Events
Groups
Rider Directory
Market
RideCamp
Stuff
As an adult going back to riding lessons I was quite surprised and a little
indignant to be asked to practice falling off (jumping off and landing on
my feet, actually.) Humph, thought I. Do I really need this? I haven't
come off for years. But I dutifully hopped off and found I'd forgotten
how-clumsy, unbalanced, landing hard and gracelessly. I was very glad that
instructor suggested I do it.
I then practiced on my horse and made her stop immediately over and over.
It paid dividends-this spring I spent more time falling off than I have for
years-since I was a kid riding rank horses. I fell off her-no excuse
except poor muscle condition and trying to learn a new riding style (you
know-the looser knees, leg wrapped around barrel more, more calf on) which
the mare-used to me riding in the old knee-tight-on manner- took to mean
full speed forward, now!
The little didn't-go-to-meat-Arab, ridden leg-on from scratch had no such
excuse-he just wanted to buck. I practiced jumping off, and I learned to
fall off in creative and more-or-less tucked positions or onto my feet if
given that fleeting instant to get the body organized in mid air, and he
learned to stop, first from practice and then, when he was at his goofiest,
the times he unloaded me. (Finally finding a saddle that fits the poor guy
has almost eradicated the bucking.)
The bail out practice also enabled me to choose in a fleeting moment to hop
off when he went down a talus slope after slipping off a trail. I know had
I not practiced I would have dithered an instant too long. I chose to go
and muscle memory kicked in and I went smoothly and was able to land, dig
in my heels and help swing him around; hauling on the reins helped him
catch his balance and not go tail over tea kettle down the long steep
slope.
I practice occasionally-the old body seems to need the reminders.
Ann
Events
Groups
Rider Directory
Market
RideCamp
Stuff