I've been training one of my horses to go bareback and bridle-less. The first time I ever rode without a bridle I just threw a saddle blanket on him to keep the dirt off my pants and hopped on him. We were walking when my phone rang so he stopped and when I was done with the phone call I reached down to grab the reins without looking but didn't catch them so I leaned forward to the side to grab them if they'd fallen to one side. My horse took that as the cue that I was off balance and shifted his weight to catch me but he over compensated so the saddle blanket shifted and I fell off the other side. It wasn't until I was laying on the ground that I remembered there was no bridle on my horse.

To make things even more embarrassing the phone call was from my little sister telling me that she was there to pick me up. She was talking to the barn owner on the fence and both were laughing at me and commented on my "excellent" and "perfect" balance but neither of them offered to help me up.

Just joined this group, first time I saw it!

Here's what happened the last time I fell :o)
It was during this past fall and I took LucyLou out for a trail ride and we were about 4 miles out and using the path that takes you from the main trails to another set of trails.
There was a herd of young cows in the pastures on the other side of the fence. OK, Lucy knows cows, there's a bunch of steers she see EVERYDAY at our stable.
Well on this particular day she acted like it was the first time she saw this weird animal and when one steer decided to jump on another one Lucy's head & ears went straight up and she was on high alert for killer cows.
I thought she was doing good and started her back on our way.....Wrong!!
She spun to the left and I went flying out of the saddle to the right.... Into the barbed-wire fence & cactus - OUCH - luckily I had on a trail coat and leather gloves LOL- She would have left me there if I hadn't thought to keep a hold of one of the reins!!!
Then all the steers had to come running over to the fence to see what was going on. Took me what felt like forever to get back up and back on the trail.
Don't ya just love horses???

Last summer Ive started a funny mishap you could say...I took my TB Sonja out with other riders on a trail for the first time and she didnt do to bad, it was pretty hot out, and we got to the lake and usually she drinks alot so I thought id let her go take a drink, she walked in and started pawing the water, i said oh oh...and she dipped her shoulder to roll so I flew off into the water so she wouldnt roll on me, I got a shock when the water was only a foot deep and 2 feet of mud! My horse stood straight up walked out of the water and stared at me, like what are you doing? I wanted to be the one in the water...we got back on and the leather stained my pants...now about a couple months ago, I ended back up in the water, my horse didnt want to cross a creek so i got off to lead her and was walking through and my boot got stuck in the mud and plop! into the creek I fell!!!! After awhile I realized kind of weird that I was wearing the same pants that put me in the water the first time!

I have fallen off so many times. i've stoped counting.
this one time i was riding this horse named Teddy. and we were cantering around the ring, and he tripped. i was leaning to far forward and I flipped over his head and landed right in the sand. i might have broken my wrist.. but instead i just got right back up on him. and we contiuned my lesson.

I called the herd for their morning meal.
He didn't come and the fear in my heart was immediately real.

He was always there, the head of the herd.
The other horses didn't come for the grain that was offered.
Those equines had a look in their eyes that something was wrong.
I knew in a moment that my pride and joy might be gone.

My heart broke that day.
As I saw Zip in the spot where he lay.

Zippos High Caliber was still beautiful, shiny, and warm.
I'd spent the night before washing and trimming in the barn.
He was silky and clean and ready to show.
All I could do was hug and hold him crying out “no!”

August 1st is a day I will never forget.
Blast the drought, the dust and the humidity that let
my best buddy fall to asthma, that dreadful disease.
I knew in my heart that I couldn't ask “God, please!”

He was gone in his prime and loved by all.
No more trophies or championships or figuring his way out of a stall.
Zip gave his heart in whatever he did.
Be it reining, halter, trail, games, or teaching a kid.

He had almost human-like qualities like no other.
We sadly buried him right beside his dear mother.
Two beloved horses laying side by side.
Thank you to all who rode them, loved them, and cried.

The healing process has barely begun.
I'll never forget the reining patterns that he run.
His speed and his quickness, the collection, the spins.
It was his pride, his heart, his versatility that helped him win.

Now as I stare at his retired bridle and special bit,
those horseshoes, the blankets each with a championship year on it,
I find my heart heavy and sometimes so sad.
I do have Zip's black sister and know that I should be glad.

There forever will be a fondness in my heart
and know that our souls will never be far apart.
I'll look up to heaven and listen for hoofbeats so fast
and know Zip and Blackie are galloping through the grass.

Rest in peace my beautiful red bay.
A piece of my heart went with you that day.

Shelley Sime Fossen

How do you create a group????"

My Stadardbred sidekicks and bucks alot i need some advice for her not doing that anymore!

so far, i have only fallen off once. i had just started cantering and was really tired. after cantering i was diong some trot jumps. when into 2-point, i was leaning forward on Theo's neck, and right as he was about to go over the jump, he stopped, bot i diddnt. i did a frontflip over his head, and now i never doubt wearing a helmet.

Hey!!! I have 2 groups!!!! *Cowgirls do it better* and Wind Runners!!!!!! I would love for you to check them out and join them!!!!!!!
Thanks!!!!!!
Sophia!

Hi! I've just joined this group and know I will enjoy it greatly...I've also created 2 new groups and am trying to connect with Floridians to check out & join 'Florida Horse Lovers!'...:-) 2nd group is for POA lovers--'POA's (Appaloosa Ponies)'...