In the News: Staying on a Horse

According to today’s Ireland On-line, Madonna (she of Music, Fashion and Movie fame) is recovering from cracked ribs, a broken collar bone and a fractured hand after she fell from a new horse yesterday afternoon.

"Madonna has recently reinvented herself as an English country lady. Following yesterday’s painful tumble, it would appear this transformation is nearing completion."

In the spirit of remaining topical, I offer the following tips for not falling off a horse.

• Relax and balance. Become aware of your body and remain over the horse’s center of gravity.
• Don’t grip. If you rely on gripping with your thighs, calves or the reins, you aren’t using proper balance.
• Use both vertical and horizontal balance. Don’t lean too far forwards or back.
• Keep up with the motion. If you don’t follow the horse’s motion, the horse will change speed in order to try to center you on its back. Horses prefer to position you over their center of gravity. When you keep centered with the horse’s movements, these adjustments become unnecessary.
• If you’re like me, do not get on the horse in the first place. Horseriding is a dangerous activity. Staying off horses will prevent you from falling from horseback.
Madonna Falls
Horse Riding Tips

Die Dulci Fruere