I almost made it a whole year before coming off of Denali. That "winning" streak ended yesterday. :( We were working on lateral work all night, and the guy who owns the barn started cutting grass. A rock SOME HOW managed to make it onto the top of the arena. (My mistake, I should have gotten off and lounged her while he was cutting grass.) It sounded like a bomb going off. She lost it! I lost my right iron, which put all my weight into my left she bolted right and bunny hoped. The poor thing. She was so scared (I would have... been too. It was SO loud) anyway. Tried to do an emergency dismount but couldn't get my left foot out of the iron so I bit the dust. My new helmet (one week, ha!) and my peacock stirrups both earned their keep tonight! She did great though! She didn't get worked up or anything. She definitely looked upset, but once I found my iron pieces I rode her some more and she was fine. I'm just sore and black and blue, and if anything MIGHT have broken my middle finger, but I doubt it. It's only a little swollen and black and blue. It had to happen eventually, and wasn't as bad as I imagined. Going back out today.
The last time I came off a horse I was 12. I came off of my lesson horse, Misty, and landed on my head. It hurt so bad, and I still remember how much it hurt! I remember was my mom walking over and telling me to get back up on her. I was so afraid, but I did it. Misty refused to do anything more than a walk, but that was why she was amazing. I only got to go to the emergency room after I rode the horse. Nothing broken, just whip lash. I was so mad at my mom, but understand why she made me do it.
I think it's so important to get back up, both because you teach your horse that dumping you doesn't mean you're done, and for your own psyche. Any opinions?
6 comments:
Only once did I not get back on my horse after falling- I realized I had torn my ACL (had done it before on my other knee). Otherwise, yeah I always got back on, even when I had the crazy palomino that dumped me at least twice every ride!
Yikes! Twice!!? You're a stronger woman than I! I couldn't do it!
I worked in the industry there - saw your posting on Fugs. Where is Denali from - what is her breeding and who was her trainer? Do you know? Thanks, I will check back.
I was 12 then, so there was some bounce. I came very close to quitting riding because of that horse. My parents sold him to a dirty horse dealer (they felt they deserved each other) and bought an OTTB mare for me instead. Very green horse and a very scared kid- great combo. However, until her dying day (25), she never bucked. She gave me all my confidence back.
The palomino, BTW, ended up getting bought by a teenage boy who LOVED the bucking, giving him a good home.
It's funny to me how some boys just LOVE those crazy horses! I've met a few of them in my days.
Denali was bred in KY, and raced in once race last May at Emerald Downs. Her reg. name is Storm City Slew. Her trainer was Terry Gilihan, Great, great guy!! Denali LOVES men, and I think it's because he treated her so well.
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