Re: Crash Test-long

["Susan Swope" <PARROTPLACE@prodigy.net>]

Hi Roger,

Hope you are feeling better and back in the saddle again soon.  Kudos to the
helmet!

Susan Swope
All animals except man know that the ultimate
of life is to enjoy it.
                                    Samuel Butler
-----Original Message-----
From: VMAXEPT Roger Rittenhouse <vmaxept@cococo.net>
To: ridecamp <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Thursday, May 21, 1998 3:59 AM
Subject: Crash Test-long


>sorry for the all lower case type- i am now one handed for a week or so.
>
>today fasha and i were out for our final hard workout before the iaha
>nat ctr in ga this weekend.
>
>we were comming back along a dirt stone road  -with some rock-- but
>trottable.. when we were passed by a truck full of big barking dogs.. i
>should have been walking.. but fasha who never shys  took a step off the
>road hit a rock and went down --hard  on both knees and hit her nose..
>i thought she was going tp flip over..she recovered.. but i did not
>
>and was catapulted over her head as it came back up..
>i remember seeing the road.. then the next thing   i was  on my back
>looking up at her.
>
>i hit my head  -in a helmet-  first impact then as i flipped over i hit
>my left shoulder hard..
>was a bit dazed.. when i realized i was laying there holding her rope
>birdle hack i use-- a device i took from the pasos..
>
>since she was in shock too she did not run off..took me 10 or 15  sec to
>get up --fell once  wobles--weeble--
>
>i grabed her breast collar  and realized my left arm did not
>function...i pleaded with her not to run off.. i was in the gee creek
>wilderness.. no telling where she would go..
>
>i put here bridle back on with one hand --asking for a head drop---
>thank you mr lyons..
>i noted she had blood on both knees and ankles.. not too bad..
>we walked to a spring.. where i could get water for me and to wash her
>legs off -- nothing deep just hide cuts-- cleaned her up and sat there
>for a few minutes..a bit shocky..
>
>now i felt the shoulder-- moved my arm and almost fell.. wow ..
>knew something was broke..
>2 miles to the parking lot.. walked a bit  but no good..had to mount..
>
>now in natrc a judge named bev tibbits use to ask for a one arm mount..
>i thought sure.. well i thought i would see if it could be done-- so a
>few months ago i worked at it.. fasha would take a small step or shift
>and i would fall back..so we never got it to work out all the way..
>now here i am -- must mount-- so i asked her to parkout.. held the reins
>in my mouth.. and asked for here to stand..i got up with one hand
>pulling and the bad one as a steadying out rigger.. it hurt but we  got
>up.. and she stood until i had both feet in the stirrups.. then we
>walked off..
>dont know if she knew i was hurt-- and or all that 'training' we have
>been doing for the 'silly' natrc horsemanship  really did pay off.. so i
>guess something good came out of me doing natrc with her the past 3
>yrs--what ever -- we made it back  to the trailer.. a bit weezy..
>i left the saddle on.. got her halter on  and opened the trailer door--
>threw the rope over her saddle and told her get in.. again  thanks john
>l-- she was side ways to the stall-- turned and walked on..first time i
>asked..
>
>one and half- hand driving with a stick shift-- we got home..
>
>i normally carry a crash kit on the saddle-- this time it was not there
>-i moved it all to the saddle i used last weekend..
>i carry arnica pills and calendula tint and rescue rem -- and other
>normal first aide stuff.. oh well  need a kit on every saddle
>
>carol just came home and we  worked on fasha first.. she appears ok  and
>trots sound..
>
>but me -- i have a compession fracture of the left shoulder.. really
>painfull.. doing alot of arinca.. ice and magnetics.
>went to er-- where carol works  in xray  doc said will be about 3
>weeks..and there is no fix..just a mashed shoulder socket.. will be a
>problem later..
>
>so no iaha  ctr.. just hope i can get together for the od50... could be
>tough  and i dont have a crew..will see how it heels..
>
>anyway  i will get a  new helmet-- and the head seems ok.. sore neck
>but spinal issues..
>
>this is my very first down time injury ever-- been doing this since 72--
>only been dumped off a horse  about 10 times--never hurt--just lucky
>
>at least i will get all those hrm repairs done now.. cant ride..
>and get my carbo reports written..  i need the speach to type program
>now..
>
>real bummer after such a great run at biltmore
>roger r
>
>