I fell off this afternoon

[Cobgirl]

Hi everyone, well if you remember, I posted about two weeks ago about my fear of cantering after not riding for 40 years. This afternoon I rode my part loan horse and was lunged by another friend. We tried for the canter at M and she went into it. I froze and only managed 3 strides. We tried a second time and I managed to canter until E then for some reason, I lost my stirrup and fell.

Lol, my thigh has the biggest lump ever and I am soooo sore. I got back on the horse but my confidence again to canter is shot through:confused:

I am giving it a break for a while and just concentrating on refining my other gaits. I asked my friend to access my balance and she says it's fine. I can trot without stirrups, even trot without holding reins and going stirrupless but for some reason, this mental block about being able to canter is getting the best of me.

So from a bruised bum and an even more bruised ego, I will now go and soak in the tub for half an hour!!

[curlycal]

Ouch, hope you're not too bruised :(

[Cobgirl]

Ouch, hope you're not too bruised :(

Lol, yes I am quite bruised - I am watching it coming up into a beautiful purple colour and it is sore!! Oh well, at least I managed to get back onto the horse and not cry, which is what I wanted to do!:D

[Caz&Irena]

Hi, if it's any consolation, out hacking last week my horse spun and I had a very slow fall off the side. This morning, while cantering on a hack the horse in front suddenly put on the brakes due to someone coming towards us and I exited over my horse's left shoulder landing on the same spot I did last week. I'm also aching and bruised so I can really sympathise:o Hope your bruising goes quickly and I'm sure you will regain your confidence.

Best wishes

Caz x

[Cobgirl]

Hi, if it's any consolation, out hacking last week my horse spun and I had a very slow fall off the side. This morning, while cantering on a hack the horse in front suddenly put on the brakes due to someone coming towards us and I exited over my horse's left shoulder landing on the same spot I did last week. I'm also aching and bruised so I can really sympathise:o Hope your bruising goes quickly and I'm sure you will regain your confidence.

Best wishes

Caz x

Thanks Caz, sorry about your two falls, ouch, that must be painful:eek:

I got straight on again, but my phobia about cantering has returned and I feel it will be a while until I try again. Just going to enjoy riding the gaits I am confident with until I am ready to try again.

I will do it one day in the near future, of that I am sure. Next time though, i think I won't be lunged!

[Showjumper]

Lots of arnica will help with the bruising - I hope you're feeling better soon! :)

[Cobgirl]

Lots of arnica will help with the bruising - I hope you're feeling better soon! :)

Thanks for that tip - just had a hot soak in the bath and that seems to have helped as well. I am betting that tomorrow will be worse:D

[Kittycat]

Well done for not crying! I cried after both my falls, I'm such a wuss!:o

Hope you feel better soon.
:)

[NoviceNic]

My daughter has a block of confidence where canter is concerned. Her RI stopped asking her to canter in lessons. Now Jas just canters when she wants to. Less pressure, less worries, just goes for it. :D

If you dont want to canter yet then dont. Wait until you are ready. I also had a friend that never ever did anythig other than walk. Horse loved it. :D

[Rebecca1969]

I fell too yesterday, just trying to mount my horse, he took off cantering as I was halfway on. Anyway I was a bit tense too for the rest of my lesson. I only did a little cantering this time and focused more on my seat in transitioning from sitting trot to walk without stirrups. I think that helped me relax somewhat. I think it's normal to feel that way and fine to focus on something else in the meantime until your ready to canter again. Hope you heal quickly and arent' too sore today. Good you got back on, your confidence will soon come back.:)

[Caz&Irena]

NoviceNic:If you dont want to canter yet then dont. Wait until you are ready. I also had a friend that never ever did anythig other than walk. Horse loved it. :D[/QUOTE]

My husband only ever walked and trotted and our horse loved it too:D

Caz x

[Cobgirl]

Well done for not crying! I cried after both my falls, I'm such a wuss!:o

Hope you feel better soon.
:)

Lol I am useless, I cry all the time! I held it together until I got home then went upstairs and had a bawl:o I ache so much today!

[Cobgirl]

My daughter has a block of confidence where canter is concerned. Her RI stopped asking her to canter in lessons. Now Jas just canters when she wants to. Less pressure, less worries, just goes for it. :D

If you dont want to canter yet then dont. Wait until you are ready. I also had a friend that never ever did anythig other than walk. Horse loved it. :D


My friend Jenn who lives in US and is a RI with her own stables, told me that I am to just stick to walk and trot for the time being. I am going to perfect my extended trot and just carry on with light dressage that does not involve cantering until I am ready!:D

[Cobgirl]

I fell too yesterday, just trying to mount my horse, he took off cantering as I was halfway on. Anyway I was a bit tense too for the rest of my lesson. I only did a little cantering this time and focused more on my seat in transitioning from sitting trot to walk without stirrups. I think that helped me relax somewhat. I think it's normal to feel that way and fine to focus on something else in the meantime until your ready to canter again. Hope you heal quickly and arent' too sore today. Good you got back on, your confidence will soon come back.:)

Thanks, I too am just concentrating on what I am confident in doing. I love to trot, could do sitting trot all day long, with or without stirrups! Some people hate sitting trot but me, I just LOVE IT!

Sorry about your mounting woes, that is so unsettling when a horse does that. Twice I have forgotten to tighten my girth, got on the mounting block leg in stirrup and hey presto, the saddle slips and I end up hopping beside the horse!

I have the most amazing bruise on my buttock! It is a lovely shade of blue, red and purple and I ache all over. Oh well we pay the price for loving what we do!!

[Rebecca1969]

I LOVE the sitting trot as well. Especially without stirrups, I feel like it really
gives me a better leg position on horse, and it's such a comfortable gait, very enjoyble, especially on Apache. He's a real sweetheart.

[Cobgirl]

I LOVE the sitting trot as well. Especially without stirrups, I feel like it really
gives me a better leg position on horse, and it's such a comfortable gait, very enjoyble, especially on Apache. He's a real sweetheart.


Lol, perhaps it's only people who love the sitting trot that fall off! My RS Apache is a sweetie-pie but can't be the same one, you are in the US!

Here is my bruise today, lol I still ache like somebody has jumped all over me!
Hope it's not too graphic! I did cover myself up, lol!
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h130/Gelray/S6002196.jpg

It has gone up a bit more than that, but hey, this is a family site!:eek:

[Tally.]

ouch! sounds like you fell really hard! Have you tried trotting exercises like holding your arms out and making circles with them, ect? Really good to get your balance just right before you try canter

[Cobgirl]

That's the strange thing, I don't have a balance problem. Can trot without stirrups, without reins, no problem. My cantering problems stem from 40 years ago when I fell from a hunter whilst in the woods. Ducked to miss a low lying branch whilst cantering and was whipped off. I keep trying every few weeks to canter and just 'freeze' when I go into it. That is when I fell, mainly because I lost my stirrup and my position.

Giving it a rest for a while I think, just going to enjoy what I do best light dressage and hacking.

[Shire Monster]

OUCH!!!! You did well to get back on, looks and sounds really sore, I discovered a fortnight ago I don't bounce as well as I used to just from a little spook doh! I've got my first lesson back since the fall tomorro night and a bit nervous, there is no chance I'm givin up tho not after spendin forever losin over 4 stone to get up there again :D and havin a part loan who is hopefully gonna be ok to ride in the next few weeks.
On the bright side you have a fab bruise that you should be very proud of I had nothin just inability to move without pain but not a bruise in sight wasn't at all impressed :D
You stick with walk an trot theres no need to do somethin your not comfortable with

[Cobgirl]

Shire Monster, you just go for it and get right back in the saddle. I walked away after my fall on Sun, but my friend just said, 'get back and walk around the arena.' I did get back and felt good about it, but my cantering nerves are shot through at the moment and I am just sticking to what I am comfortable with.

The bruise has spread and I noticed last night that I have one to match on my elbow! I also have a little whiplash in the left side of my neck and yes, you are right, we don't bounce like we used to!

Hope your lesson goes well and that you find your riding nerves again. Oh and congrats on losing 4 stone. I have lost 1 stone since riding! That is one of the positive benefits!!

[icegirl]

You are not useless at all, - last time but one when I fell off, the horse was standing still!!!
The bruise looks quite impressive. Has someone recommended arnica? Lotion or pills, both good.
A glass of wine is good too.:D

[Cobgirl]

You are not useless at all, - last time but one when I fell off, the horse was standing still!!!
The bruise looks quite impressive. Has someone recommended arnica? Lotion or pills, both good.
A glass of wine is good too.:D

Had the glass of wine and put witchazel on the bruise which is now VERY impressive and VERY black, lol:D

I fell off my part loan when she was standing still, today infact, tried to mount and because my leg is still sore, couldn't get it over so went backwards!:eek::D:D I was ok in the end though and managed to mount!

[Tally.]

lol, i shouldnt laugh at that, but i can just picture it now, and i know that its going to be me on Sat as my ankle is still a bit sore :o

I promise i will let you know if it does so you can laugh at me :D

[Cobgirl]

lol, i shouldnt laugh at that, but i can just picture it now, and i know that its going to be me on Sat as my ankle is still a bit sore :o

I promise i will let you know if it does so you can laugh at me :D

As if I would:D;) My friend laughed, I just grimaced. I have pulled a muscle in my groin for some reason, even had a job getting back into the car afterwards. I suspect it was from Sunday and today I did loads of leg work and extended trot, ouch!