Stupid idea?

[OverandOnward]

I don’t know if this is in play here, but it is important to distinguish what is seen in thrilling online videos and livestreaming from the upper levels, and what actually happens at the lower levels. Those upper level videos are not reflective of the much more relaxed pace at the lower levels. The lower levels can be almost like a different sport, one that is much less difficult.

Also, keep in mind that in eventing you can trot any fence you like. At any point in the course you can choose the pace you are comfortable with. You can circle without penalties so long as you aren’t presenting to a jump. And, if you really feel un-confident about an approach to a jump, pull out before the jump and take your 20 penalties. Present again more safely. It is far more important to be confident and safe than it is to worry about some penalty points.

Sometimes riders from the hunter world have to consciously disconnect from their hunter-show mindframe, and remember that, in eventing, they have far more options on course, and no one is judging how it looks.

[Sunny74]

Thank you to all that responded…I appreciate the feedback! Lots to think about!!! Thanks again!!!

[LegalEase]

@Jealoushe

I wonder why there is no data for 2018 and 2019?

The 2018 study is on the BE website now. Rotational falls held steady at 0.05% of all rider falls–only a quarter as many as in 2002-2003.

[CorazonLock]

As others have said, I’d go volunteer at an event or even audit a clinic. Do you have any experience jumping? I would say for myself the thrill definitely outweighs the risk. And there’s things you can do to minimize the risk. Aside from rotational falls, there are many other ways you can fall off a horse and get hurt or even seriously injured. If you have interest, I would tell you don’t keep your anxiety from trying it out, or you will regret never doing it. If you don’t like it or the anxiety outweighs the fun, at least you know this. And there’s things you can do to minimize that risk and maximize the enjoyment!

I would find a reputable instructor to work with that is willing to acknowledge your concerns and teach you safety measures. You also need a steady eddy type horse that’s a safe and eager jumper to show you the ropes. You can jump the mini cross country course if that’s what you enjoy. You don’t have to go any higher than you want to. Personally, I love lower level Eventing and am content riding around the beginner novice and novice levels. My horse is a saint of a jumper and we actually learned to jump h/j together long ago and learned Eventing together. He absolutely loves going cross country and is very smart - he can correct his own mistakes and mine safely. That’s the type of horse you would need.

I hope you get a chance to try things out! It’s a blast!

[SuzieQNutter]

You say you are a trail rider and from your fear you have talked about it sounds like you have never jumped. You have also not mentioned dressage so I am guessing you have not done that.

If that is the case you are a long way from getting over a 1cm jump let alone creating your own cross country course.

It will actually take you years longer to learn dressage than for getting over your first jump.

You need to start taking lessons first.

Kf a true trail ride horse, they go along with the front legs pulling the hind legs. A dressage horse has the engine in their hindquarters which lighten and push the front legs. It is totally different

[Equibrit]

@Sunny74

Thank you to those that responded. My question is…Have rotational falls ever occurred at the lower levels? If someone can tell me that there are zero rotational falls that have occurred at the lower levels (2’11 and below) than I will be on board with participating someday. I, honestly, do not know and am asking politely.

Are all the injuries only at the higher levels of 3’ and above? It just seems to me that I could make a simple mistake even at a low level and could have a rotational fall. Maybe this isn’t a possibility and I am just paranoid! Please educate me…would I be safe?

*edited to change height as novice might be considered low level.

There is no guarantee against injury in any equestrian event. The situation can be mitigated, to some extent, with rigorous education and qualification systems, however that does not exist in the US.

[Mediadise]

Horsemanship is one of the secret sauce with Horses. (Plus the power of those strong horses too)

[Wanderosa]

Didn’t the accident that almost killed Courtney King-Dye happen at the walk? IIRC, Charlotte Dujardin had a serious accident at a low speed early on in her career. Dressage riders, both. While fitting a helmet for my daughter, the manager of a local tack store told me how she got lawn-darted at the walk. She wanted to turn left and the horse didn’t and leaned to the right with all his might. She finally decided ‘screw it’ and stopped trying to turn the horse. Counter-resistance of the left rein now gone, the horse lost his balance and fell over on his right side. :eek: OP, I’d rank trail riding up there for worse accident potential than most low-level jumping. Between holes to step in, stuff to spook at, bees…

The scariest thing I’ve personally witnessed fortunately didn’t result in a fall for horse or rider. It was in either the 1.0m or 1.1m Master’s at Upperville last year. The horse failed to clear the top of the jump and sent 1 rail down ahead of him and the other sort of caught between his feet on the descent. He somehow avoided his leading foot from landing on the fallen rail by a fraction of an inch and the rail caught in his legs sort of ricocheted off his back and front hooves as his back legs landed on the ground and he pushed off for his next stride. The whole thing seemed to take an eternity. Kind of how like a gristly scene in a horror movie. How they weren’t hurt or worse is beyond me. Combination of steady, smart horse and a rider with decent balance who was able to stay out of his way and let the horse pick the best landing, I suppose.

[Rainier]

I had a very good friend that had competed much of her life, was a competitor at the Intermediate level, have a rotational fall over a novice log with a very scopey well and purpose-bred young horse that just got distracted. She broke her back, had several fusions and is lucky to be alive!! After previously getting a plate put in her face after a fall at the upper levels, she threw in the rag. It was a serious reality check for many of us that had always admired her riding, her horses, and her judgement. Because was riding at the lower level, she decided not to wear her air vest that day 😢

[OverandOnward]

@Equibrit

There is no guarantee against injury in any equestrian event. The situation can be mitigated, to some extent, with rigorous education and qualification systems, however that does not exist in the US.

Saying “that does not exist in the US” is really untrue.

What is the point of fear-mongering?

[Sticky_Situation]

@OverandOnward

Saying “that does not exist in the US” is really untrue.

What is the point of fear-mongering?

Yes. While the US qualification system maybe isn’t as rigorous as some think it should be, eventing is still dangerous in Europe.

[OverandOnward]

The OP made an initial post that focuses about her fear of rotational falls, which she associates with eventing generally, as she doesn’t have eventing experience.

And what do people do? Tell every scary rotational fall story they can think of, most of them in no way whatsoever realistically, practically, addressing the OP’s question (and needs). And throw in some sinister-sounding statistics, even though most of them aren’t truly applicable to the very limited scope of the OP’s question.

It’s like a scary story contest around the campfire. With the sole purpose of scaring the new kid.

And trying to out-scary the other scary stories. Who wins the scare contest?

Maybe that doesn’t matter so much, because the OP seems more concerned with her fears than with eventing. So that’s probably a lost cause way beyond anything this thread can do, good or bad.

But it’s been weird to read.

All the OP proposed was to eventually achieve cantering around some BN/N courses. What’s the point of trying to convince her that she’s at serious risk of landing underneath a flipped horse? Ridiculous. SMH