And Today It Was My Turn to Fall Off
Posted by Mikki on Jan 07 2008 at 09:54 pm | Tagged as: Riding
I guess it’s my punishment for laughing at the Kid when he fell off Sinbad yesterday. Yes, I did laugh - does that make me a horrible mom? I wouldn’t have thought it was funny if he got hurt, of course. But he didn’t, and it was. Funny, that is. But those things sometimes have a way of coming back to bite you. Kharma?
The weather was just so nice today - 71°F! - that we couldn’t resist saddling up two horses for a short lunchtime ride. Actually, I did all the saddling while Bill worked, to maximize our riding time. (Again, no pictures of the new tack! Sorry!) When they were all ready to go, Bill came up to the barn and off we went. We started out by heading away from the house, down a hill, toward the road like we always do. When we got to the road, we decided to go back and ride in our pasture. I tried to turn Valentine around and cross a shallow ditch. Normally, he doesn’t care a bit about crossing anything - water, logs, rocks, whatever - but he took issue with that little ditch. He stopped dead right before it, with his body sloping way down, and I just couldn’t hang on. Over I went. I was able to wrap my arms around his neck on the way down, so I landed on my feet and was unhurt. Then I thought, “Dang! How am I gonna get back up on this giant horse again?” Because that’s always my first concern when I think I’m coming off my horse. He’s really tall, and I’m really short - you can kind of see that in the photo. I have to use a mounting block. Luckily, there was a convenient stump nearby.
Then, out in the pasture, he got all squirrelly again. Neither he nor Sinbad were in the mood for riding, apparently. They both very much wanted to go back to the barn, and put a lot of effort into getting there. We rode around a little bit, despite their wishes, and when I finally turned back toward the barn, Valentine did a funny little sideways turn (he may have spooked a little bit) and nearly came out from under me. I managed to stay on that time, but I whacked my right ring finger on the saddle horn. The end of it is a lovely shade of purple.
So, not the pleasant little ride we were hoping for, but it sure was exciting! Maybe we’ll do it again tomorrow, if it doesn’t rain.
Glad to hear that you’re still getting out for riding, especially in the good weather.
Sorry you fell though. Hope the finger feels better quickly.
I have just connected with your website…it is so fun and helpful. I am getting my first horse this spring. I, too, have taken a fall of sorts. I didn’t saddle this horse, but it was obviously slipping. I kept holding on to fell on the ground. I was pretty sore and after three went to the doctor and he said I broke my ribs! Even after the fall, my friend and I galloped that day so the “fear factor” was addressed! You either love horses or you don’t I think!
What state are you in? We live in Arizona in a very horsey town! It’s great!
Thanks for your clever, informative, and humorous site!
Kate
The great thing about each time we make it through an ‘exciting experience’ with our horses is if it doesn’t scare you away from them, it makes you more confident because you survived! lol At least that’s how it feels for me.
I’ve never actually fallen off a horse, but my girl Raiah spooked twice while I was on her last summer. I’m not real confident in my riding yet (had an 18 year break to have kids) so making it through those two spook episodes really boosted my confidence!
Like they say, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger!
I think you need your daddy there. Not to tell you how to ride as he is a complete novice, but to catch you. Maybe even to have a little talk with Valentine.
Signed;
Daddy
Exciting rides always produce the best stories.
But glad to hear that you didn’t injure yourself (save the finger of course). I know the first time I fell off a horse, it took a long time for me to get back on. Kudos to you for getting back on right away!
PS I’ve also newly discovered your website! Fabulous!
I have never fallen off a horse before, but I have been on a horse that spooks all the time! Alot of the people in my riding class have fallen off before though. I probably am going to have my first fall someday!