After we left out after the half way check, he started to get bored. I did
all my usual "checks"...does he need to get off the trail and pee? Poop? No.
Thirsty? Hungry? No. No. None of those things were an issue. He wasn't off or
lame or hurting. He was bored with no one to ride with. I was so mad at him! I
found a little switch to remind him that we did NOT have time to stand around at
the top of the hills and look around at the scenery. Nelson met us at the gravel
pit and wanted me to get a bigger stick! From there to the next pit stop was
going to be kind of long for us but I hoped he would pick it up when he realized
we were getting close to the vet check....he always seems to know. I swear he
can read the pie plates even!! This next stretch was pretty uneventful and he
started perking up and a good gallop here and there got his adrenaline going. He
started going strong again without the lollygagging and sightseeing. As we
approached the golf course, I decided to hug the left of the trail in the grass
as earlier, Sara and I had missed our turn up the hill and into the woods. Yep,
there were the plates on the trees and I followed the 4 wheeler tracks right up
along the hill...Malik loves to gallop the hills and I think he knew Nelson
would be there soon with a snack and a drink.
So suddenly that it happened in the blink of an eye, a bird rose out of the
grass to our left and in front of us. A BIG bird (and NOT a yellow one!). That
is all I remember. The next thing I knew I was on the ground and I heard my
helmet make a cracking sound as my head struck a rock. I never even saw what
kind of bird it was but Malik later told me it was a prehistoric horse eating
pteradactyl. No kidding. He tells me some good ones but he couldn't have made
THIS one up! We think it may even have flown right into him, knocking me right
out of the saddle. Anyway, I got up as I had not been able to maintain my hold
on the reins to find my horse. Looked to my right and there was Malik running
across the sand, three legged. His left front leg held STRAIGHT out in front of
him. I thought his leg was caught in the reins but then I saw it wasn't and I
just KNEW he had broken his leg. I am sure I called upon the Lord over and over
in the few seconds that felt like an eternity that it took me to catch him. I
may have even used some other words. I'm not sure. I felt his leg and shoulder
and couldn't feel anything wrong. He didn't even flinch, just hung his head like
a whipped dog. Embarrassed perhaps? I am not certain how the thought process
took over at this point or if I was even thinking that straight...when I had
heard my helmet crack, I instantly thought of Shelly Dake who had hit her head
two years ago at Hopkins Creek, had taken ibuprofen, continued to ride and when
she later collapsed many miles into the ride, was hauled off to emergency and
didn't ride again for a long, long time. Please remember that ibuprofen inhibits
blood clotting. Another old lesson learned the hard way. Don't take aspirin or
ibuprofen for headaches resulting from a head injury. Anyway, after discovering
that I could get up and walk, my only concern was Malik. I took him up the hill
and into the woods for shade...it was starting to get plenty hot in that spot.
As we walked, he started putting his leg down and bearing weight on it. I saw
the golfers on the golf course and idly wondered if they would be upset if I
walked over with Malik and sent them for help. I sat down, cried momentarily (I
think) and then started to wonder what I should do. The riders behind me were
WAY behind me. Sarah Michelin had just come into the half way check (a 50 minute
hold) as I was leaving out and Andy Redman and Shelly Dake weren't even in yet.
I knew I would sit there for quite awhile before anyone came and then they would
have to send back help. I knew Nelson wasn't too far away so we started walking.
As we walked, Malik moved faster and faster, showing no pain or swelling or
ANYTHING. Relieved that his leg hadn't fallen off yet, I started wondering about
myself. Was I in shock? I had a headache. Would I pass out here on the trail? I
finally decided to get ON my horse and let him take me to Nelson. He even opted
to trot in some spots but that didn't help the headache so we mostly walked.
When we finally met Nelson at the road, he had a thunderous look on his face (I
knew he would be disappointed that we were so far behind now). The look
disappeared when I burst into tears...I don't normally cry. I consider myself
pretty tough most of the time. But this accident had scared the shit out of me.
I was so glad to see someone. Nelson checked us both over and after drinking
some water and taking some deep breaths, I decided to ride Malik in at a walk to
the vet check (not far) and have Dane check him out before deciding what to do.
The first thing Dane did was check ME out. He held his hands out in the
thumbs up position and asked me how many fingers I saw. I said "Two". He said
"Wrong!". They were thumbs not fingers. OK, OK. He is a very funny man. Hahaha.
But I appreciated his concern for me and he then immediately checked out Malik.
There was some slight swelling above the fetlock. He felt it was a deep flexor
injury, not severe but "there". We immediately said we'd trailer him back rather
than try to finish. I wasn't sure if "I" could finish anyway. Dane was pleased
and seemed surprised that we so quickly opted to pull rather than to push the
issue. I think he would have pulled us anyway and we had a discussion on types
of pulls and the stigma attached to them and the codes, etc. I didn't give a
hoot what anyone thinks about my "pull" record. I do what is best for my horse.
Sure, I was disappointed that we didn't finish. But I have a horse to ride
another day and there is ALWAYS another ride somewhere, someday but there will
NEVER be another Malik. Ever. So, we iced his injury right away and waited for
the horse ambulance...thank you, Daryl Yerrick for providing that ride back to
camp...were we glad to see YOU!
I know this has been long but I do have an important point to make along with
the interesting and humorous anecdotes.
You are reading this today courtesy of my Troxel Dakota helmet. "Nuff
said.
