Monday, October 5, 2009

He Zigged, I Zagged

You can guess the result.

I rode Poco bareback in the round pen. It was a little too wet to do anything but walk, so we toodled around the back 2.5 acres for awhile. We crossed the dry creek bed where it flattens, up through the trees to end the ride. He spooked hard right at something I could not see or hear, and I came
off his left side.

Have you ever seen Roadrunner cartoons where Wile E. Coyote goes off the end of a cliff and hangs there for a second before dropping to the bottom? It was like that. He went right and I stayed where I was. I didn't fight coming off. I don't think I even had a chance to. I didn't want him flailing around amongst all the trees, in any case. The ground was still soft from all the rain, and I'm grateful to have landed on my left side, the opposite of my fall back in May.


The worst part of coming off is knowing that whether you feel like it or not, you have to get back on. Poco was standing with Jaz over by the hitching post — home base, as it were. If I could have stayed on, he only went a few dozen yards. I had to walk him back over to the round pen, because that's where the mounting block is. Just as well. We walked a couple laps and called it good. I tucked the reins under the bareback pad and he walked with me back over to the hitching post off lead. I really like that he does that.

I can still count on one hand the times I've prematurely parted ways with a horse. That was three. I'm sure there will be more.

And I'm grateful for every ounce of fat on this old carcass. I'm bruised, but it's not
bad at all. Thanks to my friend, Rose, for turning me on to Arnica Montana, a homeopathic remedy for trauma, bruising, and muscle aches.

When I told Mike about it (he was asleep when it happened), he made some comment about being thrown. I told him I wasn't thrown, I came off. There's a difference. He asked if I was okay and if I had worn a helmet. Yes. Then he asked, "So what should I put on your tombstone?" I said, "She died doing what she loved." He said, "How about, 'At least he didn't throw me.'" Love ya, hon.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Soft ground is good! Helmets are great! So glad you weren't hurt. Hope you're not sore the next day!

Tammy Vasa said...

There is a big time difference between thrown and an "unplanned dismount". The first is the fault of the horse :) the second can be rider error or in your case, "the zig/zag". I had an unplanned dismount from a bareback zig zag in February and still sporting a sore tailbone (the ground is NOT soft in February!). Yep, I got back when I could finally get up - which itself was like a three step process!

Cactus Jack Splash said...

Nice you had a soft spot to land. I am glad you didn't get hurt.
I agree there is a difference between coming off and getting thrown. I think all husbands use the tern thrown...it sounds better when they come off.

Unknown said...

Oh, I had a bad feeling when I saw that title.

I had to choose to get off my spinning, side passing, full freaking out horse this weekend.

Twice.

So maybe it was in the air, Wiley. :)

Laura said...

I agree - big difference between being thrown and an uplanned dismount! Funny comment from the hubby for your grave stone...!

Glad the ground was a bit soft - hope your bruises heal up quickly...

aurora said...

Glad your "only" bruised, and still have your humor (and the rest of you) intact!

Nuzzling Muzzles said...

Your Wile E. Coyote description gave me a good image. Sounds like you might need to start super-gluing your jeans to the saddle. On a positive note, I'm learning that people can "come off" horses without breaking bones, which is a concept that is new to me. I hope you aren't too sore today.

jane augenstein said...

Ouch! Well, at least the ground was soft, but still....that hurts! Hope you are OK. My arm is still a bit sore from my fall in July, torn tendon but it's almost all better now. Got some great anti-inflammatory cream from the doctor and it works great!!!
I think someone should invent a full body inflatable suit, when you go off it inflates and you land soft....ahhhh!! (would be nice)
Jane

Chelsi said...

LOL you are funny! Glad to hear you are not damaged...and yes, sometimes having a little "padding for the landing" is a good thing. I lol at your thing about hang time...been there too!

Oh! And thank you for your support with the Shaunti thing. There are such great people in bloggerland!...good for a laugh (thanks to you today!) or a *hug* when needed.

cdncowgirl said...

There is definitely a difference between being thrown and an unplanned dismount.
Glad your okay and love Mike's sense of humour!

Dusty Devoe said...

Don't ya just hate it when that happens! Sure glad you're okay. Be careful.

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

You are very lucky. I'm glad you weren't injured. I've only fallen of a horse twice. Once when I got bucked off of a nasty pony when I was a young girl. I was bruised pretty badly and had a limp for about weeks, but I did get back on that pissy pony and finished my ride.

The second time I fell off a horse was on Christmas Eve 2008. My mare zigged and I zagged, too. I like to call it a teleportation, though. One second she was in one place and the next she was about 6 feet to the right. Like you, I didn't have any time to react or grab leather or mane or anything.
But I wasn't as lucky as you and, even though I did haul myself back up on my mare's back right after I fell, I had to go through surgery and it's been 9 months since I've ridden. And I have no idea when I will ride again.

Good for you getting back up again. Falling off sure does shake your confidance. Be careful....


~Lisa

Anonymous said...

Yeah, and somewhere in mid-air, i think: "This is gonna hurt."

City girl turned Country Girl said...

Oh my gosh Leah!!! And you tell me to be careful!! Now I'm telling you to be careful! I'm so glad you weren't hurt and that you didn't land on that other side!! Your Hubby sounds a bit like mine LOL!!

Vectormom said...

It is surprising when these things happen, how much goes through your mind in short order! LOL!
This is gonna hurt....why did i come this way....did i leave the coffeepot on this morning....all in a split second! LOL! Hope you're not too sore and safe rides to ya!

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