Took a tumble

[il Munduato]

Does every discussion have to be an opportunity to rag on others? Please, everybody, just put your sniping on hold.

Being aware of a method to reduce damage and actually put it into practice at 1 second's notice is an ideal one can strive for. But the fact is, I've had no practice in falling on a bike. Or, I could look at it that when I was 6 and going too fast down a hill and tried to turn at a T intersection, and went crying all the way home with a badly skinned knee, I learned never to do that again. And so I will learn from this adventure.

I'm glad that you agree with me.
Learning from past situations and adding it to your knowledge base of what not to do as well as applying it to the similar is much better than ignoring the information and just learning how to crash.
I find it rather ridiculous to boast about hundreds of accidents and then suggest it's a good way to train yourself how not to follow instinctive reflex.
I've never riden muddy farm tracks but if the traction was similar to ice I probably would have avoided the brake, extended my legs and slowed to a stop to dismount. I recently found myself in a leaf covered muddy marsh coming from a dry hard trail I've ridden before and that's exactly what I did. It was just too slippery for the tires on my bike and the cues were there for me to interpret.
Suggesting to always keep your feet on the pedals is... _____

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Suggesting to always keep your feet on the pedals is... _____

So you prefer maiming your leg to taking the impact on the pedal/crankarm and the handlebar grip. Noted.

it's a good way to train yourself how to not follow instinctive reflex.

The instinctive reflex was developed ages before bikes existed. Not the skill you need when riding a bicycle.