Re: Expect the Unexpected

cindi wrote:

[...]
Anyway, the horse could handle all the events, even the dog jumping in,
but when the dog got close to a duck and the duck started wigging out,
the horse just snapped. It was like OMG predation! He went straight up
in the air and landed facing the other way and took off. Being a lazy
sort I got him stopped after a couple of strides, but it was really
unexpected, and I had no idea I could stay in the saddle for that sort
of thing. I don't remember even being afraid. If something like that
happened now I'd wet my pants, get off, and not ride for 4 months!

Ahhh, many of these stories are causing me to recall others of my own :)

I have recounted this here before, but what the heck. A group of the barn rats were hand walking horses across the street by the lake and decided it would be a lovely day for a swim. My girls were about 14 & 15, and we had owned Cue for maybe a year. My eldest daughter was leading him, my younger had a spunky school pony by the name of Outlaw (who has been 22 for the last 10 years or so :), and there were three or four other girls with various flavor steeds in the gaggle.

All of the girls shucked their boots and socks and were splashing around at the edge of the small beach with their four-footed friends. As it was a very hot and sunny day, they agreed that it might be pleasant to actually *go in* the water. When they looked at me (I did not have a horse with me, just went along to watch) I shrugged and told them I didn't see why not -- swimming in T-shirts and underwear was just as modest as any bathing suit in my opinion. Off came the jeans, and lickety split, everyone was paddling about with the horses.

A few minutes later, one of the farm neighbors walked down to the beach with his two unleashed dogs frolicking behind him. The girls all froze for a second upon spotting him, mortified to be caught in their undergarments, then scurried to make sure they were in water that was at least waist deep. Before I could say "boo!", the man proceeded to throw a ball in the water, almost directly toward where the kids stood. All the horses assumed the giraffe position as the two dogs hit the water at a full run and began swimming turbo speed toward the ball. Girls and equines were still as statues as the dogs swam out, grabbed the ball, then turned and began their return swim toward shore. (At this point I was speaking with the gentleman, and explaining the potential hazard of chucking a ball that is being followed by galloping dogs toward a group of swimming teenagers and horses)

I had my eyes on the group and was about to breathe a sigh of relief, just as Cue lost his last remaining marble. His expression was interesting to watch, as he grappled with the idea of those swimming heads becoming heads attached to bodies as they reached shallower water -- it was simply more than he could bear. He ripped out of my daughter's hands and went galloping toward the trail; fortunately he only went a short way and waited to be rescued from the demons. My daughter's face mirrored the internal struggle to run after him or remain with dignity in the water. Had I not been there to grab the beast, I am sure her dripping, scantily clad self would have been flying across the beach...
--
Ruth B
.