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RE: [RC] [RC] Learning from Riding Accidents - Kristen A Fisher - A. PerezA. Trail riding alone, many, many years ago (I was a teenager, must have been '76 or 77) along am old powerline. Came to some marshy ground, but it didn't look that bad. About two steps in and my horse was in upto his hocks, picthcing and floundering in the muck (a spring bed, hidden by the deep grass growing over it). I bailed and let my horse find his own way out, only to realize he was heading right towards 4 strands of barbed wire runnign through the woods parallel to the trail. Thanks God his reins got caught on a twig, stopping him a few feet from the fence. Lesson 1: when riding unfamiliar trails, get off an walk ahead of your horse through marshy, mucky or otherwise uncertain footing. Lesson 2: if at all possible,hang on to your horse! B. Riding in late winter/early spring in asy Boots. Made the mistake of going diagonally up a very small hill, not realizing that the ground under the grass was frozen. My Easy Boots had no studs, horses feet went sideways out from under him, he fell on his side (pinning my leg), then jumped up and took off. Lesson 1: if thwere is ANY change of ice, snow, frozen grounds etc use studs in easy boots - they're "slicker 'n deer guts on a door knob" otherwise. Lesson 2.a Have an Id tag with home phone number on it so the person who finds your horse in their back yard knows who to call (I had this, fortunately). Lesson 2.b instruct your husband what to do when he gets the call 'we found your horse but no rider', primarily STAY BY THE PHONE! Fortunately the folks who found my horse went looking for me, so I found out where he was, and was there by the time my very scared husband showed up. I now have a long instruction sheet detailing my usual riding routes, who to call to raise a search party, vet's number, numbers of friends with trailers if horse needs to be moved, etc. And of course, always always always WEAR A HELMET! When I think of all the dumb stuff I did as a kid and the nutty horses I've ridden (and still ride) I'm amazed I have not seriously injured (...YET!) while riding a horse. =========================================================== ...I have been wondering about this for some time. I have heard many of you mention riding accidents you have had, whether on trail or at a ride, and wondered if you could identify a reason and hence take steps to prevent a recurrence. ... ________________________________________________ Get your own "800" number Voicemail, fax, email, and a lot more http://www.ureach.com/reg/tag ============================================================ REAL endurance is your water freezing IN the cantle bags! ~ Heidi Sowards ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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