This was Kathy's first ride since she broke her arm in the dressage
arena (got to watch dressage ) a couple years ago. And given the heat
down here in the summer, 30 miles was a stretch for her. We normally
do about a 10 mile trail ride the day prior to a ride just to shave the
edge off but didn't get to do that. Also because of the rain we didn't
get to ride as much as we wanted. So the horses were razor sharp and
fresh - to fresh.
We went out last and the horses were wonderful for the first 5 miles
and then we caught up to a couple of horses and they decided they don't
need to be fine any longer. Ego starts his challenging of the bird. We
normally play leep frog with the lead and they like that, except they
didn't want to play that game that day. So we did a lot of bringing
them back to a walk to reset the brain. We get to the first check and
they are in great shape. We leave and they settle some till we got to
the trun that took them out of the gourge back - a trail that they
knew. We get to the top of this and the trail turns onto a gravel road
for about a mile and 1/2. Kathy is pretty tired by now. I told her just
to put Ego on the Bird's butt and we would walk and trot on in.
We are coming up the road and Ego picks up a little lop, common for him
and his lop is a lot easier to ride than a trot. We come around a
slight curve and Ego needs to be on the other lead. Now Ego was on the
track some years ago and he was 3 wins in 3 starts when he twisted his
testicles and had to be gelded. Ego knows the flying lead change and
accelerate trick. Kathy asked for a lead change and Ego responded. He
changed leads, hoped up on the bank and bolted past the Bird. When he
jumped up on the bank he did two things, dumped Kathy and flew passed
me knocking my foot out of the stirrup.
The Bird picked up the challenge. If you haul a horse in before thay
get full speed you normally don't have a problem, but I had to get my
stirrup first and by the time I did we are headed down this race track
at full speed. I had a snaffle but it was pretty much worthless. That's
when my mind wondered back to the "whack 'em between the ears and
debate on ridecamp and longed for a 2x4 in my hand <g>. I kept
him out of warp speed by successive flying lead changes but couldn't
break up his stride enough to get him back. The little snot Ego just
kept ahead of us. We came to a point where there was a field on the
left but the Bird was not going to turn, no way. I even leaned forward
and pulled his head back to my knee using his nose band and he was
still going forward. So I knew that this was a wreck waiting to happen.
The road turned onto a single track trail up a hill and I knew if we
could make the turn, he would have to slow down enough on that trail I
could snatch him back into control. Trouble was he didn't finish the
turn. His feet slipped out from under him in the gravel and he
proceeded to slam me down on the gravel. When I figured out which time
zone I was in they were gone. This was about 3 to four miles out. FWIW,
I didn't hit on the back of my helmet, I hit on the side and thank
goodness for the helmet. Also thank goodness for the stirrups leathers
that come off of english saddles since my stirrup and leather was
laying beside me.
I walked back to see if Kathy was okay - and the best sight I saw that
day was her walking up the road. She wasn't as happy to see me as I was
to see her since somehow it was my fault - such a burden a husband has
to bare. Anyway we start walking to 3 to 4 miles back to camp. After
about a mile two wonderful people ride toward us and called our names.
They had come out to look for us. They put us on their horses so we
could at least get a ride up the long climb coming out of Bandy Creek.
After that we got off and the wonder folks that rescued us went on
their way on their trail ride and we walked in.
By the time we got back to camp, the horses had been untacked and the
vets had looked at them.
The good news is except for a little road rash the Jbird is okay.
Probably a little sore but I'm not sure he is sore enough:-). Ego is
none the worse for the wear. Kathy is sore but otherwise unhurt. On the
other hand, my back had been bothering me. My pelvis seemed to be out
of line. The Bird slammed me down on the opposite side I usually land
on those infrequent times I do come off. I think he fixed me up. My
back feels better than it has in a long time.
So all I got to say is it was one more endurance ride where "I cheated
death yet again!"
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Truman
Epilog: While I know a bit is "not the answer," the Bird is going to
get a mullen mouth pelham and I'm going to start riding him in double
reins. That's the way I always rode the hell bitch and no matter what
she did I was always able to snatch her up into control during those
tense moments and she is one hell of a lot stronger and more bull
headed (LOL...after all she is a female ) than the Bird ever though of
being.
