Hi fellow horse people!!! I just found this site and have enjoyed reading everything!! I wanted to share the story of my accident and see if there was anyone else out there that could possibly relate and share their story with me.
On September 22nd 2007 my horse and I had a very eventful day. My husband and some friends and I were camping in Troy, Alabama. We were riding on a very mild trail when my TWH, Lady, tripped on a root and fell on me. My husband was with me and saw the whole thing happen. He said we fell and neither of us moved. When they finally got Lady up off of me my foot was still in the stirrup. Needless to say, I never even came out of the saddle!! Lady was so good. She did everything that was asked of her.
This fall knocked me unconscience as I don't remember any of it even to this day. Fortunately she fell on the lower part of the left side of my body. My left leg was underneath her but did not break.
I did suffer from minor head injuries which included bleeding on the brain (I didn't have on my helmet). I also cracked three ribs which punctured my lung and caused it to collapse. I was ambulanced to a nearby hospital in which they couldn't treat my injuries so they ambulanced me to UAB in Birmingham. After a 10 day stay, one surgery, and two chest tubes later (they had trouble keeping my lungs inflated on their own) I was released to go home.
I actually had my first ride a few weeks ago on Lady, the horse I had the accident on. I wore my helmet and rode very slowly. I was a bit nervous at first as I said I'd never ride again (the pain was horrible!!), but the fever and the desire to ride my girl has grown stronger every day. Now, I can't stay away. I have to ride her.
My husband is having a hard time with me going riding again. I don't think I realized how much that man loved me till this accident, however, he understands my love of horses and has come to terms and is accepting it.
I'm still having a hard time as when I think about going riding, especially on her, I get almost sick at my stomach. I have ridden my whole life and owned my own horses for 10 years. I've never had a major accident like this one. She's a good girl as she hadn't been ridden since the day of the accident till I rode her a few weeks ago. She was a bit onery at first but she came around. Will someone please tell me this get better? I have always been about speed and moving along. The thought of that makes me nervous now........Any advice out there???
She will most likely get better, she is probably kind of like you right now. Feels a bit wierd after the break (she might have just liked being lazy) but the more you set a schedule and follow it she will get back to normal, just start off slow and work until your comfortable, but make sure you have a ground person just for a little help if needed. GOOD LUCK! =]
OHH and don't let her get away with anything naughty! Make her stay focused on what YOU would like her to do, don't punish her but comfort her into being more comfortable which will make her better to ride. If you punish her she might become fearful and act out cause of fear. Just some things to keep it mind!
I fell off my mare when a truck didn't slow or move over while going up a short strip of road last Feb. Broke 3 ribs. As soon as I could I started trail riding again. I still get nervous near cars/roads because we have to use these areas to get to trails. I don't blame my mare. She just reacted to that idiot something she never done before. I will always be more cautious but I refuse to allow it to rob me of my love of my horses and our retirement hobby. I now wear a helmet too. I remember worring in split sec about my head. My husband was behind me and saw it but has been supportive. Accidents happen in cars motorcycles bikes even in your home. Hope this helps. lgrides
I had a freak accident last summer when my mare reared and wiped out a mailbox. The mailbox hung in my jeans and ripped my leg from knee to just above my boot. The scar is a dandy! When a horse suddenly does something unexpected it makes you a bit scared. I have ridden for years and years and I never let my guard down neither should you. Be careful and make sure she does not get in the habit of stumbling.
It does get better, a little with each ride, a little more confidence each time you go out. In the spring of 2007 I was out riding with my family, I'm the horsehead and my hubby and daughter tolerate my passion but they do ride with me sometimes. Don't ask me why but when I saddled my gelding his bridle didn't look right. Each of my horses has their own bridles so I know it wasn't used on anyone else, but not thinking I adjusted it. We'd been out for about 1 hour, he had been acting weird all morning and I just put it off to spring fever, when Coty decided he didn't want to cross a small creek on the trail. okay he wanted to jump it and I wanted him to walk over it. During our 'discussion' Coty rabbit hopped up and I corrected him, he then proceeded to back up shaking his head, again I corrected him. My brain must not have been working because this is not normal behavior for him and I should have connected the dots between his shaking his head and me adjusting his bridle. Coty has always been softed mouthed and I ride with a very gentle hand. During his backing trip I was paying attention to his head and not where his butt was, he rabbit hopped again and I felt his hind quarters start to sink and his front end coming up and over. As I am looking around everything went into slow motion and I could see my daughter and husbands eyes where about dollar size. All I remember saying as he was going over was "this is not where I want to be!" When he backed up he put us in the trees and there was no way to dismount. I curled up jockey style, took my feet out of the stirrups and shifted to my left to make sure the horn wasn't going to hit my breast bone and we went over into the creek (I didn't end up on top!) Cody stood up immediately and stood there shaking like a leaf. I could tell this is not what he meant to do he was trying to tell me something and I wasn't listening. He let me pull myself up by the stirrup and rest against his side while my husband ran back to our barn and got the 4wheeler. He stood there like a rock while I assessed how bad I was hurt and then I rode the 4wheeler sidesaddle back to the barn and my husband rode Coty for the 1st time. Coty was so scared I think he tiptoed the whole way back. He wouldn't leave the 4wheeler, he wanted to follow me. I ended up with many bruises and by the grace of God only a couple of small hairline fractures. The first time I got back on Coty (I have owned and raised this colt since he was 4 mo. old, he is now 10 and yes I 'un-adjusted' his headstall) I was scared silly. I took it in small steps until I felt more comfortable. I am like you, speed demon and rough rider but until you get your 'saddle' legs back underneath you slow & steady will be awesome. You mentioned that she tripped, does she do that often? Could she have been tired or do you think it was just a freak accident? You will get back to where you where, one step at a time! Good luck.
Hi! I'm glad you've started riding again. Getting back on after a bad fall is hard, but if its something you love you'll do it. People always ask me why I keep getting back on and I just look at them and ask them why they continue to drive their car everyday after they've been in an accident. Most people don't have an answer to my return question.
In the past two years I have been in two bad accidents, two years ago I broke my ankle (shattered fibula, broken tibia and a dislocated foot) that required surgery, three pins and steel plate. I got back on the day my cast came off. I had been riding an ISH and working on jumping (eventing is my passion, so I understand the need for speed!) The first day I got back on, I rode a 10 hand 30 year old pony. It was great because I had no fear of falling off (what could happen, the ground was only inches away!) So I started off slow and with help from my riding instructor go back to where I was in only a few months. It does take time though!
This past year I came off a young horse I was working with. I was dismounting (yup, something as simple and ordinary as that) and he spooked, throwing me off balance. I somersaulted over his head and landed on mine. I was wearing my helmet and that was what saved me. Instead of a fatal injury, the impact traveled through my spine to my 1st Lumbar vertabra causing a burst fracture and spinal cord trauma. This time I was life flighted to the hospital and in surgury within 5 hours. I couldn't feel/move anything from the hips down. Long story short, I now have two pins in my spine and "metal" vertebra holding me together. I"ve regained the majority of feeling and movement in my legs and after 8 excruiating months I am back in the saddle.
I'm riding my 28 year old arab mare who takes care of me like no-bodies business. But still taking it slow. I am focussing on riding dressage at the moment, but have every intention of returning to eventing and competing successfully. I have always been a proponent of wearing a helmet and continue to do so, I also am currently wearing a safety vest whenever I ride.
Horse are dangerous, so is your car, outdated food in your fridge and walking down an uneven sidewalk. Ride because you love it and be as safe as possible. Things happen that we can't control, no matter what steps we take to prevent them.
It may take time, but keep at it! I'm glad you're riding again, its a wonderful feeling. :)
Thank you guys so much for your replies!! I got chills reading your stories!! I've had Lady close to a year and a half now. She has been extremely sure footed. I don't recall her ever taking a major trip. Believe me that's what has gone though my head as I thought back but all I can think of is how she's always kept me safe. I will, however, be very conscience of it on the next few rides to be sure!! My understanding is that the root she tripped over was a HUGE root and a very bad spot, but, like I said I'll be sure to watch and pay attention to make sure that's all it was. I'm glad to hear you guys have recovered from your accidents and have gotten back in the saddle. I appreciate the words of encouragement!! Anyway - happy trails!! :)
I had a bad accident on a young mare in 03. I went back to riding my older mare, then started having accidents (less severe) while riding her too. Thinking that I should just "buck up" & go on! Not!
I'm lucky enough to have a good friend & mentor who's a Vet & Thoroughbred man. He took me under his "wing" making me ride every horse on his farm & taking me OUT of my comfort zone every day. He did put me in a saddle with a secure seat. Of cours in the meantime I'd bought yet another young mare! After almost a years work, I was able to overcome my fear & again find the "fun" in riding. It's not easy -- & professional help really does Help! As my mentor said; "If you can't throw a leg over a horse & have fun doing it... then it's time to QUIT!" Good Luck! Connie
Hi, I read your post and I understand. I was hurt also this summer. Not as badly as you, but I broke a few ribs and it was the most excruciating pain I've ever felt. I have 9 horses at the moment. Last year I had 11. Horses are more than a passion for me, they are an important part of who I am. Giving up my horses and riding would be like loosing part of me. One of the most beautiful feelings in the world comes from being on the back of a horse.
The first time I got back on after I broke my ribs, the horse I got on wasn't in her most cooperative mood. She just didn't want to leave the barn! When I got her calmed down and made sure she understood we were going riding, I was shaking all over! I'd never really had that feeling before. The feeling scared me more than the horse. It happened again when I got on the horse I originally fell off ofm a young gelding, and again on Monster! That shocked me! Monster is 17 and the love of my life. I've had him 10 years and he's never been a difficult horse. He's not a dead head, he's spunky but not uncontrolable. And he wasn't that day. He just hadn't been ridden in a while and hwen he is, he's used to really riding when I ride him. We ride for hours on end, we swim in the river and the lake, we ride in parades.
Anyway, I got mad. I was mad because I refused to be afraid of an animal I'd never been afraid of in my life! I train them, I love them, I respect them. I know they can hurt us, but I had to remember that I knew how to ride them and get over that fear. I was more afraid I'd never be able to ride again the way I loved to and that was worth fighting for.
When I got hurt and other times when I've gotten hurt but no so bad, my husband worries too. What he knows though, is that i'm a very good rider and when he saw me get scared, he encouraged me instead of cuddling me! He told me he'd seen me ride horses that made these look like kittens, and I'd actually done better than I thought. He didn't mention how bad my hands were shaking, or say anything at all when he actually led the gelding for me half way across the field! He didn't push it, or fuss over me. Just every day, even when we didn't have a lot of time to really ride, he'd ask if I was riding today. He say we'll if you're gonna ride you got about 15 minutes....or ten...or something. He knew I wouldn't say no, and I think he knew those little ones worked me right back into the biggger ones. Sometimes I just hop on while they're eating and a lay there with my arms around them.
I'm 42 and I"ve been riding my entire life. I don't plan to stop now!
I think you'll do fine. It sounds like you want it badly enough, so even if you just jump on bareback and ride for 5 minutes (which i did and still do a lot of when I'm pressed for tiem), you're 5 minutes closer to being all the way back with all your confindence!
The way I look at things after a fall is that the odds are with me, that it won't happen again, or at least not for a while (since I jump, I know it will happen again). You said that this was the first serious accident that you have ever had, so the odds are pretty good that it will never happen again, so hopefully that gives you a little bit of confidence. As far as her behavior, she will feed off of you. If you are nervous, she will be nervous too, so you need to try to relax. I rode scared for almost a year, I was petrified everytime I had to go out there and mount my horse, but I knew it was something I wanted to continue to do, so I kept at it, and it finally passed, I am more confident than ever, and it so nice not to ride scared, I'm so glad I stuck it out.
Horselover0302, Your story was a good wake up call for me, thank you so much for sharing. I am going to buy a helmet. I felt so sad after reading your story because riding is my passion too and it would be so awful to have fear associated with it. I guess that working through things makes us stronger and better at what we do. Don't give up on Lady, they all have kinks to get out after not being ridden for awhile. It sounds like it was an honest stumble and that you have many fun years of riding ahead of both of you. I suggest visualizing the good rides and the positive experiences with Lady and go about getting back on in a strong, positive space EVERY time. Believe that it will be a good day. Don't push it until you are comfortable, baby steps. I bet it will all come back faster than you think. So much about riding is just having a pure, gentle heart. If you can be confident and breathe she will too.
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