likelihood of falls in dressage vs H/J?

[superpony123]

I wandered over from H/J land because i was wondering if there’s really much of a big difference in likelihood/amount of falls from H/J to dressage, due to the lack of jumping in dressage.

Obviously, just because there’s no jumping does not mean a horse can’t have an absolute fit or take off or spook or buck or do anything a H/J horse could do on the flat.

However I find that 90% of my falls are from jumping. Maybe the manner in which you generally fall just depends on your experience? I’ve been thrown countless bucks in my riding life, and none of them have ever gotten me on the ground. emergency dismounts have happened a few times, and also occured on-course. When i try to think about it really hard, less than 5 falls have occured on the flat. I’ve only been riding for 6 years, though. All of those falls were when i was a beginner (like learning to canter! haha)

So, there’s my quesion: for those of you who have done the H/J as well as dressage, do you find that your falls are much rarer in dressage due to lack of jumping?

I’m simply curious, and not insisting HJ is ‘harder’ or ‘more dangerous’ or anything just because of jumping. I’ve just kind of always wondered. I know the danger is just the same, but I’m more interested in the actual likelihood. for example, I’ve never been to a dressage show. How often does a fall occur at a dressage show? I know at roughly every h/j show i’ve ever been to, there’s been at least one fall. at the bigger shows where there’s a bajillion divisions, I’ll see multiple falls everyday. I’m just wondering how things compare?

[mypaintwattie]

I think its about the same- of course in my case I seem to have fallen off more riding dressage than H/J! Just because you are not jumping doesn’t mean the risk isn’t there.

[lewin]

For me:

HJ falls: 5; 2 over fences

Dressage falls: 1

I do think it is less. At dressage shows I have only seen one or two fall off. Hunter-jumper shows you almost saw at least one fall per division.

[thatmoody]

I know someone who falls off quite a bit, so she switched to dressage. She still falls off a lot. She’s been riding a long time, btw, and I think she needs to do something different, but it’s not really my business - I just think it’s interesting. She just doesn’t have a very secure seat, no matter what discipline she rides… :P. But I think that different activities bring different risk profiles - I used to train young horses, and that had a significantly higher RP than what I do now.

[Eclectic_Horseman]

Depends. Some unaccomplished riders have very bad balance and poor coordination. A rider who is rolling around in the saddle on her butt with her knees drawn up and using her reins for balance can just lose her balance and fall off without any reason whatsoever. Some riders that are a bit better than that will fall off if the horse trips or coughs. It really won’t make any difference with this type of rider whether they are riding over fences or on the flat. In fact, with this type of rider riding the same horse all the time, the situation is likely to get worse and worse as both the rider and horse become more tense.

Other riders will stay on unless the horse does something sudden-like stop short or shy. Theoretically, this will happen more in jumping, particularly with a rider that unintentionally interferes with the horse’s balance, causing a stop or run out. But it really depends on the horse’s temperament. I’ve seen flying armchairs that pack around small courses with terrible riders aboard, and I’ve seen sensitive dressage horses that lose their confidence and freak out when not ridden every stride by a competent rider.

In most circumstances, dressage riding inside the arena should provide less reason for a rider with poor skills to fall off, as long as the rider has a suitable mount.

[goeslikestink]

[QUOTE=Eclectic Horseman;4334483]
Depends. Some unaccomplished riders have very bad balance and poor coordination. A rider who is rolling around in the saddle on her butt with her knees drawn up and using her reins for balance can just lose her balance and fall off without any reason whatsoever. Some riders that are a bit better than that will fall off if the horse trips or coughs. It really won’t make any difference with this type of rider whether they are riding over fences or on the flat. In fact, with this type of rider riding the same horse all the time, the situation is likely to get worse and worse as both the rider and horse become more tense.

Other riders will stay on unless the horse does something sudden-like stop short or shy. Theoretically, this will happen more in jumping, particularly with a rider that unintentionally interferes with the horse’s balance, causing a stop or run out. But it really depends on the horse’s temperament. I’ve seen flying armchairs that pack around small courses with terrible riders aboard, and I’ve seen sensitive dressage horses that lose their confidence and freak out when not ridden every stride by a competent rider.

In most circumstances, dressage riding inside the arena should provide less reason for a rider with poor skills to fall off, as long as the rider has a suitable mount.[/QUOTE]

yeap and it also depends on how well your horse is balanced

[FancyFree]

I’ve never fallen off once while riding dressage but I’ve fallen off while jumping many times. I think there’s definitely a greater chance of falling while jumping.

[bort84]

I think most people would agree that there is an increased chance of falling while jumping. If a rider is very accomplished over fences and on the flat, there’s just more chance for you or the horse to lose your balance when you’re jumping over an obstacle (and if the rider isn’t very accomplished in either case, then there’s a LOT more opportunity to take a tumble while jumping). When you’re encouraging a horse to take all four feet off the ground, it just increases the chance that if something goes wrong, you’re going to lose your balance to the point of falling.

I know riders that always fall off while jumping and their trainer tells them that’s completely normal (falling off every ride at least once), and I think that’s a BIG problem. So I don’t think you should fall off frequently just because you’re jumping. But I do think jumping increases the chances of a fall compared to just riding on the flat (especially in a nice safe dressage arena, haha).

[Beam_Me_Up]

Over many years . . .

I’ve fallen the most on x-c at events.
A couple times at jumper shows.
Once at hunter show (naughty greenie!)
Never at a dressage show.

However, I have fallen off on the flat at home, mostly when we were cooling out or walking on the trail and something spooky happened.

[FancyFree]

However, I have fallen off on the flat at home, mostly when we were cooling out or walking on the trail and something spooky happened.

Oh if you’re talking about out on trail as well, I’ve gotten dumped probably ten or more times throughout my life. I had a horse who would roll me off and run back home when I was a kid, so he counts for about six of those times. :lol:

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

Jumping = more falls

Well not counting the two falls (in the same week) when I was just learning how to ride (ok one WAS from a buck).

Jumping: 3 falls

Dressage: 0 falls

Have experienced naughty behavior in both disciplines from horses, but no falls from that (fingers crossed–full chaps are a trail rider’s friend I tell you). All the naughty stuff, spooking, crow hopping, rearing, and bucking, etc.–if it is going to get you, it is going to get you on the flat regardless of what type of riding you do. So certain riders and horses are going to skew any stats you look at, but in general I’d stake my money on jumping causing more falls. Certainly more fatalities (look at eventing’s unfortunate bad run in recent past).

All three of my jumping falls were over fences. 2 involved me jumping ahead (BAD) and the horse refusing.

And there are just certain horse’s that are more likely to do naughty things. There’s a reason I grab the 19 year old QH out of the barn when I want to ride bareback and leave my younger thoroughbred in his stall!

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

[QUOTE=bort84;4334739]

I know riders that always fall off while jumping and their trainer tells them that’s completely normal (falling off every ride at least once), and I think that’s a BIG problem. [/QUOTE]

Shut Up! I would quit if I fell off every ride/time I jumped. Good Lord! Time to go back to the base of support!!

That’s straight up scary–

[quietann]

So far I’ve never been dumped while on the flat or trail riding. But jumping is another matter; I’ve had maybe 10 falls total in 10 years of riding (7 as a teen, 3 more recently.) Only one was really bad, resulting in broken bones; two others resulted in injuries beyond a scrape or a bruise.

After the bad fall last summer, I swore off jumping, but I’ve gone over crossrails a few times on the gelding I ride, and I know maresy wants to jump, but I’m a bit unsure about actually jumping her as she gets very revved up. OTOH, for trail riding, I think having some jumping experience is absolutely necessary, as there will be logs, ditches, streams to cross, etc.

At our last schooling show, the warm-up jumps were next to the dressage warm-up, and every time we were pointed towards the jumps, she’d start subtly moving towards them. And she will use any excuse to jump over a pole on the ground!

It’s very odd; I am not a “beautiful” rider by any means, and I can get pretty tense, but my balance is right on.

[Janet]

I don’t know about FALLS per se.

But with regard to “trips to the ER”, there was a CDC study a few years ago.

The activity MOST LIKELY to send you to the ER?
Walking on a loose rein.

[bort84]

@TrotTrotPumpkn;4334787

Shut Up! I would quit if I fell off every ride/time I jumped. Good Lord! Time to go back to the base of support!!

That’s straight up scary–

I totally agree. These are usually riders with those trainers we all like to avoid at the horse shows (you know, the ones where you want to close your eyes and say a little prayer whenever their riders come in the ring). My friend’s little sister rode at a place like this and literally got dumped EVERY ride because they over mounted her constantly. Then she started jumping and it just got worse. Ack! We couldn’t convince her parents to move her to our barn because they thought the sibling rivalry would be bad and because she had “such a great connection” with her trainer… I still don’t understand that one because her parents were otherwise quite reasonable.

Anyway, just mentioned that because there are a lot of unknowledgeable people out there who believe trainers when they say it’s okay to fall off all the time. No it’s not. I don’t care if you’re jumping. If you’re falling off every ride, something is really wrong with your trainer! Why does the horse world attract such nutters? Haha. I’m a bit of a nutter I suppose, but I’m the good kind = )

[bort84]

@Janet;4334799

I don’t knwo about FALLS per se.

But with regard to “trips to the ER”, there was a CDC study a few years ago.

The activity MOST LIKELY to send you to the ER?
Walking on a loose rein.

Haha!!! Obviously! That’s why I’d always cringe when I’d see young riders doing this at horse shows, and forbade my students from ever being so careless under my watch = ) Though I think most of us have been guilty of that at one time or another…

[Eclectic_Horseman]

@Janet;4334799

I
The activity MOST LIKELY to send you to the ER?
Walking on a loose rein.

I definitely believe that. And if you really want flying lessons, take a powerful, reactive upper level dressage horse for a hack in the woods! :eek:

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

[QUOTE=Janet;4334799]
I don’t knwo about FALLS per se.

But with regard to “trips to the ER”, there was a CDC study a few years ago.

The activity MOST LIKELY to send you to the ER?
Walking on a loose rein.[/QUOTE]

I believe it. But for my full chaps (seriously), I’m sure I’d have some of those too. Like the time the cat jumped into the arena through an open window, trying to land on my lap. Unfortunately I was mounted at the time, cooling my horse out on a loose rein. Fastest spin/jump/spook combo I’ll ever sit. Thank you full chaps!!

[Miss-O]

I think it really depends on the individual rider. I think there are a lot of people out there who ride better when they are doing something they consider more dangerous, such as jumping or galloping. I know that is true for myself. I’m ashamed to admit that my worst falls have been at the trot.

[Rival]

I definately think people fall off more jumping. I used to jump and then swapped over to dressage. In the year I was at a dressage only barn I think I was the only person to come off their horse (my three year old). When I moved into a mixed facility (about 70 horses and 60 are hunter/jumpers) atleast one and usually more falls per week seem to be the norm.

I will say however if you are going to come off a dressage horse it is usually in much grander fashion (maybe than even some rodeos)