fear of falling

[Stella2]

had my first lesson recently, age 42. Went well, I was full of confidence and a sense of fun, until my 3rd lesson with a bad instructor offering dodgy advice. Felt l was going to fall, having got rising trot towards the end of my 2nd 30 minute lesson, I could not face trot and became very nervious about riding (or more specifically about falling off). I have had 2 more lessons, but feel anxious when trying to trot. Can anyone offer y statistics of riding accidents on calm horses with non-jumping riders ?

[Wally]

I run a riding centre up in the frozen north of GB. I can honestly say we get maybe one person a year fall off. (you realise this is courting danger and having said this everyone who comes tomorrow is doomed to come a cropper!)

It upsets me too much when someone falls off so I only get folk to do stuff that they are absolutely happy with, coax a bit but never push someone hard.

Most falls are an undignified slither at low speed, usually ending up in a crumpled, but unhurt heap on the floor. More serious falls happen out on hacks at higher speed or over jumps. I have to say I cannot remember the last time I fell off and I ride every day sometimes for 6 hours a day, usually about 3 hours. I do get up to silly devils occasinally so it's not a case of walking everywhere.

Seriously most falls are as I mentioned, undignified slithers that you are laughing at while doing. If you don't intend to jump or gallop all over the place don't let it get to you, enjoy yourself and have fun. But don't be bullied by an unsympathetic instructor, it is your lesson, your leisure time and your money, do it your way!

[Moonlightrider]

I fall off all the time - I can hardly ever get back on right away because I'm laughing too hard. My only bad falls have been when I was cantering and my horse got out of control. All of these times, I've been riding with friends who could not help me.

Mostly, your pride is sore. A good instructor will not overtax you. They can also help tell you what to do if you're falling so that you don't get hurt. Although you hear about all sorts of bad falls, they don't happen that much.

I think most of us on the board have fallen at least once. It's not bad - but you think it is. The first time I ice skated, the first thing my friend told me (she was trying to teach me) was to sit down. If you want, learn to do an emergency dismount, or at least what to do if you're in a situation where you might fall. It'll make you feel more in control.

[tess]

hi there
sorry to hear about your fall. well done you for getting back on!!!
you are doing really well to get the hang of rising after so few lessons. How about some lunge lessons on a schoolmaster type with a good instructor you trust? it is well worth searching out an instructor you get on with, one that will push you a little but not enough to make you feel unsafe. Lunge lessons are great to deepen your seat and you dont have to worry about controlling the horse. Please dont give up you sound like youre doing great!!
Regards Tess

[Stella2]

Thanks for all supportive replies. Wally, your comments are particularly helpful. I had another lesson today with 'the good instructor' (the bad one is confined to my riding history). I have never actually fallen off - just felt as if I would, mainly because the guy told me to keep a gap between my lower thigh, knees and horse (apparantly this is a technique sometimes beneficial in advanced riding, but not for novices). I told am riding in the north of England. Where is your stables Wally ?

[Wally]

If you find the north coast of Scotland and keep going North, past Orkeny, you will find Shetland! We are there!

[Cathy Reynolds]

Anndunk - as Wally says it's your fun and your money, so take your time. 10 yr old Hannah asked me last Friday 'what does falling off onto stubble feel like?' - she found out only too soon! Moral of story is kids tend to bounce easier and have less imagination.

[FRED]

Hi , I suspect many new riders have the same fears, trotting takes time to get used too,the sudden up in pace from walk and that feel of power through the horse, yikes were getting to a turn,all unbalanced, bouncing about,trying to keep the horse going too.
Its not the best way too learn,but seems the most common way we are are taught.Oh for for school master horses and thought full trainers.
Like all say, go at the pace that suits you, a trainer that listens and plans a lesson to your needs is worth their weight in Gold.

Sadly there is a school of thought in the Equestrian world that learners should be pushed beyond their limits, generally by bad tempered trainers who have seen and know it all, they can't even teach a rider to ask a horse to walk with out giving the poor horse a good boot in the ribs, and two good boots for trott.
Most riders do get back on after a fall, sadly some don't bounce so good, even despite age being on their side, go at your pace and have fun:) serious fun:)
Most falls are a slow motion slither, and usualy have the rider laughing.
Best wishes from Fred

[AngelJ]

The problem with the horse that I am riding is that she likes to turn her trots/jogs into lopes quickly without me telling her and she doesn't like to slow down after she is started up. I am yelling walk and pulling her back and it takes her what seems like minutes but is probably only 5 seconds, but it is scary and I feel like I am coming right out of the saddle. I haven't had riding lessons, my son takes them so he knows how is he supposed to sit in the saddle and so forth, but I don't! If I were you, I would just tell your instructor that you feel like you want to slow the lessons down a bit. You are comfortable with walk and want to continue to do that until you get your confidence up.

Good luck,
Jeannie

[horselover]

I hope I don't repeat anything- I didn't read the other posts.

I think that you are nervous about falling until your first fall, then you realize it isn't as bad as you thought it was going to be. Honestly, I have fallen off more times than I can count, and have only had 3 bad falls, 2 of those were jumping and one was being bucked off.

I don't think your fear is unrealistsic, but you need to realize that most falls are not very serious, and some are downright funny. I have had a couple amsuing ones- usually in front of an audience. :)

I think one thing you can do is practice falling off- I used to do that with y freind, and we actually had alot off fun and it helped make falling off no big deal. Ask your instructor if this is a possibility.

[floppy]

if you get a little uptight jsut remember to breath deeply from the bottom of your lungs..i always do this if i feel a tingle of nerves coming on or if im in a situation where i know im going to nervous.
riding smaller horses can help increase confidence when it coems to worrying about falling off because i fyou do fall off it aint that far :)

[hilite]

It's definitely true that falling isn't as bad as you think it will be. I went about a year before my first fall and was getting pretty nervous about it. Since I'd never fallen off before I just kept imagining the worst, how much it would hurt, etc. And then one night I fell off and I was just estatic (spelling?)- I came home and was really energetic and grinning like a nut.. which my mom probably thought I was, lol. ;)

I know how scary it is before you have a fall, because you don't know what it's like... but just remember that it probably won't be that bad, the first time I fell off was great. :D

[JumperGirl]

Ivebeen riding around two years, and I fell of at the beginning odf the summer, I was mounting a pony to practice pony club games, ive never been on him before, and I was lengthening my stirrups, and he started bucking, he was just started to stop when "pop" i flew off. All that I hurt was my bottom, and my nose. Not a serious fall, I thot it was fubby afterwards.

Never think about falling off. Thats what happened to me, he was bucking and I was just sitting there, then im thinking "o my gosh! im gonna fall off!!" and what happened??? I FLEW OFF! lol

[Liz M]

I got to a point, eight months after starting to ride, where my friends were saying 'have you fallen off yet?' etc etc. They kept saying that it would happen eventually and that the fear of falling was worse than the fall itself. This did little but make me slightly anxious (probably as was intended!).

That very weekend I fell - sub consciously, I have decided, I made myself fall to see what it felt like. It was rather funny afterwards and I proved to myself that getting up in one piece is usual! It did shake my confidence slightly and my pride took a battering but I think it made me a better rider in the end!

Liz

[Serenitey]

We all have to fall off at some point so the way to look at it is like this.

If we went through life always worring about what might happen we would never do anything with our lives.

No point worring about the consequences just get out there and have fun.

[horselover4eva]

Horses and ponys are very good at knowing what u are thinking.

When I was learning to trot I kept saying to myself "I am gonna fall off" over and over again and I ended up falling off!!

So I think u should say in your head I can do this (or somin like that) over and over again and then you will b calmer-so your horse is calmer and i'tll b easier

My instructer also tells us to sing a slow song

It does work

good luck:) :D

[Mazpup]

I think your doing great - most people start riding when they're kids (as far as i know) and i think your doing a gr8 thing by starting - keep up the riding be confident, and believe me falling off doesn't actually hurt that much if you fall in a sand school!

[Ceraptor]

Everybody feels like they're going to fall off on their first trot. I was a horror the first time, gave all my teachers a headache. You should be allowed to hold on to the pommel of the saddle, and trot on a lunge line, so you can work out your balance without having to worry about controlling the horse. And just to lower your anciety on falling:

The level 1 Fall: This ussually happens when you're trotting or cantering and you just slide off. It doesn't hurt, just leaves you stunned for a few seconds.

The Level 2 Fall: This happens when a horse throws you off, trips, or shies away from something and the impact sends you flying through the air and then on the ground. A few bruises, a five-second gasp for air, and then a sheepish smile at your worried spectators and instructors. After a drink of water and a pats on the back, you should be fine.

That's all I've ever experienced from falling!