I was talking to a lady who attended a Landsafe clinic. Looks like they teach you a forward roll from a trampoline and then put you on a horse simulator to practice. There’s one coming up near me. Has anyone done it and would you recommend it?
I am not familiar with this but I would not attend.
In my experience, by the time I have thought … “oh sh!t, I am falling off”, I am already on the ground. There simply is no time to think “roll”.
I imagine one would have to practice falling 100 times before it might become instinctive. I got my practice the natural way … smart pony dumped me probably 100 times between the age of 9 and 12 or so. Eventually I learned how to stick 99% of the time, and to absorb the rare fall without serious injury instinctively.
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There are a couple of threads on here about Land Safe from the last few years
My last trainer had a clinic and then a follow up a year later. The key is muscle memory so you don’t have to think - same basic principle that gymnasts learn - you do a lot of repetitions during the clinic and they encourage a follow up to further instill it. You will be sore afterwards but from muscle use because like most things in riding - it is athletic. I didn’t participate due to pre-existing conditions but those who did felt it was worth it. At least one person came off within a few months and was uninjured and fell “properly”.
Also you start from gymnastic mats and move up to more dynamic movements so you don’t just throw yourself at it and hope for the best.
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Now I found the threads! I must have been searching for “land safe” with a space… Thanks.
Yes, I do think they work in instilling muscle memory. The lady I spoke to had been to one recently and highly recommended it. It does look pretty intense – I have a desk job, not sure I can currently handle 4 hours two days in a row!
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I did one last fall and thought it was great. I was definitely pretty stiff/sore afterwards (I have a desk job too!) but still thought it was completely worth it. Thankfully(?!) I haven’t fallen off since, but I think I would have a decent chance of doing the right thing to protect my head/spine if/when I do. If they come back to my area for the follow up class, I will jump at the chance to participate!
Not trying to be negative here but I think it depends on your age. I’m in my 70’s and all my muscle memory about falling off is memorized. I think it’s a great thing to do when you are starting out riding and/or in your 20’s or even 30’s but after some years I think it would be hard to make that muscle memory change.
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OP probably saw my comments on earlier threads, but for those who haven’t done the research, I’ll recap. My barn hosted a LandSafe clinic which I audited. I was completely skeptical. My thoughts mirrored many of the negatives above and more.
I came away convinced that this is a worthwhile program, and should be mandatory at some level. As noted above, progressions were appropriate and repetition was key. Individual limitations were accommodated. I was particularly impressed by the striking improvement every participant made over the course of the clinic. As challenges became more complex, it was clear that the incremental exercises leading up to them had been very effective. And everyone had a positive experience. I wished I had been able to do it.
If you have a chance, go. We spend money on clinics all the time (well maybe not ALL the time). This is one that could spare you great harm. It is worth every penny IMHO.
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For this year USEA is picking up $50 of the cost for current members, too; based on what sounds like positive reviews I hope/expect that to continue.
Assuming it’s back at Scarlet Hill again next year I plan to go. (They’re also at the Equine Expo in November, but as a result of a recent land-NOT-safe incident I’m sidelined for a while.)
I wish it wasn’t so expensive. And the one near me is the same day as a a starter trail I’m going to. I would like to at least audit one some day.
I agree that teaching an older body to roll on instinct probably isn’t going to happen. I learned to tuck and roll when I was 8. It has stayed with me since and I do credit rolling to not getting badly injured in falls. The only time I ever had a resulting injury was when I did not have any room to roll and one leg took all the force of the fall.
I’m surprised they recommended rolling forward. We were taught to roll sideways out of the path of the horse’s legs.
I hosted a clinic a year ago and agree both that it was physically demanding and very worthwhile! Danny and Kelli work really well together, are very good teachers and the progression of the clinic was really well done. Yes, I was sore afterwards, yes I got motion sick doing all those somersaults the first day (seabands helped on the second day) but I think they were very clear on what they clinic can and cannot do - will it keep you from breaking anything if you fall off? Probably not, but it could help you be less injured in a catastrophic fall. I learned an easy way to get off rearing horse which had never occurred to me and rearing is something that I find terrifying. That was worth the whole price. Also you get to ride the mechanical horse!
Fully agree that it’s the kids who need to learn this! But learning something new at an older age isn’t a bad thing either.
I got a lot of pushback when I was trying to promote the clinic - I don’t need this because… I don’t fall off, I don’t fall off THAT way, I know how to fall, it’s expensive…
As for rolling forward - they teach you to roll away from the horse, they start you with forward on the tumbling, and move on to off to the side. All the falls off the mechanical horse are to get away from it which is off to the side.
Having attended one, and been experimenting with gravity more than usual this year, I’d say that it might be worthwhile if you’re the type to bail. (For example, horse bolting toward icy road. I can see that being a situation where you’d consider bailing - I don’t.) It didn’t change my instincts at all: I fall the same way I always have and still hold on as long as I can, because I’m STILL not walking home. Have to say, the incidents I thought of for bailing examples are all things I’ve done, and all turned out fine with me still on.
That said, it was fun, and would probably be useful for people whose dumping style is less entrenched than mine. One caution: My knees were pretty mad for a while though - too much landing on unstable surfaces - and they’re not that sketchy.
I did one earlier this year, and I found it to be a very positive experience.
My warning would be if you experience motion sickness, to use some sort of prevention (i used ginger pills and sea bands!)
There are definitely several things I walked away with from this clinic, the feeling of “where my shoulders should be” basically at all times, and how to engage my core effectively.
It gave me more confidence in the event I do fall off (tuck chin, get my hands out in front, tighten core). I think that the number one fear of most amateur riders is falling off. To professional riders, its just another day at the office. Its not a big deal, you get back on. I felt like going through this clinic I was mentally able to give myself permission to fall off. I guess the other thing is that I learned I dont really have bad reflexes, as previous falls and bailing off a rearing horse, I did a lot of the ‘right things’.
the falls from the mechanical horse I did: Rearing, Horse falling forward/rotational fall, and a emergency dismount/horse out of control. these were done with different levels of mats for protection.
