Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

OH, my!  Glad you guys are ok.

L.

On Tuesday, September 9, 2003, at 01:32 PM, Truman Prevatt wrote:

> This was Kathy's first ride since she broke her arm in the dressage 
> arena (got to watch dressage ) a couple years ago. And given the heat 
> down here in the summer, 30 miles was a stretch for her.? We normally 
> do about a 10 mile trail ride the day prior to a ride just to shave 
> the edge off but didn't get to do that. Also because of the rain we 
> didn't get to ride as much as we wanted. So the horses were razor 
> sharp and fresh - to fresh.
>
> We went out last and the horses were wonderful for the first 5 miles 
> and then we caught up to a couple of horses and they decided they 
> don't need to be fine any longer. Ego starts his challenging of the 
> bird. We normally play leep frog with the lead and they like that, 
> except they didn't want to play that game that day. So we did a lot of 
> bringing them back to a walk to reset the brain. We get to the first 
> check and they are in great shape. We leave and they settle some till 
> we got to the trun that took them out of the gourge back - a trail 
> that they knew. We get to the top of this and the trail turns onto a 
> gravel road for about a mile and 1/2. Kathy is pretty tired by now. I 
> told her just to put Ego on the Bird's butt and we would walk and trot 
> on in.
>
> We are coming up the road and Ego picks up a little lop, common for 
> him and his lop is a lot easier to ride than a trot. We come around a 
> slight curve and Ego needs to be on the other lead. Now Ego was on the 
> track some years ago and he was 3 wins in 3 starts when he twisted his 
> testicles and had to be gelded. Ego knows the flying lead change and 
> accelerate trick. Kathy asked for a lead change and Ego responded. He 
> changed leads, hoped up on the bank and bolted past the Bird. When he 
> jumped up on the bank he did two things, dumped Kathy and flew passed 
> me knocking my foot out of the stirrup.
>
> The Bird picked up the challenge. If you haul a horse in before thay 
> get full speed you normally don't have a problem, but I had to get my 
> stirrup first and by the time I did we are headed down this race track 
> at full speed. I had a snaffle but it was pretty much worthless. 
> That's when my mind wondered back to the "whack 'em between the ears 
> and debate on ridecamp and longed for a 2x4 in my hand <g>. I kept him 
> out of warp speed by successive flying lead changes but couldn't break 
> up his stride enough to get him back.? The little snot Ego just kept 
> ahead of us. We came to a point where there was a field on the left 
> but the Bird was not going to turn, no way. I even leaned forward and 
> pulled his head back to my knee using his nose band and he was still 
> going forward. So I knew that this was a wreck waiting to happen.
>
> The road turned onto a single track trail up a hill and I knew if we 
> could make the turn, he would have to slow down enough on that trail I 
> could snatch him back into control. Trouble was he didn't finish the 
> turn. His feet slipped out from under him in the gravel and he 
> proceeded to slam me down on the gravel. When I figured out which time 
> zone I was in they were gone. This was about 3 to four miles out. 
> FWIW, I didn't hit on the back of my helmet, I hit on the side and 
> thank goodness for the helmet. Also thank goodness for the stirrups 
> leathers that come off of english saddles since my stirrup and leather 
> was laying beside me.
>
> I walked back to see if Kathy was okay - and the best sight I saw that 
> day was her walking up the road. She wasn't as happy to see me as I 
> was to see her since somehow it was my fault - such a burden a husband 
> has to bare. Anyway we start walking to 3 to 4 miles back to camp. 
> After about a mile two wonderful people ride toward us and called our 
> names. They had come out to look for us. They put us on their horses 
> so we could at least get a ride up the long climb coming out of Bandy 
> Creek. After that we got off and the wonder folks that rescued us went 
> on their way on their trail ride and we walked in.
>
> By the time we got back to camp, the horses had been untacked and the 
> vets had looked at them.?
>
> The good news is except for a little road rash the Jbird is okay. 
> Probably a little sore but I'm not sure he is sore enough:-).? Ego is 
> none the worse for the wear. Kathy is sore but otherwise unhurt. On 
> the other hand, my back had been bothering me. My pelvis seemed to be 
> out of line. The Bird slammed me down on the opposite side I usually 
> land on those infrequent times I do come off. I think he fixed me up. 
> My back feels better than it has in a long time.
>
> So all I got to say is it was one more endurance ride where "I cheated 
> death yet again!"
>
> That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
>
> Truman
>
> Epilog: While I know a bit is "not the answer," the Bird is going to 
> get a mullen mouth pelham and I'm going to start riding him in double 
> reins. That's the way I always rode the hell bitch and no matter what 
> she did I was always able to snatch her up into control during those 
> tense moments and she is one hell of a lot stronger and more bull 
> headed (LOL...after all she is a female ) than the Bird ever though of 
> being.
>
> Vallonelee@xxxxxxx wrote:
>
> In a message dated 9/9/03 12:44:49 PM US Mountain Standard Time, 
> tprevatt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
>
> The horses
> both finished in time, but unfortunately the riders finished about 40
> minutes later and over time but that's a different story.
>
>
>
> Come on Truman - you can't leave us hanging like that ! ! !
>
> Lee
> Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start 
> from now and make a brand new ending.
> ????????????????????????


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