Im new to this forum. I turn 50 next month. I have felt pretty brave and invincible most of my life. I ride primarily green jumpers... part time... have a day job... But am married to an open jumper rider- turned trainer. I do most of the riding and showing because he has gotten big. We generally have 8-12 green jumper prospects or green pony jumpers for my son. Im quite short and ride them too. My hubby/trainer insists that because Ive ridden my entire life that I should still be able to compete in the 3 ft 6 - 4 ft 3 divisions on our prospects in my 50s, and is still looking for a grand prix horse for me. We primarily start jumper prospects, and so I ride alot of green horses. Historically, I wreck infrequently, but badly, never too badly, once every few years. But, I had a rash of bad luck this summer, good luck, in that Im still in one peice... and now I am re-evaluating my lifestyle. Three things happened in a row -
First, I started a 7 yr old green jumper (grey horse) this winter and with him did the level 3s (3 ft 6) and moved him up to the 4s (3 ft 9) at just 3 shows this summer, including 3 jumper classics/mini-prixes. He was wonderful on his first time out! I also did the Level 3s and 4s at those shows with another 7 yr old green jumper (chestnut horse) which I raised. This one is very talented, but can be not so careful. Well, this chestnut horse flipped himself over a vertical and fell with me jumping into an in and out in a Mini Prix, sending me chin first to the ground. Luckily, my buxomness caught me first, and I only broke my visor. I actually landed on my chest and quickly flipped myself over and pulled myself out from under the falling horse who landed on his side and rolled onto his back, and didnt get stuck under him, or hurt, other than a stiff neck and sore ribs. I was able to compete in another Mini Prix 3 days later, albeit....not on him..I scratched him. It was the grey, and he was wonderful!
Second, the grey was a star his first time out, pinning 3rd and 5th in some really good classes for a greenie. Then, we came back home and in 3 weeks the grey horse colicked and died on me. : ( First horse I have ever lost in 38 yrs.
Third, 3 days after losing the grey, I got on a 4 yr old colt that I raised, broke, trained and even showed in the schooling jumpers. Well, he blew up on me while hacking in the ring at home, and reared up cracking my sternum with his crest, to land spinning with his head between his legs, and slam dunk bucked me off onto the "overdue to be disced" hard arena footing. I thought I broke my pelvis. I didnt. But, my backside is still numb four weeks later.
Last night I started riding again. I got on my 16.3 h TB who has been schooling 3'9 -4 ft, and I could hardly get the nerve to trot cavalletti on him...! In fact, I was scared to even throw a leg over him! And, the two ft pony course set up in the ring looked terrfying! What has happened to me???
Am I doomed to never be back in the jumper ring? I turned 50 on Oct 26th. Wow! Maybe, I should quit riding green horses and doing the jumpers after 38 years in a jumping saddle!
Anybody have had these emotions? What has happened?
Nina Tipton
