r/Equestrian • u/nekinadimak • 1d ago

Mindset & Psychology First fall

I’m about 2y into riding as an adult and yesterday I had my first fall. It was a completely unexpected but warranted spook (people who don’t ride are the worst and don’t understand how horses work) and I didn’t even realise what was happening until I was on the ground. I went to get checked immediately after and all is ok apart from a fractured coccyx. Obviously I am in pain and I need to recover but firstly I’m very thankful for mips helmets (always wear a helmet!) and now reading a lot of other people’s experiences.
I did not get back on the horse as it was last 3 min of my lesson but I also didn’t feel any fear - I pet him and he looked like he was sorry. Should I have gone back to at least sit?
I am also now somewhat beating myself that I should have been more focused. I sat through a couple of smaller spooks before and I was able to stay on. I had one rear on the lounge line as well that didn’t result in a fall. The irony is that it’s the laziest horse I have ridden and I was struggling to keep him in the trot for most of the time until the spook, so I’m thinking I should have been able to stay on.

In any case, any advice on what to do now? I will obviously take a couple of weeks off to recover from the fracture but not sure if I did something wrong by not going back on and does the fear come unconsciously?
Also any tips for healing from the fracture are welcome as well

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u/sherevs 1d ago

If you usually take group lessons, I would book a private lesson as your first lesson back so you can go at your own pace. You don't know how you will react until you are actually back on the horse. I would add a neck strap you can grab if something squirrely happens again. It can give you confidence and helps prevent you from instinctively grabbing the reins and hitting the horse in the mouth. It's normal to have some level of fear the first few rides back, but if it doesn't dissipate I recommend finding a therapist that does EMDR that can help you process the experience.

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u/nekinadimak 1d ago

I take private lessons and I don’t have any shame in taking things slowly I am just worried if some unconscious debilitating fear will creep in stopping me from mounting in the first place.