It's just a flesh wound

Well, it has finally happened.  I fell off.  Nope, not bucked off, fell off.  But, I got a 8 score for my landing.  No, I'm not hurt other than a nice bruise on my shin and some sore leg muscles.  Friday our trainer had us go outside to the cross country course on the property.  Basically, this is a course of jumps made from barrels, plywood cut outs and some creative painting along some dips and mounds on the ground.  It allows the rider to experience how to jump going up hill and downhill and various types of jump construction.  Why is this important?  Well, how a jump is situated along a path can give it a different feel as to if it APPEARs larger or smaller than actual height.  Also, if you jump uphill or downhill will depend on how you need to prepare for the landing and where your weight is distributed.  There is a lot to think about.

Alright, I have been doing a small course of six jumps and my trainer now extends the number of jumps to include a jump that is a good length but not very wide and is a little uphill from the previous jump, thereby appearing larger than actual size.  My horse is very keyed on being outside and jumping and I'm having a hard time staying relaxed, this all adds up to mistakes.  As we head towards the jump, I'm looking at it (first mistake) instead of the next jump farther ahead.  Why is this important?  Because when you as a rider look at an oncoming jump, you drop your head, your head has some weight and that becomes redistributed and your horse feels this.  They begin to wonder why and if there is something they need to worry about and voia la instant spook.  That is what happened to me. Spooked sideways at the jump, I lost my right stirrup and fell forward onto his neck.  I didn't have enough strength to pull myself upright and I basically rolled off his shoulder to the left.  I landed on my left shin and right foot, jumped up and went TA DA!  It was all slow motion and thankfully I ride a horse with some sense.  He didn't try to run off and just stood there looking at me like I was an idiot.  Which I was.

Needless to say, I got back on and went over the jump without incident two more times.  I will admit, it freaked me out a little, but I have decided that you have to face these things with humor and a little attitude of "meh".  Otherwise, the caution that comes with age would stop me from moving forward and I'm having way too much fun.  There is nothing like the feeling of floating over a fence on the back of a reliable horse.  It is quite the adrenaline rush.  Besides,  how would I feel years from now if I were to quit and wonder, "What would have happened if I hadn't let that stop me?"

I don't want to have regrets.

With that said, I want to play.  The youngest stepson is coming this week for his spring break visit and I'm sure both consoles will be getting plenty of play!  I think I will have to take a break from the report writing to open up my dusty COD4 box!  It's been tooooo long!

Here's a good WYR...
Would you Rather
Win on-hundred thousand dollars at age 20
Or
Win ten million dollars at age 60?


Keep on Go!