Brenda Goes Flying
It was a beautiful December afternoon for a ride. Brenda joined Kevin and me on a trail ride.
Her horse is Archie, a huge Quarter Horse gelding. We have ridden with Brenda plenty of times,
but I seldom mention her because Archie is a pretty good horse. He does have the slow Quarter
Horse gaits, so he has trouble keeping up with us. If we trot, he needs to canter. Well, it is a
Quarter Horse lope. Unfortunately, if he has a lot of energy, he will throw in a buck now and then.
Her horse is Archie, a huge Quarter Horse gelding. We have ridden with Brenda plenty of times,
but I seldom mention her because Archie is a pretty good horse. He does have the slow Quarter
Horse gaits, so he has trouble keeping up with us. If we trot, he needs to canter. Well, it is a
Quarter Horse lope. Unfortunately, if he has a lot of energy, he will throw in a buck now and then.
We crossed the river and started trotting on the other side. That didn't last long because we saw
Paula and Chris on their way home. We slowed down and exchanged greetings. Once we passed,
we began to trot, again. Kevin was in the lead, followed by me. Brenda, with the slower horse,
was behind us. After only about 30 seconds of trotting, we heard Brenda yell, so we immediately
stopped and turned around.
Paula and Chris on their way home. We slowed down and exchanged greetings. Once we passed,
we began to trot, again. Kevin was in the lead, followed by me. Brenda, with the slower horse,
was behind us. After only about 30 seconds of trotting, we heard Brenda yell, so we immediately
stopped and turned around.
I was the first one to see Brenda on the ground; motionless. Archie was galloping down the adjacent
paved bike path--going away from home. We both leapt off our horses and headed for Brenda.
paved bike path--going away from home. We both leapt off our horses and headed for Brenda.
Do you know how it is when you are in a crisis situation and time slows down? Well, I think that is
just what happened. Though we couldn’t have been 50 feet away, it seemed to take about an hour
to get to Brenda. We were calling and calling her name, but there was no answer. I thought she was
dead. Archie came cantering back down the bike trail, turned and went towards Brenda. He saw that
she was useless and turned towards us, but he didn’t go on the trail. He trotted through the underbrush
and ended up stuck on a pile of logs--with a sapling wedged along his neck. Being a smart horse,
he decided to stay still until someone came to help him. I stopped Cole by Archie to keep him quiet
and Kevin continued the long trek towards Brenda.
just what happened. Though we couldn’t have been 50 feet away, it seemed to take about an hour
to get to Brenda. We were calling and calling her name, but there was no answer. I thought she was
dead. Archie came cantering back down the bike trail, turned and went towards Brenda. He saw that
she was useless and turned towards us, but he didn’t go on the trail. He trotted through the underbrush
and ended up stuck on a pile of logs--with a sapling wedged along his neck. Being a smart horse,
he decided to stay still until someone came to help him. I stopped Cole by Archie to keep him quiet
and Kevin continued the long trek towards Brenda.
Time isn’t the only thing that slowed down--so did Starry. I have never seen him walk so slow--ever.
We continued to call to Brenda. I saw her leg move--she was alive! Kevin kept dragging Starry to
Brenda.
We continued to call to Brenda. I saw her leg move--she was alive! Kevin kept dragging Starry to
Brenda.
A couple cars saw there was a problem and stopped. We now had some help! One man called 911.
The other man asked us what he could do. I asked him to hold Cole while I untangled Archie.
Kevin finally got to Brenda, and she was unconscious.
The other man asked us what he could do. I asked him to hold Cole while I untangled Archie.
Kevin finally got to Brenda, and she was unconscious.
I carefully maneuvered Archie out of his predicament. I glanced back at Cole, and he was bowing.
With Archie safe, I thanked the man; relieved that Archie wouldn’t be running towards home.
With Archie safe, I thanked the man; relieved that Archie wouldn’t be running towards home.
I could hear Kevin telling Brenda not to stand up. That was a good sign! While I was untangling
Archie, she came back to consciousness and was becoming feisty. I held the 2 horses, still at a
distance from them. The man who called 911 was now by Kevin. They were both trying to convince Brenda to stay down, but she had enough of lying in the mud and slowly got to her feet--and nearly fell right over. They caught her and held her up as she swayed back and forth. She was in really bad shape.
Archie, she came back to consciousness and was becoming feisty. I held the 2 horses, still at a
distance from them. The man who called 911 was now by Kevin. They were both trying to convince Brenda to stay down, but she had enough of lying in the mud and slowly got to her feet--and nearly fell right over. They caught her and held her up as she swayed back and forth. She was in really bad shape.
I managed to get the horses over to her. She wanted to go home. We wanted her to stay until
help came. She was talking slowly and slightly slurred. The emergency responders called us back
and asked for further directions. They weren’t far away. Brenda took Archie and started walking
away. She just wouldn’t listen.
help came. She was talking slowly and slightly slurred. The emergency responders called us back
and asked for further directions. They weren’t far away. Brenda took Archie and started walking
away. She just wouldn’t listen.
I got back on Cole because he kept bowing to get my attention. At least if I was on his back,
he wouldn’t bow. Well, that didn’t last long--here came a huge firetruck with its light flashing!
The part of the trail that were were at was right by a fence that separated the paved bike path--which
was right by the street. The truck was coming right to us. I hopped off--only to see an ambulance
and ranger’s car heading our way, too, with their lights flashing. I am so glad they didn’t have
the sirens going, too.
he wouldn’t bow. Well, that didn’t last long--here came a huge firetruck with its light flashing!
The part of the trail that were were at was right by a fence that separated the paved bike path--which
was right by the street. The truck was coming right to us. I hopped off--only to see an ambulance
and ranger’s car heading our way, too, with their lights flashing. I am so glad they didn’t have
the sirens going, too.
I am glad to say that all 3 horses didn’t care in the least. Brenda just kept walking away. The driver
of the fire truck asked me if I was all right. His truck was very loud, so I shouted to him it wasn’t
me, and pointed to Brenda and said she was getting away.
of the fire truck asked me if I was all right. His truck was very loud, so I shouted to him it wasn’t
me, and pointed to Brenda and said she was getting away.
He backed up his truck and intercepted her. They were talking when I caught up to them and pulled
out the stretcher. Now that the professionals were there, we could work on the problem of Archie.
It was getting dark, and we had to get Archie home. I quickly ran the options through my head.
I have never used Cole for ponying, so that wasn’t the greatest idea. We had to cross the river to
get home. It would be hard to lead 2 horses across--the greatest risk would be for the leader slipping
on the slate bottom and falling--not to mention the water was cold.
out the stretcher. Now that the professionals were there, we could work on the problem of Archie.
It was getting dark, and we had to get Archie home. I quickly ran the options through my head.
I have never used Cole for ponying, so that wasn’t the greatest idea. We had to cross the river to
get home. It would be hard to lead 2 horses across--the greatest risk would be for the leader slipping
on the slate bottom and falling--not to mention the water was cold.
Since we weren't that far from the barn, I volunteered to ride Cole home and get my car, drive to the
park and ride Archie home. I gave Archie to the ranger to hold. Kevin stayed with them, too. I trotted
Cole off, crossed the river and headed up the hill. Once across, I tried to trot. He got all excited, and
I realized I would be safer to walk up the hill fast than to trot. Cole did go very, very fast up the hill at
a walk, and we were home in no time.
park and ride Archie home. I gave Archie to the ranger to hold. Kevin stayed with them, too. I trotted
Cole off, crossed the river and headed up the hill. Once across, I tried to trot. He got all excited, and
I realized I would be safer to walk up the hill fast than to trot. Cole did go very, very fast up the hill at
a walk, and we were home in no time.
I saw Chris in her car, and the light bulb went off in my head. I asked her to give me a ride down to
the park. That way, I wouldn’t have to leave my car--and it might be good to have another person
to help out. She was glad to do us the favor, and it turned out to be a great thing. When I got back
down there, the ranger gave me Archie and asked Chris to stay. Brenda was refusing to go to the
hospital and would need a ride back to the barn. They certainly didn’t want her to ride Archie back.
the park. That way, I wouldn’t have to leave my car--and it might be good to have another person
to help out. She was glad to do us the favor, and it turned out to be a great thing. When I got back
down there, the ranger gave me Archie and asked Chris to stay. Brenda was refusing to go to the
hospital and would need a ride back to the barn. They certainly didn’t want her to ride Archie back.
Kevin and I walked the horses to the river. I didn’t want to bother adjusting the stirrups on the western
saddle, and since Archie is so tall--and Brenda is so short---I couldn’t mount from the ground. There
is a log there that we intended to use as a mounting block.
saddle, and since Archie is so tall--and Brenda is so short---I couldn’t mount from the ground. There
is a log there that we intended to use as a mounting block.
As soon as I got on, I realized that Archie was trained much different than my horses! He was trained
as a proper western horse, and had a curb bit. The lightest contact made him back up. I accidentally
neck reined him to the left--and then to the right. Ooops! Immediately, I knew that I was only going
to ride him across the river and then lead up the hill. I was a fish out of water on his back--and with
no stirrups! I had Kevin go down the river bank first, and I asked Archie to follow. He was fine. I
hopped off as soon as I got through the muddy river bank on the other side and led him home.
as a proper western horse, and had a curb bit. The lightest contact made him back up. I accidentally
neck reined him to the left--and then to the right. Ooops! Immediately, I knew that I was only going
to ride him across the river and then lead up the hill. I was a fish out of water on his back--and with
no stirrups! I had Kevin go down the river bank first, and I asked Archie to follow. He was fine. I
hopped off as soon as I got through the muddy river bank on the other side and led him home.
Brenda was back at the barn when we got back. She still seemed out of it, but she was walking
around. Bending was impossible. Her hip seemed to be bothering her. We didn’t want her to drive
home, but there was no stopping her. We had her promise to call us when she got home, so we
would know she was safe.
around. Bending was impossible. Her hip seemed to be bothering her. We didn’t want her to drive
home, but there was no stopping her. We had her promise to call us when she got home, so we
would know she was safe.
She kept her promise. By then, her hip was so bad that she decided to go to the hospital to get
it xrayed. Turned out nothing was broken. She did have a concussion, of course, but they checked
and there was no bleeding on the brain, so that was good news. She is very, very sore, though.
I was just happy she wasn’t dead--because there was a minute there that I thought she was.
it xrayed. Turned out nothing was broken. She did have a concussion, of course, but they checked
and there was no bleeding on the brain, so that was good news. She is very, very sore, though.
I was just happy she wasn’t dead--because there was a minute there that I thought she was.
She fell because Archie bucked as she tried to keep up with us at a canter. She wasn’t that far away,
so I think it was caused by high spirits on Archie’s part. Brenda didn’t want me to write about the experience because she was embarrassed by it, but there isn’t anything to be embarrassed about. Accidents happen, and it could have been so much worse. She also said there wasn’t anything anyone could learn from this--but there was. She did one thing right--she fell in the mud. At least she had a little cushion when she hit the ground.
so I think it was caused by high spirits on Archie’s part. Brenda didn’t want me to write about the experience because she was embarrassed by it, but there isn’t anything to be embarrassed about. Accidents happen, and it could have been so much worse. She also said there wasn’t anything anyone could learn from this--but there was. She did one thing right--she fell in the mud. At least she had a little cushion when she hit the ground.
So, if you are going to fall, aim for the mud.
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