They say “It seems easy” and “It is not difficult, anyone can do it.” I’ve often heard people say about riding “Just go up and kick it to go away and pull your mouth to stop it.” When I was in the Horse Guard (America’s oldest living Calvary) many years ago, it was a military operation with horses. The range was enormous and the sergeants and lieutenants had to be respected. The only problem with this was that everyone on the team had day jobs and many of the “good guys” came to the Watch and brought their arrogance with them. Ignorant men of the sport of horseback riding (I don’t want to offend anyone, but) many of these men were unable to ride for their lives. But one thing they did have that women didn’t have was superior strength. However, no human being is stronger than a horse because most horses are about 10 times our size.
Horses are big, strong animals with the brains of a nine-year-old. They understand verbal and non-verbal cues, and most of all, they remember things like an elephant. If they have a bad experience, it will stay with them forever. It can be very difficult to overcome the obstacle in their mind of someone who is cruel or rude to them and associates old problems even with the clothes you wear. My horse gets very angry when I put on a baseball cap because something bad happened to him with a man wearing a similar cap. He also had a hard time with the cowboy hats and spur boots. Because he is big (17.1), he was mistreated and his coaches thought he was “big and dumb”. Nothing could be further from the truth, but he was pushed and whipped when he was scared, not reckless.
The point here is that if the line above “It’s not difficult to ride a horse, anyone can do it” were true, we (those of us who have dedicated our lives to these animals) would all be FANTASTIC RIDERS !!! Instantly! We would never get hurt and float on the ground and it would be simple, elegant and we would never have to practice! IF IT JUST WERE THAT EASY! The truth is, when you see someone riding a horse (especially at a high level) and they make it seem effortless, like they’re doing nothing but somehow the horse and rider are in perfect sync, that’s the signal. of a team. you have spent many, many hours working together on these very “simple” movements that you are seeing.
Many riders aspire to that level of achievement and that kind of synchronicity with their horse. I am a perfect example of a pleasure rider who gets hurt. This year I broke my finger in three places while throwing my horse and needed surgery. Then in October I fell and broke 6 ribs! I’ve been riding over 20 years and have had Zeus for 5, but things happen really fast with horses. No matter how long you have them and how much you train with them, at the end of the day they are still wild animals, and smart at that. Being prey animals, they are always on the lookout for danger and when they are afraid they can run for the hills and THEN TURN AROUND and see what the threat was. Meanwhile, you feel like you are on a journey with everything around you going blurry. They move fast even if they don’t always know where they are going except that they are moving away from the perceived threat.
This Christmas he gave me an inflatable vest. I’m getting the hybrid vest, which is the one that has a boat and explodes when you fall, but it also has some bulk. All these years that I have been riding I HAVE NEVER CONSIDERED A VEST for safety. Yes, I always wear my helmet (because my husband said “Please always do it”. It’s a good habit and I don’t know anyone who travels without a helmet. I always thought vests were for those who were at high levels of competition, not for an amateur cyclist who runs for pleasure like me.
They are expensive ($ 200- $ 800) but last a lifetime (like a custom saddle made for your horse). A friend in the barn said Murphy’s Law: You’ll get the vest and never fall off, hey, I agree with that. No matter how old you are (but especially if you’re ughh “middle-aged”) you can keep your bones from breaking. The last 2 months I have not been able to ride anything and I want to ride again. This time I want to make sure that Zeus has launched and is super tired when I go up. When you are 20 years old, falling off a horse is usually not a big deal, it comes with the territory. When you’re, ahem, a little older, you don’t bounce like you used to and sometimes things break down and take a long time to heal. If safety is THE most important thing you do NOT have to think about when driving, this should be an added bonus so you can focus on the task at hand, keeping your 1,000+ pound animal in line. Or at least keeping them cooperative with your requests.
Most vests protect you from neck to tailbone and, if they are inflatable, they hook onto your saddle. When you fall, they disengage from the chair and explode for 15 to 20 seconds, so you basically hit the ground on an air bed. Some vests that are less expensive and do not inflate may be good options, but I have always been an all or nothing girl. I want the most coverage I can get and the maximum protection if I fall. Speaking from experience and breaking 6 ribs at once made me realize that the cost is definitely worth its weight in gold.
Have you ever thought about getting a riding vest and if you don’t think it would be a good option for you? I have many friends who have gotten injured on the trails “just having a good time and enjoying the ride” in front of other stablemates who drive consistently and competitively and barely fall their entire career. We all want to be good riders and have a great relationship with our horse. It’s like wanting to pet and play with a tiger, but the tiger will always be wild and can turn on you at any moment. That’s all the excitement of being around these animals, knowing that they can turn their back on you at any time, but 99% of the time they like us and want to be with us. Just consider the 1% rule and proceed not only with caution but with preparation as well. Don’t wait to break your bones before you start to consider that staying healthy by taking precautions might not only keep you out of the hospital, but on your horse and happy in the saddle.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this, let me know what you think!
Jules
