well that was interesting
So we go for a lovely trail ride - the weather is GORGEOUS today - happy happy.
Cheri brought me a sporadically freaky mare - I wasn't sure my legs were up to that yet, but what the hell, i refuse to let that one bad fall take my confidence. So off we go.
still lovely - Hermonie was a bit crazy but nothing I couldn't deal with - lovely ride.
Cheri needs to bolt so I say I'll turn the horses out. No biggie - I get a little extra pony therapy in the form of grooming and painting their hooves, which is what I was doing when all hell broke loose.
One second I'm happily painting Delight's toes...the next I am dive rolling madly out of the way of the suddenly insanely plunging and screaming duo of mares.
In hindsight I am kind of sorry I spoke so harshly to the dumbshit little girl who had just come racing around the side of the tack shed with a huge green kite careening behind her (which, translated inte equine is "huge scary horse eating monster OH GOD RUN RUN RUN") Yeah, they may be big and domesticated but horses never forget that "run first, look later" is the only way for a prey animal to survive in the wild. The polo fields are not exactly "the wild" but they forget that alot.
So yeah, although I am proud to say I did not cuss at the stupid girl and her even dumber mother, I DID use that sharp voice that people seem to instantly cringe and obey. I kinda ruined her afternoon, and I do feel bad about it - but she almost got me and two thoroughbred mares really badly hurt. I'd've gone back and been kinder to her but by the time the mares and I were over the panic, she was long gone.
So now as the adrenaline finally recedes I am noticing that "mad dive roll to escape flailing hooves" is a good answer compared to to standing still and getting stomped, but....owie - there were lots of rocks on the ground, and it was hard. But hey, my subconscious apparently remembers how to do a dive roll and will in fact pull that old skill out on demand. Kinda cool.
but...ow...whine.
Cheri brought me a sporadically freaky mare - I wasn't sure my legs were up to that yet, but what the hell, i refuse to let that one bad fall take my confidence. So off we go.
still lovely - Hermonie was a bit crazy but nothing I couldn't deal with - lovely ride.
Cheri needs to bolt so I say I'll turn the horses out. No biggie - I get a little extra pony therapy in the form of grooming and painting their hooves, which is what I was doing when all hell broke loose.
One second I'm happily painting Delight's toes...the next I am dive rolling madly out of the way of the suddenly insanely plunging and screaming duo of mares.
In hindsight I am kind of sorry I spoke so harshly to the dumbshit little girl who had just come racing around the side of the tack shed with a huge green kite careening behind her (which, translated inte equine is "huge scary horse eating monster OH GOD RUN RUN RUN") Yeah, they may be big and domesticated but horses never forget that "run first, look later" is the only way for a prey animal to survive in the wild. The polo fields are not exactly "the wild" but they forget that alot.
So yeah, although I am proud to say I did not cuss at the stupid girl and her even dumber mother, I DID use that sharp voice that people seem to instantly cringe and obey. I kinda ruined her afternoon, and I do feel bad about it - but she almost got me and two thoroughbred mares really badly hurt. I'd've gone back and been kinder to her but by the time the mares and I were over the panic, she was long gone.
So now as the adrenaline finally recedes I am noticing that "mad dive roll to escape flailing hooves" is a good answer compared to to standing still and getting stomped, but....owie - there were lots of rocks on the ground, and it was hard. But hey, my subconscious apparently remembers how to do a dive roll and will in fact pull that old skill out on demand. Kinda cool.
but...ow...whine.