Broke my streak...

[wjminwi]

Guess what?
I broke my 1.5 year streak today of 'not falling off' my horse :-(
When we ride on our neighbors fields, we first need to go through a cow pasture, which usually has about 8 dairy heifers, who stand around and chew and look at us. This year, there are 8 cows, but they are much more spooky and like to trot right up to us. We've gone through a few times with no incidents, but today was a bit of an adrenaline rush!
We went in and the cows were not in sight...probably down by the creek. So no problems. But when we came out again, they also were not in sight, so we figured they were still in the same place. BUT while we were riding, they had come back by the gate and were lurking out of sight in the shed. DD and her pony were in the lead, and when they approached the shed, the cows popped out at full speed, and ran terrified across the pasture! She had the sense to hop off her pony, but I was a bit behind them and saw that they were not running toward me, so I stayed on and did two one rein stops...one to the right, one to the left. But then Scout spun around and bolted away in terror! I still stayed on, at full gallop, for a little way, but then she either hopped something or speeded up or ?....I lost a stirrup and then it was all in slow motion from there on while I realized I was FALLING! I hit and rolled, like a good girl, but still have a sore neck/shoulder and cut my bridge of my nose on my glasses and now have a red cut with a pretty green background:-p And guess what? We had to go catch the horses, remount, ride down toward the shed again in order to leave and Scout decided that the shed probably still had more 'mad cows' in it, spun and threw me off AGAIN! Same result! Except my dd heard her mom swear for the very first time, I'm ashamed to say! That 'd---- horse!' I did not expect the second fall at all...she didn't seem that tense or afraid anymore, so maybe she saw something move like a bird in the shed?...I don't know.
I'm going to the chiro tomorrow...I'm not really in pain, just very stiff. My arms are all scratched up and have red welts too...from whatever plant I landed on, I guess. And my ring finger has rope burn from my reins so I won't be taking off my wedding rings for a few days.

[MaryS]

I'm sorry you took a tumble . Hope the rope burn heals fast.

[ghostrider]

So sorry and of course like I told my son once...if you ride you WILL come off eventually.
And good girl for going to the Chiropractor because with a fall like that you know everything is out of wack. I like to sing..neck bones connected to the back bone, back bones connected to the hip bone etc... if one bones out they will all be effected.

I never hop off either but I think at my age and speed I'm better off in the saddle then half way out if he's going to spook.

The cows here all run to the fence to see us or run with us because they think people = food I guess?? first time we had about 30-40 cows all take flight to meet us at the fence I stopped breathing and waited for Buddy to bolt and run but he was like "HUH?" funny how they don't spook when you're expecting it.

[cyndi]

So sorry to hear about your fall!! Ugh, I know that slow-motion feeling as you're falling. I hope you're feeling better soon!

[Deleted]

Oh man, Wendi...I'm so sorry!! I bet she was anticipating the cows again the second time. I've had horses shy in the same spot over and over. They don't know that whatever scared them is gone.

I am almost afraid to say this, but I haven't come off in 8 yrs. ( the last time was 8 years ago when the horse tripped) I have no intention of coming off EVER AGAIN. lol!!!

[ghostrider]

Been 6 here but I am considering a new horse so?? knock on wood!!

yeah that slow motion sucks, happened only once when Buddy spooked from all the pigeons on the roof of an old run in. (they decided to take flight all of a sudden) Buddy spun and bolted, I lost the stirrup and I actually had time to think " just give up you're going to come off" and about that time he stopped and I regained my balance.

[wjminwi]

That's the thought I had, Denise! I wish now I could go back and try it again and STAY ON!
By the way...only 2 more weeks and we'll be loading these beasts into the trailer to go to a totally new place...should have lots of spooking practice then, eh?

[ghostrider]

yup always starts over which really makes 0 sense? We take them in the trailer to new places and they're just fine, no spook there but you move and go down a normal dirt road, past normal cows and cars and they act like they're wild animals!
Funniest thing I ever saw the horses run from though were the amish driven buggies, I KNOW they were thinking those poor horses weren't running fast enough to leave the big square monsters behind.

[horsespoiler]

Well, this is the reason my DH and I now wear protective vests and helmets when we ride. We don't bounce as well as we used to. Winnie used to spin out from under my DH all the time but she rarely spooks now, just a few belly-flops now and then. My mustang bucked me off one day on the hard dirt/rock road, saw it coming. Whitey has taken off a couple of times but I have managed to stay on. Our great niece didn't but Whitey had the decency to stop when she started to fall and waited till she hit the ground to continue on. We all walked home that day as the other 2 ran off while we were more concerned with our niece. Flying lessons all around.

[appytrails]

Oh my, glad you weren't hurt anymore than you are. Not a great way to do one of the last few rides you'll have at your old place. Hope you're feeling better soon and the chiro helps.

[wjminwi]

I'm all fine now. My chiro said my back survived ok, but I did strain the muscles in the front of my neck...just yesterday I noticed that I can lift my head again while laying on my back! Couldn't do that for a few days.
I was thinking of you this past weekend, Duly!...I was in Des Moines for the Dam to Dam race.

[vsolubo]

Hope you feel better soon!