Has anyone here ever been thrown off a horse or know someone who has, and if so?

Question

What were the circumstances, were you (or someone you know) injured and did your experience (or that of someone you know) change your (or their) attitude about horses, and do you (or they) still ride? Please do not include stories of professionals such as jockeys or rodeo people, but your own personal stories. Thanks.

I was on a family trip to the mountains when I was 15 when an Arabian thought a piece of barbwire was a snake; half of my family was thrown off our horses and the horses ran away - I narrowly escaped becoming paralyzed - I hit the ground about one inch from an outcropping of granite. It took us all afternoon to find them - we had to walk miles through a mosquito-infested marsh.

A year later my mother was thrown off and had a compression fracture of a vertebra (they thought it was a stroke at first). She could not walk for a year and I wound up having to wash her feet as she could not bend to reach them during that time. I have never been on a horse since as I cannot trust a horse with my life. My brother was "brushed" against a tree by a Shetland pony (the saddle went upside down and he was dragged like that for about 100 yards) and he feels the same. But yet I still love to watch the races.

IF you are a professional in the business you COULD tell me your story. I just meant I didn't want outsiders to tell about jockey spills, etc.

I wish to thank all of you equestrians for your excellent answers. However, the thoroughness of a lot of them has made it impossible for me to select a Best Answerer. I am, therefore, turning that over to, you, my comrades. Thanks again!

Answer 1

I've fallen off... i think 6 times... in the worst one, I didn't really get hurt... I actually was never hurt until the last time, but I still only needed stitches

1st - the girth just wasn't tight enough... we cantered 1 direction and I noticed it was slipping a little, but then we walked and trotted a little and I forgot about it. When we started to canter again, we took a couple of steps, I started to slip to the inside, so I put my weight to the outside and I slid all the way off. the scariest part was that the horse started bucking and rearing because the saddle was under his belly and I was lying on the ground. I was bruised, but alright.
2nd - the horse reared up - I was really still a beginner... I'd only been riding for a couple months and shouldn't have been on a thoroughbred of his caliber... there was this big puddle which he was trying to avoid and I was telling him to go back to the rail and he thought that I wanted him to go through the puddle so he reared up... I didn't understand the concept of leaning forward, so I fell off the back. again it was ok... after that the horse just stopped and stood with me.
3rd - I was taking lessons in Washington DC when I spent the summer there. I had only switched to English the semester before (about 4 months) and I wasn't too confident with cantering and I was really not good at keeping contact with the bit... well this horse, when she started cantering would pull down on the bit, then buck and start cantering. When she pulled, my body came forward, then when she bucked I flew off. That was probably my worst fall. But I was ok and I got right back on and we did some trotting over jumps.
4th - Last summer I was teaching lessons at a barn to little kids and I took one of the lesson horses out... he was the most energetic of the lesson horses and he loved jumping... but he was a little crazy about it. I hadn't jumped since the summer before (the day that I fell off actually) because I went back to school and they didn't teach us jumping there, and I desperately wanted to learn. I figured since he was the most energetic, he'd be the best (the others were really kinda old and didn't even like to canter). Everything was fine the first few times we went to the jump, but then I cantered around the ring, then up to the jump and he left like a stride early and I wasn't ready at all and I just came crashing down at his side. That was pretty bad... I landed on my head and bruised part of my back. The worst thing was that it was about 9 pm and there was no one at the barn, so I got scared and quit... I shouldn't have been jumping with no one around anyway.
5th - The barn I taught at pretty much gave me this awesome thoroughbred mare... she's only about 15 and she was supposed to be a dressage horse, but she couldn't do the better shows because of her back and leg problems, so her owner donated her to the barn. Then she had white line last winter and hadn't been ridden since before she was lame, so I got to retrain her for lessons. She's awesome... but this particular occassion her legs just buckled underneath her or something and her whole front just came down in the dirt... I kinda rolled off the side and wasn't hurt at all, but I was afraid that she was going to flip over and fall on me. I got right back on and we did a little jumping... no big deal.
6th - the most recent occasion was the only time I was ever really hurt... Actually when I hit the ground it knocked the wind out of me and I didn't even know I was bleeding until my instructor came over and told me and asked me where I wanted to go to the hospital. What happened was this. This was about the 3rd or 4th time I had jumped in a lesson. When I did jumps in the summer with my horse, they were always like 3-6 inches, but now I was jumping a foot. They gave me this really green horse who wiggled all over the place... we were supposed to jump a line and my instructor told me to hold her and make her go to the second jump, so I did, but we got a step away and she kinda dove out of the way of the jump, then decided to jump it anyway. I got over the jump just fine, but I was laying forward over her neck and she stopped and I couldn't sit back up, so my instructor told me to take my feet out, so I did, then I fell... I guess my chin hit the ground first, then my chest. So I cut open my chin and I guess there was blood everywhere... my clothes were pretty gross afterward. So I went to the hospital and got 7 stitches. -- The moral of the story: inexperienced riders don't mix with inexperienced horses. But you'd think my instructor would have understood that and had me ride a safer horse... She hasn't had me ride that horse since then, but I really shouldn't have ridden it that day. This really good 3-foot jumper girl rode her last week and had difficulty. There was no reason I should have been riding her on my 3rd jumping lesson.

As for my attitude... I always got back on because I love it, but I guess it affected me a little. The first few times didn't bother me much. The day I jumped at my barn with no one around shook me up a little bit. I landed on my head and was a little dizzy and realized that someone needed to be there at least to call the ambulance, so I didn't jump him again without anyone around. The last time when I got stitches didn't really change my opinion about riding or jumping, but I didn't really trust my instructor as much after that. I did get pretty cautious about jumping though... I'd still jump anything they asked me to, but I sat back a lot farther. It wasn't until this month that I started 2-pointing correctly over jumps... I spent 3 months getting told to get my butt more out of the saddle when I jump. But I've regained my confidence and jump 2 foot now, so it's no big deal anymore.


As for people I know...
My friend fell off once when the horse reared up, but I don't think she got hurt and I know she got back on.
I was teaching these girls in the summer (they were really small, but were 11) and this horse who is usually the safest in the barn, stopped and started hopping up and down (I guess it was sort of rearing and bucking but her feet left the ground only a couple inches so it didn't look like much). The girl was pretty scared, but they still ride.
I think the worst fall that ever happened to someone I know was this... this lady from my barn is about 55 and she's legally blind (she can see, but she's not allowed to drive or anything)... she's fallen off twice in recent years. The first time, she was jumping and was supposed to turn one direction afterward, but the horse turned the other way and she flew forward torward the wall and hit the beam, then hit the ground. She got back on, but she couldn't get back off of the horse... then she went to the hospital and found that she had a couple of cracked ribs. Once she healed, she came back and got back on, but she was always nervous to ride that horse. The second time, she was riding last month and I was teaching her on my horse. But my horse came around a corner way too fast so I told her to slow down and she picked up the reins and said easy, but my horse fell forward and came all the way down and the lady flew forward over the horses head and flipped over and hit the ground a few feet in front. She was still ok, but she went home and talked to her husband and they decided it's best if she doesn't ride anymore because one of these times she's not going to be as lucky and she'll get hurt and being older it'll be harder to heal.

I also know about this 12 year old girl who was jumping her horse in a show and the horse flipped over the jump and landed on her and she died.

As for me... I'll ride until I'm physically unable to ride anymore. I love it and I don't care what I break. But that's probably easier to say since i'm young and haven't ever been seriously hurt.


oh, i just remembered... this very little girl (I think she's like 7) was riding her pony who still had her foal with her and the dogs at the barn love to chase the foal and they got into the ring and were chasing it around and something scared the pony and she started cantering around and the little girl fell off and got her foot caught in the stirrup and she got drug all the way around the ring on her back with her foot in the stirrup. That was pretty scary to watch and the little girl was really scared and she doesn't like to ride anymore. If that happened to me, I might not want to ride anymore. It was pretty awful.

Answer 2

The best thing to do is to start from 'scratch'. Take riding lessons as though your were never on a horse and take you time about developing your equestrian/riding skills.

People have been bitten by dogs and yet they don't all fear dogs. To fall down or be injured by an animal is nothing new. it happens all of the time. The trick is to get back in action at a comfortable level and understand the nature and habits of the animal. Do not assume anything when handling or riding a horse. Horses are jealous, playful and dangerous animals and will offer a friendly bite which could be very hurtful and/or harmful to a human being.

Remember, horses are vegetarians and will not bite and tear the flesh as a lion or tiger would. But, a friendly bite from a 14 hundred pound warm-blood could be serious. After you have been injured by a horse, as I have been injured on numerous occasions from owning a thoroughbred, you get to respect the horse and more importantly, you respect his needs and habits.

A word of advise. When cleaning out a back hoof, do not have a carrot in your back pocket. If the hungry horse tries to bite the carrot and misses.....oowwww!

Answer 3

Walter,

Ya ya...happened to me.

Scenario...Early spring, in western Tennessee. Not my horse, but a "trail horse" for hire. Everything was going well, was more or less sticking to trails, detour every once in a while, if I saw something interesting...and didn't stray too far. Been riding about 2 hours, was on an established trail...was down to a slow walk...something spooked the horse, couldn't tell ya what it was. She reared up when I wasn't expecting it, and over the a s s end I go, and hit my head on a rock...not real hard, but saw stars nonetheless. She took off, and after I dusted myself off, walked down the trail...caught up with her about 10 minutes later. She seemed calmed down enough to mount, and did so successfully. Took her back to the handlers and told 'em what happened...

I still love riding, and this little incident wasn't going to change that. I know that folks occasionally get serious injuries and even die due to horse-related incidents, but I can't help but think that some of that is due to a lack of training or somehow instigated...perhaps riding beyond their skill level.

Added later,

Man, sorry to hear about what happened to your family, especially your Mom. Sometimes there ain't no tellin' what makes a horse do what it does. Many say a horse is dangerous on either end and uncomfortable in the middle...to be such a strong, noble animal, seems a pity that simple colic can kill 'em. Given your circumstances, I can't say I blame you for not wanting to go near them.

Answer 4

In 1988, I was at camp with some of my college friends. We went horseback riding, and I got this horse that was known to be a little wild, but they didn't bother to tell me. Well, my horse took off from the path they were following, and was getting a little wild. I wasn't exactly thrown, but I grabbed onto a fence because it wasn't moving and the horse was. (made sense at the time) I just scrapped up a couple of fingers and was stiff for a few days. They made me get back on a horse again right away to ride back to the camp.. I was shaking the entire time (and I'm not a habitual shaker) because they said I'd never get on another horse again if I didn't. I think the ride back is what caused me to never get on another horse again.

Answer 5

Hi. I am an adult rider that shows in competition. I am 26 and have been around and ridden quite a few horses. I show my gelding and a 16.1 sorrel mare in competition. I went with my trainer downstate to look at a horse that was "world show quality." The sire was Congress champ and the whole works. Well, I was going to buy her that day if I liked her. Well, my trainer rode her and loved her. I rode her after for about 20 minutes. I was finishing up with her and the check was pretty much signed. I was loping her around the backside of the owner's huge arena. Her dog came bursting into the arena, getting under the horse's legs. She almost fell over, took a very huge lunge to the left side. All of this at the lope....I went off while trying to get her head pulled around to stop her. I fell on the point of my shoulder and crushed my collar bone. Not just broke....splinters and all. It shortened my shoulder by over an inch and a half. I had to have two surgeries, a rod placed to hold the bone together, screws and lots of surgicle wire to keep most of the bone fragments from chipping off more......ouch. This was April of 2005. I took that show season off, of course. I went back to riding my own gelding around 6 months after my accident. I resumed showing in 2006. Just goes to show that there are no limits to accidents. It doesn't only happen to beginners.

Answer 6

I have fallen off several times,both on the trail and in the lesson ring.The worst was on the trail, when they didn't tighten my girth enough.We were galloping across a field and the saddle slid under the horses belly.I fell hard on my side.My ribs hurt for 3 months.Another bad one was when a horse bucked me over his head and I landed in a heap.The breath was knocked out of me and I couldn't move.My muscles were in spasm and that lasted 3 or 4 hours.I was lucky that nothing was broken.The hospital took xrays.I couldn't get back on the horse that day,but I usually do get back on.Every fall has shaken my confidence a bit,but I still ride.

Answer 7

I've hit the ground a few times but I've only been 'thrown' twice. The first time I was warming up a young horse for a dressage competition. He was over excited by the atmosphere at the competition and bronked like a rodeo! I dislocated my right shoulder and damaged my clavical. I put my shoulder back, on the way to hospital. The Doctor who treated me was surprised at my lack of tears and my determination to get back in the saddle as soon as possible. I had to wear a sling for a couple of weeks, but I rode my own horse from two days after the fall (one handed).
The second time I was thrown, my sports horse bucked me off when a pony galloped up behind him unexpectedly whilst hacking out. I was under Doctors orders not to ride due to an injury to my spine (unrelated to horses) at the time. I was badly bruised and got a severe talking to from my physio.
I've also broken most of my ribs and had a fractured skull in accidents relating to horses. I've worked in the horse industry from 16 years old and studied equine science at University. My very first ride was on a donkey, at the beach, which took off with me and I ended up with my leg hooked over the saddle and my arm around it's neck while we galloped up the beach. It didn't put me off though!
My consultant gave me the option to give up riding and still be able to walk, or continue riding for the next twelve months and face the prospect of ending up in a wheelchair. I choose to ride. I think I could give up breathing oxygen easier than giving up horses (I rode from 5 years old, and I'm 33 this year)!...

Answer 8

I'm 15. I've been riding for 2 years and about a year ago I was riding a horse that just took off with me. I blacked out, and couldn't remember how I wound up where I was sitting. My friend told me, "Well, you started to stand up but then you kinda fell over so our instructor ran over and caught you and walked you over to the fence." It was the first time I had ever fallen off. Twenty four hours later, my wrist was still swelling up. We went to the doctor, who sent me for xrays. They told me they saw a small fracture or something between my thumb and my index finger but it didn't hurt there so they didn't do anything. To this day I still have issues with it, and I swear its just like old ladies saying they can feel the weather coming. (It gets really bad with snow and rain!)

Answer 9

Several times..Once I sprained every bone in my body.Bee stung her on the rump...I wound up on the ground.Crawled on hands and knees for 6 weeks.
Once, I was running barrels in a 4-H fun show,droped the rains going into the timer,Slid off horse trying to get rains back.Was out for 4 hours.Woke up in hospital seeing 5 of everything.

No,it didn't do anything to deture me away from horses...I'm 49 and still have one...Love her and if something happened to her I'd get another one...

There is nothing better than having as good a friend as a horse.

Answer 10

we were trail riding when one of the horses(there were about 8 of us riding together)stepped on a wasps nest that was on a log in the high grass.all the horses bucked us off.it happened quickly,luckily no one was injured,except for stings on horses and riders.no,it didnt change my attitude.life is risk.driving,planes,swimming-everything involves risk.i have several friends who died young in various non-horse related accidents,so if riding makes me happy,i may as well keep up with it.i dont jump,and take reasonable safety precautions.of course,anything can happen,but on the whole,i feel safer on a horse than i do in a car,with all the crazy drivers and horrible traffic around here!sorry ur family has had so much hard luck with riding,i can understand ur reluctance.it was a bad car accident that put me off cars-i only drive if absolutely necessary,and i walk or take a bus to work!so ,i feel about cars the way you do about horses.

Answer 11

Everyone who has ever ridden has had at least one fall in their life. Sometimes it's the horse, yes, but most often, it's the RIDER who is at fault. I was in a fall when I was a teenager, and no, it hasn't stopped me from riding or enjoying horses. Most of our Olympic team members have had falls at one time or another- and it rarely, if ever, stops them from continuing to ride. I have even met a couple of them, and they continue to ride even after getting hurt, because for them it's a way of life. It is for me, as well- I can't imagine a world where I couldn't ride. Falls and injuries are part of the sport- I have never heard of a case where a football player refused to play after getting hurt, except in situations where the injuries were life-threatening. Pain is part of life- it's how you handle it that determines your attitude towards a certain sport or activity.