Bad Fall

[Megan J]

Hi everyone! It's been awhile since I posted a thread, but I really need to talk to someone.
I've only been riding for about eight months, but I love it. Jumping is my thing - it is the only aspect of riding that I was really confident about, up until Saturday. Fiona, my instructor, knew how much I loved jumping, and she said she thought I had some talent (or alot of bravado, one or the other!) and so she would put them up relatively high (which is probably not that high really, but it was for the little kids I ride with!!!)
Anyway, at my lesson on Saturday, I was riding the horse I usually ride and jump with. It was getting towards the end of the lesson, and my friend and I asked if we could jump a bit higher. It wasn't really that high, and I had jumped the height before. So off I went, cantering towards the jump. Everything was going okay - Zoe was hitting the right strides and looked like she wanted to jump. She waited until she took off before deciding against it, and when she whipped around mid air, I went flying off her and onto the jump. Of course it was a spread, so I hit two poles!!!!!!! I don't think I've ever been that scared in my life. I hit my head, my right shoulder and my hip (I have the bruises to prove it). I got back on and did one more jump, and then I started trembling and sobbing and I had to get off. (This is very embarrassing but I need to tell someone!!!).
For a few days after that I had bad headaches, and it turns out I had concussion. I went riding again on the Tuesday, and I was so scared when we had to jump! I'm so afraid my nerve has gone and I won't be able to get it back!!! Worse still, the doctor I saw said she thought it would be best if I took it easy and stopped jumping for a few months. But I only ever get to ride on the weekends, and if I'm not jumping I'm going to totally lose whatever confidence I have left!!!
Does anyone have any advice they can share? Has anyone had an experience like this? Jumping was the only thing I was ever brave about, and now I feel like I'll lose it. To top it off it's worried by already-wary parents!!!:(

[Sonia]

Hi Megan
I'm sorry you've had such a bad experience. The shaking and crying is only a natural reaction to shock of coming off. I did the same thing when I was bucked off a couple of weeks ago (and trying to hold back tears at 35 is a little embarassing!). I did have a little rest from getting into the saddle due to the bruising on my back, but I did get back on within the week. I was very nervous and still feel a bit so when getting on.

Try riding a couple of easy lessons to begin with then progress through trotting poles and very low jumps until you feel more confident. See how you feel and let you be the judge of what to do when - many people deal out advise but do it as fast or slow as YOU want.

Falling off is a shock. I work at a desk and aren't used to being physically hurt - and can tell you I'm not too keen to repeat the experience.

Good luck and take care
Sonia

[Jay Kay]

Hi Megan
Sonia has given good advise, only jump again when you feel you are ready to, work your way up to it slowly and refuse to be rushed into it .If you are feeling nervous it may transfer to the pony you are riding and not help the situation. Take it one step at a time.Your confidence will not be lost if you don't rush it.
I am 40 something and I cried recently when one of our ponies trod on my foot and broke 2 toes (I was only wearing trainers, stupid woman).
Try going for a hack when you are next booking for a ride, it will help to relax you,what has happened to you has happened to a lot of people who ride and its good that you should talk about it
Let us know when you are riding again.
Jay Kay

[KIMBO 2]

Megan

The shock you felt when you fell is not you losing your nerve, it's your body saying 'That gave me a fright!' and is a natural reaction and happens to everybody, whether it's physical shock or emotional. Do not worry about that.

As the others have already mentioned, keep riding and just go with what seems easy, even too easy, so that your confidence comes back when it comes, together with a feeling of 'God I can't wait to do some more jumping/cantering/lively work because this is far too easy' and then you can move on. Until then, do the easy bits well and that will let your mind know that it's fine to carry on. (We can be very good at fooling our own minds when necessary..)

I've been riding about a year, and have fallen off badly once (bang on head, nothing long lasting thank goodness) and embarrassingly about 3 more times. The shock and nerves generated when you hop on again means that you take a little step back - but only so that you can keep stepping forward for the future.

Good luck and do not worry, every single person on this site has been there.

Kim

[Mossy]

Hi, you sound sore, annoyed and somewhat shaken up. Exactly how everyone else feels when we hit the deck due to gravity not planning. I realise that I am not saying what you want to hear but personally I would go with your doctor's advice and give jumping a rest for a bit. After seven years - for a GP - training he has some idea of what he is going on about. That would also reassure your parents too. When my daughter's pony was spooked by a bus I was more worried for her than I was about myself having an unconnected accident on the same day. Worrying about your children is part of the job spec called parent. Give your body time to heal and jumping will come back. Yes you could rush it, come off again, and be medically banned from jumping permanently. Sorry to go on but you would not be the first.
Use the break to improve your groundwork and balance, and your jumping wil be all the better for it when you do take it up again.
Sorry if I sound like an aged old killjoy but I have various bits of me that creak like old barn doors due to landing on them from a great height. Yes I still do it and still land on them, last time was last week! Pony slipped whilst cornering and we both went over sideways!
Get better soon

[Maci]

To bad you had that sort of experience!! It seemed painful just to be reading it!

Just take it easy for awhile. It's natural for you to be afraid of jumping, after all you got hurt as a result of one. My friend fell of her horse and factured her hand, and naturally, she's a little nervous to go back and go riding the same horse.

If you don't feel confident enough to ride that week, go to the lesson anyways, but just sit with your instructor, and watch. That's what my friend did.

Good Luck!
Ease Your Way Back To Jumping!
Don't Rush It!
Maci :)

[Nancy]

Hope you are feeling better today. You already proved to yourself that you can get back on and you can jump. You already did it after the fall, so that part is over with now. You have nothing to prove, so just take your time getting back in the swing of things. Horses have been around for centuries, they will be there when you are ready to jump again. Take it slow and steady. As Kimbo2 said, do the easy stuff for awhile and you will know when you are really ready for the harder stuff.
Happy trails

[Megan J]

THANKYOU SO MUCH EVERYONE!!!
I knew I was doing the right thing by writing to you all!!! I always feel so much better after reading replies. I am going to heed all your good advice and take it easy for awhile. No easy task considering how much I love jumping and having to watch it on the Olympics!! (Go Andrew Hoy!!)But I realise that if I did rush it I could a)lose all my nerve and/or b)fall off and do even greater damage.
I'm still very tender and feeling very sorry for myself but you have all made me feel so much better. I come from a totally non-horsey family, so while they were all concerned about my safety, I couldn't really speak to anyone about hopping back in the saddle.
My doctor and Mum were asking each other why riders do it - go through the risk and the pain. It's hard to explain though isn't it? It's like trying to explain why horsey people love the smell of horses and leather tack. It's just something innate, something we are programmed with!!!
Thankyou again. :)

[Silvia]

:)Silvia

[Edited by Silvia on 22nd Sep 2000 at 10:05 AM]

[Silvia]

Don't know what happened to my last post. What I wanted to say is Sorry you had such a bad experience and keep going! Take it easy though.
Silvia

[Wally]

Stop the torture, a nasty fall takes time to get over. Forget the huge jumps, stick to ones you are happy with. Take no notice of anyone else, take things at your own speed and time. Once you have had a consistent couple of months over little jumps your confidence will come back. Remember the most important thing about riding is enjoyment and relaxation. If you aint relaxed neither will the horse be and neither of you will be enjoying yourselves. So go back to what you are happy with, falls happen, as you get older the aches last longer to remind you of your mis-calculation!!

When I was young I couldn't understand the problems folk had if they fell, As far as I was concerned I was indestructible and just got back on and carried on, a few broken bones, stitches and visions of my own mortality I'm much more cautious and have experienced what I never thought I would...., fear! Nothing to be ashamed of, admit to yourself you have limits and be proud of them, I am!

[Judith]

Megan

We go through the risk and the pain because for those few times we do come off (and it's bloody horrible when it happens)there are many more times when it works and it's the best thing in the world.

Try to focus on your love of jumping and the countless times you have felt proud and successful and in tune with your horse rather than this one recent setback.

And, I agree with others, just take it easy for a bit, go back to basics, take a while to re-build your confidence and don't be rushed. It's all going to help you be a better rider.

Good luck!

[Somethingroyal]

If you are scared to death of jumping, dont. The horse you are riding will sense your uncertainty, and refuse or something of that nature. I suggest starting off at a walk, and when you are comfortable with that, move into a trot. You will lose a little of what you knew, but by the time you are ready to jump again you will be more confident on horseback.

[Wally]

Megan J,

Your Mum and Doctor must be very timid folk. There must be something they do that gives them a kick, (not literally!) There must have been something in their lives that gave them a proud, warm feeling of acheivement, a passion for something?

Doctors can be smug and "holier than thou" especially while they are examining riding casualities. I was wheeled into a hospital after a motorcycle accident, there was a lass in the next bed who had lost a leg in a car accident. The doctor said to me in a smug offensive manner, "I advise you never ride motorbikes again, it would make my job easier" I challenged him and asked him if he was going to tell the lass in the next bed never to get in a car again!

There are some things in life that are enjoyable, infact to some they are a way of life, everything we do involves a level of risk. I still ride motorbikes, I still ride horses in spite of several broken bones from each. I'm not on prozac, I don't need NHS therapy, some things balance them selves out in the long run. The NHS should be grateful to all us riders out there doing our own relaxation and fitness routine.

[Sharon H]

The only thing I'd like to add to all of the above, is to make sure that your instructor(ess) knows how you feel and is sympathetic to you. It can be very easy for others to jolly you along and make you feel stupid if you don't try what they're suggesting, but don't be pressurised into doing something that you're not comfortable with. Good Luck!

[Jo]

Ah - the pain! Falling off is part of the riding experience and, I've been told, every fall makes you a better rider. I'm not sure that's true, but for certain when jumping it will happen from time to time. When a horse is committed to one direction and you to another, there is only one result -I guess you watched the xc at the olympics?


Wally is right - again! - YOU will know when you are ready to jump and if, as suggested, you tell your instructor how you feel, you should be jumping confidently soon enough.

I was at a show last week and the younger riders had a 2 foot six course to jump which included a water jump. Well, after 6 riders had jumped/refused the water, it was taken out of the course and the competition was started again. The reason: 5 of the 6 riders had galloped their horses at the water, with one falling into it and skidding right through the jump. It was jsut too dangerous. The moral here is: you can be TOO bold when jumping and no fear is a dangerous thing. You now have fear and you will be a safer jumper for it. Good luck.