 |
Re: [RC] falling safely - Barbara McCraryToday, for the first time in the two years since I bought him, Banner unloaded me. We were trotting along, slightly downhill, on a road made up of shale (chalk rock), when a horse-eater in the form of a tree root at the side of the road launched itself at Banner. What was a poor horse to do when so viciously attacked but to do a shoulder-drop, duck and turn maneuver. I just couldn't find anything to grab onto to keep my balance, so I went off his side, in sort of slow-motion, thinking all the while, "I hope I get my feet free of the stirrups in time." As I fell neatly underneath him, I was thinking, "I hope her doesn't kick at me out of fear." He didn't, but he spun away from me and immediately went to my husband's horse just a few feet away and stopped. I have a few sore spots and scuffed boots, but that's about all. The visor on my helmet became semi-detached (Velcro), so it must be that I hit it somehow. All in all, no damage done and we continued on our way. I'm sure there will be some sore body parts tonight. I wish I had learned to fall properly many years ago. The instinct and reaction just isn't there. Barbara To: "abigail Madden" <run_rosko_run@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Cc: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, July 10, 2004 3:55 PM Subject: Re: [RC] falling safely I'm with your husband. You CAN learn to fall safely, but like anything else it takes a lot of practice. You're correct in that when you are flying through the air at great height, speed, velocity, you really don't have time to "think" about what you're doing. That's where lots of training takes over. The muscle memory goes to work and you fall appropriately. Gymnastics and martial arts are great for this (I have experience in both and currently teach defensive tactics that include falling). Like anything else, its baby steps first. You start at a very low height (i.e. squatting) and then just kind of lay down in the appropriate position whether you're doing a front, side, or back fall. As you get better, you increase the height and speed. It is difficult to learn, but its one of those things that sticks with you once you get it right (thank goodness, because I seem to fall off all the time at speed). The important thing is to find somebody who is qualified to teach you how to fall, not just tell you to tuck and roll. Good luck! abigail Chico, CAI have yet to see gymasts or martial arts people do their falling practices on concrete-like, rock-laden adobe clay! <g> The times I've come off I would have dearly loved a mat to fall on. (I fall reasonably well and haven't broken any bones -- but the back of my helmet has saved a skull fracture or two). -- Lynn Kinsky, Santa Ynez, CA http://www.silcom.com/~lkinsky/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|