How To Handle A Fall

1962 Thelwell Print

Gulp, I know. It’s rough watching your precious little muffin hitting the dirt & not nice to even suggest it but the reality is that sooner or later it will happen. Remember that waiver you signed and the ASTM/SEI helmet I insist on? There is even a saying that it takes 3 falls to make a good rider. (I happen to think that number is far too low.) In any rate it happens enough that I am dedicating today’s post to my recipe for watching your child fall off & taking it in stride. (Pun most definitely intended.)

• Stay quiet- You want your child to listen to his/her trainer & don’t want to make things scarier than they already are.

• Stay in your seat- Most kids handle a fall just fine & 9 times out of 10 the trainer will have your child dusted off & back on the horse in a moment or 2. Sometimes the trainer will hop on to give the horse or pony a quick “tune up” if said horse or pony was naughty. In any event, don’t come into the arena unless your child’s coach calls you in.

• Encourage Perseverance- Put 2 stars by this one. This is part of riding &, with your encouragement, your son or daughter will get through this & learn a valuable lesson.

  • My daughter gets a “fall off toy”. Whenever she falls & gets back on I take her to the local store & she chooses a $10 or less toy or book. Is it a bribe? You know it but it also lightens the moment. Hey, it worked for us. 🙂

• Don’t hold it against the horse- Every horse wakes up on the wrong side of bed, stumbles or gets the wind up their tail at some time. They’re living, breathing, feeling, thinking animals & even the quietest can have tricky moments. By the time your kid is back at the barn “Sparky” will have forgotten all about it. Your child needs this lesson too so learn to forgive & give the horse a carrot!

• Don’t keep bringing it up- If he/she brings it up remind them that it’s just a part of getting to be a better rider & you’re so proud that he/she is sticking with it. If your child wants to quit, get them on someone super reliable (ask the trainer who they would suggest) for their next lesson so they have a positive experience. Don’t ever let a fall be their last experience!

Bottom line? This is why choosing the right barn is so important. You need a trainer you can literally trust your child’s well being with, especially since this is unfamiliar territory for you. As a trainer there were times I put a scared kid right back on a horse because I knew the fall was just a fluke & I needed the parent to support me & trust my judgement.

**Keep in mind that falls don’t happen every time you get on a horse so don’t get too worked up. 🙂 As much as I know about what can go wrong, I know all the wonderful things that can go right & I love seeing my daughter grow in ability, strength & confidence.  Pride comes from working hard enough to see real results so take lots of pictures so you can show him/her just how far they have improved & keep moving forward!