At 13:40:39 on 08.12.09, Flicka wrote:
I wondered how people cope with a fall when it happens to them. Do you get straight back on, have a laugh about it, or do you go over and over it in your mind? What are peoples tips for making sure you don't lose your confidence when you have a fall?

At 22:24:16 on 08.12.09, Em28 wrote:
I would say it's always best to stick to the rule of get straight back on (where possible), so you don't have time to think about it. I think this is good for the horse as much as the rider, as horses do seem to look a bit shocked when their rider ends up on the floor, well the majority do!

At 09:55:01 on 09.12.09, Chezage wrote:
I had a fall about three weeks ago. I got on my youngster off the mounting block as usual, and as he walked away from it and turned round to go out the yard. This weanling decided to run up and down in a corral rearing and squealing, well my horse, leapt up in the air , apparently about as high as a five bar gate, and I came off head first, straight down, I hit the floor, bounced off my head and landed on my bottom, very dazed and unable to speak, my horse took off down the track back to his field, he was terrified. The people on the yard called an ambulance and I was carted off to hospital, so I couldn't get back on at the time, but they thought I might have broken my neck, so I had to go. Fortunately I'm ok with just a slipped disc, but haven't had chance to get back on that horse yet, although I rode my older horae the weekend, and now can't wait to get back on my youngster, it was totally out of character for him and he was genuinely scared, because he wouldn't come back up to the yard afterwards. I am getting back on board this week. I think the normal rule of thumb would be to get back on straight away, which is what I did when I broke my leg, although didn't realise the leg was broken at the time obviously. I would have got back on this time if I hadn't gone to hosiptal, but I was worried about my neck, so thought it best to let them take me.

At 21:17:19 on 10.12.09, Em28 wrote:
Chezage, sounds like you are one tough cookie! Can't believe you managed to get back on when you had a broken leg! When I broke my leg I had to crawl around the floor! I hope your slipped disc isn't giving you too much pain.

At 21:30:36 on 27.12.09, eden wrote:
i had a bad fall off mi pony we were doing a 1m xountry corse as he jumped the wall he hit it with both frount feet he fell and landed on top of me. all i could remember was going into the ground and waking up in hospital. the vet wanted to put him down but no 1 gave permission. wen i got home from hospital about 2 weeks later he was in a full sling. they sayd he would be lucky to walk agen. just the tought of it was hart breaking. id came so far since i rescued him. the next mornin i walked out to the stables and he was standing on it over night the sling had been lowerd with in 8 months he was being riddin agen and showed at the end of the year

At 15:48:51 on 29.12.09, Natasha wrote:
I was always told to get straight back on. My pony is very sweet thoe... if you fall of on a high jump, he wont do it again to be on the safe side. He also stops dead when you fall of. Once i was jumping a very high 3ft - 4ft jump on my 13.2hh pony when my stirrup cane off i went flying into mid air and landed straight on the floor on my back just after the jump. Rocco my pony had just cane down from the jump and nearly didnt have time to stop. Luckily he stopped otherwise i would have got trampled! I got back on thoe and i dont no how i did it but i managed to get over the jump swiftly on the 4th time round! Id say get back on, except for if its realy bad of course!

At 21:47:55 on 16.04.10, lozzyhorselover wrote:
i would get back on, if possible, because really, if u are scared to get back on, just think the horse will be just as scared as you are. If you fell off because something spooked the horse, that will make it even more scared, expeccially if it is then scared at the same thing it was scared off when u fell off, if u fall of when the horse spooks, it may feel as if you are abandoning it, so if u fall off and it is possible to get back on, get back on, show ur horse that u r there for it by keeping ur legs firm if it starts to get nervous, tense, or scared and sort of forget it happpened hope this helps anyone who may loose their confidence, just remember, the horse will probably be scared aswell, and needs reasurance Lozzy.xx

At 20:53:30 on 20.04.10, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
Firstly i laugh at myself (i usually imagine how funny i looked and normally it doesn't hurt) i get back on if my hat isn't smashed and go again :), im lucky i don't mind falling off, if i fall i fall thats how i see it. It is gonna happen so i might as well just get on with it. Life is too short to be scared of trying things like jumping the fence one rung higher than normal or going for a flat out gallop up that big hill. Such a rush! Love risks :) as long as my horse isnt in danger obviously! haha

At 17:25:08 on 10.06.10, EmandBlueX wrote:
yeh i laugh at my self and then i look at my horse who always has a im sooo sorry look on her face and then i get back on if its a jump i put it down a bar to a height i know i can do so then when you succed you feel good and confident enough to put it back up again and remeber if u dont fall off your never going to beable to correct your mistakes and will never progress as a rider.

At 20:46:26 on 19.07.10, Natasha wrote:
The only time i havent got back on is when i was cantering and my 4yo bronked and i fell oof and she trampled me and my head hit the ground and i went all dizzy, so if i got back on i would have been cantering every wheere and probs fell of agen x