I did a really dumb thing this afternoon. I went riding on a huge thoroughbred needing manners. So I saddle up with my heavy western stock saddle, riding PSK, coat and as an afterthought my Wiggy bag to have one more item for him to think about. I scribble a "float plan" on the barn bulletin board and ride out into 600 acres of Oak woodland. There are thingies in the woods <img src="images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />and my gallant steed thought 6 deer were out to get him. He went north. I went south, as did my bag on breakaway strings. I find I cannnot move my right arm. I have broken ribs, pulled muscles and pinched nerves. I grab the bag and somehow crawl into it ( insist on big zippers.) I blow my whistle ( ouch) and flash my light. Finally one of the boarders drives close enough to spot me ( horses eating their dinner with a saddle on are a minor sign of trouble.) I will recover, and practicing left hand use. Sometimes the least glamorous piece of gear is the most needed <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Chris,

Sorry to hear about your ribs (Ow!). Glad you are doing OK!

Something similar happened to me a few years ago. Out riding alone on a weekday in the Wisconsin Southern Kettle Moraine Park, 5 miles from the stable and I decided to work on some galloping uphill. There was a nice place for it with deep sand and the trail opening up to 20 feet wide. Just as my horse and I were reaching the top of the hill I could see a flock of turkeys all over the trail at the top of the hill. My horse was older and almost completely bombproof (almost), but turkeys freaked him out ‘cause they are the same color as the rocks and moving rocks are not good. In that split second after I saw the turkeys and before the horse did there was that “Oh s***” moment and the thought of this may not be good. I don’t know maybe I tensed up but the next thing I knew the horse was veering right into a meadow, I was trying to run backwards down the trail and turkeys were going ten different directions. Maybe at a trot I could have kept my balance but at the speed of a gallop no way, so I tumbled ass over teakettle across the trail and into the waist high grass of the meadow for about thirty feet. I was lucky I didn’t hit my skull on a rock but I lost my glasses and I am completely blind without them. I figured the horse was on his way back to his stable buddies and I was in for a long walk and then an embarrassed phone call to have someone bring my spare pair of glasses. As I crawled back to the trail I put my hand down on something hard and realized it was my glasses - they were bent to hell but usable. Sitting up I looked around and my silly horse was 100 feet away eating the long grass in this meadow. He ran right up to me when I was able to stand and was completely calm but he did look back at me after I was in the saddle as if to say “What the heck were you doing?”
Lessons learned - always have glasses on a keeper, have a spare pair in the truck, and always tell several people where and for how long you plan to be out riding.
Hope you heal fast and are able to ride soon!!
BTW -- Great articles on trail hazards in the last few issues of Western Horseman.
Take care!
Craig J. in Wisconsin

Well, you should have asked me ! I would have told you it's a dangerous thing to ride a horse ....!!! <img src="images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

The only time I did, was in Minnesota. My room-mate said "Come, we will do some riding this week-end".
And there I was, sitting on a huge mare. God, the ground was really far away !!!
At that time, my english was worse than now, and don't even think about my accent (in restaurant, when I asked for a glass of water, waitress didn't understand <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />).
So I rapidly reckoned that mare did not understand a single word of what I could say. And I let her make all the decisions about the way to go. Hopefully, she was quite peaceful and she followed all the others perfectly and calmly....

No problem, but sore buttocks.

End of story !!! (................)


Alain

Actually, though I'm sorry you got in a horse wreck... I'm sort of relieved. You've truly been a source of great guidance here at ETS when I've had (among other questions) Horse-ish questions. I'm at around a 20% "dumped and left" rate on back country horse trips. So it's good to know it happens to expert horsemen too. Glad you're doing o.k., and hope the wing heals promptly.

By the way, my Canadian Rockies trip is coming up in two weeks. My wife says your last piece of advice missed one item. A gun. She says we need a gun on the trip! She says if I spoil another vacation because of a horse-related injury she'going to shoot me on the spot and leave me for the critters to eat. Chris... can she get a firearm in Canada??

Get well soon!!

Ouch! <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Take it easy with the ribs. They can take a while to heal.

Ouch! Get well soon.

Its a good thing that you practice what you preach in regards to PSK gear. Maybe you can write a true to life gear review while you recover. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

My one and only horse experience occurred during my honeymoon in the Poconos. The brute I was riding decided it was time to gallop home through the barn door. I pulled so hard on the reins to stop him that I thought he was going to do a back flip. I should have known I was in for trouble when the stirrup was level with my rib cage. The manager of the place was pretty ticked at the guide too for giving that particular horse to a novice rider. Apparently he was known for his bad attitude.

Chris

Ya know, every time I get close to a horse it either bites me, steps on me, kicks me, throws me, or rolls over on me. I have therefore decided that they are only good for two things...dogfood and glue.

Hope you recover soon...

Yes, longarms are common in Canada. A firearm is usually carried by the packmaster. Contrary moose are far more dangerous than bears. Should a horse become badly injured, a well placed shot is far more humane than some of the other methods I have witnessed. Ask your guide to be matched with the national CANADIAN HORSE. These tough little guys are one of the most pleasant animals I've messed with, equal to your Tennessee Walkers. At least mules are uncommon in Canada ( the small hooves sink in the muskeg.) A mule will either love you or hate you <img src="images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Sorry to hear about your riding accident -- I hope you feel better soon. I find the healing qualities of Jack Daniels to be excellent. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Just don't overdo the Jack with the Vicodin!!