Yep. Yesterday I hit the dirt.
Hottest day of the year so far. The night before he was a gentleman in the arena behind the barn. I'm figuring on a nice quiet ride. What do I get? I mount up, start to walk off and he pulls his bronc moves on me. I rode out the first two bucks then he saw his friend, Sparky being brought in from turn out. He bucked up, humping his back, knocked me loose and over his shoulder I went. I grabbed his neck on the way down to slow the fall but I still hit the dirt. My left elbow is bruised and my sternum also feels pretty bruised. Broke my reins, too. There was a big dust spot on my helmet where my head hit the ground. Why anyone would ride without one is beyond me...
He trotted over to the arena wall and just stood watching Sparky. I was already on my feet walking over to get him when people came running to see if I was alright. I don't know if I was more pissed or hurt. And for the first time, actually a little hesitant about what I knew I had to do next, get my @$$ back up in the saddle.
Sparky's owner wanted to know if I wanted her to bring Sparky out for the lesson or go in the smaller arena. I said to bring him out. If he needed his equine "blanky" for me to get back on and do what I had to do, so be it. No use getting dumped twice.
I waited until they brought Sparky out to the arena, then got back on and rode for 40 minutes. And all was good and calm. No more bucking, no nonsense. But I was pretty taut for the whole ride. And I don't mean scared up and tight, just very, very much on guard up there.
Today, I think I'm too sore to ride and have my left arm and shoulder working if he tried anything again. I figure lunging under tack is a better way to go. I knew eventually I'd have to come off. It will happen but somehow I didn't think it would happen THIS quickly. Glad to have the first time over with but not looking for it to happen again anytime soon. I'm hoping this isn't something he pulls often.
And I had just gotten past the "new horse" jitters. I was really cautious riding him in the very beginning and was just starting to feel I had it together. Back to square one. Oh, green horses...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
11 comments:
Oh No...and it is a LONG way down from such a big boy. I am glad that for the most part you are okay. And so what if you needed Sparky to feel better? You need to do whatever it is you need to do in order to feel better. I don't blame you for not riding today, but I do think you need to get back on sooner rather then later...and what about doing it in a lesson. I know I always feel a little braver with someone giving me a nudge in the right direction.
Sorry you're sore - hope all feels better quickly! A pre-ride lunge is never a bad idea - sometimes it's good to know what you've got before you get on. And if he's having buddy separation issues, you might want to do some groundwork on that first rather than risking him having a meltdown with you aboard. You're right about green horses being a challenge! If you hit your head when you fell, you might want to consider replacing your helmet just to be safe (now I sound like somebody's mother, which I am!).
Uh-Oh--- something in the air I fear... Tracey bit the dust too, as did her daughter not too long ago. Be careful!!
Now take care of those bumps and lumps, but be SURE you Get Back Going!! (And should my turn come around, please give me a STERN talking to should I decide to be wimpy and get out of a ride.) ;)
Whhoooeee! I'm glad you didn't get seriously hurt, too. My first fall landed me in the hospital with surgery. And 4 months later I can finally walk without crutches.
But I can't wait to get back in the saddle again.
Horse obsessions.....sigh.
I hope Rugby is a good boy for you next time out. And yes. Thank God for helmets!
~Lisa
Oh, Phooey!! Trust me, I know how you feel, both bodywise and mentally. So sorry it happened.
Glad you were able to get back on and get a good ride. But it will put you "on guard" for a while yet.
My Tucker is a bit unpredictable...or at least he was. After I treated him for ulcers, he settled down quite a bit. If Rugby keeps up the erratic behavior, it might be something to consider. The "anxiety" of leaving his buddy could trigger the stomach acid and then....
Just something to think about.
If it's just "baby stuff" then all your good training and riding will work it out sooner than later.
Well at least you got it over with quickly. Now lets hope there isn't a repeat for a long time. Good luck.
It IS a long way down from a big boy like that!
So sorry sweetie, hope you get to feeling better!!!!
((((HUGS!))))
Hi, I just linked over from Horseypants and read your post. I am so sorry you took a spill, but I am happy you weren't seriously injured and that you were brave enough to get back on. A very similar thing happened to me - my girl just went silly one day and took me on a rodeo ride/bucking spree across the arena. I rode it for awhile, but lost my balace a little more with each hop. Finally, I bounced up and came back down on my head! (It is a long way to fly when you are bucked up and off of a 17 hand warmblood!) I had dirt down my shirt and down my pants and a big egg on my forehead. I also wear a helmet - always - despite being made fun of for it sometimes. Thank goodness! Just to realize that I was not invulnerable to falling off and that as an adult, it hurts a lot more than as a kid, made me more cautious in my riding for a few weeks. But, luckily, it was a fairly isolated incident. I hope it will be for you too.
Ouch! It's those unexpected moments that just reach out & grab you. Glad to hear you're okay!
Well now...let's hope all that nonsense is over and done with for a good long time. Glad you are alright. I'm praying it never happens to me again. I keep breaking when it does.
Sounds like you're on the mend, thank goodness! I came off in my lesson last night. No fun at all. Greenies are challenging, just might wear my XC vest when we start my 3 year old next month :)
Post a Comment