Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Speed Freak; Flying Emergency Dismount; 43rd Battalion

On Sun, 11 Aug 2002 11:53:14 -0400, "Howard Bramhall" <hwb67@xxxxxxx>
wrote:

> ... I have yet to attend an endurance ride where someone is shooting at me 
>and I have to dismount to save myself and fire back.  I must admit I've 
>heard rumors of this possibly happening when I attend some of those 
>Georgia rides, but this has yet to occur.  

At an endurance ride in Georgia once upon a time, we were confronted
by a fellow who threatened us with a shotgun.  But that's another
story.

>If you dismount on a runaway horse, out in the woods, and your horse 
>meets Death while crossing the Highway, you will regret your action for 
>quite some time to come.  ... 

And if you are still aboard the runaway when he runs in front of that
18-wheeler, your heirs will regret your action for quite some time to
come.

I agree that in general you are better off staying aboard the runaway
than attempting a flying dismount.  But a horse running full-speed out
of control can become an uncontrolled wreck at any moment, and going
down with (or under) him is worse than a semi-controlled falling off.
You must look at where you're headed (on our trails circling is often
not an option), evaluate your situation, and take the least-dangerous
action for the circumstances.

And if the time comes when you have to do it, having had some
low-speed practice in nice soft dirt can be a lifesaver.  BTW, if you
have to jump off of a horse that is running at high speed, don't even
try to land on your feet running, that will just result in a hard face
plant.  Putting your arms out will just break them. Land tucked with a
shoulder roll.

-- 

Joe Long
jlong@xxxxxxxx
http://www.rnbw.com


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