We rode out to the little lake with them, let them stand and eat some grass (they had a picnic) and then we started for home. All very pleasant and uneventful.
While riding back, we were almost home and Juanita wanted to lope a little. I was in the lead on the green horse, so I trotted ahead for a bit, and then turned to wait for them. I wasn't too worried about Skeeter and the granddaughter. Even her trainers couldn't get Skeeter to move faster than a trot. Washoe loped for a bit, and then he dropped down out of his lope just fine. But suddenly decided "That was FUN!" and took off again.
Alloy took one look at him and flipped a switch. "Oh no! That horse is running from something!" and he started hopping and twisting and two-stepping to get me off, or at least get my attention.
He got my attention.
I rode him out, and as I was sitting on him, still slightly askew, I hollered "Don't DO that!" and I slapped him on the side of his neck.
I once had a friend tell me "Bill, you may need to find another way to get a horse's attention, that doesn't involve whacking them from behind."
Ya think?
Alloy went into another whole 'nother dimension of bucking and spinning. I didn't come even close to sitting this one out. I was off like a wedding dress on a honeymoon, hit the ground like a sack of potatoes and Alloy was heading for the hills. As I lay gasping for air, Juanita rode up and I told her to send the granddaughter after my horse.
Skeeter loped. She LOPED! TWO TIMES!!! The grand daughter caught up with Al standing on his now broken headstall, and led him back to me as I limped down the trail to go home. I guess Skeeter just needed to have a reason to run. Because run she did.
I did not climb back on Alloy at that point. If fact I still haven't climbed back on him. I am fairly well weened from the pain killers as of now, but a sudden gasp of pain from me could send him south in a hurry, and I'm not interested in doing that again right away.
"Bill, you probably need to find another way..." Yup, if I had payed attention then, I would have been better off.
But I can't be taught. Just trained.
There needs to be consequences.
Bill
Oh dear. We are too old to be rider acrobats. Things do not go back together again, like Humpty Dumpty minus the king's men. Glad you did not die.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain. Bee spun, bucked, then ran away bucking and I ran her into the fence, grabbed a rail and swung off. The momentum made me slam my ribs and knees. Motrin was my friend, but I’m off it now and trying to make better choices! At least you can laugh about it!! Kudos! And I don’t know if there’s a way to settle them when they check out like that. You can kind of feel it or don’t feel it. With Bee, I knew I was a goner. No. Damn. Doubt.
ReplyDelete