Had a wreck today

[Voodoo]

Well, all the years of riding bad colts finally caught up with me. I have been riding colts and older horses that buck since I was about 14. I broke my ankle about 5 years ago when a colt tried to jump the fence with me, but this is the first time I've really been hurt. I bought a really nice 5 year old Colonel Freckles mare a couple months ago and she really liked to buck. However, I have been putting alot of hours on her and she hasn't bucked for over three weeks. I've been roping on her every day and even hauled her to a couple small ropings. I guess I just started to trust her a little too much. Today it was kind of cold outside and I didn't warm her up as good as I should have, but she's been so good lately I thought it was enough. The first steer I roped was slow and she was good, but the second one ran a little more and she kind of shorted me out, so I just hung out a little and roped him. Well, I was stood way up over her right shoulder and she decided to buck, and she's flat rank. I've never been bucked off her before, but she's definately a rank handful when she bucks. Well, since I was already hung out when she started bucking I just never got back in the middle of her. My Dad was heeling and said I rode her about 8 seconds, but just couldn't catch up with the saddle. She finally bucked me off (she was spinning the whole time too) so when I hit the ground she stepped right on my kidneys with both front feet and then kicked me in the back of the head when she went over me. I got back on her and finished the round of steers so she didn't think she could get away with that, but right now I hurt all over. I'll be ok just sore for a while, but it just goes to show you that a horses pattern doesn't change quickly and you shouldn't trust too quickly. I got a hard lesson in that today and I can promise you I won't trust her for a LONG time to come. Here's a picture of my back when I came in the house just a few minutes ago. I have a $25,000 roping that I am entered in that is in three weeks so I had better be healed by then.

 

[Laura]

Ouuuuccchhhh!

That's the reason I don't work with young or rank horses anymore. I'm just not as bouncy as I used to be. I hope you heal up fast.

BTW, the worst I've been hurt by a big horse was while warming up a gelding that the owner was SUPPOSED to have turned out earlier that day....after she left him standing in his stall for several days

He sent me about 15 feet backwards from both hind feet planted in my chest. I made his owner take me to the ER and pay all the bills!

 

[minimomNC]

OUCH !!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck and hope you heal fast.

 

[jdomep]

OUCH! I sure hope you heal quickly - take care.

 

[Hosscrazy]

You poor thing...I've had my share of wrecks, and ended with one that ended my riding career.

I am glad that you're going to be okay -- please take it easy!

Liz R.

P.S. But you made it 8 seconds!! Sorry - couldn't resist!

 

[justanothercowgirl]

I know from experience that when you ride from time to time you get a little remimder about the unpredictability of horses but that one looks like it hurts!!! You have to take care of that body, you are hopefully going to be using it for a long time!! Are you sure you don't have a concussion??

 

[C & C Farms]

Hope your feeling better soon! One time I had a horse step on my left leg, had a perfect imprint of his hoof on my thigh!

 

[Voodoo]

Well, I do have a pretty hard head (or so everyone tells me

). Where she kicked me I have a split about an inch long, but it didn't split wide open. It did bleed quite a bit, but it's stopped now. I've never had a concussion, but I don't think I do now either. I really do not like going to the doctor, but if things get bad I'll go. Thanks for the nice comments everyone.

 

[Miniv]

OOOOWWWEEEE.....That looks sore!

Looks like you're not going to sleep on your tummy for awhile.....

Hope you are able to get back on her real soon, so she knows she can't get away with that......

Blessings,

MA

 

[DunPainted]

OUCH.....OUCH....OUCH !

That looks really bad.....give it a few days and it'll get really colorful. However, I'm worried about you having a concussion. The problem with getting back in the saddle so quickly is that your sense of balance as a result of the blow to the head can cause you to take another fall.

Two years ago, a rank horse gave me a good toss and sustained a concussion. A week later, because my brain had not quite healed and balance was affected, I fell from another horse at a canter and smacked my head again. That whack on the head caused a mild case of amnesia and forever affected my sense of balance.

Please think about your rodeo career and future in general if you have any signs or symptoms of a concussion. Better to lay low for a while than forever.

Then again, I'm just an old hag talkin!

 

[DunPainted]

OUCH.....OUCH....OUCH !

That looks really bad.....give it a few days and it'll get really colorful. However, I'm worried about you having a concussion. The problem with getting back in the saddle so quickly is that your sense of balance as a result of the blow to the head can cause you to take another fall.

Two years ago, a rank horse gave me a good toss and sustained a concussion. A week later, because my brain had not quite healed and balance was affected, I fell from another horse at a canter and smacked my head again. That whack on the head caused a mild case of amnesia and forever affected my sense of balance.

Please think about your rodeo career and future in general if you have any signs or symptoms of a concussion. Better to lay low for a while than forever.

Then again, I'm just an old hag talkin!

 

[luvmycritters]

Oh my god - thats a scary story and the pictures are scary as well!

I assume you are younger and if so just a little pep talk here - these spills and accidents will really take their toll in later years. I know it must be your profession, but please be careful...Lori

 

[Marty]

Oh my God in heaven.......

You listen here to me youngin right now:

You had better go and get your head examined!

You have rushed that horse and rode her to full capacity before she was even warmed up and you knew this. Do not let me catch you doing these foolish things again. I do not want to have to make a trip over there to the hospital while you are fighting on life support. This is serious business here Lady Jane. You knew better.

I will be praying for a speedy recovery and for new enlightenment.

I hate the blasted rodeos anyhow.

Now get over here and give me a hug Child.

 

[Kathy2m]

Listen to us "oldtimers"(not ment to offend)But you should get your head checked, I know western riders dont wear helmets,(Not sure if you had one on) but maybe you should while your schooling. We were not even allowed in the barn without a helmet on, western or english. Hope you feel better real soon, a hot bath with epsom salts will help! Kathy

 

[CAM]

Wow! That looks like it hurt. Hope you heal up fast.

 

[Voodoo]

Ok Marty, I think I should explain myself a little better. I warmed her up good, I walked, trotted, and loped circles for over ten minutes, worked on her spin on the hind end as well as forhand. Plus doing alot of other maneuvers such as half pass, and flexing before roping any steers on her. She was thoroughly stretched and warmed up, however for this particular mare she needs to have a pretty good sweat on her before I rope a steer. Now I will take the blame here and say that I didn't get a sweat on her, but in no way was she not ready physically to rope. It just takes a little longer to get her ready mentally. So yes, I did screw up, but she was warmed up good. As for the other, maybe I should have my examined for not having my head examined, but I don't feel it is necessary. I am sore, but my balance was not affected at all, as I said I finished riding her after and was fine. It isn't a bad cut, and I don't have a headache at all. I'll see how I feel in the morning, thanks for the concern though Marty as well as everyone else. I don't know you, but I really respect you and your advise. If I ever get in your neighborhood I'll be sure to look you up. She's really not a bad or mean horse, she just likes to buck. Here's a picture of her.

 

[Sun Runner Stables]

Yikes, weeeoh you got yourself a good size scrapping!

Sorry to say I have been there done that, though I did manage to get a concussion... and was, ahem, detained, from riding for a bit.

Though mine was a rank gelding who had a penchance for sunfishing if he thought your legs got to tight. Can't blame him though, his previous owner had raked him raw from shoulder to ribs with his spurs.

He had the same working regime, except we were heading for fences, no beef.

The worst part about scrapes like that is when you are ready to go, and they are just almost healed. Esp on a place you are going to use as much as your back in riding. (I hate re-opening wounds)

I used coco butter,& vit E squeezed out of the capulets you get at the drug store to speed up recovery and keep my scapes and cuts supple. Remeber all we are is a living breathing leather chunk, and it needs to be well oiled!

But I am sure you have had worse then this in your line of riding, just hoping to help out. Cows freak me out, and roping, well, (coughing) ahem no. Not for the darn DQ and hunter queen I am. Give me a 4 foot fence or tempi tempi changes any day, but not a cow or a rope! (At least if you fall off over a jump standard, the darn thing doesn't come After you!)

(And I am sorry this is so long, but I had to add I love the look of your mare! She looks smart, sure she dosen't want to be a hunter?

)

 

[Voodoo]

Sure spottedponygirl you can have her for a hunter

. You might not like cows, but I wouldn't want any part of this mare in an english saddle. She's tough enough to stay on anyway. She has gorgeous movement though, long flat kneed trot, very collected in the lope, great headset, very light off feet and in the mouth. She just bucks

. I've actually never had a roping steer come after me though, everyone thinks cowa are mean, but they really aren't. Shoot he was running for the bottom while I was trying to get out from under my horse. I have always liked to jump, but I think my style leaves something to be desired

That's the kind of stupid things I do. I think I was 10 in that picture and at 22 I really haven't changed much. I will try the cocoa butter and vitamin E. Thanks for the suggestions.

Kathy no I wasn't wearing a helmet. Being western I never have, but probably should when riding these colts. Thanks for the advise.

 

[Sun Runner Stables]

LoL Voodoo! I love your pictures, they are always a blast. I have got a pony mare down here, (My fav, shuuush) who you can jump blind though a series of 1-2.5 foot jumps like you did there, I will have to go dig mine up and share. She's my best teaching tool, and when the kids Really wanna learn, she get to do her "Tricks". You ever want to stop the dang cow chasing, you come down here to FL and we'll make a Jumper out of you. Really big horses and bigger fences, sounds about up your alley.

And your style looks fine, just put your toes up next time eh?

(Heck all I do is close my eyes and go like H$!! most of the time anyways.)

And I would second the helmet thing btw.

I hate the darn things, but always put one on when I am sitting on a horse who likes to do "Airs above the Ground".

And god help the student that forgets one and lets me catch 'em!

And as far as your mare, have you ever had the pleasure of sitting in a Good dressage saddle? Try it, with your style and talent, you will like it. Stubbens are great, but a plain old Wintec Issabella (only these ones though) will work as well.

I have had 1 fall out of mine, and that was 'cause the darn horse reared up and went a** over tea kettle into a canal. I have the "pleasure" of working the latest forgin imports for my clients, right after they get out of quarintine, and I wouldn't trade you my suede bucket for your pommel horn any day.

I don't have your talent, and I need my thin saddle to give me warning of what the horse is about to do. I even jump my bad ones in it.

You have got to come visit cow girl, we'd have a blast!

 

[Marty]

You should not have showed me that picture. You are making me crazy. I don't know if I want to spank you or hug you. You came so close to getting yourself killed today and you don't seem to realize that. Please do get your head checked and I'm not kidding one bit here. You could have something happen to you in a day or week or months from now. I really wish you would wear a helmut too. You've got to stop taking so many chances. I don't care if you can ride the hair off a horse, accidents happen that are so fatal and sounds like you tempt fate here. If you continue on this reckless course, you are going to cost me some big time gas money when I come up there and give you a sample of my "what for" and trust me, you won't like that. Now settle yourself down with a nice hot cup of tea. You won't be able to move come tomorrow so please take it slow and easy.

By the way, someday I'll tell you how I get a buck out of a rank bucker privately and you'll probably go "huh?". Not one of my inventions, but something I learned in Kentucky at my brother in laws thoroughbred barn from a jockey.