Re: [RC] learning from riding accidents - Tracy Cann
I've only been doing this since late 98 so I for sure don't know "all
that". But, on your question about accidents, well,,,,, sometimes no
matter how careful you are they happen. Every bad accident I've had over
the years (been riding over 30 years, just Endurance for 5) just happened.
I've had multiple broken bones, 4 concussions, and some minor injuries.
Only one trip to the hospital required an ambulance and that involved a head
injury. If I hadn't been wearing a helmet I'd have died.
What I'm saying is you only realize you're going too fast or not looking
when it's too late. I've been looking and going slow and still had a wreck
because something else around me went wrong. What I try to do is always
think of safety and always think of what could happen "before" I try
something. That doesn't mean I won't try it, I'm just being careful.
If you saw the hole your horse shouldn't have tripped in it. Lots of holes
are hard to see until you're in them but you just look as hard as you can.
You can't sit perfect in the saddle all the time. Actually, if you're
always worried about how you're sitting you might miss something going on around
you that could get you hurt.
The best you can do is remember you are responsible for your horse's
safety as well as your own. He relies on you to keep him in one
piece and you can't let him down. Do everything to improve your riding,
learn good horsemanship skills (most of which don't involve riding) and most
important "RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE!!!" An Endurance veteran told me that a few
years ago and it is the most important thing I have learned in this sport, and
life for that matter. Endurance isn't a competition between horses or
people, at least to me. IT'S A TEST OF HORSEMANSHIP. Multi-days
especially have taught me that. Just keep that in mind and you'll probably
get you and your horse to the finish safely.
Tracy Cann
p.s. A great way to see if you are ready for a 50 is to do a
multi-day LD. If you can do 2 or (even better) 3 days of LD you for
sure can do Endurance. Have fun.
I guess no one is really getting what I am asking. If your horse tripped in
a hole, could you have seen the hole and guided the horse around and just
weren't paying attention? Were you going too fast? If your horse shied, were you
not sitting straight on the saddle and that's why you came off? How hard is
it to help people learn from your mistakes?
