4 weeks ago a loose dog chased my horse, she spun round (unbalancing me) then ran off along the road - I came off at speed and landed on my face. I have multiple (healing) facial fractures, plates in my jaw & will need quite a bit of dental treatment. I still feel I want to ride but am not sure how I will feel when it comes to it. I will give it at least another 2 weeks til the fractures have set before I even get to that point - but has anyone else had bad riding accident, did you ever ride again, and if so how did you feel & what helped to overcome any anxiety/fear when you restarted?
2006-12-12 21:16:32 · 23 answers · asked by jumpace321 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I was involved in a bad wreck while barrel racing a few years ago. I couldn't get my horse to stop before the gate running home from the third barrel. We slammed into the fence and I went over it tearing all the muscles in my left ankle and causing nerve damage in my neck when I hit the ground head first. The accident could have been much worse! It took me a really long time to get back on a horse. Not only did it take me a long time to physically heal but like you I wasn't sure if I wanted to get back on again. I found out that I just like horses and riding too much not to get back on. When I did get back on I was a nervous wreck. I had to remember to breath! I started riding again first in a round pen and then in an enclosed arena. I moved to more open space the more comfortable I got with riding again. If you don't have an enclosed space another idea is to have someone longe your horse while you ride at first. Know that there is nothing wrong with being scared to get back on but the only way to deal with the fear is to ride. Don't hurry. If you get back on and feel just sitting there is enough then get off and know that's it good start. Next time get on and sit for a while longer. Then walk. The more you get on and the more you ride the more your confidence will grow. That is what you need to get back! I am now riding as much as my injuries allow and have even got back into the ring and raced again. I hope this helps a little. Best wishes for a speedy recovery and remember to breath!
2006-12-12 22:03:45 · answer #1 · answered by Jackson 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Whilst your injuries are healing spend time with your horse, so that you still have the bond between you. The best thing is to try riding her again in a safe environment, ie and indoor school ,a manege or paddock, and have a reliable friend standing by to help if you have problems.
As you will not know until you start riding again, this will give you a safe re-introduction. Do this for a few times, and gradually increase the work you do then get back into cantering or jumping. If you find it difficult, then contact a local equestrian centre and explain the problems to them - they will be able to work out a programme with you so that you can restore your confidence. Hopefully your horse was fine, so if there is a confidence problem with her you can put her on a temporary loan or get someone to ride her whilst you have your confidence boosting lessons on a schoolmaster.
I had a few bad falls and experiences with horses, where I was quite badly injured, and had to go down the lessons route. This was successful, and I went on to complete some BHS exams and enjoy riding again. You will probably always be wary, but this needn't stop your enjoyment of the sport.
Good luck.
2006-12-13 07:19:11 · answer #2 · answered by debzc 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh gosh, I don't know how many times I've fallen, but majority of them were trying to train the horse I use for goat tying. Those get offs sure can make you trip. I actually haven't had that many bad accidents.. I haven't fallen off just riding too much either. I'm pretty lucky considering the crazy horse I use for barrels. Anyways, my worst accident happened when I was about 7. I was trying out a new horse (he was pretty big), and the ground was loose (at least I'm pretty sure that's what caused it-I was little, so I'm not sure). My horse reared up, kinda stumbled some. He fell before I couldn't do anything. And he didn't land on his feet. I spent that night in the E.R. All I ended up with was some pretty bad cuts and a bruised liver. It wasn't good, but it could've been worse.
2016-03-29 05:33:31 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I started riding when I was 3 years old and started with jumpers. So over hte years and especially when I got into 3 day eventing I have taken some pretty nasty falls and sustained some pretty serious injuries. Fortunately my trainers ALWAYS made me get right back up on the horse, no matter how bad I was injured. I had to once finish a cross country course with two borken wrists. The only time I did not get right back up on the horse was the times when I was knocked out cold. And those times after were the absolute scariest. Trust me the longer you wait the harder it is. Even the times that I did not do it right away the longer I waited the harder it was. There were two times I remember that because of severe injuries I waited and was scared to death. I had a trainer )who is an Olympic Rider who was tough has hell that was a strong force and I had my love of riding and horses to help. I used a horse that I had since I was 5, and was like a dog to be the first. I trusted him more than anything and it was a comfort to me. I also stayed in the indoor arena it seemed like a more safe and quiter area. All that combined helped me emotionally, and it took me a couple of times before I headed back into the jumping ring. Take it slow, use a horse you trust and remember how much you love to ride and your love of horses.
It is scary and nerve racking at first, but try to push that and the accident out of you head. The first times I rode after the accidents if I let myself my mind kept playing the falls over and over. But try not to let that happen. In time the fear fades, but my best advice ride as soon as you can. Even if it just once around the ring. I hope you recover quickly and are back in the saddle.
2006-12-13 08:26:41 · answer #4 · answered by TritanBear 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey firstly I hope you get better soon and feel a lot better - you ask about falls - well Ive been riding since before I could walk and in that time although I havent had many falls it seems anytime I do fall I come a cropper!!!
Injuries include a broken jaw/broken ribs/broken arms but the worst was where I fell and sustained a bad brain injury where I was in a coma for ages and left without quite a lot of brain cells! obviously Im fine now thank god but doctors did recommend I never rode again - but if you have horses in your blood - you'll find a way to overcome it. Naturally you're quite wary about getting back up again - but you need to think about how life would be without horses. For me when it came to getting back up on horses I didnt have an ounce on anxiety or fear - I think confidence comes with how long you've been around horses for and how willing you are to take a risk of another fall.
Horseriding is a high risk sport so you have to be willing to take the chance - every horserider will take a few serious falls throughout their career - but it really is just a matter of getting back up on the horse!
I wish you luck with regaining your confidence and with you all the best in the future! xx
2006-12-12 22:58:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It will be hard, and you will have to be brave. I know I girl that mounted a horse and was thrown into a pile of bricks, and a fence, smashing her face and arm in. She was back in a couple of weeks she returned, to find herself being pushed into the arena and watching the horse been lunged, and loose schooled before ridden by another girl, then lunging the horse herself. She then lunged it everyday and watched it being ridden and grooming etc., you really need to go for it, lunging will help you watch the horse move, in control and just keeping you calm. Loose schooling helps aswell. Then you can tackle getting on at your own pace, but make sure the horse is half worked on the lunge, as if it is not being ridden quite as much now then he may be a little excited, so keep lunging with a saddle, or finding a friend to ride him. Good luck, and don't worry, everyone falls, and you will get through it.
2006-12-13 06:30:47 · answer #6 · answered by Suzanne! 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great question! i'm laid up at the moment with my leg broke in 2 places but it's not the first time i've had quite a few hard knocks and a lot of broken bones..The first accident I had was a bad one involving a motorbike my horse spooked on the iron roads and sent me flying..It took me about a month before I got back in the saddle..i just started off gradually on an old trusty plodder..The adrenelin kicked in as soon as I got back in the saddle it made all the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and my heart was pounding but it was the best feeling i'd ever had knowing that i'd been through such an ordeal and come out of it ok made me even more determined to continue riding..It's easy for me to say this I know but try not to let the fear take control..Good luck I hope you make it
2006-12-13 21:44:20 · answer #7 · answered by . 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sorry about your accident. I've been riding over 50 yrs,training & showing for 40 so have had quite a few accidents. Thankfully none as serious as some described here.Several broken bones, severe cuts requiring many stitches, torn muscles,tendons & ligaments,etc. The scariest was when I was 16 & was competing in a speed race. I was the only girl running against all grown men in the Open Speed event and was the last one to run. As my horse made the turn to head out, he misstepped & started falling. I tried to jump clear & he tried to twist away but we both wound up in the same space & he landed on top of me.I was knocked out for quite awhile.The EMT's finally brought me round,said I had some broken ribs they knew of & had to go to hospital.Thankfully, only had a few broken ribs,bruised lungs,bruised spleen,bruised liver & major bruises on front & back. I was told not to ride for at least 8 weeks but I was back on my horse in 4 days (only walking around). I will say that from the day I got hurt til now, I still find myself tightening the reins when I get to that place in the arena. But, horses are in my blood & as long as I can get around, I will be riding a horse.
Please be sure you are completely well before you get back on a horse. I took a chance & was lucky (but stupid-I could have caused permanent damage). Best of luck to you & don't push riding again. You will know when you are ready.
2006-12-13 14:37:12 · answer #8 · answered by luvthesmokies 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the key here is when you get ready to start riding again to take it slow. If you are nervous and tense then the horse will pick up on it as well. Start right now and just go out and spend time with the horse brushing it when you first get ready to get in the saddle stay in the pasture and go slow, then venture out in the yard and then a little farther until you are comfortable. I have had more than one serious accident from riding one of which landed me in the hospital for almost two weeks with a broke back but I still love riding it just took time for me to trust it again. Back in May my 9 year old daughter was on her horse and it got spooked by a bee and she came off, the horse went over her and when it went to nip at the bee it bit her ear off we did the same thing with her got her back out there starting slow and now she is back to running barrels. Remember it was the horse you fell from but the dog that started it.
2006-12-13 00:47:35 · answer #9 · answered by Martha S 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i'm so sorry about your accident and i hope you heal quickly. i would wait until the dental work is done and totally healed. try grooming your horse a lot until then. it will give you time to bond more with your horse and you may feel more confident when it comes time to hop right back up on that horse.my old horse stepped on my foot and broke a few toes so it wasn't hard for me at all. i rode later that day. my situation is nothing compared to yours though. be confident, think of the good times that you've had riding. horses are very sensitive so they will know when you're nervous and it makes them nervous. take a can of pepper spray in case you run across another horse chasing dog.
2006-12-12 22:55:49 · answer #10 · answered by punkbun03 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋