I noticed Jewel, the famous singer, got married to bullriding champ Ty Murray the other day.
What were
you thinking, honey??
Guys like Ty may make our brave Maine fishermen look like office boys. But they have the limps, gimps, breaks, scars, and handicaps to prove it.
When I spent time in Montana, I realized cowboys don’t walk that way to be cool.
It’s because they’re hurtin’.
Go to a rodeo and look for the old veteran cowboys, the ones with white hair and leather faces. Chances are, they’ll be walking with a lopsided limp, too.
At right, Clinician Chris Lombard "falls" off his mount (two bales of hay)
- I haven’t been around horses as much as others, but I’ve been tossed plenty. When I was young, I spent summers riding
bareback and getting thrown was an every day occurrence.
My pony, Honey, sensed exactly when I was daydreaming and drifting off. Then she’d pick something random to spook at and off I’d go. She’d trot 20 feet ahead, turn around, and give me this, ‘
gotca again’ look.
- As a teenager, I exercised this BIG Clydesdale-thoroughbred cross for an acquaintance. Honda was 17 ½ hands and I was 5’5” and 120 pounds. One day, we were cantering through the Town Commons and he tripped and fell forward. You know that adrenalin zone when times slows way down?
"Ohhh, bummmer...we're falllingg...ohhh, bummmer, Honda is rolllling on top of meeee....I'm sooo glad the ground is sannndy here."
That’s where I was. I remember hitting the ground and then he fell and rolled on top of my legs, up to my waist. Then he rolled off me, got up and trotted off.
Somehow, I got up and got after him. He jogged a half mile or so ‘til he got to a road. A lady in a little car pulled over and held him 'til I appeared a moment later. I said, "Thank you" and took him. Then we rode home, fine but shaken.
- A few years ago, one of my horses got very sick, very quickly. I was trying to put a line over his neck and he unpredictably jumped away. That would have been fine but he jumped towards the electric fence. So he jumped back and knocked me down hard. Boy, did that smart. That was a trip to the ER.
- There have been countless hoof-on-toe moments, head-clocking incidents, and squeeze plays, too.
- One of these days, I'll wear a helmet. (I'm a slow learner as far as that goes.)
- I have learned a lot about horse behavior. I'm better at nipping bad manners in the bud, before it ends with me on the ground.
- I've learned to recognize my abilities for what they are. I'm no Ty Murray, but I try not to look down!
- I've learned from my mistakes and learned that being afraid of falling will often foretell the actuality. When my niece was interested in riding, her parents were scared she'd fall off. I kept telling them, "that's part of riding! She needs to fall and then get back on. Otherwise, she will always be looking down!"
I thought I’d put this topic out there and see how NickerNews readers chime in with their tales.
Add your comment!
Maddy you are absolutely right, Don't look down! Or take your mind off what you are doing. I was riding at dusk and out from behind a tree came a lady pushing a wheelbarrow! Moon spooked rolled back and fled, I went flying and broke my collar bone, and was knocked out, ended with an ambulance ride to the ER.(I now ride with a helmet) Thankfully I wasn't riding alone! Moral of the story had I not been chatting I could have maybe saved myself. Pay attention at all times. I was able to build my confidence and ride again. The lesson learned and taught by a lot of trainers is "the horse is never wrong" YOU ARE!
A few years ago, I leased a Belgian/Haflinger at the farm I worked at. We had the Cowboy Mounted Shooters from New Hampshire at the farm doing a presentation and a few people got into the act and I thought I would too. I thought Belle would be o.k. with it because she had heard the shooting all day. If you're not familiar with the Shooters, they shoot balloons with black powder 1800's period guns. I got the first run done o.k., but when we turned back for home, I shot once and all of a sudden Belle took off at a dead gallop! While she was running and bucking, I lost one of my stirrups, I stayed on for as long as I could, but eventually, gravity took over and I hit the ground. Hard. I was a little banged up, but fortunately, no broken bones. Belle was caught and brought to the barn, where I apologized to her and she forgave me and we had some wonderful times together until her passing 2 autumns ago. I learned from that experience...I ALWAYS wear a helmet and I have learned the one-rein stop, but I think my shooting days are over! By the way, I did hit 3 out of 10 balloons, and I don't think that's too bad since I haven't shot since I was 17 and I've never done it on a horse!