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After lots of bouncing and
a few kicks to the forehead, I miraculously found myself standing staring at the
face of a very giant Mt Lion. I remember blinking a few times because I
thought I was hallucinating and I definitely was feeling light headed and
dizzy. The Mt Lion stared back at me and without thinking I went into a
fit of rage, screaming and flailing my arms, blurting out obscenities as if I'd
lost my mind. It was one of those out of body experiences where you can
look down at yourself and say, is that me doing that!!!
I have to admit that I do
have a very big voice, in fact I was always being told to quite down as a young
girl but surely God gave me this voice to be heard and the Mt Lion heard me loud
and clear. He/She looked puzzled by my reaction and pinned his ears
back settling in on his rear haunches, but never backing away. I decided
after I had run out of steam, I should probably move along and get the hell
out of there. I only looked back once to see if it was following
me and then my energy was directed towards finding my horses. I felt
achy, frightened and knew that I couldn't stop or I would have passed
out.
As I walked along the trail
in search of my horses I confronted a pair of bicyclists who asked me if I was
okay??? What a crazy question I thought as I staggered on. The woman
said she was concerned about me and he partner asked if I had lost a pair of
horses??? I managed to blurt out that I had fallen of my horse and that
there was a Mt Lion back there on the trail. The guy inquired with
more detail about which side of the trail he was on etc... and I just kept
walking. I prayed aloud to God and anyone else that would listen to please
help me find my horses safe and sound.
About 3 miles later I felt
this burning energy that my horses were nearby. It was like a silent cry
for help that engulfed me, but I could not see them anywhere. I kept
walking and then suddenly to my left down in a small valley, I could see my mare
Lola staring at me. She was standing perfectly still behind what appeared
to be a barbed wire fence. I thought, oh dear God don't let her try and
jump that fence to get to me. I started talking to her and telling
her that I was coming and to please stay there. I could see Gitano's head
peaking over the saddle and watching me with his curious eyes. I tried to
run but couldn't and once I reached them I could see that the mare was
fine. She didn't have a scratch on her. I was trembling as my eyes
scanned her whole body and I kissed her neck and patted Gitano on the
forehead. After I looked her over, I ducked under her neck to the other
side to grab Gitano's lead-line. They were both being so quite it was
almost eerie.
To my absolute horror, when
I got on the other side of Lola, I looked down and Gitano's left front leg was
completely severed in half just below his knee. The canon bone was exposed
and jagged with a
three inch piece of skin holding the bottom half of his leg. His hoof
dangled and twisted in different directions with his slightest move.
It was dreadful. I hugged him and promised that everything was going to be
okay. He buried his head into my chest and if I could have
picked him up to cradle him, I would of. He basically turned himself over
to me with complete faith that I would rescue him and that's what I tried to do
within the next 45 minutes.
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