ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: Everyone falls off once in a while, right?

Re: Everyone falls off once in a while, right?

Luke A Steele (horseman@isp.com.au)
Wed, 05 Feb 1997 22:36:23 +1100

OK folks,
Now it is my turn to relate to you a few experiences of involuntary
dismounting in spectacular fashion!
1. When I first started riding Nikita, I fell off so often, I lost count. In
fact I became quite good at falling off her with practice. In one ride some
years ago I did on her we raced a lady on her Anglo gelding for the last 10
miles. I just kept her in sight and ran her down in the last quarter mile or
so. It was a racing gallop finish, and Nikita went past the gelding in the
last 20 yards or so. The finish line was just at the junction of a laneway
that led off to the right back to the ride camp. Nikita, just at this moment
noticed that home was off to the right and turned, from a full gallop, up
this laneway. I was riding well forward over her neck and, of course
continued in the direction I had been going very rapidly. I turned a full
somersault and landed in some ti-tree brush and bounced back to my feet! Not
a scratch, a few slight bruises and an audience to boot!
2. About 10 miles into a fifty-miler just over two years ago it was just
getting light. Nikita and I were travelling at a flying trot along a bush
track. Suddenly we came upon a grisly sight. A sheep had been slaughtered on
the track, and there was bits of sheep and fleece all over the track in
front of us. Nikita shied violently, I went over the front, clung vainly
around her neck for a moment, then slipped underneath her front legs. As I
was holding tightly onto the reins, I pulled Nikita down on top of me. I
then let go the reins and felt three hoofbeats on my hard-hat as Nikita took
off after the other horses in front. That convinced my to wear my helmet at
all times after that. I was badly bruised, and cut about, with just enough
blood for effect. After remounting, I rode on another 40 miles.
Being tired of falling off, I rode Nikita bareback to improve my seat and
balance. That helped a lot. Now I still fall off from time to time, but
prefer to leap off just before complete loss of balance, rather than cling
on until I have no control over how I part company.
Fortunately, I have not hurt myself badly in my many falls from horses over
the years. Perhaps it is all the practice that has helped!
The old saying goes something like "You are not a rider until you have
fallen of xx times". Perhaps I am not a rider but an acrobat!
Regards, and fall safely!

P.S. My four year old, Shadrach is doing his first "ride" this weekend. It
is a TEN mile social ride at the Mill Valley Endurance ride, the first for
the season in Victoria. Big Step!
Luke

Luke and Nikita and Sarah and Shadrach at Riddells Creek, Victoria, Australia.

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