I rode it before CA loop and Pucker Point
were brought into the ride. I don't remember anything being very bad
then. Yes, I do....going down into American River canyon from Last Chance,
there is a stone water trough; then you ride along and look beyond the top of
the hill into space. I could never stay on there, nor on No
Hands Bridge BEFORE it had railings. With railings, I wouldn't have
any trouble at all. And I never liked Cougar Rock all that well,
either. All in all, I think it must be worse now than when I last rode it
many years ago. It's been over 20 years since my last attempt. I
don't think I want to do it now.
Yes, I know exactly where you mean on
Swanton Pacific, right above the waterfall. I don't like it much, but I
ride it enough so that I've pretty well overcome my fear of it.
Familiarity brings less fear.
I know horses are not supposed to want to go
off a cliff, but I've had some bad spookers, and one of them actually would jump
off a single-track trail over some stupid little thing. My current horse
appears to be pretty near spook-free, thank goodness. I've spent 5 years
and two spooky horses to get where I am now.
Jeez Barbara--you couldn't be that nervous. : ) The most scared
I was at a ride was coming out of the last vet check at your Swanton
100. Riding up that steep canyon, solid wall on your left, the
sound of a river a couple hundred yards straight down on your right, and
so dark you can't see the rider's white helmet five feet in front of you or
the obstacles your horse is jumping over. Maybe it wasn't all that
bad--I see all sorts of weird things late at night in the dark.
Just keep telling yourself, "My horse doesn't want to go over the cliff
any more than I do!" And enjoy the view.
I wish I could offer some miracle suggestion. Laura
refuses to try Tevis because of the cliffs. If she could get over it I
know she would enjoy it. I am glad you got to experience the
ride numerous times in spite of your nervousness. Did it get easier
to deal with each time?
G
Barbara McCrary <bigcreekranch@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
So, Gary, what would you recommend for
the nervous Nellie who is terrified of falling off a cliff? Can't
close the eyes because one looses one's balance. Not supposed to look
down....supposed to look where you want to go so the horse will follow where
you are looking. What if the place you want to look at has
nothing beyond the trail but SPACE....(shudder)
Maybe look to the left so one cannot see
the SPACE 1,000 feet down to the canyon. If YOU aren't
afraid, it's no big deal, but some of us ARE afraid. So what do you
think would work for us?
