I've fallen off dozens of times, mostly when I was younger and first learning to ride. Fortuantely about half the time I would actually land on my feet-picture riding a 16hh Thoroughbred/Irish Draught at a canter towards a jump, about two strides before the jump -dead stop- and me -swing- around his neck to stand in front of him. I also used to fall off of this paint I used to ride all the time, he was a really good boy until he didn't want to be rode anymore. Then it was... OH MY GOD there is a LEAF on the ground...time to DUCK MY SHOULDER and take off...and there you are on the ground and he's laughing at you.

I never really minded falling off, I'd get back on and continue on. There was twice in a row that I got injured falling off, and I really thought about discontinuing riding for a while. The first was that I was riding an off the track tb (OTTB) and we were hand galloping in a field..and he decided he wanted to go home...so when he took off on me I lost a stirrup, and then he tripped and I somehow fell off underneath him, knocked my wind out and he grazed my side with his hoof. I thought I was going to DIE but I was okay.

And then I was supposed to ride in a hunter pace at my school, but something happened and I couldn't ride the horse I was supposed to, so they put me on "Erebus". Anytime I told people I was riding him, they would just look at me and get kind of quiet. I'd never seen him being ridden so I got on him to check him out, and after him taking off on me and not being able to circle him to slow him down (small arena and lots of people) it was suggested to ride him into a fence...he ducked his shoulder, and I hit the ground and blacked out. I was taken to the hospital, I had a concussion and had bruised my kidneys. I never would ride him again, but I did get back on another horse shortly after and haven't looked back.

I really don't get too discouraged about riding...there are good days and bad days, good and bad horses.