Title: Re: [RC] Not-So-Happy Camp Experience
What
would be recommended to prevent slippage on rocks?
I went
riding with a new friend I met on line at a nearby trail. It's mostly used
by mountain bikers and a certain alternative lifestyle group of men but they did
recently open the trail up for horses. They even put in a special
Equestrian parking area!
The
day was beautiful, sunny and cool and the trails were good. Some rocks,
some hills, streams, an occasional biker or two. All in all it was a
perfect day to be out riding. Especially as it took me 2 hours to load my
previously willing trail partner.
Day
got off to a great start when my new friend grabbed a tree branch and rode past,
and then let it go. It caught me square on the cheekbone and boy oh boy
did I see stars. Didn't knock me out of the saddle so I figured we'd just
go on.
Pretty
soon we came to the top of the hill and to get back to the trailer we had to go
back down. It was looking mighty steep by then so we set off to find an
alternative way down. After wandering in and among the trees we came to a
spot that looked like we could make it, but I was concerned about riding down it
so like an idiot I suggested we dismount and lead the horses
down.
My
horse doesn't lead so much as walk on top of you at times (I know we are working
on that too) so I let her go first after I clipped my reins to her halter I
started 'tailing' her down. It was working wonderfully until she came to a
rather flat, long downwards sloping rock. Well her back feet slipped, she
pulled, I wouldn't let go for fear of her disappearing down the trail, and she
pulled me off balance. I finished the rest of that hill on my knees, my
side and finally came to rest next to a boulder on my right side when my helmet
crashed into it. Not a pretty sight. At first my knees wouldn't work
and I thought I'd broken them. But then I thought to myself "How do you
break a knee?" and decided they were just bruised.
We
walked the mile or so back to the trailer and the only thing I could think of,
beside the pain, was "How do you stop a horse from slipping on
rocks?"
Long
story to ask a simple question but since it's rocky and hilly here in Oklahoma
it's an important question. Any answers?
Also I
carry with me my cell phone, a snake bite kit, a small emergency kit, an
emergency blanket, and water.
