In a message dated 10/11/1999 6:18:48 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
ridecamp-d-request@endurance.net writes:
<< Getting off your horse around a stranger in the wilderness is the
dumbest thing I have heard in a long while. Whoever
dreamed that up, to be user friendly ,should have their
head examined. The greatest defense a rider has
against human or animal danger is a fleet horse. >>
Having had a stranger try to grab my bridle while I was riding last year, I
know exactly what you mean. It's scary as hell. The man was obviously a low
life, he appeared out of nowhere, though I knew SOMETHING was wrong. Never
doubt your horse......Jordan had been spooky for ten minutes before this guy
popped out of the bushes. He'd been telling me "Mom, something is out there."
The man put on a phony face and said, "Hi, lady, can I pet your horse??" and
came up rapidly. Jordan went backwards, ears flattened, eyes bugged out, and
I said, "Better not, this is a stallion, he might bite you." (yeah..in his
dreams.....Jordan's not been a stallion for oh, 16 years???). Then he needed
NO urging to beat feet out of there. I hauled ass home and called the
cops...but that's at least a half hour, the sheriff was on another call, etc
etc etc.
Don't EVER let someone grab your horse in anyway. I would rather have some
stranger be wary of Jordan then lose my life.
Practical Horseman ran a series of "what to do if " this happens a couple
months ago.
Michelle and Jordan (I KNEW he was a bad one, mom.)