I fell off too yesterday!

[Rebecca1969]

I was trying to mount my school horse, Apache who I love. My instructor was giving another lesson so she said just hop on him and walk around. So everytime I climbed the mounting block he's start walking away, so I kept trying. The last time I went to try to get on, I had one food in the stirrup and the other leg almost over and then he starts trotting off and then cantering:eek:. I held on for a short while and decided I wouldn't be able to get on and that I would need to make a jump for it. Well I jumped off the side and landed on my upper back and head, thank god for my helmet. For a few seconds everything was blurry, but I mananged to get right up. Embarrassing:o!!!! My instructor felt so bad and seemed a bit worried. I just shrugged it off, just happy I was able to get up. So I got back on as she held Apache still:). I must say though for the rest of my lesson I was a bit tense. But still a good lesson. Trotted and did some cantering and worked on transitions from sitting trot to walk, slowing him down with my seat rather than reins, which I never learned before. I'm sore today though, my neck is a bit stiff and my stomach muscles hurt. I guess it's all par for the course.

[Cobgirl]

Poor girl, that could have been nasty. Wonder what made Apache take off like that? If he is a school horse, then that should not happen. I ride an Apache at the RS, he's 16.3 hand coloured horse and as mild as anything.

My RI usually holds the horses head whilst we mount from the block. I mainly ride my part loan horse and she has a habit of not cantering away but wandering before I mount. I always get down and take her round and reposition her before mounting. After I have done it a couple of times, she soon gets the message!

You will probably ache by now, because after my fall yesterday, I do and have a massive bruise to boot. Glad you are safe and well, sounds like a nasty fall you had.

[Kittycat]

Ouch! Hope you are ok, if you hit your head do you think you should see a doctor?

[gemkat]

hi
Sorry you fell... there is nothing embarassing about falling.. it is yr instructor who shd be embarrassed.
I am novice and I read about soo many falls.. but you know what, I really believe some of them could be avoided - especially in yr case.
Take good care.. :)
Liz

[oumbagirl]

Agree wholeheartedly with Gemkat. Your RI could have been in serious trouble with the stables owner if you had been badly hurt and subsequently sued the stables. There was definitately a breach in health & safety.

that being said - glad to hear that you were OK, but would get yourself checked out just in case as neck problems only tend to surface later on.
I have always been told that the two most dangerous times to be around a horse are on mounting and dismounting as most accidents occur either when a horse moves off (as per your experience) or is spooked when dismounting, so you need to be really confident doing both if you are going to go solo and know your horse too, although this is no guarantee it won't happen even with a horse you know really well.

My own horse Dipper is an ex racer and I am still teaching him to stand at the mounting blocks, because as racer's the jockey's are given 'legs up' whilst the horse keeps on walking almost, so horses have to be trained to stand.

Always make sure your left hand has a good grip of the reins, and a piece of neck hair/or alternatively good grip on the pommel. Any sign of the horse moving, i would say its probably better to abort the mounting process sooner, rather than later!

Take care, keep practicing - but in a safe environment. I have learnt now not to be pushed by anyone into doing what I am not comfortable with. Your RI should have known better. Oumbagirl