ridecamp@endurance.net: Trail hits a snag (long)

Trail hits a snag (long)

Linda S. Flemmer (bluwolf@earthlink.net)
Wed, 30 Jul 1997 01:39:20 -0700

Most of you know that we just moved to a new state, started new jobs,
and are trying to get our lives in order so that we can ride again.

We were told by a local landowner that there was no problem with riding
down a local stream on his property for about 4/10 of a mile to the dirt
roads hereabouts. "It's open enough to fly fish", says he. Silly us
for not walking it first! =20

Mike's horse Major doesn't trust the small embankment to get down to the
stream, so Mike leads him down - no problem! I decide it looks like a
good thing to do and start to dismount as well. Rocket (my horse) has a
panic attack because Major has gone around the bend of the stream so
that we have room to maneuver. (He isn't normally herd bound.) He
rushes down the embankment with me in tow, trying to get my foot out of
my stirrup. He slips near the bottom, and decides he is going back UP
the embankment where it is safe. In the process, I get a personal
introduction to West Virginia clay & rock. Then he spins, knocks me
back into the mud (before I was completely upright) and tries to go
THROUGH trees as he goes up the embankment in an area that any sane
being would recognize as impassable! He calms down as I speak to him
and eventually backs out of the trees, down the embankment, and into the
stream. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY CALM, WELL TRAINED HORSE? Could his 9
month lay up be at the root? Nah!

Mike comes back to see what all the crashing is for. I'm already
mounted on a shaking horse. ("Mom, the world was sliding out from under
my feet!) We start down the river - for about 200 yds. We begin to hit
snags, fallen trees, small rapids. The fast water doesn't faze the
guys, but we are almost wiped off of the horses' backs by some of the
trees & snags. Rocket is 16H - I <really> missed my 14.2 H mare! My
handy folding saw made short work of the smaller spots, but we were
stopped soon anyway. A tree was across the way, bigger than I could
hug, with steep banks on each side! Regretfully we turned around for
home.

I spoke with the farmer today. He admits that he hasn't fly fished in
there for about 8 or 9 years. "Clear things up if you want, though." I
can't wait! "Chain saws are us!"

Look out trails, here we come, again! (soon!)

Linad Flemmer
Blue Wolf Ranch
Bruceton Mills, WV

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