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How to Fall of a Horse Safely

Falling off the horse is, unfortunately, a part of riding that every rider encounters at some point. Although it can be scary, and painful depending on the situation, there are certain steps that can be taken to make sure that you don't get hurt.

Be Ready in Case of a Fall

Part of falling off safely is making sure you are wearing the right equipment and are as safe as you can be in case of a fall. Make sure that you are wearing a good helmet and that it is on properly and attached properly. It is also important to make sure that the helmet fits well. If you aren't sure how to fit a helmet ask one of the salespeople at a tack store. If you have fallen off a few times then you will need to replace the helmet because they lose their ability to protect after several impacts with the ground.

Also never ride by yourself. If you do fall off it is important that someone else be with you to help you up, catch the horse and make sure you are okay. Even if the person is not in the arena with you, at least make sure there is someone around the barn that knows you are riding. Also be sure to wear proper riding clothes and shoes. Shoes should be boots that have a flat sole and a heel. Usually boots designed specifically for riding are the best option. Long pants and t-shirts should also be worn. For jumping, especially cross country, a safety vest can be worn to help protect the torso.

What to do when you are about to fall

A time will come when you will feel that bailing off the horse feels like the safer option than staying on the horse. This is likely to occur in a split second so the best thing to do is get on a horse that will stand still and practice a quick dismount to get a feel for getting off quickly for when you have to get off without really thinking about it.

The first thing to do is get your feet out of the stirrups. Stirrups can be dangerous if your foot gets caught as you are trying to get off. Make sure you keep your heels down while riding and they should slide out easily when you need to get off quickly. If you are in an enclosed arena simply let go of the reins to avoid getting tangled in them. If you are on a trail or outside it is possible to jump off and keep the reins but you should only do so if you are sure you won't get tangled. Letting go is usually the safest option.

As you are falling it is important to let your muscles relax and stay loose rather than tensing. Being tense will increase the impact on your body. You should also try to tuck your arms and legs in close to your body to avoid injury to your limbs. As soon as you hit the ground try to roll away from the horse. Rolling will help to lessen the impact as well as get you out of harm's way. Remember to get up slowly and then stretch to check all your muscles. Then catch your horse and look them over for any injuries.

Learn more about this author, Megan Worley.
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