We had a rider come off her horse on the trail today. Two ladies rode out together. From what I understand, a gunshot went off in the woods near them. One horse spooked, and the rider came off her 16hh horse hard. The horse ran off, back towards the barn, and her companion called 911, then the barn.
Fortunately, they were in a state park with a well defined trail system and knew how to tell folks exactly where they were. The BO scooped up myself and another boarder to go out and help. We got to the vehicle access gate at the same time the ambulance did. My job was to take the horse from the companion rider, try to find the loose horse and take them both back to the barn. The others stayed with the injured rider.
I found the lady's phone on the ground about a quarter mile down the trail. About that much farther out, I met a large group of riders coming from the opposite direction. They had met the loose horse and caught him. I thanked them, and warned them that they would encounter the ambulance and crew farther down the trail. Then I headed back with both horses. The BO met me on the paved road with a trailer. I handed off the riderless horse, and rode the rest of the way in.
I noticed a few things in all of the excitement.
I don't like neoprene girths. But I was glad the horse I rode had one. The lady has very short legs, and rides a very tall horse. I was barely able to get my foot high enough to reach the stirrup, and was glad the neoprene girth kept the saddle from slipping as I pulled myself onto this beastie.
These trails are in a multi use area that includes hunting. It's our responsibility to ensure our horses can handle the things they will encounter.
It's also our responsibility to be the best rider we can be. The lady who fell is an experienced rider who got married, had children, and didn't ride for several years. I have no idea how skilled she was before. But my experience with recreational riders is that many equate years in the saddle with skill, and overestimate their abilities. Not saying that is the case with this lady because I really don't know.
I found her phone on the ground, a quarter mile from where she fell. It had been in the pommel bag. She had a companion with a phone. I ride alone. A lot. My phone stays in a secure pocket on my person.
The lady who handed her horse off to me warned me that the horse was nervous about the rider on the ground. He was nervous about the loose horse. He was scared of being alone. The horse worked fine for me. I'm pretty sure it was the lady's own nervousness that was translating to her horse.
I like quick release reins. The loose horse had short barrel racing reins. I was able to unclip the off side to make a suitable lead for ponying him back.
Fortunately, they were in a state park with a well defined trail system and knew how to tell folks exactly where they were. The BO scooped up myself and another boarder to go out and help. We got to the vehicle access gate at the same time the ambulance did. My job was to take the horse from the companion rider, try to find the loose horse and take them both back to the barn. The others stayed with the injured rider.
I found the lady's phone on the ground about a quarter mile down the trail. About that much farther out, I met a large group of riders coming from the opposite direction. They had met the loose horse and caught him. I thanked them, and warned them that they would encounter the ambulance and crew farther down the trail. Then I headed back with both horses. The BO met me on the paved road with a trailer. I handed off the riderless horse, and rode the rest of the way in.
I noticed a few things in all of the excitement.
I don't like neoprene girths. But I was glad the horse I rode had one. The lady has very short legs, and rides a very tall horse. I was barely able to get my foot high enough to reach the stirrup, and was glad the neoprene girth kept the saddle from slipping as I pulled myself onto this beastie.
These trails are in a multi use area that includes hunting. It's our responsibility to ensure our horses can handle the things they will encounter.
It's also our responsibility to be the best rider we can be. The lady who fell is an experienced rider who got married, had children, and didn't ride for several years. I have no idea how skilled she was before. But my experience with recreational riders is that many equate years in the saddle with skill, and overestimate their abilities. Not saying that is the case with this lady because I really don't know.
I found her phone on the ground, a quarter mile from where she fell. It had been in the pommel bag. She had a companion with a phone. I ride alone. A lot. My phone stays in a secure pocket on my person.
The lady who handed her horse off to me warned me that the horse was nervous about the rider on the ground. He was nervous about the loose horse. He was scared of being alone. The horse worked fine for me. I'm pretty sure it was the lady's own nervousness that was translating to her horse.
I like quick release reins. The loose horse had short barrel racing reins. I was able to unclip the off side to make a suitable lead for ponying him back.