The curse of Shamrock lives on...

This time on another ex racer, Olive, who I've been riding for a couple of years now. She is very sensible, but does love to stretch her legs when she's allowed.
This time, the gallop was completely intentional. We were having a lovely time until we saw the dirt path ahead, which she wasn't sure about. She put on the brakes and swerved right to avoid the scary path, but my momentum carried me onwards, over her shoulder.
My Hit Air vest saved me from more serious injury, as there wasn't a mark on me from the impact, but the compression on my spine managed to fracture my L3 vertebrae.

[@ceebee2]

Nick: “steady…” Shamrock: “Ready…Steady…GO!!”

[@yvonnetaco]

I feel so bad that I'm laughing so much, but I'm also going to continue to rewatch Shamrock videos.

[@CharlotteWeb100]

My first experience on a racehorse was back in the early 80's when nobody gave a shiny shit for sense, health or safety. 10Yrs old and a groom at the yard my Dad frequented in Southport tacked up and let me take her 17.2hh TB ex-steeplechaser out to the beach - same stretch Red Rum was trained. I could already ride and was confident and perfectly happy on him but as we walked down the dunes I remember her going “He'll set off and be at full gallop very fast. Don't hit the brakes just loosen up, relax and let him go. Now are you sure you feel happy with it?” 10yr old me “Pfftt course I'm happy I can WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRGGH!!!” Took my breath away and for however long we galloped I just heard deafening wind, thundering hooves and saw everything through two pricked ears it was amazing. Nearest thing I can describe that feeling is like the scene from Spaceballs when Dark Helmet orders the ship to go at Ludicrous Speed and stupidly thinks he's ready. "WHAT HAVE I DONE??????? MY BRAINS ARE GOING INTO MY FEET!" kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5ioYWSphM2tsJI

[@leighmerlin]

Happens to us all. Hope you recover ok. I've had several bad spooks at full gallop, they do catch you by surprise sometimes.

[@Mjp746]

yep, I ate dirt today because my mustang spooked and bolted for her life and then spooked again mid flying gallop and skidded to a stop. I went flying over her shoulder. Horses. Fun times.

[@clonejones7955]

Don't let fear or common sense hold ya back there Nick!♥️🇨🇦😁👍

[@morgansky1170]

my horse Amy set off with me today, i didnt fall, my first time galloping and i kept saying "steady, woah!" but she kept galloping, then i gave up so i decided to be like a jockey in position and i let her be a mini horse racer for 1 minute lmao

[@nick4098]

It’s the best feeling if you can stay on long enough to enjoy it!

[@highhope99]

Let it run, it is the safest option. After a mile you horse may listen to you again.

[@348Tobico]

@@nick4098 And the adrenaline rush is addicting.

[@yvonneost12]

bloody hell - just watched the shamrock vid now this one ( you need to get another hobby ) I hear painting is quite safe LOL

[@nadadealer4435]

yvonneost12 Once you have a connection with horses it’s not easy to quit man.

[@jayskestrel8130]

I mean if you up and quit because you fell off that doesn't get you anywhere, you should always get back in the saddle no matter what injury you get on a horse.

[@feefee6889]

😂😂😂😂

[@silverkitty2503]

he'll get better..oh and some riders paint too!

[@letsja2155]

@@nadadealer4435 yes he could keep riding her at a riding arena but maybe he should pick another horse for hacking..

[@tazmunster7646]

Well ,once a racehorse ,always a a racehorse! Not much you can do. Hang on for dear life or eject.... used to ride a 20 year old pony who must have thought she was a racehorse. She would do exactly the same and leave all the horses on the trek standing. Lol. She died peacefully in her sleep on her 21st birthday.

[@yeahsure9035]

Praying for you and Shamrock ✝️🧍☘️

[@bkdascenzo]

Oh Shamrock...

[@hilaryanderton]

He’s born to run 🥰

[@abdulqaadir6510]

Ahhh the legend of Shamrock!

[@nixmoretta13]

Oh dear! I think you’ve either very brave or daft as nuts to take on an ex racer! I’ve retrained over 200 of them and trust me, they taught me something new every day! Have fun and keep going!

[@beautifulenergywithbeccy5425]

I've had experience of 9 ex racers to date. Most of them have been really positive experiences and great rides . Others more challenging, but misunderstood rather than dangerous. I think anyone brave and dedicated enough to give one of these beautiful creatures a chance at another life - especially while enduring the physical pain, psychological delemas and social scorn - especially when exposing the fails! - deserves the ultimate respect! I hope I get support when I ride my boy in open county soon!

[@ratpepp6576]

Hey Nic. Nice to see a new video from you. And again it is so funny. So glad that my horse is a very lazy one :-) Horrido from Germany and my best greetings to Shamrock!

[@mishellemccormack5554]

Am loving your departures! Good man!

[@jmmarshall5492]

You are a brave soul!

[@beautifulenergywithbeccy5425]

Just found your videos and a huge thank you for sharing your adventures - you and Shamrock are legends in the making as well as giving hope and laughs (sorry, but you know what I mean as you guys laugh at yourselves!) to all of us riders, from cob jockeys to any other brave souls trying to rehabilitate OTTBs. Good for you my friend. You and Shamrock are awesome. Fair play and hats off to you guys ( but please keep your hat on for riding, invest in a body protector and maybe check out some videos from people like Warwick Shiller, The Bedouin Horse Trainer, etc, etc so you and lovely Shamrock can establish a fantastic connection and then... maybe... just maybe...some brakes. ..? ?!!! Can't wait to see your updates - you're very entertaining! All the best to you both xx

[@tanja8907]

You mad lad! 😂 A pair of free spirits!

[@348Tobico]

I apologize for laughing, Nick. Really I do. I believe we were meant to riding together so when either of us crashes and burns we have the other to stand us back up again, catch the horse and take the injured party to the hospital. That said, I rode so carefully and yet somehow recklessly in my youth I can barely walk now that I'm in my late 60's. But I would do it all over again for the thrills and the joy my crazy horses gave me. Enjoy, enjoy and be a tiny bit careful.

[@equitime77]

Ouch!!!! I hope you don't have permanent problems with that injury

[@kerang9240]

brilliant. comedy gold

[@emilydarcy5422]

Hope you where ok . Love your video bloopers

[@jannetsusan4702]

The feeling of falling off your horse is something different..its like an empty feeling and once your on the ground the pain hits Edit: its also like you black out..

[@trishayamada807]

For me, it’s all in slow motion until I hit the ground and then it’s like a bitch slap from reality.

[@mimivonflytz]

When do we See a Full picture from Shamrock ?! Not only the ears? 😎

[@Twojoes9]

Did he jump the road when you came up to it? As soon as I saw you coming up to it, I thought “he’s going to jump that!”. I had a 17.3 thoroughbred that used to do some huge jumps before I got him and when we’d come up to things like that, he’d take them as if they were huge jumps. It wasn’t always the best outcome if I wasn’t expecting it…lol

[@nick4098]

I thought she was going to jump, which was why I tried to slow her and steady her up. She chose to swerve hard right instead, and I just carried on forwards....

[@craigdickie8878]

Have you still got Shamrock? Sometimes the anticipation of the fall is worse than the actual fall! Hope you carry on enjoying your horses!

[@freddyaltina2737]

OOOF. 😱 Hope you’re okay! It’s videos like these that make me kind of glad I own a 21 year old slowpoke of a QH. Lol. Would love to work with an OTTB someday, but I’m not sure I could handle it! Props to you for continuing to get on.

[@348Tobico]

I almost bought a huge tbred cross until I saw him clear jump a 7ft tree trunk in the pasture on his own just for fun. Scared me enough to stick with my old pokey horse. The tbreds owner was a lovely little retired teacher who had never even trained him to ride. He scared her too.

[@sailwesterly5444]

Well, credit in that you "got back on the horse" after last time but come on . . .That horse! Old Sham The Chaos Merchant.

[@jamiemorris7688]

I scuba dive, cave, ride motorbikes and ride horses, horses have definitely given me more pain and injuries than the others.

[@kelswilson4526]

Bloody hell, that looked painful. Are you okay?😨

[@ellieelizabeth5627]

Oh damn! That one hurt! Been there, done that. It's no fun getting body slammed in the dirt.

[@56Seeker]

Ouch!

[@xStateofSleepx]

ooh nasty! Hope you're recovering ok

[@diamondwhite1]

Ouch 😣

[@svicidebarbie]

This looks like the old windows default background scenery

[@nailadelalic3669]

Hope you get well soon

[@viciouslady1340]

I love your tenacity but can we get an update?

[@Calmitsok]

They just will jump a track in their way. See it as an obsticle and would rather jump it than take a chance with it. It does unseat you if you're not ready for it. Hope you weren't to badly hurt! Horses eh! 🙂

[@Makado14]

You don't have any business riding this horse in an open field. He needs basic groundwork first. And trying to get control by doing the opposite and actually encouraging him to run will result in him running much faster, probably getting you killed. I got my first ottb at 12, she was a 17 h. 4yr. Old TB, I learned the hard way, but it was worth it. She was a good, kind, wonderful horse who just didn't know what I was asking her to do. Funny thing, she was really good at getting around the barrels used in barrel racing, considering what a big, tall horse she was!

[@andreabelanus5357]

Ive ridden an ottb...once...took me 20min to stop her!!

[@beautifulenergywithbeccy5425]

One other tip for anyone off-roading ANY bloody horse you're not sure of... If you've got dogs or friends with dogs, jogging, cycling buddies, whatever.... Do a damn good reccee first of any promising hill, open field etc on foot as much as you can before exploring it at cracking on 40mph on your OTTB!!!! A morning walking 5 miles (sometimes zig - zagging the same field to check for cracks after the summer heatwave could save both your lives so take the time to check your trails out before riding, until you and Shamrock reach an agreement!!!!!! Xxx

[@ositaxems8597]

“WhOoAaHhHh StAyYyyy” yeah that’ll slow him down 🤦‍♀️

[@brookemadsx7264]

EmsReaves atleast he’s talking to the horse and not saying go go😂 some horses are voice trained

[@mamaeli8101]

Have you tried origami? Not folding yourself when you fall off Shamrock but paper? From the safety of a table?

[@horseloverjulie]

Ouch I thought he was better with you. Until near the end. Whoops x

[@WoodArtAndWoof]

He and the rider were clearly not ready to take on an open field or road!

[@cybertronicgamer9589]

Well the horse was more then ready, she or he was a racehorse before she or he retired

[@Iantorchwood94]

I'm glad my horses are nice boys 😂😂

[@struykfamilyfarm9587]

Circles people! Circles. Nose to knee and circle the horse. Keep circling until their brain turns back on and they are doing what you ask then try again with going straight. If you are on a horse that tends to bolt then know your path do you can start aiming for a space large enough to circle. If on a path where circles won't work. Half halt half halt half halt. Strong pull as if to ask for a halt then release over and over sometimes just one side at a time switching back and forth. NOT sea-sawing the reigns but a slow and steady pull and release on one side then wait a beat or two then a calm and steady pressure then release on the other side. Obviously it doesn't always work but it does usually help to bring them back under control. Often if you start with the half halts even at the trot to help to engage their brains a bit and make them concentrate on you then they are less likely to bolt in the first place and if they do they are more likely to come back under control if they are already use to the half halts and you need to use then during a bolt.

[@littlefrog8389]

I'd give my eye teeth to have a space like that to gallop!! How lucky. What on earth is causing you to fall like that? Does he swerve sharply? 😂

[@Oakleaf700]

I wondered that... Perhaps a flybuck?

[@nick4098]

She swerved to the right suddenly, think she got worried about the path running across the field. I wasn't ready and didn't have time to sit deep....

[@pepifogarty5016]

Put you down neatly on the stony path, not in the soft lush grass… ouch.

[@stanleyrakoski6005]

More flashbacks

[@ellalove2396]

This is why you should have an old cob 🙂

[@nick4098]

Ella Love if you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much room.

[@susanhamill1791]

Good lord. That hurt. What did you break?

[@NickzAndMikz]

L3

[@Thenakedforager]

I’ve only watched two post of Shamrock bolting and both times you’ve fallen off! Life is so cruel, it never hurt when we were young but as soon as you hit 30 it hurts like fury! Boo hiss to aching bones, bruises and joints 🤬

[@mishamandrake1677]

Its weird coz i watched the shamrock vid yesterday, did he fall off after a swerve or just decided to bail out?

[@lisamartin2548]

My horse is now 19 and he still thinks he is running races. Same thing. Best bet is to tuck and ride.

[@bronwynishac5240]

I’m surprised u haven’t given up

[@nick4098]

Never give up. If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room 😂

[@bronwynishac5240]

@@nick4098 Sorry mate I went over the edge a long time ago 🇦🇺

[@MontuckyGirl75]

Ride that horse like a Ducati!

[@COUNTRYSTRONG-dt8yg]

You need to retrain him you have no business with a otth if you can't ride him!!

[@teilafox8251]

Lmfao0 Sorry But U Should've Learnt By Now..Shamrock Was 1 Of The Funniest Things I've Seen..Please Don't Eva Stop Posting This Carnage.Ur A Mentalist👍😆

[@halfpiint]

Oops! Just saw this video is 2 years old.... This is too painful to watch. You need to do 3 things to correct this (1) stop relying on the word whoa (2) learn to stay on. Or have someone more experienced with better balance ride shamrock consistently for several months (3) the next time Shamrock takes control of the speed they need to make Shamrock GO FASTER then make her stop using your legs & hands When you make her go faster you’ve taken back control & she’s now listening to you & ready to listen to your leg & hand aids During these several months, YOU can longe her, using your voice aids of walk trot & WHOA to get her use to your voice commands & more importantly, to build a bond with her. Good luck

[@coldsmoker9387]

You should start on an old bomb proof trail horse ,a green rider on a racehorse is like letting a 14 year old loose in a Lamborghini,it's going to get out of control sooner or later.

[@eleanormenz7169]

Have you thought of getting one of those vests that blow up when you fall off? It helps protect your back, ribs, kidneys. Don't think I will ever get on a horse again, will be 70 this summer...I'm done thank you.

[@Tulipsaki]

Maybe work on your balance with an Alexander Technique instructor.

[@joycee5493]

Not again. lol

[@jordanbishop8471]

EJECTO SEATO CUZ

[@rides2much]

Get a diffuser horse.

[@lucasmancini2]

Why are horses still a thing? 🤣🤌🏻 they cost a fortune, they’re unpractical and cost even when you don’t need them and for the same money you can go cart as a hobby! Well i understand that some people just like them but dam it takes alot to own a horse.. my car is so much cheaper 😅

[@leekegs]

Vaguely boring. Horses ears are not for me. It is a good job I dont drive how you try and ride.

[@nick4098]

Nobody forced you to watch it. It is a good job I don’t give a fat rat’s arse what you think of my riding.

[@CharlotteWeb100]

@Lee Out of interest what the fuck made you even watch this if you're not interested in horses?

[@stuartnicholson8298]

Hold on will ya pmsl fitness is key lol