I was riding bareback for about two minutes when Chrome spooked and did a rollback. Being bareback I couldn't hang on. As I started to slip, barely hanging on by the rope on his halter he freaked and took off. We got a couple of strides and I fell. He ran to a tree and stood frozen under it like he was terrified.
I landed on the right side of my back and could not breathe. I thought I was going to suffocate right there because I was trying to breathe in and my lungs were frozen. Jackal and hubby were immediately by my side and he talked to me until I relaxed and could breathe again. He said it was seconds but it felt like minutes.
I laid there until I could breathe again. Then I got up and I was pissed. I longed the crap out of Chrome in the spot where he spooked and again in the spot where I fell. That may not have been the right thing to do but I don't want him getting away with it. I could already feel pain in my neck, back and hip so there was no way I was getting back on. I can deal with the repercussions of all that later.
The good news is I had my helmet on, did not black out and pretty sure by the whiplash already developing in my neck that my head didn't even hit the ground. The bad news is my neck, back and hip already hurt pretty bad and it's been less than half an hour.
The scary part is about ten minutes after the fall I coughed and spit blood in the sink. It wasn't much and only happened once but it scared me to death. My husband, parents and my boss who was a nurse before she retired and started running the feed store all said it was probably from my really bad sinus problems and it's nothing to worry about unless it happens again. That reassured me a bit but I'm still scared. My sinuses have been draining down the back of my throat all day. That's not new.
I'm so upset this happened. I have no idea what he spooked at. As soon as I got on I could tell he was getting frisky and I thought about getting off. Next time I'm listening to my gut instinct. Bareback and fresh horses do not mix. Anyway I'll update you guys tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed the pain is manageable... I already have a feeling I will be missing work tomorrow just judging by how stiff I am already and my history with back pain. :-(
Dang! Falling is never fun. :( I hope you heal up soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you. The ibuprofen is kicking in and the panic has subsided, so I'm feeling better. It's so funny when I'm laying still nothing hurts so I forget and think I want to get up and do something, then I move lol. I think I'll be okay. The worst part so far is the stiffness in my neck. It feels like a crick in my neck and I hate cricks!!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you and Chrome parted ways. I think it's as traumatic for our horses as it is for us. :(
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth - 800mg of ibuprofen every eight hours is a safe, effective dose (not to exceed) - with food in stomach and not right before you lay down flat. (Surgical nurse's advice) That and icing where you hit the dirt should help keep the inflammation down.
Hope you heal up quick...
Thank you. I took 400mg and I'm already feeling better. I'll definitely keep it in mind if it's too much to bear tomorrow.
DeleteI was hoping the blood was just from biting your tongue, but sinus drainage makes sense too. Sounds like you had the wind knocked out of you. When my friend fell of Gabbrielle in a quick spin, the laws of physics took over. Her body couldn't move with the horse at that speed, and she cracked her ribs way back by her spine by landing on her hip and getting whiplashed at the waist. I hope you are just sore today and will feel better quickly.
ReplyDeleteYeah hubby thought tongue too but I looked really good and couldn't see anything. I think it's definitely my sinuses. I can feel the stuff draining and when I cough if feels like it's coming down, not up from my lungs or anything. Breathing feels totally normal too. No rib pain or anything. I really need a riding vest.... Anyway it's been a few hours and there's been no more blood and the draining in the back of my throat stopped and no coughing. Just sore and stiff. I'll live to see another day hehehe.
DeleteEek! Falling is always scary. Try to move around as much as the pain will allow -- stiff muscles hurt like the dickens!
ReplyDeleteUgh yeah I'm trying to move as much as possible. Dad told me not to just lay around or I'd get really stiff. I'm really restless so I am moving around at least. Thank you for the comment.
DeleteOh, getting the wind knocked out of you is terrifying! It only happened to me once, when I was very little. My friends and I had set up a mattress at the bottom of a huge hill and were running down the hill as fast as we could and then leaping and flinging ourselves onto the mattress. I mis-flung and missed the mattress, got the wind knocked out of me, and pretty much thoughtI was going to die!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you need a really good chiropractor, one who will take x-rays before he adjusts you. I have never bought the whole "you need to go X times a week for the rest of forever" thing that a lot will tell you, but getting adjusted every once in a while has made a huge difference to me (although, unfortunately, my chiro died of cancer and I haven't been able to find another good one, so I am SOL for now!).
Omg that mattress fail sounds awful. I've had the wind knocked out of me before but I was either unconscious or disoriented because I don't remember it will. Today I was excruciatingly aware of every second and it felt like an eternity. At least they means no hear injury LOL. Having your lungs fail to cooperate is terrifying. I don't think I've ever felt that way before. I really hope I can either not fall off again or at least go another fifteen years without falling off....
DeleteYou know, every good horse has a bad day, a misjudgment, an off moment. The important thing to remember now is when you get back on, don't think about it. Chrome has proven he's a good boy, and this is only one bad ride out of nearly 100? He's still young and learning.
ReplyDelete...and remember, as horse people, we get to embellish. You didn't fall off because he spooked - a 800lb bear came charging at you and Chrome was trying to battle him off... That's the story you need to tell folks. ;)
Seriously, though, I hope you are feeling better today.
Lol!! I'll have to remember the bear thing. That would make a great story. I'm really sore today but not as bad as I thought I would be. I'm trying to decide if I should go to work or not... I won't be able to lift anything.... I could maybe sweep though. I'll decide after I move around some more.
DeleteGlad you both are ok :)
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteI'm glad that you are okay and that you go the 'first fall' out of the way. Chrome startled in the moment and probably spiraled out because you lost your balance. He just reacted but the outcome was not good. I would set up some situations for a controlled 'spook' so you can teach him how to react (on the lunge or lead line). And ride him in a saddle for a bit. :) ibuprofen is your friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I've been obsessing over it since it happened... I will do a post in a second with some details about my thoughts on the whole thing and how I'm feeling. How would I set up controlled spooks? He never used to spook and now it seems like every spook is worse than the time before.... So confused. I'll get a post up in a minute.
DeleteOh no i hope you heal up asap *gentle-hugs*
ReplyDeleteThank you. :-) I'm feeling much better. The stiffness in the neck is just really annoying!! I'm trying to move around as much as possible though.
Deleteoh no!! that sounds pretty awful - i HATE falling.... hopefully the aches and pains subside quickly, and also hopefully Chrome learned a thing or two from the incident :(
ReplyDeleteMe too! It's been so long since I last fell off... I've been really dreading it. I'm just disappointed it had to happen now when things were going so well. Oh well. That's just how it is I guess. I think Chrome was really confused and frightened. He was feeling fresh and spooked I think for fun, then it all escalated so quickly that he panicked. I guess I need to work on stuff falling from his back again. I don't know...
Deletesh*t happens...especially bareback! Glad you are mostly OK...feel better.
ReplyDeleteYes it does... thank you!
DeleteThe one time I fell off the horse that I raised from a baby, he was around 5 years old and I was riding bareback. So maybe, just maybe, you'll follow along in the same parallel and this will be your only fall ever from Chrome. * fingers crosed* I'm so sorry this happened when you two were on such a fantastic streak. :( I hope that you're feeling better today!
ReplyDelete*crossed
DeleteThank you Saiph! Maybe it's the curse of the five year olds? I hope it is and that it doesn't happen again. Thank you for this comment. I really appreciate it. :)
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