Speaking of rotational falls...

[Ghazzu]

this was posted on wreck eq. JCDill, the photographer, gave me the ok to crosspost here.

Woodside, CA, USA - May 24, 2008: Dawn White & Vapor Trail had a
dramatic rotational fall into the water at fence 14a (Log Drop into the MacNaughten Water Hazard) at the Horsepark in Woodside, CA

You can see my photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcdill/...7605238922645/
(If you work for a horse newspaper/magazine/website and want to use
these photos, please contact me for licensing.)

Based on both what I saw and what my photos show, I think this
particular accident was caused by not enough engine. The horse stopped
on the first presentation, and when brought again he tried to stop again
and she tried to stuff him over. He seemed to be out of gas, unable to
get up of the ground enough, and one front leg didn't clear the log.
That leg, stuck behind the log, triggered the rotational fall. The
photos tell the story.

Both horse and rider were OK - they both got up without assistance and
walked off the course. I heard that Dawn refused medical attention.
New rules (enacted on Friday!) now require that all riders that fall are
seen by the EMTs. She stopped at the ambulance as she walked off the
course, and convinced them that she was OK.

[Reds-n-Greys]

WOW...scary.

I'm glad to read they are both OK, but I can't believe he was not a very sore boy.

[Janet]

Except that ("New rules (enacted on Friday!) now require that all riders that fall are seen by the EMTs.") ISN'T what the rules (new or old) say.

At least since 2006, the rules have said that

a. In the event of an accident in which a competitor is apparently injured or concussed, they must be examined by designated medical personnel

and this part has not changed.

NOT "every fall". Only "accident in which a competitor is apparently injured or concussed".

The new bit is

to determine if they may take
part in another test, ride another horse

What HAS changed is that, since first fall is now elimination, even if the EMT says you are OK, you can't get back on and finish the course.

And, if the EMT says you are NOT OK, you can't go and ride a second horse.

[maxxtrot]

all i can say, is she and her horse are very,very lucky!

[Gunnar]

I was there to witness this. It was his 3rd stop I recall! I wish I had not seen it but I feel they were very lucky to have scathed by! I saw them walk right by and he looked a little dirty but none the worse for wear. Bet he will think twice before attempting a down bank like that again! Lucky horse and luckier girl I say!

[c_expresso]

Wow scary... not a real rotational fall though, the horse isn't somersaulting through the air, he is sideways in the air. Probably why he was able to land on his shoulder/side more than the top of his head and neck, and was OK.

[RAyers]

Originally Posted by c_expresso

Wow scary... not a real rotational fall though, the horse isn't somersaulting through the air, he is sideways in the air. Probably why he was able to land on his shoulder/side more than the top of his head and neck, and was OK.

I am not sure where your definition of rotational comes from but that is a rotational fall by the laws of physics and otherwise. There was a single pivot point aobut which the horse roated over the fence.

I will add that this is an example of rider making a bad decision (e.g. trying to push over a fence when the horse is done), similar to what killed Ken Matchett at Trojan 7 years ago.

Reed

[TexasAggieEventer]

Looking at this pair's competition record it made me think of Danny Warrington's quote at the beginnning of this thread...

http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum...4&referrerid=0

[subk]

Anybody else notice all the hardware?

It never occurred to me that you could put that noseband with that noseband. Ironic isn't it, that with all the brakes in application that the horse seems to have a problem going forward...

[AppJumpr08]

Scary Scary Scary.

I'm so glad both of them are ok!!!


When I was looking at those pictures I had flashbacks to a lesson I had years ago.. in which I got (rightly) SCREAMED at for letting a horse slither down a drop like that one.. I don't think I'll ever accept a slidy drop ever again - they've gotta JUMP!

[CBudFrggy]

I am amazed at how relaxed her horse looks afterward, ears forward, eyes calm.

[Ajierene]

This brings to mind the other proposed rule - that she has to drop down a level and is suspended for six months. This is still in the voting process, as far as I know, but do you think this is an appropriate response to rotational falls?

[tx3dayeventer]

Have you ever cracked your neck due to a fall? (I did, during a backhandspring back flip during a cheerleading competition, please don't judge me b/c I was a cheerleader ). My wrist gave out when I went back into my backhandspring and I landed square on my head and felt a pop in my neck. I was fine (had xrays done) but felt a goofy sense of euphoria and calmness. It was like all was right with the world and I was so calm, so relaxed, and so happy, it was weird. I wonder if the horse sensed the same feeling after falling all funky on his neck??? Hmmmm...... to bad they can't talk.

[RAyers]

Originally Posted by Ajierene

This brings to mind the other proposed rule - that she has to drop down a level and is suspended for six months. This is still in the voting process, as far as I know, but do you think this is an appropriate response to rotational falls?

Good question. This is a rider who has done CIC***W but appears to have recent difficulties at A with a TE, and E this year. they have had a good run at OI and are 3rd in the Master Amateur Leader Board.

[Jazzy Lady]

hardware??? The horse is in a snaffle. Sure he has on a lever noseband with a figure 8, but it's not like she has a crazy contraption in his mouth... well, on the cheek piece anyway.

Glad their both okay.

[RugBug]

Originally Posted by RAyers

I am not sure where your definition of rotational comes from but that is a rotational fall by the laws of physics and otherwise. There was a single pivot point aobut which the horse roated over the fence.

Funny 'caused people tried to tell me Tigger Too's fall wasn't 'rotational' because he got his legs out in front of him. He still rotated over a single pivot point...the only reason for the twist is because the pivot point isn't dead center across the horse's chest. Seems some want to apply a very narrow definition to the term rotational fall.

Glad both horse and rider are okay.

[justhanginon]

Yikes, glad everyone was okay. I have a question. In the pictures where the horse is sort of flipping about half way down the bank, where is the rider ? Was she thrown forward so she is out of the frame of the picture ? The only other option is that she is behind (or under) the horse. If that was the case I would be amazed that she could walk away.

[CoolMeadows]

They're both very lucky to be walking away from such an ugly fall. I hope the dent on his left knee is an old scar and nothing new or serious. Maybe the horse opens his mouth and is strong thus the figure eight plus kineton. I've never seen them used together - even with a soft bit those two combined plus a running martingale would give you some hardcore brakes. He must ride like a freight train.

I'm also curious as to why so many said Tiggers' fall wasn't rotational. It looked like his hind end was pivoting sideways over the fence.

[pwynnnorman]

Originally Posted by RAyers

Good question. This is a rider who has done CIC***W but appears to have recent difficulties at A with a TE, and E this year. they have had a good run at OI and are 3rd in the Master Amateur Leader Board.

The problem I see with relying on riders' records are "enabler horses." I finally got around to re-watching on DVD some of the Rolex afternoon rides and I must say, watching on my bigger TV screen really helped me see the huge differences in riding that others have pointed out.

Waylon Roberts was an absolute treat to watch. His hands never seemed to move, his legs looked like they were glued in place. When his buns hit the saddle, the contact was gradual and then rock solid. No rotating shoulders, no grabbing hands, no tapping butt in the tack--one tiny instance of pumping the upper body, but nothing like rides that came right before and after him. Bonnie Mosser and Kim Severson had similar positions: quiet, consistent, effective. But I was just engrossed by Waylon's hands and legs more than anything else.

Meanwhile, though, there were some really, really rough rides from horses which had been extremely succesful through the season--several saved (for a while at least) only by the generousity and sheer talent of the horses. One horse was so buried in front of a big oxer that, by all rights, it should have been a rotational fall. It was amazing how he dug himself out--but he'd been ridden backwards from very nearly the start of the course--and yet it was not the pair's first time around the course. That poor horse got no help whatsoever from its rider and he finally just quit.

In the back of my mind, I do wonder if it is just Rolex nerves that cause some to suddenly become passengers instead of riders. But on the other hand, maybe the event world is suffering from too many average riders on exceptional horses? There needs to be a way to separate the horse's success from the riders. I can't see how that can be done, but when you sit down and compare rides--heck, even my father with alzhiemers could recognize the loose, busy rides from the tight, quiet ones.

[mjrtango93]

Originally Posted by justhanginon

Yikes, glad everyone was okay. I have a question. In the pictures where the horse is sort of flipping about half way down the bank, where is the rider ? Was she thrown forward so she is out of the frame of the picture ? The only other option is that she is behind (or under) the horse. If that was the case I would be amazed that she could walk away.

She was under him for a couple seconds, thing is that the water landing does create quite a cushion. I had my horse flip at an intermediate table in water (there was a row of brush below the top of the table and he thought it was the top, so we had a little swim) I was directly underneath all 1200# of him when he landed. I came up with a bruise on my shoulder (and I'm a whitey that bruises if you look at me to long) and a little road rash on my elbow from the rock in the bottom of the water jump. Other then that and being cold was completely fine, not even stiff the next day.