Lucky to be alive - EDIT: Now with smashed helmet photos!

[downthecenterlinetheycome]

Well, I sure am. Took a bad fall today; my first off my greenie (I've had him for 2 years). He spooked at something behind him, made a sudden 360, and bolted. My girth, though it had been fine for the 30 min so far of riding, was apparently very very loose, despite my triple checking, and the saddle slid WAY up his neck (no part of it behind the withers). He kept running and a bucking, pulling down, so I had no choice really. Fell right over his head. He kept galloping, went right over me. I summersaulted under him, felt some hooves. He stopped, I did a quick inventory. Youch. Was kicked on the thigh, many cuts/bruises everywhere, my neck, back, everything. Stiff back, quirked my neck pretty bad. Felt a little woozy. Then I looked at my helmet; HOLY SHIT! The thing was, simply put, half its original size, and didn't resemble a helmet. It had apparently been kicked, the part with the strap attached split off, and it came off my head with the kick. It's totally crumpled. I should get pictures, it's a work of art, I'll tell you. Never seen a helmet hurt like that.

3 hours of waiting at the ER later, I'm pronounced pretty much fine; no concussion, big bruise on my thigh should be elevated and iced. Need a chiropractor.

So lucky to be alive. I would be SO dead if not for the helmet. Please, people, wear your helmet. Every time.

P.S. How do I convince my mom to let me ride my horse ever again? I mean, this is a SERIOUS issue. She's really serious about not letting me ride. O.O I understand her concern, and take every precaution, but it was a total freak thing. I wear a body protector and do DRESSAGE, for pete's sake!
???

EDIT: Without further ado, here is my poor, sad hero of a helmet.
http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh453/Evidence713/Evidence%20of%20Trauma/DSC00153.jpg
http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh453/Evidence713/Evidence%20of%20Trauma/DSC00178.jpg
(Rest of the photos here: http://s547.photobucket.com/albums/hh453/Evidence713/Evidence%20of%20Trauma/ )

[Plumcreek]

You are SOOOOO lucky. I know it was a freak thing, but freak things happen. Your mom knows how close she came to losing you. I would give her the courtesy of taking her fear seriously, and either send your greenie out to cowboy school (the good horseman kind of cowboy who will concentrate on a more humble horse attitude, not fearful, maybe a reiner?) for a couple of months, or a reality-based "no pookums" dressage trainer, or re-evaluate your pre-ride program and feed program. Do you longe a few minutes prior to riding EVERY time to get the greenie spooks and energy out, and/or just to see what you have to ride that day? Is the greenie too fat and sassy? Plus, you may find you will feel mentally shaky the first few rides now, and the greenie may feel it.

Personally. I ride my greenies in a western saddle always - it has saved me in similar situations - and I always longe 5 minutes to see that day's attitude. Good luck.

[downthecenterlinetheycome]

Thanks guys. I don't feel shaken confidence wise, but you never know. I don't lunge unless he's high; he's been having some soundness issues, vet says ride him W/T gently for now because he's better the fitter he is, don't torque his legs with lunging. (It's not a pain lameness, it's a mechanical issue, and very subtle. I'm not riding a gimp, don't worry.) So I try to avoid lunging him. He didn't seem too hopped up, but I should have read the early signs of the loose girth (ear pinning, swinging around in halts and rein back, being pissy and sensitive).

He's not really THAT green.. He's been undersaddle for probably 3 years, but he's a very hot type (Anglo Arab). I can't afford a lot of training right now, but he's been ridden by a fantastic dressage trainer over the last 2 years (she trained me, but would hop on him sometimes.)

I could probably pull the alfalfa pellets from his diet. I moved a couple months ago, from Oregon to Socal, so obviously things are different here. He was on 10 acres of grass pasture with his buddies, now on 1/4 acre of dirt paddock alone (best I could get, and believe me, I've been paying for it in cash and driving time).

It's the kind of spook I could have handled easily (I stick like a tick), except for the saddle, I was just like, WTF, what the heck is going on? Why can't I stop him?

[catknsn]

Sounds like a freak accident. However, given that he's on light work only and is a hot potato, I believe I might substitute ponying for the sake of my continued good health if I were you. That is just as easy on him, no torque.

I know I don't need to tell you to check and recheck your girth. You'll never forget that again. Glad you were not seriously hurt!

[myster]

Glad to hear you are relatively ok. I would firstly get the saddle checked, maybe not fitting 100% and that could cause it to be "loose".
Let me just tell you, when I was a kid (I am an old woman now:winkgrin:) I kept having issues with my mom saying I would have to stop riding......I remember skidding around the arena on my elbow and skinning my arm from wrist to way above my elbow, in the middle of a very hot summer spell, and wearing a thick jersey 24/7 to hide the 'damage' from her - 'till she caught me in the bath!!!:lol::lol::lol:
Good luck for getting back into the saddle.

[Go Fish]

I can relate stories that would make your toes curl, seriously. Glad you are okay and your helmet did it's job. I performed a jet-propelled dismount a couple of years ago...literally flew through the air about 50 feet and landed at warp speed against the arena wall. My head was slammed against a support post and actually put a a 3" dent in the wood. Thank you GPA. Shaken up, wind knocked out of me, sore and bruised, but otherwise okay.

I'm really old and my mother refuses to watch me jump because she's certain I'll be killed at any moment. Tell your mom, statistically, that you're more apt to be killed in a car accident than get killed on a horse. You can also try "I need more lessons/training/showing (or whatever) so I can ride better and not get dumped."

[catknsn]

I performed a jet-propelled dismount a couple of years ago...literally flew through the air about 50 feet and landed at warp speed against the arena wall.

I did that one when I was 15. *ss over teakettle into the arena wall due to a bolt followed by a prop-stop. That pretty much totalled my lower back for life (though better my back than my head!)

It's normal for moms to want to wrap us in bubble wrap...when mine got concerned, I pointed out that my teenaged self was at the barn 24/7 and not doing drugs. That argument always seemed to work well. It was true, too.

[Go Fish]

It's normal for moms to want to wrap us in bubble wrap...when mine got concerned, I pointed out that my teenaged self was at the barn 24/7 and not doing drugs. That argument always seemed to work well. It was true, too.

To the OP, this is also a very good argument to use with your Mom. Drug abuse can be very expensive to treat, not to mention deadly.

[strawberry roan]

Glad you are ok! Agree with argument to use on your Mom. Horses kept me away from all the bad stuff when I was a teen.

[Trakehner]

If at all possible, try not telling any loved ones about accidents, dramatic or seemingly little ones.

They'll be happier, you'll be happier and it stops a lot of "You want to keep riding!? You could have been crippled/killed/maimed/broken a nail!!"

[Ashby]

My mother was the same with me when I was a teen. She got sick of hanging around the waiting area of the local emergency department wondering if I was going to be paralyzed or brain-damaged (this was back in the days before GPAs). And we argued a lot. I spent a lot of time lying to her or avoiding her when I was injured.

Today I let my own daughter do anything she wants on a horse and I rarely caution her unless I see her doing something frankly stupid. But dangerous--she has carte blanche there. I don't mind if she rides steeplechasers to foxhunt in very tough country.

The truth is that the worst injuries I ever had were acquired in the course of doing dressage, and the one that is sitll with me, thirty years later, took place when my horse was initially standing still.

For your horse, I'd recommend some in-hand work if he can't be lunged.

[mkevent]

So glad to hear that you're ok-I got scared just reading your thread!! I don't know if this will make any difference at all, but I've found that double elastic end girths will roller buckles are the easiest to get snug on a horse-maybe that wouldn't loosen as easily and prevent further mishaps? And the other suggestions-lunging,etc I totally agree with. Greenies can be great but they can also scare the $*$# out of you!!! Good luck!

[webmistress32]

that's why they call them "accidents". if you knew it was going to happen or that your horse would bolt that day it would have been a "plan".

that's why IMHO there should be a helmet strapped to every head, every time.

I always say to my friends who insist on riding without one: "hey that's great you're an adult. but remember if you fall off and split your skull I am not responsible for picking up any brains. your brains = your responsibility."

[Lori B]

True, Trakehner, but the OP is a minor, and just went to the ER, so not telling Mom would have been pretty much impossible. This is my policy, but I'm (more or less) an adult.

OP -- good luck figuring out Mom, the saddle, and the spunky horse. IMHO, brief lunging isn't going to torque a horse's legs. 10 minutes? I don't see how that could hurt your guy, and would help you get him focused and assess if he's being a fruitcake on any given day.

[Plumcreek]

Ok OP, so you have the triple whammy, reduced exercise, hot breeding, and a soundness caution so you can't lounge-til-dead. I have been there. Things to try: There are pellets that are grass hay based, not alfalfa. Magnesium (a big bag of Mag Oxide custom ordered from feed store is cheap) and B-1 supplements help this kind of horse. MSM may make him a little sounder and quieter.

Kudos to you to drive the distance so your horse can have that 1/4 acre. That is a lot in SoCal.

[downthecenterlinetheycome]

Thanks all. Yeah, he spooks alot, and bolts, but I can handle it, piece of cake, never came off him before this. Frankly, I would have stayed on if not for the saddle, I think. We were rounding the corner and a horse on the Equiciser behind him made a noise or something spooked him, and he did a turn bolt, I had no idea the saddle was that far up, and his head was on the ground, so I hand nothing to do really, riding his downhill sloping neck. Last thoughts = Crap, can I hold on any longer? Ugh, Mom's gonna kill me! :P Horses keep us humble; just yesterday I said he'd never gotten me off. Forgot to knock on wood I guess. LOL.

I will pull the alfalfa pellets from his diet. He only gets worked 3 times a week. I'll see if I can get a trainer to hop on him first, to make Mom less nervous. Thing is, every time I've fallen before (2 times), she has never let me ride that horse again (lesson horses). Gah. I'm hiding the helmet from her.

[SkipHiLad4me]

Glad to hear you're ok :yes: Looks like you'll be helmet shopping!

[EquineLVR]

Well THANK GOD for your helmet... Being a rider and a MOTHER I know both sides of the coin.

I have taken terrible falls myself when I was younger as well as I can understand how your mother would feel.

I say definetly go for the compromise at this point. :) Maybe also try and ride him only in a ring? Maybe that would help the spooking?

I am also with PC - try some calming supplments and get rid of the alfalfa pellets.

[downthecenterlinetheycome]

I do only ride in the ring, per her safety conditions, and my own good sense at this point, though I'd love to get him doing hillwork.

Yes, not to hijack, is there any good helmets that could be used in the dressage ring that are shaped like the tipperary sportage? And not too expensive? I have trouble finding helmets to fit my head, but the tipperary sportage did.

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

You got wonderful advice, as usual.

Your mom is going to be worried. This is one of her many worst nightmares - don't you often worry about any and all of the bad things that can happen with your horse? So - be understanding, because she loves you, that's why she's worried.

First - agree to not ride until you are physically 100% okay. Then work on the ground, then in the saddle, and at least for a few times at first have someone there.

I think you will have to acknowledge, and to some extent, assuage her fears.

But no matter what - grateful no serious damage was done~!!

[Alibhai's Alibar]

So glad to hear that you're ok! A very good reminder for us all to check, check, re-check our girths and wear our helmets every time.

[DawnT]

I'm a mom that watched my daughter come off her horse after he bucked the whole length of an outdoor arena. She too had never been thrown. He zigged, she zagged. She landed on her head on frozen ground. Crushed the helmet and she spent 3 days in a neuro ward. She too would have been dead without the helmet. Because she was wearing her tipperary vest she avoided any back injuries too. Making her stop riding never even entered my mind. I was bit by the horse bug at a very young age and I took my share of spills like everyone else. I know it would have killed her to take her horse away from her. There are days I held my breath when he has been a bu**head (yes, same horse 7 yr later) but she is happy and still riding. He has matured into a wonderful gelding and now this old lady rides him too. Everyone, person and horse alike, needs to be given a second chance.
Glad you are all right and rooting that mom will let you go on with your horse.

[mp]

First, hooray for helmets and hooray for you for wearing one. Glad you weren't seriously hurt.

Yeah, he spooks alot, and bolts, but I can handle it, piece of cake, never came off him before this.

Staying on is not the issue. If he's really spooking and bolting "alot," that's dangerous behavior and it's time to figure out why he's doing it. Otherwise, you'll undoubtedly be having the discussion re: riding with your mother again in the near future.

[downthecenterlinetheycome]

I see your point MP. I will start looking into changing things, since I can't lunge right now. I'll pull the alfalfa pellets and just feed him hay, for one. And have his saddle fit checked when I can afford it.

[Sebastian]

...just yesterday I said he'd never gotten me off. Forgot to knock on wood I guess. LOL.



ACK!!!! NEVER say those words out loud. They will HEAR YOU!!! :winkgrin:

Glad you are ok. Good luck with Mom. As a teen, I gave mine as little info as possible when I had falls...they tend to prefer that. ;)

Seb :)

[2ndyrgal]

best argument when dealing with a mom afraid of having to take care of you longer than she plans to..."mother, at least I'm not riding pregnant on the back of a Harley with a tramp stamp tattoo". Good for you for having a helmet on, you're smarter than a lot of us were at your age. Or are now, for that matter.

[zakattack]

ouch! glad to hear your okay.


Drug abuse can be very expensive to treat, not to mention deadly.


horse addiction is similar, expensive to treat, and can be quite dangerous. personally, i think horses are healthier in the long run ;)

[Juneberry]

I never had mom trouble with horse related falls and injuries, She always figured that if I was going to find a way to kill myself I'd manage it one way or the other even if she wrapped me in bubble tape.... hmmm anyone know any horses like that?? LOL

I always wore a helmet and always will. I'm glad to hear you had yours on as well.

The one time I was about to go out without a helmet, I remembered a couple minutes into the ride, I rode back and grabbed the helmet and rode out, bareback. Horse got back close to home chomped down on the bit and went for a dead run (ex barrel horse but typically dead calm). We come to the corner of the paddock within the pasture and he makes like he is going to turn left and I'm pulling him left and at the last second he practically sat down and spun to the right. to make a long story short I landed in some 2-4 foot diameter boulders that had been pulled out of the ground and piled to the side.

I came out of it with a fairly serious knee injury (which rehabbed without surgery thankfully!). but the scariest part was when they pulled my helmet off it laid flat in 6 pieces. To this day the place I was riding at kept the helmet as a reminder to other riders

[Foxtrot's]

You are amazing to still be horse-focussed and your confidence intact. HOWEVER, as a riding Mom myself, I know the fear of watching my daughters do the things I wouldn't turn a hair at myself in the past. But if the horse is a spook, or there's any chance of a repeat, you need to address the issue to do all you can to avoid the same again. Feed, training, routine. Riding has its inherent dangers, but it is not an extreme sport! Not to say that your hore didn't have an excuse with the saddle up on his ears, poor guy. Take care, you hear?

P.S. Years ago, I had my girth slip backwards on a long run on a hunt. Someone galloped up to me and said, "Hey - did you know your girth had slipped". I pulled up and my girth was like a bucking strap - carelessly I had not re-checked my girth. He was a high withered TB and I guess the saddle just stayed put. What a good boy he was. Your story reminded me of that.

[horsegirl888]

Glad you are okay, that sounds very scary. Everyone had great advice. Good luck with getting back to riding, but make sure that you are fully recovered before you start again.

Some of the definite best parental arguments for riding: "I am at the barn riding my horse rather than (pick one) partying, doing drugs, drinking, fighting, hanging out with the "wrong set of people..." etc, etc. If you mention drinking, make sure you mention something about how comparatively dangerous drunk driving is. ;)

I've never had to use them, but I've heard they work quite well, really. Good luck and hope you heal quickly. :yes:

[Barn Swallow]

That is frightening. I'm so glad you are ok. I think it would be a good idea for you to post a picture of your helmet. It might be a case where a picture really is worth a thousand words.
My Rx: a hot bath, a bag of M&Ms, the remote and a comfy couch.

[downthecenterlinetheycome]

I will get a helmet pic today. (Left it at the barn).

I'm experiencing some 'afteraffects'; my jaw's all sore on both sides (have some bruises), my neck, my shoulders, my bruise is a bit swollen and hard, and oddly my wrist feels sprained or something? If I twist it, or press on it, it really hurts, but why wouldn't this have shown up the day of the fall, if not right after??? It's farther down the wrist, I feel pain right after that bone on top, and a little more forward on the bottom.

[Ponyclubrocks]

So glad you are OK. I would reiterate what another poster(s) said and get your saddle fit checked ASAP. Even with a loose girth your saddle should not have been able to shift that far forward (unless your horse had no withers at all?). I bet if you saddle had stayed in place your odds of hanging in there would have been much improved. Best of luck to you.

[AnotherRound]

So, OP - how do you feel today? I think tomorrow will really tell how stiff you are, its often worse the second or third day. So sorry, glad you are ok. Nice long hot showers. Like every two or three hours. Ouch. :cool:

Oops, didn't see your recent post. You may actually have bruised some bones, and that really hurts, even though they don't show up as broken or cracked. Also, ligaments have been stretched and torn, so they are sore sore sore. And, yes, worse today and tomorrow, as the stiffness and swelling sets in. Yesterday, the injuries weren't as swollen as they are today.

Ibuprofen is your friend!! Anti inflamatory, it is, and remember, all your injuries are swelling. I call it Vitamin I, its hard to start the day without it. You need to take a goodly dose, get your doctor to prescribe like a 600mg horse pill of it, easier to take than 4 or 5 little ones, and keep up with it every 6 hourse or whatever your doc says, as it builds up in your system and really keeps you from hurting. Makes a world of difference, and you will be able to sleep better at night. Yes, is the swelling aspect of the injuries which hurts now.

If something hurts only because you touch it, its probably a bruise, including bones.

Just my experience of similar and recent events.

[CanterQueen]

I had an injury on the ground BEFORE I got in the saddle -- ended up with a concussion. Put a rather large dent in my helmut and thank the Good Lord I was wearing one. Doc in the ER said I'd be dead or a veggie had I not been wearing one. Stupid horse hit me in my head with his --hard.

These are very large, living, breathing animals with minds and wills of their own. They do stupid stuff and sometimes we get hurt. I still think it's worth every moment I spend with my horse.

[webmistress32]

how does everyone feel about letting < 12 year olds be responsible for checking their own girths before going into a stadium jump course?

just wondering.

yes, all of the children have helmets on ;)

[Watermark Farm]

First, I am so happy you are OK. A helmet saved my life once in a very similar and dramatic way (my helmet split in half when I went head first onto a cement driveway). I don't understand why some people don't wear them.

Our next Pony Club meeting is dedicated to helmets and safety. I have to teach about helmets to kids. Can you take some photos of your helmet and email them to me (watermarkfarm@yahoo.com) to use in my lecture?

Your poor mom. Give her some time to settle down from this, then talk to her calmly about riding. Us moms have such conflicting feelings about letting our kids ride. We feel SO guilty when they get hurt. It sort of goes against your instincts as a parent, which is to keep your kids very safe. I ride and have evented, so I understand the risks. Still, it was HARD when my daughter had an accident ending in an ambulance ride (with a fractured helmet to show for it). I honestly felt like I'd put her in harm's way by letting her ride a horse. I had to do some serious soul searching, and for the first time, I understood how parents could ban their child from riding after a serious accident....

[downthecenterlinetheycome]

First off, I'm 14. Honestly, I would do a quick girth check for any kid before they go out on a course, or an adult for that matter. Just while you're wiping the boots, slide a finger down there just in case.

Thanks for all the good advice. I'll try to get that saddle fit checked; yes, he has very little withers. The thing that puzzles me is that the girth seemed fine to me; can a horse bloat for 5 minutes? And it was fine throughout our ride before, which included many trot - halt- trot - back - trot transitions. I took some pics the other day of the saddle on his bare back; would posting them here help? I know I need a real fitter, but money is REALLY tight right now. :-/

I'm glad you're OK, Canterqueen. :)

Watermark - Of course, I'll send you photos when I take 'em. :) Yikes, that sounds like a nasty fall. I totally understand her feelings with it; it's just, if she could be a little NICER about it. She's really mad at me about it all, and very mad at my horse. Blames me, alot, and I understand, but it wasn't really on my agenda either.

Ponyclubrocks - Definitely. I think I could have hung on easily (I haven't fallen off in years, and I do tend to ride a lot of greenies), except I went, wait, why the heck am I on his neck? He just put his head on the ground and pulled. Wish I'd thought to bail to the side.

Am I the only one who reprimands their horse as they're falling off? I'm riding his neck and going "Oh, damn you, why are you doing this, you doofus. Stop it, ease up, it's nothing there. OH, COME ON, TANGO, get your brain together!" As I'm falling off. :P I also tend to assure people that I'm OK, as I'm airborne. (Picture me flying off all the while saying "IT'S OK, I'M FINE!" before hitting the ground.) At least my horse stopped and waited for me when I fell. He had that look on his face.. "Why are you down there, lady? You were SUPPOSED to stay on."

[Trevelyan96]

Wow, I am so happy that you are OK, and as everyone else has said, thankful you were wearing a helmet!

As a rider, I understand you need to ride again despite Mom's fear, but as a Mom, I would have been hysterical.

My mother is terrified of horses, every time I tell her I'm going to get on Trav, she worries, because he launched me good when he was a greenie.

And trust all of us who have had bad falls, you ARE going to be nervous your first time back on, and your horse will be too. Take it slow, make sure your trainer is with you, and keep it short and simple. You're probably going to spend a few rides just re-building his confidence, because I'm sure having a saddle up his neck was a very, very scary thing for him.

And yeah... maybe he needs to go on a 'hay only' diet for a little while to settle him down a bit.

[Foxtrot's]

Take it easy for a while. Anybody who has had a bad accident (car or riding or skiing, etc)
knows that aches and pains can keep surfacing for quite a while, including headaches. You proabably are not "fine" for a while yet anyway. Lucky, yes.

[Budrow]

At least my horse stopped and waited for me when I fell. He had that look on his face.. "Why are you down there, lady? You were SUPPOSED to stay on."

Know that look! What are you doing down there? I went boom...except I was on a trail and then my horse decided he'd haul ass back to the barn...it was our second day at this barn and I was freaked that he'd head to the road vs. the barn. Duh! The road doesn't feed him...his stall does. All I cared about was him, as I tried to hastily limp back to the barn - asked my co-rider to follow my horse as I took a "short-cut" thru woods and pastures, over fences to get to him. All I had was broken ribs....oh, and did I mention that this happened AT A WALK?

Glad you came through relatively unscathed.

[Guin]

I don't have any advice to convince your mom, but I definitely suggest that you send your helmet back to the manufacturer with an explanation of what happened. They will be delighted to x-ray it and analyze it for their "crash" data, and will probably send you some sort of significant rebate on a new one.

I actually do have something to say to your mom. (I am a mom of a 15-year-old rider myself, so I know what she's thinking.) I have thought a long time about how I would feel about horses if my daughter got seriously injured in a riding accident, and I think - I hope - that I would try to understand that accidents happen. It could be a car accident, or a bike accident, or breaking your neck in a hockey game. If riding is what you DO, then she should try not to blame the horse or the sport or whatever as being too dangerous. You are really lucky - get back on and keep doing what you love.

[back in the saddle]

Oh yea.. Helmet every time! I have a 17 hand 1700lb old style 23 year old GP schoolmaster. I was going to try out a new saddle on him. I got into the arena and forgot my helmet. I stood pondering whether or not to get on without it. You know... it's an extra 10 minutes to go back after all.

Anyway, my dh went and got my helmet. I got on. Right when I was gathering the reins, we hadn't taken one step forward yet, my 24 year old ARTHRETIC horse leaped up like he was jumping a 4ft fence from a stand still. And he did it 3 times. And I didn't have his mouth, the reins were still floppy, and then he bolted fast my foot came out of the stirrup.

I didn't come off, but wow.. huge lesson. NEVER ride without one. I would have certainly come off had I not had my helmet on. Murphy would have gotten me.

In this case, there were two deer above the arena in the woods. He could see them, I could not.

[CapitolDesign]

Know that look! What are you doing down there?

"That look" is MUCH better than the "oh crap, she is mad at me" look that they give you right before galloping back to the farm... no matter where it leaves you walking from!

[downthecenterlinetheycome]

Without further ado, here is my poor, sad hero of a helmet.
http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh453/Evidence713/Evidence%20of%20Trauma/DSC00153.jpg
http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh453/Evidence713/Evidence%20of%20Trauma/DSC00178.jpg
(Rest of the photos here: http://s547.photobucket.com/albums/hh453/Evidence713/Evidence%20of%20Trauma/ )

P.S. I'm feeling pretty good overall, did some groundwork with my horse today, made him listen to me. My bruises are now a delicate shade of emerald green with tinges of lime green. :lol:

[Foxtrot's]

Uh Oh - I think you should send those photos to the head office of Pony Club.

[MikeP]

Man! Smashed that helmet up! Glad you're not seriously injured. I can't help with the Mom issue. There are several moms in my life, and some days it seems that I can't please any of them. :)

[MunchkinsMom]

Wow! Those helmet photos should be used in some advertising to increase helmet use.

If you had not been wearing it, you would not be here telling us about it!

[Aussie_Dog]

Had to post just say "Holy mother of God!" I look at that helmet and I picture what a human skull would look like.

Agree with the choice to hide the helmet from mom. What she doesn't know won't hurt no one, lol

[RedRazzle]

Am I the only one who reprimands their horse as they're falling off? I'm riding his neck and going "Oh, damn you, why are you doing this, you doofus. Stop it, ease up, it's nothing there. OH, COME ON, TANGO, get your brain together!" As I'm falling off. :P I also tend to assure people that I'm OK, as I'm airborne.

No you're not! Although I don't know if reprimand would be the right word. My horse disappeared out from under me last spring when she encountered a field full of cows, her only phobia. Truly, if Thelwell had been there to capture it in ink, I would have been the original inspiration. Left hanging in midair, I yelled "FRUITBAT YOU!!!!" at her galloping behind. Thank god for helmets and cross-country vests! I was unhurt.

[BumbleBee]

Wow yeah you would have been dead for sure.:o:eek:

[Huntertwo]

Ouch! Looked at your helmet photos and you ARE lucky to be alive! Thank goodness you were wearing it..
Otherwise, not a very good outcome at all. :no:

[Acertainsmile]

WOW to those helmet photos.. you are one very lucky young lady!

You also stated something about an Equisizer... why not tack him up and let him run around in that for a few minutes before each ride?

[FindersKeepers]

First of all, those pictures are EXACTLY what all the people who think they aren't necessary need to see...

Secondly, the girth was probably fine, it's likely your saddle fit. I rode a pony a million years ago that had no withers and was quite round. No matter how tight I got the girth, the saddle would end up on her neck when she'd get to bucking (which was almost daily)

And I too often discipline on the way down hahaha. The pony from above, was a terror to her little girl that owned her. Pony was 10.2 hands, and I was 16 and the only "grown person" small enough to get on her. If I'd get on and cowboy her, she'd be an angel for her kid. I was bucked off nearly once a week, simply because my center of balance was so off on something so tiny. One day in particular, she starts bucking, I'm yelling at her. I start to go over her shoulder, like always (she knew how to buck buck buck, then duck her shoulder and spin) and on the way down, I kept hold of the reins, smacked her in the head with my free hand, and got to my feet with reins in hand within second of hitting the ground. When pony realized she was still attached and I was up...well I've never seen pony eyes so big in my life. She met Jesus in that moment...and her attitude was much better after that day... Never again did she try to dump that little girl, or me. :D

[downthecenterlinetheycome]

Pacific - I'm very cautious. I did go to the ER and get checked out. Yesterday my ear started hurting a little, felt like an ear infection though. Is that a concussion sign? I did get pronounced 'no concussion' in the ER. No lumps or bumps or bruises on my head either. I actually read a book about the human brain and damage to it at one point (I was sick in bed and in the process of moving, it was the only book I could find. :P). Not sure if it sunk in, LOL.

Yeah, he has next to no withers.. Here's the culprit, Tango.
http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh453/Evidence713/Tango/DSC00292.jpg
http://i547.photobucket.com/albums/hh453/Evidence713/Tango/DSC00294.jpg

And here's his saddle on his bare back. I'm not sure of anything, but it seems a little narrow maybe? He has never been sore, even with hard currying on his back.
http://s547.photobucket.com/albums/hh453/Evidence713/Tango/

[kateh]

I'm glad you're okay! Don't be afraid to call your doctor if your wrist or ear keep hurting bad. If it's something it's better to know early on, if it's nothing you might get some painkillers for it. As for your mom, maybe remind her that all serious athletes incur injuries, regardless of the sport. Gymnasts dislocate things, football players break things, hockey players knock teeth out and horseback riders get dumped on the ground. If you had been playing football for as long and as often as you've been riding, you'd already have broken your nose, fingers, ribs, etc.

[Jazzy Lady]

Holy! That re-affirms my faith that tipperary helmets will crumple on impact. I never could get how that little peice of plastic could do so much.

Glad you're okay. It looks as if most of that damage was perhaps done AFTER it came of your head. Either way, I can't believe it came off in the first place. It always drives me nuts when I see people with their chin straps around their collar bones. ummmm.. (not saying yours wasn't done up properly).

I've been trampled and kicked in the head too. My helmet folded in half after that, but it wasn't visually damaged.

Liking the look of my J3 with the super hard shell even more...

As for your parents, I still argue with mine about competing and I'm 25. It's a scary thing for parents, all you can do is reassure them that you'll be as careful as possible, like driving a car.

[patterson]

This thread made me wonder what the best way to fall is ( obviously, away from hooves, but how?) I've been riding so long I don't remember being taught how to fall, and I almost never have....(need appropriate icon here for knocking on wood! :D) But I'm learning to figure skate now as an adult, and it's the first thing they teach you--fall on your fanny or break your fall with your hands. What's the corollary for riding, other than protect your head and get out of the way of the hooves?

And of course, always wearing a helmet,every ride, every time. I wanted to wear a helmet figure skating but apparently only toddlers do that....I said if I was taking up figure skating as an adult I obviously didn't care whether I looked stupid or not....I'd rather be safe!:D

[kateh]

This thread made me wonder what the best way to fall is ( obviously, away from hooves, but how?) I've been riding so long I don't remember being taught how to fall, and I almost never have....(need appropriate icon here for knocking on wood! :D) But I'm learning to figure skate now as an adult, and it's the first thing they teach you--fall on your fanny or break your fall with your hands. What's the corollary for riding, other than protect your head and get out of the way of the hooves?

I've been told it's best to tuck and roll, preferably away from the hooves.

[farmgirl88]

Holy SH*T! I will and never have second guessed wearing mine! Ive been stepped on, kicked in the head, smashed into the wall of an indoor head first (bit through my bottom lip completely), and most recently Ive been flipped over on top of. That last incident was a complete accident. Horse was cantering around nicely, tripped hard, couldnt get his feet back under him and went right over (ass of head) ontop of me. Crushed the entire brim of my helmet. it was all bent. Gave me a black eye and made me quite dazed. Pony had a bloody and scraped up nose.

I will never get on a horse with out a helmet. glad you ended up OK

[Come Shine]

To the OP: Although you were cleared in the ER for signs of a concussion, don't hestitate to go back to be checked out further if things just don't feel 'right'. Just in case.

I hope you are feeling better. That sounds like it was quite a tumble.

[TSWJB]

OMG! your lucky that was not your skull!

[palmettoshorty]

I've broken a plastic helmet before, but yours is rapid!

Holy! That re-affirms my faith that tipperary helmets will crumple on impact. I never could get how that little peice of plastic could do so much.

I thought the same thing after I broke my plastic helmet. It fell off my head during the fall and broke nearly in two, how could it possibly be protective?! But then I realized I didn't even have a bruise or headache. The helmet crumbles so your head doesn't. Not that I can say too much though, I'm a little nervous to wear my Tipperary now..

[Seriously_Hunter]

Wow! That's one smooshed helmet!!!
Glad to hear the ER cleared you!

[Tha Ridge]

You are such a lucky girl! :yes: Your horse (stinky little bugger! ;) ) is pretty cute, too.

[red squirrel ridge]

When I brought my horse out to college with me he went from a 5 acre pasture with buddies to a tiny dirt lot all by himself- and my normally playful, sane horse became a hard to handle, explosive ball of pent up energy. Some days I felt like I was handling a race horse. I had to put a chain on his nose just to bring him in from his paddock, this is the same horse that I could lead with a piece of binder twine on his neck at home. Some of it was due to him feeling good (his ringbone was alleviated by the constant low level movement as opposed to galloping around with his buddies all the time) but I am a 100% sure that the majority was caused by being bored and having so much pent up energy. He went back to his normal happy self when we came home. Maybe some toys or some liberty work would help your guy to safely release some energy ? Good luck, stay safe !

[red squirrel ridge]

I've been told it's best to tuck and roll, preferably away from the hooves.

I remember when I was little and in pony club they taught us to fall off- If I remember correctly we were supposed to scissor kick off our horse landing on our feet and then summersault away from our horse, the last part never seemed like a good idea: if you were to land safely on your feet and then why fling your head and neck towards the ground... I suppose they were actually try to teach the tuck and roll-away-from-the-horse move but that is how I remember them explaining it.

[Guin]

For pete's sake, stop knocking "plastic" helmets! :rolleyes: It's the INSIDE of the helmet that protects your brains, not the shell. So-called "Titium" or "Titanium" or "Kryptonite" $400 helmets do NOT keep your head any safer than plastic-shelled Troxels or Tipperarys; it's a total marketing ploy. The styrofoam is supposed to explode/collapse on impact; that's what it's purpose is. If the OP was wearing a helmet with a different kind of shell and it was cut open, the damage would have been exactly as severe.

In fact, those fancy helmets can be LESS safe because after a crash, there is no visible damage and people continue to use them. Better to see the damage and be thankful it wasn't your head, than to think, hey, the helmet's fine, no problem.

[chai]

Aye Carumba, what a fall that must have been. Those pictures say it all...you are lucky to be alive. So glad you're ok. Thank you for posting those pictures. They should be a sticky to remind us all how important it is to wear a helmet.

[downthecenterlinetheycome]

Nope, no headaches. Anyone have any opinions on the saddle fit? I know I should get a fitter out, not ask the COTH peeps, but money is really tight right now.

[Jazzy Lady]

Nope, no headaches. Anyone have any opinions on the saddle fit? I know I should get a fitter out, not ask the COTH peeps, but money is really tight right now.

Try a no slip pad. I used to ride a witherless (and slightly obese) pony who's saddle, while fit, would slide because of the obeseness and lack of wither. lol. I used a no slip pad and a neoprene girth and that seemed to helped keep it in place.

[Plumcreek]

If the 'no slip pad' you are referring to is the very thin rubbery mesh kind that go under the regular pad, you can buy the exact same thing at Walmart as a roll of kitchen shelf lining for very little money.

[downthecenterlinetheycome]

=) Thanks for the tips.

My helmet is going on display at a riding school where no one (including the kids) wears a helmet, courtesy of a fellow boarder. I will get the helmet back after she's shown it to everyone and hopefully changed their minds. It will be used to educate ever non-helmet wearer I know or don't know, LOL.

[asterix]

Those are amazing pics and you are very lucky (and not entirely lucky-- the most important thing was your decision to wear the helmet!)...

Your horse is getting ridden 3x a week, turned out in a small paddock, is young, hot, and eating alfalfa pellets, right? I'd go back to just hay, and see if you can find someone who wants to hop on and ride another 2 days a week -- perhaps someone who is horseless at the moment who'd love the chance to ride more.
It's hard to expect them to be really calm all the time when they are not putting out the calories they are taking in....

[downthecenterlinetheycome]

Those are amazing pics and you are very lucky (and not entirely lucky-- the most important thing was your decision to wear the helmet!)...

Your horse is getting ridden 3x a week, turned out in a small paddock, is young, hot, and eating alfalfa pellets, right? I'd go back to just hay, and see if you can find someone who wants to hop on and ride another 2 days a week -- perhaps someone who is horseless at the moment who'd love the chance to ride more.
It's hard to expect them to be really calm all the time when they are not putting out the calories they are taking in....

We already pulled the pellets, he's on Bermuda hay only. It's hard with the riding thing - as I said, he's having some soundness issues, so it's a matter of W/T, no real circles, sharp turns or lateral work. Vet says to work him gently like this, as the fitter he is, the sounder he is, but I don't want to damage him.

He's kept 24/7 on a paddock that's like 1/4 - 1/2 of an acre, in my total guesstimation. I say it differently every time, I'm a terrible guesser.