Picture an unrated h/j show in the mid-80’s. I’m maybe 16, on a bid, bad Appy borrowed from my trainer for the day, and we have just cruised an outside course at a hand gallop that just kept getting faster. Judge & scribe turn away after the last fence, and my horse bolts . . . but it’s a wooded area, and he scrapes me off into a tree and takes off to tour the show grounds. I had to climb down the tree, scraped and sniffling, cursing the horse and picking twigs off of my coat. The horse books by my parents, riderless, stirrups flapping and they’re like, hmmm, isn’t that DD’s horse?? Tons of people chase him. While that is happening, the class is called, and I won. The crash wasn’t seen by ANYONE, and when I whispered to the scribe, they were like, that happened after you left the course. I probably had a concussion, I was like, uh, thanks! Then I got reserve champion for the day :lol:
A Sunday morning ride, and hungover me decides I’m too lazy to re-arrange Miss Mare so her left side is facing the mounting block. Instead, I decide to climb aboard from the right. I’ve done this before, but not with a long night of partying preceding it. Turns out it’s a lot harder when your coordination is already a little off.
I swung my left leg over, overbalanced, and just kept. on. going. until I landed in a heap in the sand next to mare’s left foreleg. My riding buddies were laughing hysterically. Of course there were witnesses!
I’ve had plenty of ridiculous falls, but I almost wish I had a video of the time I fell off, landed on my feet, but had enough to get instant Charlie horses in both legs. I couldn’t stand up, so I duck-waddled around the ring trying to catch my horse.
:lol:
[QUOTE=OveroHunter;8259838]
… was feeling like I was the “supreme hunter rider” riding the “supreme hunter horse” and just above this stupid show… Let’s just say the arena was tiny, the jumps were extra spooky, and my saint of a “supreme hunter horse” was not digging this one jump… I’m sitting up there is a half seat, practically winking at the judge as I flawlessly cantered by, [/QUOTE]
I love this!
As a teenager I went out for a bareback trail ride with a new almost boyfriend. On the way to the trails we stopped at the corner market for sodas. He ran in while I sat on the saintly gelding holding his mare’s reins in the parking lot.
A car pulled into the parking lot and mare decided she needed to back up and turn around (slowly) to get a better look at the new car. As she pulled back, I held on, and slid all the way off my horse until I hit the ground.
I ended up on my ass in the middle of the parking lot holding a horse in each hand. For all to see.
I got spun off a short stirrup horse at the posting trot. She was looking a bit at a puddle as we trotted towards it. Most horses, I would have gone to sitting trot, but I figured it was a short stirrup horse. She got me on the upbeat. That was the worst in terms of horses that I should not have fallen off of
The most embarrassing in terms of circumstance was in a dressage show. First off, who falls off in a dressage show? It was a really good buck and spin, so at least I didn’t feel stupid for having fallen off. But the judge, who was a pillar of our dressage community, came down from her booth and asked, “Peggy, are you OK?” One that was established she noted that I could get back on and finish as my horse hadn’t left the ring, though she also noted that she wouldn’t get back on after that. I did finish the test. One of the collective marks read “courageous riding.”
Warm up at show. Mare stops dirty. That gasp eminates from the crowd as I scramble to unsuccessfully stay mounted.
Then all the people from my barn and some who show with me head over to the fence to see what the issue was because they are all commenting that they have never seen my mare stop dirty. I’m like hey I’m over here on the ground…its nice you are defending my horse but has anyone thought to see if I’m OK???
When I first got my OTTB, I was so proud - took him to a show where we were to do only an in-hand class, just so I could display our spiritual connection and use the phrase “my horse” about a hundred times.
On the trot back, he was stung by a hornet and flung his head bam! to the left, clocking me so hard in the face that I literally saw stars. I flew back, down, and under his feet. He made such care not to step on me; I was forever grateful. We got a ribbon for coming in last in a small class. Judge wrote “Nice horse - good recovery”.
There were children watching. I tried to jump something that Princess Mare hadn’t jumped before. Princess Mare screeched to a halt right in front of the skeery jump and launched me forward so I was straddling her neck. I thought I had time to scoot backward into my saddle and make the Best Save Ever, but Princess Mare was having none of it. She hopped, pivoted, and took off. Almost launched me into a wall. Fun fun.
[QUOTE=m&m;8260356]
I love this![/QUOTE]
I had a needed lesson in humility that day!
[QUOTE=thoroughbred21;8260527]
use the phrase “my horse” about a hundred times[/QUOTE]
Also guilty 
I loved all the stories!!! Glad to know it happens to others!
In my last barn, people fell pretty regularly. In this barn, it very rarely happens, which is why I felt like such a dummy.
I was walking on trail on my green 4 year old with friends and their kids when I leaned down a swatted at a fly on his shoulder. He spun away from my hand like I beat the crap out of him on a regular basis. Needless to say he spun me right off. I just wasn’t expecting it.
I took my green horse to a tiny schooling show out in the boonies. I had not shown in years, so my boots had gotten a little snug and were somewhat cutting the circulation off to my feet. It had been raining and they were trying to decide whether to move the rest of the show inside. As I was mounted and walking around the ring for a flat class, some lightning began to flash in the sky. The ring master called for everyone to head inside. I decided to quickly dismount and lead my horse in. Well, my foot had fallen asleep by then and as I attempted to jump down, I discovered what I could not feel…my left foot was still in the stirrup! I fell off and right into the mud.
I can only imagine how it looked to people unaware of the situation…big idiot rider falls off at a halt.
[QUOTE=caryledee;8260699]
I can only imagine how it looked to people unaware of the situation…big idiot rider falls off at a halt. :)[/QUOTE]
Not my fall, but it happened to a friend – she was done with the ride and was hanging around at the halt, talking to friends. Decided it would be cool to lean back and prop her feet up over the saddle. Horse: “uh, no.” Plop.
OP… this one will make you laugh.
I was the BM at an event barn and had acquired a nice quiet no-nonsense type OTTB… His 1st ride post track after a 6 month recoup and he was the coolest clam… 2nd ride the same, W/T around indoor and outdoor and then a peaceful hack around the premises… His 3rd ride post track I was feeling quite confident, I invited the old mother out to witness his suave chill. She was skeptic but complied. Boarders were asking me if I aced him because he was such a quiet gentleman and he defied their OTTB stereotype.
Well I wasn’t even on the horse yet and still fell. I stepped onto the mounting block and went to swing my leg over his back and in a moment of poor balance kneed him right in the ribs. Big horse, small mounting block.
Well, he had something to say about that and took off at a startled gallop – my leg was stuck in the stirrup and I couldn’t jump ship… Halfway around the ring he bucked because this monkey was half attached to him and I got sent tumbling into the dirt.
Mother was mortified.
The day I was, understandably, nervous about getting on a horse that had bee only hand walking or ages. I lined up the mounting block , and quietly settled on top of him BEHIND the cantle of the saddle. He thought about it for a minute, and then bucked, :eek:
After I picked myself up, I quietly remounted, and we had a pleasant walk. :o
Ha, these are awesome. I have a couple but the best is from when I was about 10 years old. I didn’t have much jumping experience or, apparently, a very secure seat. I attempted to jump a small vertical, got jumped out of the saddle, and landed directly in front of it on the lesson horse’s withers. Sensing my vulnerability, she halted immediately after the fence and dropped her head to graze (grass ring). Still sitting upright, I slid right down her neck and was deposited on the ground in front of her head. I think I was still holding the reins correctly! 
I’ve had some outstanding stupid falls. I wouldn’t fall off for months & months (I rode 4-6/day so quite a lot of rides), but then I’d have a few days where I couldn’t stay on anything. My mom would suggest I try another sport when I hit those spots.
[QUOTE=Peggy;8260453]
The most embarrassing in terms of circumstance was in a dressage show. First off, who falls off in a dressage show? [/QUOTE]
somewhere on here is a photo of a dressage rider, standing hands on hips in the center of the arena, as the horse comes leaping over the boards like it’s a three foot oxer.
