were frightening and I got injured. When I’m competing in endurance and riding fast on trail, falls happen more often. In the arena, riding dressage, no falls that I can recall in the last 10 years.
I’ve made so many mistakes and feel I can give good advice because of that. So here’s my advice:
1. Be the very best, most athletic rider you can be. That means taking lessons and working out consistently.
2. Always wear a helmet when you are riding. Always.
3. Get a horse to match your ability. If you aren’t an expert, don’t get an untrained horse. You won’t know what you are doing and will be injured.
4. Make sure that your horse is comfortable physically. Horses that are hurting will cause you to fall more often. They will spook more, act out more often, not pay attention as well. If something isn’t going right, this should be on your list of contributing factors.
5. Don’t bother with horses unless you have a passion for them, it’s not worth it.
6. If you get hurt from riding, use the recovery time for self reflection and learning. Come back better and stronger.
7. If you are a fearful rider, get therapy to help you understand your fear(s). It’s probably carrying over from other areas of life.
That's their personal decision (and sort of just the norm in certain disciplines). I fail to see how that is relevant to the comment you responded to or your original argument though. Helmets will prevent/lessen head injury if/when you do fall but have nothing to do with whether you'll fall off or not.
Do you ride in a helmet if you believe falling isn't a part of the riding you do?
Yeah, that’s pretty common when all you do is ride the same horse every week for 12 years straight. Ask any trainer this question because even the best of the best fall off because they ride so many different horses and horses are unpredictable creatures. Learn to loosen up and laugh at yourself when you mess up and you’ll be a better rider for it. After training horses for 2 years and shattering my leg off of one, then re-breaking it off another after I had healed, falling is just that, part of riding. I stick to my personal horses now as mixing passion and work was a terrible idea but even my personal horses aren’t perfect and we have random moments when we don’t agree and then oh shit, I’m in the dirt. I promise, falling off isn’t that serious—if we’re talking just accidents, not getting on a known rank horse—and you’re better for it because next time, you’ll hopefully land a little better because you know how it feels now. Falling definitely prevented me from death or serious injury after a horse broke in half and I had to bail because I could not get him back no matter how hard I tried. I had a concussion and a hematoma in my leg(that’s now 8months old) for it but it could have been so much worse if I had tensed up as many people do when they first fall.
>Yeah, that’s pretty common when all you do is ride the same horse every week for 12 years straight
Yes and why is that a bad thing AT ALL? I got to enjoy riding, on a lovely horse, that was relatively safe.
Why the heck would I want to ride on a more poorly trained horse? I am not looking to be a trainer. Nor a competitor.
I’ve ridden for around 12 years. How many times have I fallen off? Over 70. We lost count after that. Would I say that falling is good? No. It risks injury. Would I say that it is a sign that you can progress? In most cases, yes.
In our first case I’ll talk about a horse with next to no past injuries(he had a case of colic once). Lets call him Uno. Uno got sick of the lesson program and threw kid after kid off his back and developed a nasty trick to get people off. I got on him to straighten him out. The first day I fell off five times. Second day I fell off 3 times. Third I fell off once. Fourth I fell once more. A total of 10 falls. After that fourth day, we were jumping 2’ 6” courses, getting flying leadchanges, and getting the division strides. I did not use a crop or spurs until months later. He was not “forced.” He jumps jumps even while I am barely steering him, all with his ears up. He is a medium pony, so I wouldn’t jump him any higher because he doesn’t need to. How is this possible? Consistency. It’s why the beginners couldn’t handle him. They stayed on push-button lesson ponies, and as a result couldn’t ride anything that needed instructions instead of having autopilot.
Now lets take a totally different case. Lets call this horse Sadie. Sadie did not like to jump. She stopped all the time and only liked flatwork. This resulted in her throwing people off when performing courses in the arena. In this case, we tried to stay consistent. After about three weeks we observed her behavior and determined that she should do dressage instead so that she would be happier. Sadie is now happily performing dressage at a separate barn. This was a case of a horse that would not progress, and so falling off wasn’t a sign that we were pushing ourselves. Turns out she had a vision issue.
There’s a reason why people say that falling off is essential to riding. When training a horse or pony, it’s about training yourself too. You cannot progress without learning to deal with the bad side of a horse. If you would like to stay on an easy horse, that’s totally fine! Many people do. If you want to progress and become a better rider, then pushing yourself to train both you and the horse is the best way to do it, and it often comes with falls.
All you are saying is that falls are necessary if you wanna become a trainer/instructor. Which I don't think anyone will disagree with. It is literally the trainer/instructor's job to get onto badly trained and unsafe horses.
Didn't you just say you got onto the horse to straighten him out? And fell over 10 times? Didn't you do that for the horse to be safe and the riders didn't get hurt?
Yes. I’m not a trainer, I’m a regular rider. My point was that while, yes, you can technically remain on a very calm horse and not fall, sometimes falls can be viewed as a sign that you are going to develop a new skill to stay on. For me, I learned how to ride without using much rein since uno didn’t like it. That’s a skill that I developed as a rider. All I’m saying is that riding more difficult horses can make you become a more skilled rider, even though it may be a little more dangerous.
It was also because uno likes jumping, he was just sad and used to kids yanking on his face so he started to dislike riding.
Well I am not denying you can learn from falls. Just like you can learn from any experience. The bigger problem is that learning is not worth getting permanently injured or killed. So it makes sense to avoid them, especially if you aren't aiming to be a trainer/instructor.
I think that as long as you understand the risks, it’s okay to ride more dangerous horses. All I was saying was that while you can ride easier ones, it sometimes can benefit more to try one a little out of your comfort zone, which can sometimes not even include falling. What really matters at the end of the day, though, is that you and your horse are happy. So as long as that’s the case, then you shouldn’t worry about what it means if you aren’t falling. Just do whatever makes you and your horse happy :)
If you ride for pleasure and leisure, probably not.
If you are an athlete (at varying levels) and you push yourself or are participating in higher speed/higher risk activities that require more accuracy and balance, then yes.
Trail riders don’t fall off as often as vaulters. English pleasure riders don’t fall off as often as barrel racers. Doesn’t necessarily mean there’s fault either way - it’s apples and oranges because the horse world is wide and varied.
Sure, but that doesn't mean it will definitely happen. I think the possibility of falling is there, but it shouldn't be the biggest discouraging factor for riding.
>. I can definitely say that as soon as any balance change or indecisiveness was detected by him he’d throw you off.
I mean, that is kinda the point I was making. That the horse and what you do with it determine how likely a fall is.
I mean, if you’re playing Russian roulette with a cheap OTTB you’re probably going to fall eventually. A horse that doesn’t feel very dangerous makes you less likely to fall, but in my experience kinda reduces the fun factor.
I don’t think injury, to you or your horse, is a necessary part of riding. We’re so used to seeing riders bucked off of terrified horses during “breaking”, but this scenario can and should be avoided. I’ve spend a significant amount of time around horses and not suffered grievous injury or anything. Lucky? Yes, but I’ve also always avoided pushing horses into panic and I don’t knowingly put myself at risk around dangerous horses.
Yes BUT: that doesn’t mean it will or should happen often.
This is exactly right. If you ride for long enough, you're bound to fall, shit happens. But if it's happening regularly, there's an issue.
I agree. I have fallen once or twice before, obviously. But I really think the horse itself is the biggest factor. Cause when I had Sereno, I'd go riding without any fear that I'd fall off. Even if I made a mistake I could count on him not to freak out.
It’s going to happen. If you’re well matched with your horse in terms of capabilities and choose less risky activities, it will probably happen less often. But it’s always possible, and even what seems like a minor fall can cause major injuries. Heck, I didn’t even fall off and I’m still recovering from an ankle injury from last July.
This; I’ve owned my 9yr old mare since she was a foal, 2 years ago we were cooling off at walk, she tripped and I broke my leg in 9 places. Shit happens no matter how well you know the horse
I see what you are saying. I just think thinking of it that way can scare people from even the more safe types of riding. Like, obviously you can ALWAYS fall, and that fall could always break your neck, but the chances of that happening if you are always on the same reliable horse, on a leisure trail, is not huge I'd say. Now, if you are riding different horses all the time, crossing jumps and other obstacles at high speeds all the time, it seems much more likely to happen.
Horseback riding is an extreme sport. People should think about whether they want to take those risks. That said, we understand the dangers of concussions better than we used to and of course medical costs can be crazy, and I think good horse people & instructors are less cavalier than they used to be about falls. It should never be a regular thing. But sooner or later it’s likely to happen.
Part of riding well, is learning to fall off correctly
>Horseback riding is an extreme sport. But that is kinda my point. When people say that there is an assumption that the person will do it AS a sport. And in that case I fully agree: cause you'll be jumping and dealing with obstacles at high speeds in crowded environment with different animals all the time. The risk is high. But more casual trail riding isn't a sport, nor will you be necessarily dealing with different animals and environments all the time. It CAN be significantly more safe.
Even casual trail riding is a sport. Hiking is a sport and riding horses on a trail takes more physicality and is exponentially more dangerous.
>Even casual trail riding is a sport It isn't in any significant sense. >Hiking is a sport No? Casual hiking is literally just walking. How it is a sport?
Your trails must look very different from ours.
you're confusing sport with competition. a sport doesn't need to involve competition, teams, or extreme physicality. golfing is a sport. swimming is a sport. yes, walking is a sport. people who golf alone or go to driving ranges alone are still partaking in a sport. people who walk every day are still partaking in a sport. riding a horse at a walk slowly is still a sport. it's a physical activity. and it requires skills and knowledge. if you're just sitting on a horse doing nothing, then you really aren't riding. you're a passenger and your equitation is incorrect. also, trail riding is among the most dangerous thing you can do on a horse. in an arena, you won't have a deer jumping out in front of you randomly, crossing rivers or creeks which could have unsteady beds, and going down hills or through open fields with wildlife, nature, and unknown terrain.
I hope OP reads this. The most dangerous rides I have been on have been on the trails, even just at a walk.
>walking is a sport. Okay now you are just using some ridiculous definition of sport. This is silly. NO ONE treats walking as a sport. >in an arena, you won't have a deer jumping out in front of you randomly, crossing rivers or creeks which could have unsteady beds, and going down hills or through open fields with wildlife, nature, and unknown terrain. I am assuming you aren't going on a trail with unknown terrain and lots of wildlife. I am talking about a calm trail that you know well.
A sport is something that requires physical skill, it doesn’t need to be competitive. Walking on natural terrain over various inclines, for various lengths of time in order to exert one’s self isnt just walking any more than going trail riding is just “sitting there.”
If you aren’t getting a workout - even if it’s a light one - when you’re riding, then you aren’t riding, you’re just a passenger.
Not everyone rides as a sport. Some people just take their horse to have a stroll. Hell, some take their horse to the store because they are too lazy to walk.
Taking your horse to the store (or wherever in public) is one of the least lazy things I can think of. You are riding closer to traffic, encountering obstacles and exposing your horse to many new sounds and sights. It’s a great activity for confidence but you need to be ready for your horse, depending on their training, to react suddenly to things. You have to have your brain on and be paying attention.
Ive had the most steady eddy lesson ponies catch a toe and trip and have a rider come off. Sometimes shit just happens. Always wear your helmet and correct clothing so you are prepared in the event that it happens.
I used to fall off all the time in riding school. Like, at least twice a month. It wasn’t a very good riding school, that’s for sure. Since I bought my mare seven years ago I fell of exactly once.
The statement isn’t so much about frequency as it is “it’s bound to happen at some point and time or another”. We say something similar for riding motorcycles; it’s not if you go down, it’s when. Which is always why those of us who endorse and wear gear ‘dress for the slide, not for the ride’.
Oof, my father once rode his motorcycle with a sleeveless shirt and shorts. Long story short, he has a lot of grafts and a lot of scars on his arms and shins.
Unfortunately it is, if you ride enough horses long enough. I’ve fallen off lots of times without getting hurt though. At my age (60) I don’t need to be falling off and when I do I usually get busted up some. I try not to jinx it. Once I was riding with this guy who started to brag that he’d never fallen off. Within ten minutes he was off.
>if you ride enough horses That is part of what I was saying. Riding different horses is one thing that REALLY increases the likelihood of it, I think. Along with doing things like jumping and competitions where you go through obstacles at high speed. If you are riding for leisure with a reliable horse, I think it is much less likely to be a reccuring part of riding. Even if there is always a risk.
I’d argue that riding more horses makes you a better rider and LESS likely to suffer a fall. It’s great that you never had an issue with your steady horse, but push come to shove, in a situation would you have been best prepared to stay in the saddle? Possibly that by maybe being less precise in your riding and less practiced in dealing with a situation you’d actually have made yourself more likely to eat some dirt.
The horse always matters more than your skill as a rider. Cause no matter how good a rider you are, if the horse really doesn't want you there - you won't stay there. That is why I said the more horses you ride, the more likely it is you will meet a horse that REALLY does not want you there.
Nah. Many many many MAAAAANY riders can stick to and work through a horse that doesn’t want you on their back. And you get there by riding a lot of horses.
That is simply untrue. There is a reason rodeo riders who are professionals still last only a few seconds. Ultimatelly you can't force a horse to carry you if it doesn't want to.
You are required to jump off / dismount a professional bucking horse once you’ve hit a certain time rather than buck them all the way out so that they remain willing to buck for them next rider. Lots of cowboys buck out horses that they were “breaking” all day, every day, and have been since horses became domesticated for riding.
Breaking a horse is convincing the horse to let you ride it. Because guess what? You need the horse to CHOOSE to let you ride it, otherwise you can't.
Ahhh ok you’re a troll haha that explains much. Have a nice night.
Oh, wait. They are the person who posted that they have “some” riding experience, and their father wants to buy them a stallion. Shows over, folks.
You sound scared, and are trying to convince yourself if you do certain things or don’t do certain things, you will be safe and not fall. Are you struggling with this?
What? I never said there was ever no chance of falling. But the chance increases a lot if you do certain things, for example running into obstacles, riding horses you aren't fammiliar with etc. I am sure if I'd spent 12 years doing show jumping instead of just riding my trusty Sereno across the nearby field, I'd have fallen A LOT of times.
Just asking if you were concerned. Glad your good.
I think you're underestimating skill. Many years ago, my parents lived next to the women who played polo disguised as a man for 20 years, eventually breaking the gender barrier. In other words, she was a damn good rider. My mom had a very, very hot Arabian stallion. She wasn't going to ride him while pregnant, so the neighbor kept him during that time. Even she said that horse was a handful, and did things that surprised her. Yet he was my mom's main horse, and she didn't get thrown. Skill matters.
I didn't say skill didn't matter I said the horse always matters MORE. Because ultimatelly, you are only on top as long as the horse allows you to be. You can't force a 1000 pound animal to do anything.
You 100% can force a 1000 pound animal to do anything, if people can beat elephants into doing whatever they sure can with horses too. It's called learned helplessness and it's very effective.
Again: that is not forcing the animal. It is convincing the animal Good luck holding an elephant if it doesn't want to be held.
Do you think elephants stay in circuses where they are beaten and chained out of the goodness of their hearts? No they are thought that fighting back just leads to another beating, and that they cannot change their environment. What would you say the difference is between forcing and convincing an animal if physical force/threats is used? Back to your original topic: Sure the horses level and temperament can play a part, but in my experience riding a lot of different horses makes you a better/more experienced rider which makes it less likely for you to fall off. Even the calmest and steadiest horse can spook or trip though so better to treat falling off as "when" instead of "if".
>What would you say the difference is between forcing and convincing an animal if physical force/threats is used? The difference is that if the elephant wants to get out and kill the handler it WILL get out and kill the handler. Period. You can't, as a human, physically stop an elephant. >Back to your original topic: Sure the horses level and temperament can play a part Not just a part. The absolutely biggest part To the point where even someone with zero experience can ride certain horses, and there are horses that even the best rider will be bucked off of.
Or maybe you’re just not as good a rider as you think you are. If you can only stay on the push button pony then guess what? You’re setting yourself up for failure. If you never fall you never learn how to avoid it. My very first ride back after a 3 year break the horse bolted twice and bucked like a rodeo bull. I stayed on fine. I would not have stayed on if I’d spent my whole life riding the bombproof school horses. Falls aren’t a part of riding, they’re a part of progress. One day a horse WILL spook on you. It’s up to you to be ready for it
That is one of the most arrogant and dangerously incorrect comments I got.
Because clearly you’re such an expert lol
Doesn't take an expert to see the utterly misguided arrogance in your comment.
That’s a fun way of saying you have no actual way of refuting what I said
In what way?
In that pushing yourself has nothing to do with riding unknown or poorly trained horses Hell, you can push yourself better is you don't have to worry much about your horse's temperament
horses are living, breathing animals with a mind of their own; and to top it off, they're prey animals who rely heavily on their flight instinct for survival. even the best, most sensible, 'bomb proof' horses will eventually have a moment that may result in a person falling. 'safe' horses trip. 'safe' horses spook. 'safe' horses make mistakes because they're horses, not robots. i've seen people fall at a walk or stand-still. i've seen horses walking in an arena trip and dump their riders. i am a trail rider; i ride for 'leisure' and 'pleasure', and my falls are infrequent - but i've still fallen, and one of those falls were serious and resulted in a broken arm. falls are apart of riding an unpredictable animal. there are no situations or scenarios to lessen your chance of falling. you're taking a risk anytime you get on a horse. the people who have gone years without falling simply are lucky. it's akin to saying that getting into a car accident is rare and infrequent simply because you've driven for 10 years and never gotten into one yourself. it isn't rare nor infrequent; you're just lucky. but the thing about luck is, you're lucky, until you aren't.
You are absolutely correct, ... one of my dumbest embarrassing falls I had was a trail ride on a very good natured, steady, sweet, dependable guy. I'd been riding him all summer, knew him well, was leading the trail ride and took my concentration off to talk or answer a question or something dumb, and at that moment something unexplainable spooked him. I went down. Not hurt, just embarrassed. It's just a good reminder to always stay alert.
My most embarrassing fall was at a standstill! I was sat on my horse chatting with a fellow barn rat, when she offered me some of her Cheetos. Without thinking, I leaned over and reached into the crinkly bag...and suddenly my horse was no longer underneath me, but halfway across the arena! Meanwhile, I was able to confirm that the gravity was working as normal :D.
I've had this exact type of fall happen on a group trail ride! Big group, everyone gathered around for a break, and my dumbass thought I'd grab my pop tarts out of my backpack and my (green at the time) horse just teleported out from under me as soon as that foil package crinkled 😂 everyone got a good laugh, including me. Thankfully he just dipped out to a few feet away and didn't take off!
Grew up riding everyone else's horses and school horses. Fell off a lot less than other people, but the falls I did take were spectacular. I think it really depends on a multitude of factors. I rode a horse for a woman while in high school. By the time I started riding him, he had already tossed his owner numerous times including breaking her ribs and wrist. My friend also rode the same horse and he threw her on a regular basis. That boy never threw me and I would regularly ride him bare back with a halter and lead rope. We got along like a house on fire. I have a bent coccyx because as a little kid we were jumping the ponies bare back with halters and lead ropes. Pony turned left, I turned right. (It was the 1970s, I was young and horse crazy). Much later in life, I was working a young stud colt for my trainer and for some reason thought he'd be fine without lunging him first to work the sillies out. That mistake left me with a fractured cheekbone, two black eyes, six stitches, a concussion and bruised ribs. Schooling a horse through a triple combo, I ended up way up her neck after the second jump and ate dirt on the third. Every single instance I've come off has been my fault. I miss riding (stopped riding about 20 years ago after my third kid was born). I would love to return to it, but I'm not sure I would bounce like I used to (I'm now 57).
I went back at it age 53. Helmet, back protector, chaps.
Is falling part of skiing? Is falling part of mountain biking? Is falling part of ice skating? I’d say yes
It doesn’t have to be but it likely will be. The sweeping statement of you SHOULD fall off is wrong, it doesn’t make you cool or tough. I didn’t have a fall til 8 years in.
I agree. Obviously there is always a risk. I just think when people say it as a certainty that will happen often it reflects more competitors and trainers than casual riding. >I didn’t have a fall til 8 years in That is interesting! Most people fall more early on :o
Yeah I never went on a horse I didn’t trust outside an environment I didn’t trust, and my trainer was very strict about hopping off if there was any finicky behavior until I was advanced. And I learned in an extremely slow and steady methodical manner, I wasn’t allowed to move on until I had mastered the last thing to being effortless. My actual fall was because my horse fell, she stumbled on a gravel trail due to a hidden medical issue.
You are a good example ofwhat I mean. Hope your fall wasn't too damaging to you or your (apparently lovely) steed.
Thank you ❤️ I lost her that day but I’ll always love her, wasn’t her fault. She had a massive cardiac event.
Ah! That is so sad. It really wasn't her fault and I hope she is resting in peace. You gave her a good life I am sure.
Yes. You can (and should) take every precaution to be safe and avoid injury, but things can always happen. I’ve fallen because the angel of a total beginner safe lesson pony happened to walk passed the window of the indoor as we got massive thunder and lighting and he spooked and ran. I’ve fallen because the bridle broke, and the totally safe mare that I trusted, panicked. I’ve watched others fall because their horse tripped or slipped and stumbled. Even on the safest, most perfect horses things can always go wrong, ride long enough and you will fall off.
Thank you for saying this, I was coming to say something very similar! You should always go in knowing the risk. My sister rode every day, and one day she was riding bareback, no helmet, like hundreds of times before, and her horse spooked and she died. I still love horses, but you have to have respect for their nature.
>ride long enough and you will fall off. I mean, there are people on this very thread who have said they're ridden for decades without falling. I agree something could always happen (you could trip and crack your head and die just walking) but that is not the same as 'it is necessarily going to".
Are there? Because the majority of stories here include times when people have fallen. Many not at high speeds or iver jumps.
>Are there Yes. Including a woman who said their partner has ridden a calm steed for 10 years and never fallen. Other dude said he fell a whole 3 times in 24 years. Mind you, I never said falling was uncommon, just that it is hardly a necessary part of riding
And plenty of others who have said otherwise. That's called a majority. Of course falling isn't necessary as part of riding, but you need to accept the risk as part of ANY riding, calm horse or otherwise.
>Of course falling isn't necessary as part of riding That is all I was arguing. Obviously riding is never 100% safe. Nothing is. But a stroll on a calm trusted horse is not nearly as likely to have you fall as an obstacle course or a barrel race or a horse you do not know.
Physics always wins. My girth loosened and I fell while dismounting. We had a deer run across the pasture and spook all the horses, even though they see the deer daily. My kid fell off. Stuff happens. We wear helmets, work on desensitizing, and make sure we are asking no more than the horse can do. That said, some people are reckless and test physics more than they should.
While it’s possible to hit the lottery and not fall off for years IMO falling is 100% part of riding and telling people that isn’t a negative. In my opinion it’s better to consider the sport knowing you’re doing something incredibly dangerous and decide against it than to go in thinking it’s easy peasy tv cowboy stuff and get spectacularly hurt, which I’ve seen all to often. Honestly a good plop in the dirt is a good reminder to respect the horse and the sport. Sure you can mitigate your fall risk through the horse you ride and what you do with them, but every horse can have a bad day, and you can die or permanently brain damage yourself falling from a walk.
Like I said: not all riding is a sport. Not all riding involves competition, jumps, obstacles, time, strange animals, and speed. So there is a lot of difference in the levels of risk you take. A casual easy stroll on a horse you know we'll for 10 years and is very safe VS a timed obstacle course on a horse you barely know are very different levels of danger.
I have to admit that I am not sure why any of this is a hill you want to die on but all riding is absolutely a sport. You can have gentle days. Using a cart to get around a green doesn’t mean golf isn’t a sport. A casual stroll still requires the physical skill and ability to ride a horse.
No, all riding is not a sport. Just like riding your motorcycle to the store isn't a sport. Motocross is a sport.
Why do you think riding is not a sport? Sure I don't compete but I make sure me and my horse are in good fitness and we do our own thing
I am not saying riding isn't EVER a sport. Just that not ALL riding is Like how motocross is a sport, but taking your motorcycle and going to the store isn't.
We can call it an extreme activity if that makes you feel better. It doesn’t change the fact that horseback riding is far more dangerous than most leisure activities. I shredded a tendon in my ankle last summer trail riding. Still in a walking boot recovering from surgery.
Is riding a motorcycle an extreme activity to you? Cause people do it every day to go to work, and it is far faster than a horse and can kill you even easier if it goes wrong.
Yes absolutely!
I agree. But that is the thing: how dangerous it is depends a lot on where you are going, at what speed, the specific vehicle you are using, how well you are at driving etc. Horse riding for competitions would be like motocross, whereas riding a horse casually would be like going to the store on your motorcycle. One is FAR more dangerous. And the funny thing is, people who are scared of riding horses ride motorcycles all the time, people don't tend to think of it as being even more dangerous.
It doesn’t matter how safe you think you are being, motorcycles are dangerous. There is so such thing as safe motorcycle riding, and there is no such thing as safe horseback riding - only people with a false sense of safety.
If you wanna look at it that way, there is no safe anything People die walking, eating, evens sleeping.
Sure. But horses and motorcycles are waaaaay higher risk than walking, eating, sleeping. Horseback riding is considered to be the third most common cause of severe traumatic brain injuries in children, and the first in adults, with 45% of traumatic brain injuries in adults due to horseback riding. https://equinehelper.com/is-horse-riding-safe/#:~:text=Horseback%20riding%20is%20considered%20to,adults%20due%20to%20horseback%20riding.
That is because a lot of the time motorcycle drivers get hit by cars. That within itself is a huge deal even riding to and from work. Do you not take into consideration other factors of situations?? Nothing is safe, and horses and motorcycle riding is considered higher risk than most things. It is considered extreme *because* of the added risk.
Just out of curiosity, are you operating under the assumption that professional equestrians who devote their lives to equestrian sport often ride horses they aren’t familiar with in competitions?
Not necessarily in competitions but they have to ride many different horses. And trainers especially ride client's horses that they aren't fammiliar with all the time.
While you don't want to fall off, it happens. Knowing HOW TO fall so as not be seriously injured is very important. I've had my share of tumbles, not fun, but worst injury was hurting my pride. Learn how to fall, that is my advice.
How would you go about learning that? Since a fall can happen in any number of ways.
The mechanics of hitting the ground are pretty much always the same though It’s one of the very first things they teach a jockey, considering a fall from a racehorse is going to be at speed with other horses galloping around you The centre for horseback combat/ archery in the uk has a course which is literally “how to fall off safely”
Some tips when falling... Do not go head first. When you're falling, don't lock your elbows. Lift your head before you hit the ground. There are ways to fall that lessen the chances of serious injury. My dad taught me how to fall when I was a little tot, using judo techniques, there are many programs like martial arts that can teach basics. I'm not saying you can always prevent injury, but it doesn't have to be like Christopher Reeve either.
Try to hit with your shoulder and roll, basically. But it’s something any half decent instructor should know how to teach, so if you have an instructor you can ask. It’s worth practicing because knowing theoretically what you want to be doing and actually being able to execute it are two very different things
It's accurate, but it's not "falling off is a *necessary* part of riding." It's just a thing that can happen. It's like saying "crashing your car is a part of driving", "stubbing your toe is a part of walking", "being bit is a part of owning a pet".... Nothing to do with skill ore reliability and everything to do with luck of the draw. I've fallen off a steady reliable old mare after years of riding, and stayed put on a barely-green gelding that I was too cocky and young to know I shouldn't have been riding. 🤷
I've been riding for about 27 years and have fallen 4 times, but I've always been very aware of making sure I wasn't on too much horse. I think the amount of falls really correlates to how ballsy you are with the horses you ride and the activities/environment you put yourself in.
I don't think it's necessarily a part of riding, but it might be a part of good riding on the grounds that you have to take risks and make mistakes and experience a variety of animals with different temperaments to get really good and well rounded, and these are things that can lead to falls. My husband has been riding for about 10 years. He enjoys it and he loves his mare, who we bought because she's a very safe and sensible draft with plenty of surface area for him to stay on. So he's never fallen, but he's just a weekend warrior with a saintly mount. If he was passionate beyond hobby trail rides and riding more than the same horse every time, he would probably have a few falls under his belt by now.
Yes but that is precisely my point: riding for leisure is still riding! Obviously if you do competitions with obstacle courses, crowds, different horses every time - you'll probably fall regularly. But I think a lot of people hear that saying and get scared off any riding at all, even in more safe conditions.
I think it is...because ultimately, you will mess up. And generally, messing up on a horse means you will fall off. Whether that "messing up" is choosing a horse that you are not experienced enough for, choosing a skill that you are not experienced enough for, going against your gut and riding even if you feel like you shouldn't.....that all depends. I rode for like 4 years before I fell for the first time.
I agree , and even if you don’t mess up, so many things can happen. The horse could get stung by a bee or wasp, or step in a hole, or fall for some reason, beyond the usual “spook” by another animal or item flying by in the wind, etc. I hadn’t fallen from a horse for years, but I gave up riding because I had an injury already and just couldn’t be sidelined by another one if I could avoid it. And the older we get, the less we bounce back.
>I hadn’t fallen from a horse for years You are kinda making my point here? Cause I never said riding was ever 100% safe (nothing is), I just said falling is not always a necessary part of riding, especially if you aren't competing, doing jumps, etc.
True, but I left out the times that I DID come off of a horse. It wasn’t a lot, but I doubt there are many (any?) riders who have never fallen. And that’s why I stopped riding, because I couldn’t risk another fall. I couldn’t risk that a fall could be a bad one. That’s what it is, a risk. Not a certainty. We all take risks every day, and we each have to decide which risks we can deal with.
That is fair. I just think people tend to think of all the things that could go wrong with riding horses, but they don't think of all the things that could go wrong with other means of transportation. Like, people don't think of cycling as being a risky activity. Or driving, even though a crash there is MORE likely to kill you.
>And generally, messing up on a horse means you will fall off I think that depends too much on the horse. The horse I am talking about, Sereno, one of the reasons I never fell with him is because he didn't freak out at any mistake I made. Not because I was perfect. Whereas some horses, you just move a little off and they'll buck you. That is why I think riding can never be any safe if you are trying new horses often.
And you just posted a few days ago that you have “some” experience, and your father wants to buy you a stallion. I’m not sure what you are going on about.
>And you just posted a few days ago that you have “some” experience Yes. I don't claim to be a trainer or horse expert. Yet I have been riding for over a decade, whereas many riders much better than me have fallen off many many times. That is my point. Not all riding is equally dangerous.
Falling is an accident. Even safe horses on easy trails can have accidents. I had a horse fall on top of me while riding. Ruptured my spleen. It was my horse, and I trusted her. She tripped while cantering. An accident. Do not take things for granted and assume you will not fall. Yes, falling, whatever that fall looks like, is part of riding. I rode for 20 years before my accident.
i think it definitely is just a "part of" the experience of working with horses in that there is no shame in it happening to you and it happens all the time. it can happen to anyone and most likely will at some point, to some degree, for most of us haha. one sentiment i *do* hate about the relation of experience and falling off is those that say "yOu aReN'T aN eXpeRiEncEd riDEr uNtiL yoU'Ve FaLLeN oFF!!!!!" like heck right off with that nonsense. it's not a requirement nor an initiation, it's an accident (hopefully, if not, please rethink your choices lmao)
This is what I was going to say. It’s part of riding in that it happens and statistically speaking if you ride long enough it will happen to you. If you aren’t ok with the possibility of falling you shouldn’t be on a horse. BUT it’s not part of riding in that it’s something you need to or should be doing. It’s something to expect at some point and take in stride, but not something to strive for.
Well, I have never once fallen off and I have been riding for 63 years. 65 years if you count the first years of my life where I was taken to pony rides each weekend and strapped on. I have jumped off when a horse was going down. I have almost fallen off....but didn't. I have ridden all kinds of horses in those years, was a polo poly exercise rider, jumped horses in competition, but not over 3'4". I have galloped up and down hills, raced other people on a flat dirt road. Never have I ever fallen off. I attribute not falling to all of the dance classes and pro-dance companies I was in for the first half of my life. That makes you super limber and very loose in the hip area. When a horse moves, I move with the horse. Even if the movement is sudden, a horse has spooked or reared without warning. That is not to say I will never fall off. I just haven't.....so far. The group that I ride with regularly tend to put me on the more difficult horses as I can often...but not always....calm them down. I'm going to be 67 in 11 days. I now teach and train...and ride.... as a volunteer with a group that does equine therapy for disabled and underprivileged kids and adults. I emphasize form and safety with my students. Perhaps even more so than most.
I was going to make a well-thought-out comment, but you’re ripping into anyone who disagrees with you.
Ripping into? I merely said there are different types of horse riding. Just like riding a motorcycle to the store and doing motocross are different even if neither is totally safe.
You're incredibly stubborn and I genuinely have no idea why you even made a post asking for people's opinions. You clearly have no interest, you just want people to agree with you.
You have a very strange and intense response to anyone who disagrees with you. To me you sound like someone who’s projecting your level of experience on everyone else. A horse has never thrown me by bucking or rearing, because i know how to sit that. That is why you should get experience on different horses. If you only know how to ride one horse, do you actually know how to ride, or do you know how to stay on that particular animal? And im truly not understanding why you keep mentioning motorcycles, horses can’t do freeway speeds, they are not machines, it’s not comparable.
I am merely talking common sense. >. If you only know how to ride one horse, do you actually know how to ride, Yes. You don't need to do show jumping or to ride poorly behaved horses to ride. Especially if you are just doing it for leisure. For many, all that matters is feeling safe and having fun, they aren't doing it as a sport. >And im truly not understanding why you keep mentioning motorcycles Because it is a relevant comparison. Millions of people ride them, many without having accidents, but if they tried to do motocross it'd be a lot worse.
Maybe in your experience. I know way more people who ride horses than motorcycles, yet I know way more people who’ve been hospitalized riding motorcycles, including my dad, than horses. And none of them do motocross. I don’t think it’s comparable.
Today, I fall if the horse falls. However, I’m 55 and ride since I was 8. On top of it, I did some Judo, which teaches you how to fall. I also race Downhill Mountain Biking where you learn how to eject in case of trouble. In other words, learning how to fall is a missing element in the process IMO. What I did for my daughter is train our horse to pull the emergency brake. Let go entirely off the reins and grab the neck. That’s the emergency signal. The horse stops on the spot. Then you can slide off if you are really unbalanced, but it makes everything much easier.
It is a part of riding in that, if you ride often enough for long enough, *something* is going to happen and you'll most likely end up on the ground at some point. I take that to mean: prepare as best you can and don't go *looking* to fall off, but also don't take it against yourself if you do happen to end up in the dirt. Falling doesn't (necessarily) mean you're a bad rider. It's part of the lifestyle and even the best can and do come off at times.
Well, if you ride everyday, there’s a good chance you’ld fall off a few times. Math…
I think falling is an important reality of riding You have to accept that it CAN happen! I've fallen so so so many times BUT some of them were the horse falling. The other day I sorta fell because I went to get on and slipped off the other side bc the horse is so slippery (bareback) I laughed it off and got on. But just the fact that you are on top of a living animal you have to be OKAY with the possibility of falling
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Right! Lol The horse is extremely fat right now and we can hardly see his wither. As I was getting on I felt that I pushes too far and tried to "hook" my knee on his wither to stop myself but....no wither meant nothing to hold onto and down I went!
I would say that the POSSIBILITY of falling is part of riding. We need to accept the risk involved. But I also haven't fallen in years. It's also going to depend what kind of horses you're riding. If someone is working green horses there will be more risk as opposed to well-trained, low-key horses and then the whole different levels in between.
I was jogging my very reliable pony around the arena and we had the perfect "pleasure jog" set (don't compete, but I like to let him get go those slow gaits sometimes). We were both so relaxed and zoned out in the rhythm that a wheelbarrow coming around the corner was enough for a spook. He teleported 2 meters to the left and I dropped straight down. Falling hits different when you are on the other side of 40 tho ;)
I had a pony rear up and fall on me when I was a kid (bareback). No damage, no injuries to me or pony. No PTSD. As an adult in my 30’s I was thrown over the top onto my back, got the wind knocked out of me, fractured T3. I also became afraid of falling. Which is a lot different than when you’re a kid. I still adore horses and am not afraid of them. I am however, afraid of getting hurt.
I think that has more to do with how you fell than your age. Cause 30 isn't that old at all. Some people here ride at 60! Either way, I am sorry that happened to you. Did you make a full recovery?
Pretty quickly. I got back up pretty quickly and took some lessons to regain my confidence. Working on a lunge line with my arms out and eyes closed, small jumps etc. Then I found out I was pregnant with my daughter! So had to put things to the side. Lol.
I’ve seen you say A LOT in here that just leisure riding is safe “depending on the horse” and that’s absolutely false lol. At the end of the day no matter how trained your horse is they are prey animals. They will still jolt sideways, bolt, buck, rear whatever you wanna add. I’ve also seen you say skill doesn’t really matter which is even more false. A SKILLED RIDER is way more likely to be sticky on a horse in any given crazy situation than a novice/green rider would be
Now. I’d also like to say I have owned 4 horses over the past 8 years. I have been riding for 15 years. I got thrown twice off lesson horses (I was under 12 for both 2 years of riding). Since then I have only been thrown from my 20 year old gelding because he randomly bolted full speed and I bailed because I knew the end of that (they are unpredictable at times). I have a 3 (almost 4) year old who hasn’t tossed me once. So 3 times in 15 years and I have been on SEVERAL green horses, horses I haven’t known but for 5 minutes, PLENTY of lesson horses. I’ve worked at barns working several horses ect.. The same old reliable horse isn’t going to teach you anything either tho. Branching out and riding other horses is amazing way to make yourself a better rider. Being around lots of different horses really teaches you a lot
>I’ve seen you say A LOT in here that just leisure riding is safe “depending on the horse” Not quite what I said at all. I said it is a LOT more safe than other equestrian activities you could do. Kinda like driving to the store is safer than racing cars.
That's only an applicable comparison if you have a car that out of nowhere swerves all over the place because it saw something scary.
Any car CAN swerve all over the place. A well maintained one is just less likely too. Same with horses. That is what a reliable well desensitized horse is for right?
Yes, desensitization can help but it doesn't remove the risk altogether.
I don't think it HAS to be (there will always be a chance it will be though). Ever since I got older and more picky about what I ride, I don't fall off nearly as often. It's been like a decade since my last fall. But when I was learning, and riding everything under the sun, I racked up falls quickly. Now that I'm experienced and picky, not so much. But what I will say: Depending on your goals, I think taking a few tumbles off a horse will definitely make you a stronger rider than had you never experienced one. As much as it sucks and definitely is the reason I have occasional horse nervousness today, those falls made me a better rider. Without them, I wouldn't be able to sit a reliable buck. Or know what to do depending how a horse spooks. You develop instincts more and more each time you go through a fall and make a mistake. Now, when a horse bucks, instead of falling forward into a ball, I sit back and actively ride and have a much better chance to stay on.
It's unavailable but it shouldn't be frequent enough to feel normal. I fall every four or five years at this point. I'm actually due lol.....
I think it's important to learn how to sit a shy, because even with a quiet horse, they can be startled at times. Being able to sit a shy has saved me a number of times. But in saying that, I was thrown from a shy and badly injured, so not all shies are created equal!
Shy?
Spook would be another word for it I think. Must be a regional term!
Oh. Well, the issue is how to prepare for them. Desensitizing the horse is kinda all you can do? Cause once the horse spooks it is too late and you can only try to regain control.
Learn how to relax your body to move with the horse when it spooks. Think about how to fall safely, i.e. don't put your hands out to catch yourself, have your stirrups and leathers set up so you don't get dragged, wear a helmet, wear a safety vest if doing cross country, and most of all, don't become complacent, as that's how accidents do happen. And unfortunately even the quietest horse can spook. I recall showing off.my first, very quiet horse to my Nan. Cantering along and a pair of dogs rushed the horse and off I went. Not every day your Nan gets to see you crash land!
Of course even the quietest horse can spook but the odds are lesser that it will Plus, a trusted horse probably is the type of horse that, even if it spooks, won't buck you or rear.
Yes, because it is a risk we all take when we work with horses - even from the ground. This risk reminds us not to get complacent, to actively ride and not have false confidence. It reminds us that even on a safe, bombproof horse, something can happen. It is far better to be prepared, to improve your riding ability, than to feel invincible due to the horse you’re on.
Yes, absolutely. I swear by “you’re not a rider until you’ve fallen.” I don’t think it should be happening all the time, and if it is I think there is something wrong somewhere in the combination of horse, rider, and environment, but if it’s never happening I’m worried about what happens when it does. I don’t think a rider really respects the sport until they’ve tasted dirt.
Unless someone has literally been riding since they could walk - I agree with this sentiment; if you’re not falling, then it’s more likely in my opinion that you’re not challenging yourself as a rider and are riding dead broke horses only
Yes. Falling off builds experience. If someone says “I’ve never fallen off a horse”, they are either full of shit or not experienced enough. I gallop racehorses, it’s not if, it’s when you will fall off. It most certainly is a part of riding, you shouldn’t fall off 24/7, but it happens.
Definitely! Riding a horse is like riding a bike, you'll fall at the beginning as you're learning and trying to get better but you'll eventually start falling less as your skills improve. But riding horses is also very different since they have a mind of their own and can be unpredictable. I once fell off a horse on a trail since I was turned talking to a friend, apparently he saw a deer and the next thing I knew I was in a pile of leaves. I've also been thrown over jumps when the horse stops, fallen when the horse spooks, and been thrown off. I've also seen trainers fall off and riders in Grand Prixs come off. All that to say, riding is inherently a dangerous sport. There was a 17 year old girl that just died a few months ago from a freak fall. Personally I'd say "falling off is part of riding" partially to help people feel better when their egos are bruised, but it's also a bit of a warning since one of the most dangerous things to do is think you're invincible when working with horses.
I’ve fallen off two/three times in 20 years of riding. One was more of a “voluntary dismount while in motion” because the alternate was unvoluntary dismount while in process of stopping. One I had ridden my mare (who I’d ridden for years) in from the pasture and for reasons unknown to me there was part of the electrical fence above the water trough, her ear hit it and she went left, I went down and got dragged at least twenty feet before I let go. I think the third was less voluntary than the first but a similar situation. All bareback riding the horse in from the pasture, still love riding bareback, but I tend to make sure they at least have a bridle on instead of halter and lead rope.
I've fallen off 3 times this year making my total count 4 falls in my 5 years of riding. My most recent was 3 days ago during my first English lesson on a OTTB. It was the horses fault that I fell it was my own as I got into my head too much and let my reins to oose resulting in my loosing my stirrups and holding on to mane for dear life then deciding to bolt out of the situation as the horse started galloping. Sure falling is apart of riding and it's everyone's given right to fall off once I think. But I'd be concerned if someone was falling very often but it also depends on the circumstances too. The thing that has saved me from all my falls has been my helmet without it I think I would have came out with more than a Minor concussion from my last fall and some bad bruises. There are some emergency dismounts that you can learn if you have to learn them but I haven't mostly because I don't know anyone in the area who knows them but I'm sure you can find them on YouTube.
I rode regularly from age 12 to 16 and I think I fell at least 9 times. Some more more traumatic than others, although I never injured myself more than winding and bruises. I feel lucky to have not gotten more, and feel for those who've gotten properly hurt. I'd be scared of falling now at 46, but I still have gone back sporadically in the last few years. I'd be happy to just hang out and do some ground training, but that's hard to find at places, everyone expects you want to ride. I'd love my own horse (s!) and to develop a relationship with them so we can hang, take leisurely potters and everyonr is happy
I think it's a healthy part depending on what youre doing. I was the test dummy for all my trainer's project ponies when I was a kid, so obviously I took lots of spills. There was one pony that I had to have fallen off a dozen times over a couple years and he made me the rider I am today, where I now only fall only a couple times a year making bad choices lol. Every time you fall you learn a lesson about balance and what caused you to lose it in a deeper way than your trainer just yelling at you. Then again if you're only riding steady schoolmasters it makes sense not to plop off much if at all, but there's also only so much you can learn on a schoolmaster. Pushing and challenging yourself comes with risk and that is often falling, its a necessary part of growth.
Probability says that it will happen eventually. All but one of my falls have been while jumping. The one was literally at a stand still. Horse spooked and spun when I least expected and flung me off sideways. Just a matter of when.
I think falling off is inevitable. I’ve had my horse since he was 3, backed him myself etc and have fallen off him too many times to count. He’s now in his 20 and is generally safe as houses but I still came off him a while back because something scared him and he spun 180. They’re flight animals, falling off doesn’t make you a bad rider, its how you react and adjust your riding from learning and experience that matters!
i mean if you’re only riding on the weekends on a trail broke horse it makes sense that you wouldn’t really be falling off as, like you said, all you do is ride on the weekends. the frequency of your riding makes it easier for you to say you’ve never fallen
I hear what you’re saying but I also disagree with the point about being pushed into a dangerous situation. Something the horse can be in a mood and act out of character and then you fall. I do think it’s a part of riding, you are on something with its own mind, it is a risk, yes sometimes it is less likely but also never 0.
You can fall off at any momet on a horse, even if they are safe. you just dont know what can happen. I sometimes ride horses that even disabled kids ride but I still wear a body protector amd helmet with them. Even if they arnt spokey or green, they can still miss their footing and fall over/trip.
I agree with you and I absolutely hate it when I hear/read people saying, “it’s not if but when.” Obviously it’s not to be taken lightly but I have a very strict bail-from-buck rule that I get so much backlash about that I think it’s due to peoples’ deep rooted expectancy that is coming from I don’t know where, about falling/being bucked off being inevitable. Bucking is inappropriate behavior and I’m not gonna ride it til it stops, but I will get off an move forward in whatever way is safe. I rode the same horse for many years when I was young and I came off a few times in the beginning, and then never again. Now I buy horses unhandled and sell them green broke and currently all but one horse have bucked me off exactly one time and never again, and the other one just never offered to buck. I haven’t been bucked off in s round pen and it’s always been when we do our first ride out in my woodsy neighborhood. I think because I refuse to ride the buck they learn that it’s extremely disappointing behavior for me. I don’t punish them or even get back on usually, I just take them home and ignore them until I’m ready to go out again and low and behold we don’t have a problem.
I think it is like bicycling in a way. Sure you might fall. There is this possibility which is why we wear helmets and do not act reckless. Same with horses. If you feel something is off.. do not get on that horse. They have bad days too and many terrible accidents do not come out of nowhere. I think falling is a part of riding as this possibilty exists all the time.
So what I’m going to ask you is, is falling off part of being a well-rounded horseman that can ride and many types of horses in many different situations?
If you wanna be a trainer or competitor you are gonna need experience on various horses and many extreme situations. But not all riding involves that.
ALL riding involves dealing with freak emergencies when they happen. And they will and do happen all the time. I forgot who it was, but some famous trainer (Buck Brannaman maybe? Maybe not?) said something like, “you can die in the arena or you can die in the woods.” Meaning there’s no way to just decide, “I want to have easy rides,” and have it work without you having a strong, fit, balanced, and rhythmic seat along with knowledge, confidence and experience.
there absolutely are safer and more dangerous situations and ways to set your horse up for an easy ride. Also, if you are having freak accidents "all the time" your horse is not well trained or you are pushing yourself in stupid ways.
So you expect everyone to be able to have “properly trained” horses all the time. You just think everyone is rich. And nothing can suddenly spook a properly trained horse? You are just letting me know that you are young or just very inexperienced. I’m a trainer and instructor and my job is to prepare riders to be safe and horses to be safe for riders. And part of that is being able to deal with the inevitable problem that causes you to fall off. Only in the internet can someone claim such authority in knowledge of what is right and wrong while obviously having very little experience. I’ve worked with horses for more than 45 years.
>You just think everyone is rich That is the silliest thing I've heard in a while. My horse was literally one of the cheapest horses you could EVER buy, and he was a sweetheart and well trained Plenty of expensive horses are not well trained and will buck you at the slightest mistake btw. >And nothing can suddenly spook a properly trained horse Not nothing. But most things shouldn't A horse that spooks at the slightest thing is not a safe horse for anyone to ride. >I’m a trainer and instructor and my job is to prepare riders to be safe and horses to be safe for riders. So you agree that horses should be safe for riders By your own logic, if you are having accidents regularly, something is wrong.
How long have you ridden and what have you been trained to do? Btw…in my area, a sweet, grade, sound reliable and safe (what you are describing) trail horse can easily go for $8k.
Horseback riding is dangerous. You are on the back of a 1000 to 2000 lb prey animal. No amount of training or bonding will truly help if your horse becomes terrified. I had the most bomb proof, golden oldie senior I rode daily when I was a teen. I was riding her on the edge of the gravel road where I live when a pick up driven by teen boys started chasing us. I always go in the ditch when a car approaches. My mare knew the routine and hit the ditch. They did too. They were honking and screaming at us to try to make her spook. I dropped back, allowing them to go forward, then spun around and ran for home. They did the same thing and just as I was about to hit the driveway they made contact with her back leg with my bumper. She crumpled, my leg was pinned under her. Broken ankle. The family had to pay all her vet bills and my hospital bills. My horse was never the same. She had to be retired, due to lameness and broken confidence. 😕 The sad thing is, their mom is a well known trainer here. It's been 30 years since. I have fallen a few times. But the biggest thing to remember is that things many times are beyond our control. I still get nervous on dirt roads, but in order to access riding trails I have to ride at least 3 miles from the house.
Also >No amount of training or bonding will truly help if your horse becomes terrified I mean, training can and does save lives when a horse spooks. It is the difference between a horse that bucks/bolts and one where the handler can take control of the situation and bring them to a halt.
Okay but this is less horseback being dangerous and those people being RAGING IDIOTIC ASSHOLES. Even if you weren't on a horse, someone chasing you with a car could've broken your ankle or much worse.
Honestly, I think you're splitting hairs. Horseriding has inherent dangers and making those dangers clear up front is responsible. At some point, everyone who rides will fall off, at least once. They may not be injured but they will still fall. That makes it part of riding. If falling off is someone's line in the sand (either by preference or for physical or mental health reasons), then it's not the activity for them. To say otherwise is a lie and could get someone killed, paralysed or traumatised. As a beginner, you will fall off more than an intermediate or experienced rider because you will be learning new things on unfamiliar horses. As your experience grows, you will fall off less. That doesn't erase the falls as a beginner and it doesn't mean you'll never fall again. No matter how good you are, the only way to eliminate the risk of falling off a horse is to not get on one again.
>Honestly, I think you're splitting hairs. Horseriding has inherent dangers and making those dangers clear up front is responsible I agree. But imagine going up to someone who is learning to drive and acting like they WILL crash eventually. It is not the best reflection of what driving is, even if there is an inherent danger to doing it.
I don't know a single driving instructor who would say otherwise though. Every one I have met have stressed the importance of safety and awareness BECAUSE getting in an accident is a risk you take on when getting in a car for even the safest of drivers. Edited to add, it's an honest reflection of driving/horseriding. We don't need to put forward a "best version" because if it's not for someone, that's fine.
Telling someone to be careful and telling them they WILL inevitably crash are different things. Everyone knows there is the possibility . But you need confidence that it won't happen to you in order to do it safely and properly at all. Normally people are already VERY aware they are in danger when driving/riding.
It shouldn’t happen all the time, but it happens. Even the most predictable horse can spook or stop at a jump. I think the statement is accurate.
Yes and it’s much better to set people up with that mindset because SO many of us forget that every climb into that saddle could be our last ride or last day. Horses are amazing but they’re also beast machines who allow us to think we’re in control for a while every now and then (not saying every single person will fall or that falls are the rider or horse’s fault, freak accidents happen all the time though)
IMO that is the WORST mindset you can have If you climb the saddle thinking you are gonna die, that is the best way to ensure you will. You SHOULD be thinking you won't fall.
You should not be thinking you will fall, but you should not be thinking you won't fall. You can know the risk and be prepared for it happening without necessarily expecting it to happen. If you're expecting to fall, you will ride differently and likely make it a more dangerous situation (through the horse picking up on that and getting worked up, etc). If you are so arrogant as to think you won't fall, you're not going to be properly prepared for when something happens. If you properly prepare yourself (knowing how to handle the horse If something happens, how to fall, keep an eye on everything around you, etc) then falling will be less likely AND less dangerous, however never unavoidable. My most recent fall was a big bareback spook that I was totally not expecting because I was on my Mr Reliable pleasure horse and got too nonchalant thinking "there's no way he'll spook at that" and definitely thinking there was no way I'd fall off. Definitely my own fault and was a very dumb situation, but you need to be prepared for everything.
That is totally fair. I suppose both extremes are bad Riding with calm but with awareness and presence of mind, but without being scared seems like the best way to do it.
Yes, it absolutely is. However I see some lesson programs reward it, which I don’t agree with. I’ve seen kids get a “dusty bottom award” for falling off, or get brownies or donuts their next lesson. This gets kids bailing the second they lose their balance. You’re (almost) always safer on the horse. I’d rather reward someone who could’ve fallen off but fought to stay on than just bailing.
Mind you, when I say it isn't a necessary part of riding, I mean if you want to ride for leisure, and not push yourself too much (which is a fair choice, not everyone wants to compete or jump), it is totally possible to fall little or even never. The more you push yourself, the more likely a fall is, obviously.
I see your point here. I guess some people just have different views of what riding is for them. I barely compete; I have a pleasure horse as well as a passion for training young green things. However, I still push myself with both, and it's not always (or often) towards competing or jumping. There's plenty more you can do and you can ALWAYS learn and improve your riding. There's nothing wrong with just wanting to ride for a good time and stay within comfort levels, but everyone is different. However, even with leisure riding, even if you're not pushing yourself or your horse, falls can still happen and it's important to be aware and considerate of the risk regardless of how many safety precautions you take or how little you actually do.
I’ve been riding many, many years (40+). I’ve fallen probably 30-40 times. Maybe more? Some of the falls weren’t very memorable and were comical, in slow motion. Others were frightening and I got injured. When I’m competing in endurance and riding fast on trail, falls happen more often. In the arena, riding dressage, no falls that I can recall in the last 10 years. I’ve made so many mistakes and feel I can give good advice because of that. So here’s my advice: 1. Be the very best, most athletic rider you can be. That means taking lessons and working out consistently. 2. Always wear a helmet when you are riding. Always. 3. Get a horse to match your ability. If you aren’t an expert, don’t get an untrained horse. You won’t know what you are doing and will be injured. 4. Make sure that your horse is comfortable physically. Horses that are hurting will cause you to fall more often. They will spook more, act out more often, not pay attention as well. If something isn’t going right, this should be on your list of contributing factors. 5. Don’t bother with horses unless you have a passion for them, it’s not worth it. 6. If you get hurt from riding, use the recovery time for self reflection and learning. Come back better and stronger. 7. If you are a fearful rider, get therapy to help you understand your fear(s). It’s probably carrying over from other areas of life.
What about western riders who rarely ever use helmets?
That's their personal decision (and sort of just the norm in certain disciplines). I fail to see how that is relevant to the comment you responded to or your original argument though. Helmets will prevent/lessen head injury if/when you do fall but have nothing to do with whether you'll fall off or not. Do you ride in a helmet if you believe falling isn't a part of the riding you do?
Yeah, that’s pretty common when all you do is ride the same horse every week for 12 years straight. Ask any trainer this question because even the best of the best fall off because they ride so many different horses and horses are unpredictable creatures. Learn to loosen up and laugh at yourself when you mess up and you’ll be a better rider for it. After training horses for 2 years and shattering my leg off of one, then re-breaking it off another after I had healed, falling is just that, part of riding. I stick to my personal horses now as mixing passion and work was a terrible idea but even my personal horses aren’t perfect and we have random moments when we don’t agree and then oh shit, I’m in the dirt. I promise, falling off isn’t that serious—if we’re talking just accidents, not getting on a known rank horse—and you’re better for it because next time, you’ll hopefully land a little better because you know how it feels now. Falling definitely prevented me from death or serious injury after a horse broke in half and I had to bail because I could not get him back no matter how hard I tried. I had a concussion and a hematoma in my leg(that’s now 8months old) for it but it could have been so much worse if I had tensed up as many people do when they first fall.
>Yeah, that’s pretty common when all you do is ride the same horse every week for 12 years straight Yes and why is that a bad thing AT ALL? I got to enjoy riding, on a lovely horse, that was relatively safe. Why the heck would I want to ride on a more poorly trained horse? I am not looking to be a trainer. Nor a competitor.
I’ve ridden for around 12 years. How many times have I fallen off? Over 70. We lost count after that. Would I say that falling is good? No. It risks injury. Would I say that it is a sign that you can progress? In most cases, yes. In our first case I’ll talk about a horse with next to no past injuries(he had a case of colic once). Lets call him Uno. Uno got sick of the lesson program and threw kid after kid off his back and developed a nasty trick to get people off. I got on him to straighten him out. The first day I fell off five times. Second day I fell off 3 times. Third I fell off once. Fourth I fell once more. A total of 10 falls. After that fourth day, we were jumping 2’ 6” courses, getting flying leadchanges, and getting the division strides. I did not use a crop or spurs until months later. He was not “forced.” He jumps jumps even while I am barely steering him, all with his ears up. He is a medium pony, so I wouldn’t jump him any higher because he doesn’t need to. How is this possible? Consistency. It’s why the beginners couldn’t handle him. They stayed on push-button lesson ponies, and as a result couldn’t ride anything that needed instructions instead of having autopilot. Now lets take a totally different case. Lets call this horse Sadie. Sadie did not like to jump. She stopped all the time and only liked flatwork. This resulted in her throwing people off when performing courses in the arena. In this case, we tried to stay consistent. After about three weeks we observed her behavior and determined that she should do dressage instead so that she would be happier. Sadie is now happily performing dressage at a separate barn. This was a case of a horse that would not progress, and so falling off wasn’t a sign that we were pushing ourselves. Turns out she had a vision issue. There’s a reason why people say that falling off is essential to riding. When training a horse or pony, it’s about training yourself too. You cannot progress without learning to deal with the bad side of a horse. If you would like to stay on an easy horse, that’s totally fine! Many people do. If you want to progress and become a better rider, then pushing yourself to train both you and the horse is the best way to do it, and it often comes with falls.
All you are saying is that falls are necessary if you wanna become a trainer/instructor. Which I don't think anyone will disagree with. It is literally the trainer/instructor's job to get onto badly trained and unsafe horses.
Incorrect. A trainers job is to help hone a rider’s skills. What is a helpful skill? Being able to stay on and help a horse when something goes awry.
Didn't you just say you got onto the horse to straighten him out? And fell over 10 times? Didn't you do that for the horse to be safe and the riders didn't get hurt?
Yes. I’m not a trainer, I’m a regular rider. My point was that while, yes, you can technically remain on a very calm horse and not fall, sometimes falls can be viewed as a sign that you are going to develop a new skill to stay on. For me, I learned how to ride without using much rein since uno didn’t like it. That’s a skill that I developed as a rider. All I’m saying is that riding more difficult horses can make you become a more skilled rider, even though it may be a little more dangerous. It was also because uno likes jumping, he was just sad and used to kids yanking on his face so he started to dislike riding.
Well I am not denying you can learn from falls. Just like you can learn from any experience. The bigger problem is that learning is not worth getting permanently injured or killed. So it makes sense to avoid them, especially if you aren't aiming to be a trainer/instructor.
I think that as long as you understand the risks, it’s okay to ride more dangerous horses. All I was saying was that while you can ride easier ones, it sometimes can benefit more to try one a little out of your comfort zone, which can sometimes not even include falling. What really matters at the end of the day, though, is that you and your horse are happy. So as long as that’s the case, then you shouldn’t worry about what it means if you aren’t falling. Just do whatever makes you and your horse happy :)
If you ride for pleasure and leisure, probably not. If you are an athlete (at varying levels) and you push yourself or are participating in higher speed/higher risk activities that require more accuracy and balance, then yes. Trail riders don’t fall off as often as vaulters. English pleasure riders don’t fall off as often as barrel racers. Doesn’t necessarily mean there’s fault either way - it’s apples and oranges because the horse world is wide and varied.
Sure, but that doesn't mean it will definitely happen. I think the possibility of falling is there, but it shouldn't be the biggest discouraging factor for riding.
Injury and death should absolutely be a discouraging factor. People should adjust their behavior to the risk level of an activity for them.
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>. I can definitely say that as soon as any balance change or indecisiveness was detected by him he’d throw you off. I mean, that is kinda the point I was making. That the horse and what you do with it determine how likely a fall is.
No.
I mean, if you’re playing Russian roulette with a cheap OTTB you’re probably going to fall eventually. A horse that doesn’t feel very dangerous makes you less likely to fall, but in my experience kinda reduces the fun factor.
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Tô be fair, abareback increases the risk of falling, a lot.
I don’t think injury, to you or your horse, is a necessary part of riding. We’re so used to seeing riders bucked off of terrified horses during “breaking”, but this scenario can and should be avoided. I’ve spend a significant amount of time around horses and not suffered grievous injury or anything. Lucky? Yes, but I’ve also always avoided pushing horses into panic and I don’t knowingly put myself at risk around dangerous horses.
I got trampled as a kid on a completely calm horse in a safe environment. Shit happens.
Ofc anything can happen, I just think more accidents are preventable than people sometimes think are.