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Balance: Falling and Flying

Writer's picture: Ridgeline Mounted ArchersRidgeline Mounted Archers

Balance 


Falling off is a normal part of riding. You will fall off at some point. Falls always happen because you lose your balance. It's important to accept this as a part of your riding journey. 


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These words are echoing in my mind. Circling and repeating like an incessant dripping faucet. 

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Falling off is a normal part of riding. 

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I've been having a difficult time lately. Things keep happening in my life that threaten my physical safety, my emotional security and my mental wellbeing. I have found myself flat on my back, my vision black and unable to breathe from the pain. 

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You will fall off at some point. 

My tai chi instructor told us today that people will try to throw you off balance. Physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Maintaining balance is everything. I can remember him clearly moving his body like a ripple of water with his invisible opponent.  

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Falls always happen because you lose your balance. 

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This statement is an excerpt from my new student agreement for my riding school. I go over it with every student. The last sentence has never quite stuck with me right. I saw it somewhere and knew it was true but could never stop rationalizing against It. “Well what if the horse deliberately bucks you off?” You don't fall because the horse bucked. You fall because you lost your balance. 

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Falling off is a normal part of riding. 

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I've fallen off many times and been bucked off many too. Maybe I should have kept my balance. But I couldn't. “It's impossible for anyone to keep their balance 100% of the time.” Yes. 

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You will fall off at some point. 

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I hate falling off. I have some serious brain damage. Every time I fall, I'm unable to ride or often walk for several days due to the dizziness. Every time I have to get back on a horse after a bad fall, my legs go numb, my heart races and I feel faint. Sometimes I don't get back on for a while. 

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Falling off is a normal part of riding. You will fall off at some point. Falls always happen because you lost your balance. 

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It doesn't feel fair to fall. It feels like I'm the only one in the world who falls off my horse. It feels like my falls are worse and more frequent. But falling off is just a normal part of life. And everybody will fall off at some point. Even if I try my hardest to keep my balance. I. Will. Fall. Off. Again. 

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It's important to accept that as a part of your riding journey. 

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It's not anything good. It hurts. And it's not fun. I will get back on. Maybe I learn something. But sometimes I just lose my balance. It just happens. And the rest of the time, I'm riding and flying and free in the wind with the thunder of the earth for my legs. 

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Maybe I should add on:

Being afraid of falling is fair because you could get hurt very badly. You get to decide if the reward of riding is worth the risk of being hurt. 



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