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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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