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Re: [RC] [RC] what do I think when coming off? - Dawn CarrieI remember when my gelding fell with me during a 50 back in 2002. Not really "coming off," still hitting the ground. We were flying along at a huge trot. At first I thought he'd tripped, and expected him to recover. By the time I realized that no, this was the real deal and we were goin' down, I just had time to push off his neck with both hands to try and land as far away from him as possible. I hit the ground like a lawn dart with my head, hitting about halfway between my forehead and the top of my head. I remember seeing the ground coming up at me slowly and quickly - both speeds at once. I recall thinking, "oh sh*t, this is bad" and then BAM. My head hit, shattering my helmet, then my right cheekbone hit, breaking my eye socket. Turns out Chivas had stepped in a hole in the grass. Luckily his leg was ok. I got my first ambulance ride, and still have double vision when I look upward without tipping my head up.
About 3 1/2 weeks ago my youngster bolted and started bucking when I tried to mount. I lasted 5 or 6 bucks with my leg half over him and leaning over the pommel. I had plenty of time to think about how totally screwed I was and just knowing that it was not a matter of "if" I was going to come off, but "when and where." I hit the ground with a full frontal (going from a "C" cup to a "B" cup in the process <G>), and he kicked me in the side of the head below my helmet behind my right eye as he went on by. Another ER visit, another CT scan. LOL I decided after this incident that I prefer hitting the ground suddenly, rather than having plenty of time to see it coming and waiting for it to happen. Dawn
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