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A Day From Hell....

2K views 15 replies 13 participants last post by  Cacowgirl 
#1 ·
Monday (2/6/2012) was such a perfect day here in Indiana I couldnt resist getting off work early and riding with a friend of mine around her house. I got there around 3pm, day was warmer than usual and sunny. We brushed our horses out, washed their muddy legs off, and while I waited for her to finish up with some things, I worked with my horse with lunging, standing still, and backing up, etc. We saddled up and off we went. We were riding on the country roads like normal. Her horse (an Appendix-so rather tall) was a little hot this day, very jumpy and more "alert" than normal. We happened to see that a tree trimming truck was coming up on us so we stopped, turned our horses around so they could see what was coming. (usually both horses do very well with passing cars, vans, and those @&& holes that dont slow down, etc). Today was not the case, her horse spooked which of course rippled to my own horse. We got the horses under control and continued our ride, only to pass the same tree cutting truck and additional 3 times! I swear they were trying to check us out or try to tick the horses off, just plan creepy! Every time they passed her horse spooked and then mine fed off of it. By the 4th time her horse rascal had had enough, began to bolt and buck, she stayed on until he went running over the ditch on the side of the road. ended up throwing her 5-6 feet back on to the middle of the road. At least that is what we both can estimate and piece together because I was getting my horse under control who also tried to bolt. She ended up what we can assume, hitting the left side of her body on the road and smacking her head on the asphalt secondary to the force of her body hitting. She's Got about an inch to inch 1/2 laceration on her head, a scuffed elbow and hand, and a fractured 5th rib. I am ok just a little sore from the ride. She was lucky and luckily there were two gentleman who stopped and ran to her, even before my horse was calmed down and i got off. (THANK GOD!!) It was a very traumatic experience i thought for sure she was going to have a cracked skull or concussion! took my hoodie off we applied pressure with it and off to the hospital we went. She defends her horse the whole time at the hospital, she says she did the big no no and should have gotten off and lunged him, since he had been pinned up and was so hot. I just wish those stupid tree trimmers wouldnt had been so retarded! A: slow down before your reach the horses not a foot away! B: If you see some one having trouble dont continue to pass them! C: if you see someone fly off their horse shouldnt you stop and call 911 instead of keep driving? needless to say i am calling the company and making a complaint be cause for lack of better words (and this is my G rated version) those jack @&& deserve a complaint! Something was just to creepy about the hole situation me and my friend both have a hard time believing they were just looking for stuff to trim, we were by ourselves just me and her. She is very uncomfortable, but will be ok and in the end i am thankful for that. This is both our 1st big accident and I pray for no more! Ill take the 2x's soft ball bruise on the inside of my leg cuz i didnt tuck my leg in going past a tree any day!:cry:
 
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#2 ·
Man your poor friend! I'm glad you're alright though...

Seriously that sounds like a weird situation. Tree trimmers usually don't go cruising around they are usually hired by a company or individual, in a fixed place, and very slow going. :/ I hope she, and you, recover soon!
 
#6 ·
Horses are ok little shook up after the fact, but on the upside I found it kinda touching that when I handed my horse to one of the guys who stopped so I could attend to my friend, she wanted nothing but to come back to me, which is nice to know she's beginning to understand that I'm her owner now. And "loves" me. But that guy annoyed the crap out of me after a few mins so i took her back, maybe she was sincing something. And no we where not wearing helmets :( shame on us big time.
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#8 ·
Hope for a quick recovery, I'm not going to harp on about helmets but I'd say use this as an eye opener to what COULD have happened.

As for the company, def complain. I called in a complaint to a cement company before as a driver going by deliberately released his air brakes - he looked me in the eye and smirked as he did it. Nothing came of it as I didnt have the plate number but at least I made them aware.
 
#11 ·
I'd defiantly call and complain to the company and demand an apology. Glad to know youre both though
 
#12 ·
I'm so sorry! I know how you feel :(. i hate where i live because its one of the busiest roads in my area and if i want to go on any trails I have to deal with a LOT of cars. My mare I take trail riding is 100% great with cars, but we are always having these idiots in semi's pulling trailers just barreling past us like its a highway. It's enough to make me scared even when i'm just out there with my bike. I had a bad day where my mare was really amped and some jerk was revving his classic car and it was LOUD even from a mile away. My horse spooked when he passed which is rare for her. He passed us two more times and i was literally screaming "WHYYYYY???!!!!!!!" whenever i saw his car lol. It ruined my whole ride and my whole day.

I think riding on roads is one of the scariest parts about horseback riding for me. Even if you have a horse good with traffic there's so much that could go wrong! especially with those jerks you had to deal with. I'd be ****** too. I'm glad you guys are okay despite the accident. :(
 
#13 ·
I'm glad your friend is recovering and that your not BOTH hospitalized. For future reference your horses were signaling their fears. NEXT TIME, get off and walk them home on foot. It wasn't the fault of the tree-trimmers.
 
#14 · (Edited)
Stop riding on the roads. They're dangerous for both horses and their riders, and you've just discovered that fact. You should thank your chosen deity that it wasn't much, much worse than it was.

Yes, drivers SHOULD slow down, but many of them aren't horse savvy and probably think if you're riding on the road, then your horses must be used to traffic. It's hardly their fault if your horses have a brain fart and proceed to melt down.

Surely you have places other to ride than down the roads. Use them. I only ride on roads when I absolutely have to, in order to get to trail heads. Regularly riding on roads is stupid and dangerous.
 
#15 ·
In fairness, the OP might not have an option. If I didn't ride on roads, I'd never ever leave the arena. The horses may need work with traffic training so even if the driver is being a complete ****, the horse won't spook, but in some circumstances, you're stuffed if you don't ride on the roads.
 
#16 ·
There are so many idiot drivers it would be hard to train your horse to be ok w/everything that might whiz by them. And they can have an "off" day, or be too "fresh". I had to do road riding for many years,but finally got a trailer-it really helped. Now I'm back to road riding, but it's dirt roads, & hardly any traffic, & plenty of room to get away from it if the need arises. now my biggest thing is loose angry dogs. There's always something.
 
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