I jinxed myself again!

[BlueEyedSorrel]

Yesterday, I noted on the "advice from non-horse people" that horse people think my 2 falls in 5 years is, if anything, below average and non-horse people are horrified. Well, make that 3 falls.....

I had a lesson last night. The horse (not mine, a lesson horse named Magic) was trying to pull/root at the reins during canter transitions, and my instructor told me to put my hands forward (nothing to pull against) and drive him forward with my legs. So I did it, and Mr. Magic was so surprised that I wasn't "holding" him up that he went down on his knees:eek:. I tried to grab mane, misjudged where his neck was (4 inches lower than I expected) and came off. I think I looked like Wile E. Coyote realizing there's no ground under him, just before he crashes to earth:lol:

I wasn't hurt, got up laughing because I knew it looked really funny, and finished the lesson, maybe not my best riding, but adequately. Our canter transition problem was fixed, mainly because Magic decided that landing on his nose wasn't something he wanted to repeat.

I was feeling pretty good last night, but this AM....well, thank goodness for advil and the lab dress code (or non-dress code) that says yoga pants, t shirt, zip up hoodie and tennis shoes are perfectly acceptable attire.

This is the second time I've had a fall less than 24 hours after counting up the previous falls in my life. You think the universe is trying to tell me something?!
BES

[mp]

I did the same thing last winter. I was tacking up when a friend walked by. She's fairly new to horses and had come off on a trail ride a few days before. Very little physical damage, but her "faith" was shaken.

I waxed eloquent in telling her about some of my earlier fears re: riding. That it was no shame to dismount if you're feeling uncomfortable, to get your horse's attention with groundwork, then get back on. Don't worry, you'll be fine. I haven't come off in 5 years and even then it was my fault. Should have known the horse wasn't ready. I really don't think about it any more because I know my horses blah blah blah. And you know what happens next ... :yes:

I was trotting 20m circles in my lesson, horse was a little looky, but doing fine. Instructor said change directions and just as I did, a barn cat jumped up on the rail behind us. Mare -- a horse I've been riding for 10 YEARS and had only come off once -- did one of those drop shoulder spooks, got me off balance and then started bucking. I *almost* stayed on, but ended up going off over her shoulder. I kicked the wall with my boot on my way down, which scared the hell out of everyone in the arena. But then they heard me laughing. :lol:

No physical damage whatsoever, but man! was that humbling. And I'll be damned if I'll ever say how long it's been since I ate dirt again.