Ride among Rhinos-a trainning ride with a diffrence

["Kathy Dobrowsky" <arikaras@iafrica.com>]

Hi,
Two weeks ago while my husband Rob and myself were waiting for clients we
decided to do a really fast endurance trainnining ride instead of waiting
until after 4 pm when our clients would arrive.Rob rode his wonderfull,calm
tri coloured Appaloosa stallion and I was on a young almoost 5 year old
Tuckahoe a Ara-Appaloosas gelding.Tuckahoe was still relatively new to this
,only having been to the Game Reserves once before.We set off through the
veld at a steady trot,minding all the holes in the ground as we rode
carefully and cautiously.For me this was wonderfull as I am usually stuck
in the kitchen doing all the catering,sheer bliss to be alone with Rob in
one of the most scenic Parks in the Eastern Cape Regoin of South Africa.
We eventually went onto a rocky road,at a extended trot,Tuckahoe extended
for the first time ,I was floating along in a dream world of my own when I
felt Tuckahoe tense,ears pricked forward,sniffing the air.I just shrugged
thinking it was the Impala running ahead of us,that he was looking at.The
next minute a massive Rhino cow and her two month old calf moved right next
to the road,they were in a huge ditch(no wonder we did not see
them)Tuckahoe shied sideways into the thorn trees,I held on for dear
life,he turned and faced this awsome monster,I shuddered ,heart beating
frantically,she was not impressed with our presence at all,and very
protective about her calf,she stared at us,we quaked and stared back at
her,Rob motioned me to stay still and keep calm.Then she snorted and took
of calf in lead,it took all my skill to keep Tuckahoe from chasing her,not
a good idea to chase Rhino me thinks.
I sighed in relief and continued up a steep rocky road,following Rob and
his calm Appaloosa.My heart was just  returning to normal and I was not
paying attention to where I was going as I was looking at a troupe of about
40 Baboons to the right of me,when I saw Rob motionning me to get off the
road,I glanced ahead of me a realised why:a Rhino bull,Rhino cow and a two
year old calf were agitatidly staring at me,my heart beat accelerated
again,Tuckahoe being as young and curious as he is was again dead set on
chasing these Rhino ,I took off away from the Rhino at a flat out
gallop.Rob laughed at me ,grinning from ear to ear,and had to rag his wife
of course,we settled down to a sedate walk,chattering away to Rob about the
thrill of being so close to Rhino,it is a amazing feeling a adrenelan rush
second to none..Rob and I were walking along and then we saw 4 sub adult
Rhino bulls watching us shortsightedly as if to try and figure out what
type of animals we were.These four Rhino were like Tuckahoe as curious as
he was as well ,they followed us for about two miles,Tuckahoe was going
along sideways ,he just had to watch these Rhinos..Eventually the Rhino got
bored with us and sauntered off in another direction.Rob realising I had
seen enough said "race you home" which we did riding along the one boundary
fence home,we flew it was great.
We are preparing our horses for the endurance season and they will  also be
bomb proof as well,Tuckahoe impressed me know end with his intelligence and
curiousity.All this took place in under 1 hour,definately a good trainning
ride for my horses,best of all no gates to open as it is on the farm at
home,the horses could really strech out and move for a change.
I was delighted with my ride,was exhilerating and taught Tuckahoe something
more about wild animals as well and me to be more cautious.
All I can say is this "Thank heavens I was wearing a back brace and was
calm for Tuckahoe,learn to read your horses body language as well".
Regards
kathy and all of her 26 Appaloosas and Arabs and its back to kitchen with
me*grin*
http://196.7.177.40/aht/