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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
  
| How bad was your worst fall?
Yesterday, I was racing and my new saddle's off-billet broke and I fell under Dee running to second. Luckily, my rubber bands snapped and I had a helmet on. Unfortunately, the saddle ended up in front of her, hanging by the breast collar, as she ran around the arena, and she almost got her legs over the saddle, which probably would've broke her leg. Luckily, we both walked away from it fine, and my saddle is still intact. But that was probably my most scary fall, not necessarily for me, but definitely for Dee. That was the closest to getting hurt that I've ever had her be. | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I have had my saddle slip under my horses belly, I stopped him and stepped off.
My question to you if this was a new saddle how did the billit break, as I would be talking to the saddle maker.
I also check all my leather each time I ride to ensure nothing has been damaged, as years ago I had my one billit cut, and goodness a dear friend over heard the culprit talking about what she had done, we were able to switch it out and prevented a wreck | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| cheryl makofka - 2014-03-16 7:27 PM
I have had my saddle slip under my horses belly, I stopped him and stepped off.
My question to you if this was a new saddle how did the billit break, as I would be talking to the saddle maker.
I also check all my leather each time I ride to ensure nothing has been damaged, as years ago I had my one billit cut, and goodness a dear friend over heard the culprit talking about what she had done, we were able to switch it out and prevented a wreck
It was a freak accident, it had had less than 5 rides and no wear at all. It was the leather strap that connects to the girth, but it broke the ring off the girth too. It just shredded into 3 pieces at the very top of it (not by the girth, by the saddle) | |
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 Expert
Posts: 3534
 
Location: Stuck in a cubicle having tropical thoughts | I have two falls that tie for worst.
1. Was at a barrel race on my 16hand free running, off the track gelding, who was booking it. He's a leftie so we turned the first. Got to the second and he either stumbled or stepped on himself and tripped himself because he ripped his front show off and he fell face first and wwent down. My right foot was still in the stirup pinned under him. He went down so hard and slide so far and it a friedn caught it all on video that all 4 of his legs we're about 3/4 in the air like he was trying to roll over. When he finally rolled back over, I got my foot free, got my legs loose and I tucked them under me and turned and protected my head and neck with my arms. He jumped up and took off out the arena. i the video, me tucking my legs under me saved him from stepping on me by fractions of a second. I ended up with a sprained ankle and I cracked the inside of my ankle bone. Very scary.
2. I was riding my 4YO at a friends indoor. Instead of lugging my saddle in and out, she told me I could just ride in her saddle which had aluminum stirrups with rubber grips. I ride in wooden stirrups. I had spurs on. I put my spur in her, smooched and was asking her to lope when the husband rolled open the big door to tell me that he was leaving, say goodnight and for me to turn the lights off. Well it all happened simultaniously and I had only loped her a few times. Well it scared her and she bucked. I went up and hit my tailbone on the saddle horn. Then I was on her neck. She bucked 2-3 more times before I hit the dirt on my butt. My left foot was stuck in the stirrup witht he rubber grip but I was sitting upright and still had both reins in my hands. The mare was terrified and tried to get away from me by running backwards but instead she was dragging me around on the ground, towards her, which scared her more. Luckily the husband came and got ahold of her and stopped her and got my foot out. My tailbone hurt for about 3 months to sit down and stand up. I had bruises all over me. and we were leaving for vacaion in Cabo 1.5 weeks later. It took me a very long time to get brave enough to lope her again, but she is now 8 and she's my favorite! | |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | FlyingHigh1454 - 2014-03-16 6:33 PM cheryl makofka - 2014-03-16 7:27 PM I have had my saddle slip under my horses belly, I stopped him and stepped off. My question to you if this was a new saddle how did the billit break, as I would be talking to the saddle maker. I also check all my leather each time I ride to ensure nothing has been damaged, as years ago I had my one billit cut, and goodness a dear friend over heard the culprit talking about what she had done, we were able to switch it out and prevented a wreck It was a freak accident, it had had less than 5 rides and no wear at all. It was the leather strap that connects to the girth, but it broke the ring off the girth too. It just shredded into 3 pieces at the very top of it (not by the girth, by the saddle )
Where ever you bought this saddle from since its new I would be taking it back to show them what had happen. Sounds like it has cheap leather and cinch on it. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | Not barrel racing related but my worst fall...
It was early June and I was about 2 hours into the back country on my big appendix gelding. He was known to be fairly quirky but had never done anything super stupid (looking back still not a good choice for mountain riding).
Anyways June at 10,000 feet it still wet and snowy, something spooked him and he reared up and over backwards on me. My head landed directly on a rock and knocked me unconscious. Thank God my mom was with me and grabbed him as soon as he got up, I don't remember the rest of that day but she got me off the mountain and to the nearest hospital.
I had a severe concussion and have permanent scarring in my brain from the trauma now, still get slightly dizzy sometimes and have migraines a lot, my short term memory suffered some as well.
That was the last time I got on a horse without a helmet and I'm sure it's saved my life more than a few times since then.
MORAL OF THE STORY BUY AND WEAR A HELMET! | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| Southtxponygirl - 2014-03-16 7:39 PM
FlyingHigh1454 - 2014-03-16 6:33 PM cheryl makofka - 2014-03-16 7:27 PM I have had my saddle slip under my horses belly, I stopped him and stepped off. My question to you if this was a new saddle how did the billit break, as I would be talking to the saddle maker. I also check all my leather each time I ride to ensure nothing has been damaged, as years ago I had my one billit cut, and goodness a dear friend over heard the culprit talking about what she had done, we were able to switch it out and prevented a wreck It was a freak accident, it had had less than 5 rides and no wear at all. It was the leather strap that connects to the girth, but it broke the ring off the girth too. It just shredded into 3 pieces at the very top of it (not by the girth, by the saddle )
Not the billet ring that broke, the part where the breast collet and tie down connected to broke, and I think that broke when she was kicking the snot out of it. We did tell him about it, and he is giving us a new piece for free, of better quality. It wasn't bad quality leather, but it wasn't perfect either.
Edited by FlyingHigh1454 2014-03-16 6:46 PM
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | FlyingHigh1454 - 2014-03-16 6:44 PM Southtxponygirl - 2014-03-16 7:39 PM FlyingHigh1454 - 2014-03-16 6:33 PM cheryl makofka - 2014-03-16 7:27 PM I have had my saddle slip under my horses belly, I stopped him and stepped off. My question to you if this was a new saddle how did the billit break, as I would be talking to the saddle maker. I also check all my leather each time I ride to ensure nothing has been damaged, as years ago I had my one billit cut, and goodness a dear friend over heard the culprit talking about what she had done, we were able to switch it out and prevented a wreck It was a freak accident, it had had less than 5 rides and no wear at all. It was the leather strap that connects to the girth, but it broke the ring off the girth too. It just shredded into 3 pieces at the very top of it (not by the girth, by the saddle ) Not the billet ring that broke, the part where the breast collet and tie down connected to broke, and I think that broke when she was kicking the snot out of it. We did tell him about it, and he is giving us a new piece for free, of better quality. It wasn't bad quality leather, but it wasn't perfect either.
Glad to hear that both you and your horse were ok  | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 927
Location: Iowa | My off billet broke on my new Martin Racer this last summer. I was just coming off of third when my saddle started to go. They said they don't use that style anymore and I must of received the old style. They sent me a new one that was alot better and a cap. lol. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| I also have two stories:
1: I was 16 and showed in the Open Working Hunters, which has fences set at 3'9" to 4'. Normally this was no problem for my horse and I, as we schooled at 4'3" at home, but I was sick with a cold and had taken some sudafed which made me light headed. No issue, my gelding was a former Grand Prix jumper, and a "packer" so I knew he would take care of me. He was 15 years old and had some arthritis...if you warmed him up slowly he would work out of it. My trainer said she "didn't want to deal with this" today, and injected him with something...which is also illegal. So we warmed up and as we entered the arena and approached the first fence I could feel that my horse was waiting for me to cue him to leave the ground instead of going on autopilot which he normally did if I was sick. As we went around the course some of our spots were horrible...we approached a large oxer (jump with poles and then width between them followed by more poles to make a "reach" for your horse.) We got to a really bad spot and he refused. I thought. From a dead stop he leaped straight into the air and came crashing down on top of the jump. It disintegrated around us, and I fell off right onto my neck. My horse was fine but we retired from jumping after that, I was also okay after several months of physical therapy and chiropractic work.
2: In 2012 I went to a playday, and as we rounded the 3rd barrel my horse cut in to crash into it. I went to correct her and grabbed the rein. She reared up, and with the slippery ground underneath the dry stuff (that's why she was insistent about cutting in...it was too slick) her leg went out from under her, she lost her balance, and she flipped over. As she's coming over on top of me, all I can see is the saddle horn and I remembered where Mary Burger fell and said that the horn busted her femoral artery without her knowing. I let my right foot out of the stirrup and tried to get free, but my left foot was still in the stirrup as she came over. Thankfully she only hit my lower right leg and the saddle was clear of me. I still have trouble going full speed, and the horse is fine to lope if that's what I ask for. I REALLY want to get over this since I bought myself a futurity colt for 2017. | |
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  Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | I had two.
First one was at 38 or so miles per hour at the 1/4 pole on the back of a Thoroughred. We both somersaulted. He never got back up. Enough said there.
Second one was at a barrel run, gelding stepped on himself on the way to the second and we somersaulted. Knocked me out cold, messed up a shoulder, horse tore half his heel off, but we were both ok. | |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Mine was last April. I was getting my horse legged up, and where I keep her there are country roads I ride either on or in the ditch next to them. This particular day I was on the road (not much traffic, so no worries that way) because there was water in the ditch, and a pheasant flew up right in front of us out of the cattails. We didn't see it coming at all, and we were going at a good trot. My horse went right and I kept going forward. All I could think of was get my feet free from the stirrups so I wouldn't be drug, and while I was thinking that my head hit the ground first. I was never knocked out, but I had a bad cut on my head and still have a scar and a bump there. My parents were with me so they got me to a doctor's office as quick as they could and I was and am fine. But now I wear a helmet almost every time I ride and sometimes I still hang on to my saddle horn when I ride by that spot. It was scary enough to make me a believer about how bad you can get hurt. | |
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Fire Ant Peddler
Posts: 2881
| I was showing a girl a horse that I had for sale at an arena. There was a big barrel race there but they were still doing exhibitions. I asked the filly to back up by lightly picking up the reins. The filly reared and feel over backwards with me. Fortunately, I was not hurt. I loaded here up in my farrier's wife's trailer and he took her to the killers. She had been ridden by two different people--the guy who broke her and my trainer. Both agreed that was a good decision. I am NOT going to get hurt on a horse and I am NOT selling a horse that someone can get hurt on either. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 902
Location: Qld Australia | I am NEVER getting back on a horse EVER.
OK I lied, but these stories are CHILLING!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs and prayers to all of you. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 509
| I have had my share of trips, slips, falls. Usually beginner horses, and nothing to serious. Usually scared everyone else a lot more than me A little over two weeks ago I went to a local barrel race on a horse that has never taken a bad step. Dirt didn't hold her and she went down. We have both been laid up since. She is doing really well. . . . me not so much. I had about every internal organ bruised and have separated ribs. Silly thing is looking at photos and video I stayed in the middle and back except for one lunge and that's where the saddle horn got me I guess. We went down, I jumped up to check her out and started walking her out of the arena. I didn't think I was hurt and it didn't even scare me. I started having trouble breathing. It just got worse and worse so I had a ct scan. Dr said it would be a while for me. | |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| Mine was on my current gelding. He was green on the pattern and hes very clumsy just in nature. he picked up the wrong lead into first. I attempted to stop and correct him. His back legs crossed one another in the midst of sitting down and he went overbackwards (he never reared, just the way he got his legs tangled caused him to go backwards). I fell off the back but somehow he twisted so when he landed, I was pinned at the waist by his chest. he had a leg on each side and his face in my face. I said WHOA! (didnt know what else to say). He literally stopped and relaxed all muscles.... only to have his shoulder blade pushing my knee cap farther an farther into the dirt. A friend came running and helped him move so I could get out. Had more whiplast than anything.
we were both okay and I still get nervous if he picks up the wrong lead into first and he's still not mastered switching it. | |
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| FlyingHigh1454 - 2014-03-16 6:33 PM
cheryl makofka - 2014-03-16 7:27 PM
I have had my saddle slip under my horses belly, I stopped him and stepped off.
My question to you if this was a new saddle how did the billit break, as I would be talking to the saddle maker.
I also check all my leather each time I ride to ensure nothing has been damaged, as years ago I had my one billit cut, and goodness a dear friend over heard the culprit talking about what she had done, we were able to switch it out and prevented a wreck
It was a freak accident, it had had less than 5 rides and no wear at all. It was the leather strap that connects to the girth, but it broke the ring off the girth too. It just shredded into 3 pieces at the very top of it (not by the girth, by the saddle )
************************************************************
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Take your saddle with you to the saddle shop and have them show you how to put an off b-I-l-l-e-t on that ends up being 2-3 leathers strong and the bends in the strap balances pressure in the entire strap. (ha ha ...for billit it did stocking stuffer.. lol)
Then buy you a roper mohair cinch with stainless steel buckles and tongues ... I have ridden these for years ... keep them washed and they last forever ....... note the square top of the cinch ring that equals the pressure across the cinch ring to the cinch ...
https://www.dmtack.com/products/11cr-dm-roper-cincha/
also note the saddle pictures of how to put a leather off billet on .... you can follow the picture and my instructions below to make sense out of it ......>>>>>
(( leather strap is put on upside down .... put leather loop equally thru the cinch ring ... run the doubled leather over the saddle D ring to the inside and bring it back down thru the cinch ring and stick the cinch ring tongue in whatever holes you need to have the length correct. ))
GOOD LUCK ...
Edited by BARRELHORSE USA 2014-03-17 2:49 AM
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | Wasn't even running a pattern... I was in the warm up arena at my local county fair. It was a bit slick, but no where else to warm up. Last thing I remember was asking him to pick up a lope. I have no recollection of what happened until I woke up with everyone standing over me (like in a cartoon LOL) looking down.
Apparently he slipped and went down, basically his hind end went completely out from under him. I was told when he was down I went off to the side (since there was no horse under me) and smacked my head on the hard ground. My horse thankfully was real careful not to step on me, got up and stopped at the arena fence. Some friends grabbed my horse and put him in their stall until my boyfriend at the time could load him up and run him home. (It wasn't far).
Because I was out cold for several minutes, the bicycle fair cops showed up, sirens on the bikes a blazin' LOL. They called an ambulance and they loaded me up and took me across the street. Some loud mouthed woman was telling everyone the horse rolled over on top of me and kicked me in the head to whomever would listen.... That did NOT happen, but it freaked all the EMT's out. That was a 500 dollar ride across the street to the hospital (literally). They kept me overnight, but it was just a mild concussion. It was quite the spectacle. I was totally "that girl" LOL. I had tried to get up and dust myself off, but of course everyone was afraid of spinal injury, so they strapped me to the board and put me in the ambulance.
I was so so mad. I had already paid for my poles class and it was my last year running in the youth! I was even madder when my folks wouldn't let me run the next day. GRRRRR | |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| I've had 3 memorable one.
1. I was 12 years old. I was running home from 3rd barrel. Pony who usually made a circle at the end decided to run to the gate. The saddle I was in (synthetic) slid back and flipped up, throwing me into the fence. I twisted around and hit back first on a Steel arena rail. I broke the steel rail. My spine still has blood deposits (bruising). We got that one on video.
2. I was 17. I was making a smoking run. Great first and flying into second. Well, I kept flying straight as my horse made the turn. Twisted around and landed on my hip, knocking it an inch higher than the other side. Still not sure how I managed to keep flying.
3. I was 28 or so. Coming into first barrel in a really deep pen. My horse planted his feet to turn first and they stayed planted. In slow motion our momentum rocked us forward and over. He layed down on his side, but I had to twist and lean forward to miss hitting the barrel with my body and head. He got up and my foot was caught in the stirrup. He stood there with me laying on my shoulders until I shook my foot loose, then he took off for the gate. Popped a rib out on that one. Worst pain ever.
Needless to say, my chiropractor and I have been friends for a LONG time! | |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 357
| I have two..
1. My 16 hand mare decided to duck the second and she was booking it. I lost my balance and was hanging on side, got back on then we were back in alley way and she dartes again at end of gate then I was back on the side came to next she cleaned me off with the wood post and metal gate. I broke the post in half with the side of my body. I went to get right back and could not breathe and had everyone yell stay on the ground. Get a couple of broken ribs out of the one. I also know better then to try to hang on I usually just let go. I never trusted that mare again.
2.First run back after about a year off having a baby. Smoked the first barrel, lost my stirrups and never thought a thing about it. Drove him across to second he dropped down to turn and had no balance at all. Thats pretty much all I remember until I woke back up on the way home almost under his belly and thought I needed to let go before I get back in gates. Well I knocked myself out again and woke up on back board in ambulance. From what people tell me I was all over the horse back on then off. Still really not sure what happen I think it may have had something to do with having a baby and breastfeeding.
Starting back this year a year after number 2 on a nice quiet chill horse. I just need a nice relaxed run. | |
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Veteran
Posts: 160
| I wasn't riding, but I still fell. Does that count?  Anyway, I had already taught two lessons and rode my colt and was getting ready to leave. Since I board, I don't have much say in where my horses get turned out. At the time, they were in a 25 acre pasture with about 15 other horses. Since it was late in the afternoon, the herd was gathered at the gate to ready to be fed and acting like fools. The dominant gelding in the group was a grade paint that is just a few nuggets short of a Happy Meal.. He really has something wrong with him, he's one of those who missed out on the self-preservation gene. That being said, I always made a point to keep an eye on him when I was in the pasture and run him off before I turned my horses out. I ran him off when I turned my gelding out that night, just like any night. But, I after I took my horse's halter off, my friend walked in to catch her mare that the crazy gelding is horribly herd bound to. I didn't think anything of it because I had checked over my shoulder and crazy gelding was happily grazing about 100 yards away. No big deal. I talked with my friend for a little bit while we were in the pasture and I started to follow her out when she headed to the barn with her mare. Well, with my gelding being the puppy dog that he is, saw me walking away and decided to follow. When he followed, he put himself between the crazy gelding and his favorite mare. As always, my geling had his nose right in the middle of my back, and we both had our backs turned to crazy gelding because crazy gelding was actually acting the opposite for once. Little did I know, crazy gelding had actually taken off from 100 yd to run my gelding off of his mare. The crazy paint gelding ended up plowing into my horse who, of course, bolted to get out of his way. When My horse took off, I was basically caught in the crossfire. My gelding's chest somehow caught me square in the back and he hit me so hard that I didn't have time to catch myself and my head broke my fall. After I fell, not only did my gelding step on me, crazy gelding ran over me too. I knew I had hit my head harder than I ever had in my entire life, but I didn't get knocked out so I thought I was fine. I jumped up with intentions of putting my colt out and heading home. All bets were off when I saw my friend almost pass out and tell me I was gushing blood and needed to go to the hospital. I had hit the ground so hard that I busted my eyebrow open and it, of course, was bleeding like no one's business. (Down the side of my face and all over my favorite shirt.) On the car ride to the ER was when my speech started to slur and my eyes stopped focusing on anything and I temporarily lost control of some fine motor skills. I ended the whole ordeal with a concussion, several stitches, and a lovely scar. I now watch my back anytime I'm in a pasture and I really just try to avoid ever going in a pen with the crazy gelding. | |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | Well I wasn't on a horse but I was feeding one.. one of my mares is witchy when feeding, she likes to try and bite the horses next to her. I was tired of it and was going to-IDK, do something- wave my hand at her, IDK.. but it involved me going from one side of the stall to the other with purpose. I forgot about the conveniently placed mineral block on the ground, that i tripped over and face planted in the stall..the dirty stall that hadn't been cleaned yet today…I have horse crap stains on my pants, through my pants, onto my knees… Apparently my hands have dirt so far deep in them no amount of washing has gotten the smell out. and I have a funeral to go to today, that I hope I do not smell like horse crap at.. | |
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 Too Skinny
Posts: 8009
Location: LA Lower Alabama | My fear is suffocating so my worst fall was the horse I was running didn't stop like normal, hit the gate with his chest and flipped onto me. I ended up ok but I just knew I wasn't going to be able to breathe at any moment because his butt had landed on my chest. Most recent accident that scared me was we were warming up and my mares front feet tripped up causing that forward falling/ catching / re falling run. I kept trying to get down when I realized the reins were around her leg but the momentum shoved the saddle into me trapping me. Once we got to the fence she slowed just enough to stand up and wanted to freak out because of the reins but I had just enough time to hop off and unclip them. I stood there shaking forever before I got the courage up to test her for soundness. Thankfully she was fine but I I still worry about tripping. | |
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Expert
Posts: 3147
| I was on the backside of the track pulling a horse up after a race. The horse suddenly decided to make a right hand turn to head back to the barns, jumped the rail and I landed on the road, flat on my back. I landed hard but flat-thought I broke my back, but didn't even knock the breath out of me. After laying there a few minutes and determining I could still feel and move everything I got up and finished the rest of the races. | |
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 Balance Beam and more...
Posts: 11511
Location: 31 lengths farms | Most memorable was went for a ride down the creek on my bay mare early one summer morning, had a 8 am softball game at a tournament I was playing in (probably had lost a game the night before...) Hopped on bareback and headed down the creek a few miles, looked at my watch and thought I better kind of hustle headed home. Took off loping then got to a stretch of really nice sand and let her open up a bit, all of a sudden I felt her struggle under me, pitched her her reins hoping she'd be able to get her balance, she didn't. She went head first, I started to stick out my right arm when I knew we were going down and somewhere in the back of my mind I remembered all the gymnastic training about not sticking out an arm and got it almost pulled back into my body, she basically did a forward roll with me still on her, I came off about the time she came back up to her feet. I remember being on her hips and then just coming off, actually to my feet somehow, but then buckled to my knees in pain. Started to panic but took a couple deep breathes, it hurt but I was able to hold my breath so I knew I hadn't punctured a lung at least, my arm hurt, my ribs hurt and my head hurt but I could walk. Found her about a half mile up the creek, checked her over and she had a few scrapes on her knees and her face. Tried to get back on and couldn't pull myself up so ended up walking her home, got her fed, walked in the house and my mom took one look at me and put me in the car and took me to the emergency room. 3rd degree separated shoulder, 3 broken ribs, tore the ligament that holds the scapula down when I injured the shoulder and fractured the orbital bone along with knocked out a tooth on the upper side of my face. For almost a year after I kind of healed up I had to bat and throw left handed when I played softball. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1118
Location: The South | I'm still healing from my worst fall. At the end of September I was riding my horse at home and I somehow hit my head really hard. I was riding alone so no one can tell me what happened. We're thinking he fell on his front end and I hit my head on his. My neighbor saw my horse in the pasture with the saddle on and knew something wasn't right so he drove over and found me laying in the pasture. He called the ambulance and I am still so grateful that he came home when he did! We don't know how long I was out there, probably between 2 and 3 hours. It would've been dark by the time my husband came home from dove hunting so there's no telling how long it would have taken him to find me in the dark. I ended up spending a week in the hospital and a week at inpatient rehab. The final diagnosis was a moderate traumatic brain injury. I didn't have any balance and I couldn't use the left side of my body very well, almost like I had a stroke or something. It was weird. And I had absolutely no short term memory whatsoever. It was so frustrating!!But I'm slowly getting better, I thought they were kidding when they said it'd be six months but I guess they were right! I have a helmet now and I plan on wearing it every time I ride from now on. It's pretty cute actually. I almost didn't live to see 30 and I plan on being more careful and I'm not allowed to ride by myself anymore :) | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1960
Location: NW Arkansas | My worst fall was September 2001. I had blown my right stirrup at the second barrel at a jackpot. As we ran out the gate my horse scotched on all four and made me a lawn dart. I broke my collar bone, sternum and ribs. I also had a concussion. I spent 4 days in the hospital and couldn't go back to teaching until almost Christmas. My husband tells funny stories about keeping me in a recliner doped up on pain pills and anti-nausea meds wearing his pajamas!
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Who Wants to Trade?
Posts: 4692
| I was riding a 3 year old, in an arena, at a walk. I was wearing a helmet. She tripped and we fell together. As she was trying to stand up, she scrambled. I was trying to sit up. She caught me in the face twice and then my tailbone. When she caught my face, she knocked me flat back and cracked my helmet down the back.
My face was mush, eyes were swollen shut almost instantly. I yelledfor someone to call 911 because thiswas bad. Through the grace of God I stayed awake the whole time. I was taken by ambulance to one hospital, they looked at me for less than 5 minutes and called life flight.
I was taken to BAMC where they rebuilt my entire face (literally broke every bone), fished 2 inches of nose out of my brain, repaired my dura, and did a great job all the way around! My TBI resulted in bad short term memory, extremely bad headaches, and a busted immune system.
This happened August of 2001.
Without a helmet, there is no way I would have lived. With a helmet it still took a lot of prayers and faith in God. | |
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I'll Be Your Huckleberry
Posts: 1488
Location: Arizona | kuhlmann - 2014-03-17 8:31 PM
I was riding a 3 year old, in an arena, at a walk. I was wearing a helmet. She tripped and we fell together. As she was trying to stand up, she scrambled. I was trying to sit up. She caught me in the face twice and then my tailbone. When she caught my face, she knocked me flat back and cracked my helmet down the back.
My face was mush, eyes were swollen shut almost instantly. I yelledfor someone to call 911 because thiswas bad. Through the grace of God I stayed awake the whole time. I was taken by ambulance to one hospital, they looked at me for less than 5 minutes and called life flight.
I was taken to BAMC where they rebuilt my entire face (literally broke every bone), fished 2 inches of nose out of my brain, repaired my dura, and did a great job all the way around! My TBI resulted in bad short term memory, extremely bad headaches, and a busted immune system.
This happened August of 2001.
Without a helmet, there is no way I would have lived. With a helmet it still took a lot of prayers and faith in God.
Your story is literally the one that gave me the push I needed to wear a helmet EVERY SINGLE TIME I'm on a horse for any reason. I remember reading it a few years back and ordering a new helmet that night. You never know what's going to happen even if you're doing something simple like you were. I could never forgive myself if my boy's had a mother who was a vegetable or worse no mother at all. The power of prayer is amazing and I'm so glad you are alright. Heavenly Father was watching over you that day for sure  | |
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Who Wants to Trade?
Posts: 4692
| MsDuchessGoTe - 2014-03-18 9:17 AM
kuhlmann - 2014-03-17 8:31 PM
I was riding a 3 year old, in an arena, at a walk. I was wearing a helmet. She tripped and we fell together. As she was trying to stand up, she scrambled. I was trying to sit up. She caught me in the face twice and then my tailbone. When she caught my face, she knocked me flat back and cracked my helmet down the back.
My face was mush, eyes were swollen shut almost instantly. I yelledfor someone to call 911 because thiswas bad. Through the grace of God I stayed awake the whole time. I was taken by ambulance to one hospital, they looked at me for less than 5 minutes and called life flight.
I was taken to BAMC where they rebuilt my entire face (literally broke every bone), fished 2 inches of nose out of my brain, repaired my dura, and did a great job all the way around! My TBI resulted in bad short term memory, extremely bad headaches, and a busted immune system.
This happened August of 2001.
Without a helmet, there is no way I would have lived. With a helmet it still took a lot of prayers and faith in God.
Your story is literally the one that gave me the push I needed to wear a helmet EVERY SINGLE TIME I'm on a horse for any reason. I remember reading it a few years back and ordering a new helmet that night. You never know what's going to happen even if you're doing something simple like you were. I could never forgive myself if my boy's had a mother who was a vegetable or worse no mother at all. The power of prayer is amazing and I'm so glad you are alright. Heavenly Father was watching over you that day for sure
I'm so glad!
I grew up showing and riding cutters. I NEVER wore a helmet! I happened to be working at a place that required it which is the only reason I had one on. Needless to say, I wear one now!
The horse I was on was one of the best babies ever, no spook, no buck, no anything, she was born an old soul! She was also super sure footed, we joked she was part mountain goat.
Accidents happen.
I also buckle my seatbelt in the car, but I'm crazy like that :-) | |
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 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | I have one that takes the cake.
I was starting a colt around the pattern for a client. I had been riding him about 45 days. He was cold backed, but never bucked after his initial fit. I had been exhibitioning and was on my last one. I was going into the 2nd barrel and leaned forward, at that time he lauched me (this horse could be on a NFR string in the eliminator pen). The saddle horn ripped open my butt cheek. I had to have a colostomy bag in for 4 months because of the damage.
I was lucky, but my riding and confidence took a HUGE hit.. I am just starting to be able to ride a right handed horse agressively again. | |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Had a gate sour horse rear up and fall backwards onto me. Saddle horn landed between my lower rib and hipbone. ICU for 3 days, regular hospital for 2. Ultimately bruised kidney and small intestine. Was out for 3 months.
Another wasn't bad, but it messed me up pretty bad. Was loping a young horse out in the field, she slipped and fell on her side, flailed around with my foot under her as she tried to get up. Messed my foot up really bad. I'm sure I tore some tendons. It took a full year for my foot/heel/Achilles' tendon to be completely normal again. | |
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![](<a href="http://s1191.photobucket.com/albums/z470/alicat0909/?action=view¤t=yellaandcalf.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1191.photobu) Heeler Hater
Posts: 3014
Location: Texas | My worst one was in 05. I was riding my gelsing down the road and some idiot flew past me in a car. My 4 yr old got scared rear up and slipped on the asphalt falling backwards into a 10 ft deep concrete culvert where people apparently thought it was a good odea to dump old barb wire. I kicked free and his head and neck landed on top of me amd then it was every man for himself. Scrambling legs went everywhere and we managed tl get oit woth kinor injuries. He needed a few stitches and a few adjustsments. In all honesty the barb wire saved us. It cushioned oir fall like an old spring bed. Best part of the story....a cop was sitting behind a tree and saw the whole thing and took him to jail. ha!
However my near death experience happened in australia. We were mustering cattle in a paddock that was riddled woth old mine shafts. Half the mob broke off and headed up a creek so o took off after them with another person when over the radio we heard my boyfriend at the had flipped the motorcycle. We wheeled our horses and were galloping back and I forgot about the mines. I was riding the ******* Whiskey....he ran up one of mounds of rock amd dirt then threw his entire body to the right avoiding a perfect horse sized mine shaft. Phew! Never more grateful for that horse! | |
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Worst Fall