I'm glad to be able to talk at you today. Over the weekend I did my
first Competitive Mounted Orienteering event. I teamed up with 3 more
experienced horsepeople over a 10+ mile course.
It was an exciting time and I learned alot about how to plan for one of
these things better before galloping off who knows where.
The conditions at the ride were muddy and there were lots of swooping
windy jeep trails with knocked down tree limbs all along the way. Well
fortunately for me I always...ALWAYS wear my helmet. I put my horse in
his normal training bosal at the start of this ride (I will never,repeat
never do this again at a competitive event). We were in one of our many
galloping spurts between clues and because he was in his bosal and he
was so keyed up, I couldn't keep him a safe distance off the horse in
front of us's butt. Being so close we couldn't see road hazzards until
we were on top of them. Well....oooops he tripped on a downed limb, I
was jostled and came forward a bit, but then oooops ....SPPLAAAT, he
tripped again on another branch and I came off...landed first on my
buttinski and then my head. CRAAaaaack! All the riders up ahead heard
it and thought I was dead. My Troxel EQ helmet finally bit the dust
having two nice cracks up it's left side. Sabian was unhurt, caught
himself both times. What an athlete!
I got to my feet fairly fast, a little shaken. Lower back aching the
most. No signs of any head concussion! Now even 50 hours
later....nothing except my normal DIMR (distance induced mental
retardation). This never would have happened had I been able to control
my horse better. His tripping was my fault because I couldn't keep him
at safe distance.
STILL, I'm sure glad I were a helmet...and so are my 2 kids and husband.
They are worth their weight in plutonium!
This isn't a commercial for TROXEL, but I get a replacement helmet for
$15 when you send in your registration card for their 5 year Impact
Replacement Program.
Please wear your helmets people!!!!
I really want to meet as many of you as I can someday.
Safety First,
then Ride Hard. Happy Tails!
Susan and Sabian