Falling off help needed

[curlycal]

Brief history,

I'm 46 and have been learning to ride for 1 year.
During that time I have fallen off 3 times, twice ages ago while learning to canter, and lastly on monday when my RS horse ducked out from a jump at the last second.

My problem is when I fall I instinctively keep a tight hold on the reins, resulting in me fracturing my right ring finger quite badly on monday, and also giving the poor horse a nasty jab in her mouth :eek: :eek:

Obviously my brain says * falling-off-hold-on-tight*

Suggestions needed for how to get round this and avoid injuring myself and more importantly hurting the horse

Thank you

Cal x

[Bronya]

Can't help 'cause I've done exactly that every time I've fallen for the last 24 years. I have then let go upon hitting the ground a few times, but normally horse feels the jab in the mouth and stops. I'll be interested in people's replies!

[*toHorse&Away*]

O dear...but on the bright side your brain is obviously functioning at lightning speed!:D
Must admit I don't do that, instead I end up hanging onto the neck and sliding ungraciously off.
Be interested to hear what folk say but best solution is not to fall off in the first place....:rolleyes: now if only I could master that one!!!

[Haphazard]

never really thought about this before but from memory I also hang onto the reins when performing an unscheduled dismount

[Ms Kitty]

Same here.. :o

Nina x

[connieD]

if i slide off i also hold onto the reins, the only time i havent was recently when i was bronked off so forcefully i flew through the air landing 10 meters infront of the horse so reins were pulled out of my hands.

i tend to try and think 'ball' when i know im a goner and role into a ball so there are less bits of me sticking out to get trodden on!!

[LMayhewtx]

The first time I fell off, it was in slow motion, and I had time to reach my arms around my horse's neck, in the "emergency dismount" style. It hurt when I hit the ground, but grabbing onto her neck helped break my fall. The second time I fell off, things happened to quickly, and although I thought, grab the neck, I didn't quite get my arms around in time. I didn't break anything, but I landed pretty hard on my neck, and was in pain for a week afterwards. Based on my limited experience, if you have time to think about it, grabbing the neck can work out much better, and does give you something stable to hold onto.
Galadriel, who posts on this board sometimes, has a nice article about it here: http://lorienstable.com/articles/riding/100-emergency_dismount/

[Tworide15]

Having just fell off for my first time the other day I found that the opposite happens to me and I tend to let go of everything and tuck my arms and legs. I think it is mainly because I am so afraid of getting stepped on that I don't want to be attached to the horse in any way once I hit the ground!

[punxmafia]

I always seem to fall extremly ungracfully, usually gripping around there neck for grim death first! I always find theres that sink or swim situation point especially when your on the neck. You have a split second to either heave back on or like I mostly do drop.
Ive always managed to hang on the reins especially on hacks as my pony like to gallop home, so I wouldn't say keeping hold of the reins is that bad. at least in say my sitation it saves walking home.
I couldn't really suggest a way to stop yourself hanging on as it your body reflex to falling off.

[Wally]

I'm not sure it's such a bad thing, at least you only broke a finger, if you instinctively put your arms out to save yourself, you can do lots more damage to wrists and elbows.

It is really unfortunate that you broke a finger, I too always keep tight hold of the reins when I fall off, keeps my arms out of the way and generally you fall on your back or bum!

[Meovcorz]

I hold on to the reins as well. Seems to be alot of us out there. Last time I fell off was the 4th time I fell off.
1st time: I had only ridden a horse a handful of times and probably had only gone into a trot only once or twice before. I had just gone up into the trot (didn't even know what it was called then) on a horse which hadn't been ridden for over a year and he just decided to pig-root, and absolutely inexperienced as I was I just got thrown into the air and the next thing I knew I was on the ground. Luckily I didn't hurt myself at all.
2nd time: I was being silly and trotting around bareback, and said to a friend, "See how good I am I can stay on!" Then I decided to say it again, being REALLY silly, and throwing myself over the side a little bit luckily at the walk, and just slid onto the ground LAUGHING. It was very funny so you can laugh, actually my friend seemed to think it was the funniest thing in the world. I suppose its the old proverb ALL over again. "Pride goeth before a fall." I was Cantering bareback, and Jack suddenly decided to turn on me I wasn't expecting it, and I remember holding on to the reins, and chiding myself for holding onto the reins :-), as I slid off.
3rd time: I was Cantering bareback, and Jack suddenly decided to turn on me I wasn't expecting it, and I remember holding on to the reins, and chiding myself for holding onto the reins :-), as I slid off.
4th time: I was confidently (that was my problem I was TOO confident.) Cantering Bareback, when Jack stumbled, and I came sliding off the side, holding tightly on to the reins (which didn't help at all) hit my head and Jack just clipped me with his hind leg. I wasn't wearing a helmet and that sure told me that helmets are definitily important :-), I should have known before, luckily I didn't hurt myself.

I haven't ridden bareback much since, partly because I'm to scared before I get on, but never when I'm actually on.

[punxmafia]

I had an amazing fall the other week while riding bareback. I decided I couldn't be bothered to tack up so I took Ted out for a wander (I was wearing silkish felling trackie bottoms). I decided to walk down a bump and let him canter up the other side. When we hit the top he threw a MASSIVE buck and launched me in the air, I then came down back on to him at such speed my trousers just slid on him and I flew off! I let go of the reins because of how high I went. he stood looked at me for a second to say "what you doing down there?" then galloped off home! Then you have the people all the way back asking if your ok and is that your horse? Thats why I prefer to hold the reins. Hasn't put me off bareback, I often go for hacks bareback, just not in trackie bottoms!

[marchhare2006]

Can't help - as a child, I was always taught, 'never let go of the reins when you fall off'. In built instinct now, I'm afraid

[curlycal]

Thanks for all yor replies.
I have set up a poll in the cafe area because I'm interested in what everyone does or has been taught

Cal x