Please send up healing prayers to Kay from 4R Ranch blog She got in a bit of a wreck and is in hospital.
No matter how safe we think our horses are, there is always lurking the possibility that something will set them off and we will end up on the ground. And the older we get, the more the possibility of major injury. I have come off of nearly every horse I have owned and ridden for any length of time- the exception being Beamer. Gussie launched me twice, once in 2011 and again in 2019, but now I know her signals and will step off her if she gets ramped up. Other mares I have bought and sold in the last 5 years were sold exactly because I didn't trust them to not blow up.
How do you pack your cell phone when riding? I see a lot of people go for having a pouch on their saddle, but that isn't going to serve you if you are on the ground and your horse takes off on you. I have a little pouch that just fits my cell phone that has a string that goes around my neck (thin so it can break if needed) and I tuck it under my jacket or in summer under my t shirt. Another option is a fanny pack or waist pack with a zipper pouch, but again, make sure it isn't going to get caught on the saddle horn.
I didn't know that cell phones have an SOS option, I thought that was only for Sat phones.
Horses don't set out to hurt us but they have such a strong survival instinct that we can't say that they never will. It's not if, it's when. It's up to us to do what we can to get them to trust us over their instincts, and with some horses in some situations, such as Kay's horse, those instincts take over. Last time I came off Gussie, I was pretty much knocked silly and it took me a while to be able to move to get up. Yes, it scared me, and that is why I am so cautious now when I ride. Over the years, there have been 3 times when I have had my brain rattled by hitting the ground. Even with a helmet on. I have not let it stop me from riding, but it has made me much more cautious about where and when I ride.
Fear is a crippling thing. It is hard to not let it take over, especially as we grow older and more brittle. But we are the masters of our own minds. (Aren't we? ) Fear can be conquered with trust and common sense. We have to trust ourselves first though. That can come with knowledge and education. Give ourselves the tools to deal with our emotions (Education) and know ourselves well enough to not make bad decisions. That being said, I don't advise staying well within our comfort zone, as that can lead to a stagnant mind that allows fear to become dominant. The human race didn't get anywhere being a bunch of shrinking violets; we are an adventurous and inquiring people. Live life to its fullest. Embrace challenges. Challenge yourself! But do your best to stay safe and don't be foolhardy.
Up and ride.
8 comments:
Fear is crippling especially as I grow older. Especially after I broke my foot in 7 places by being stupid, and not minding where I was walking and not minding the fact that I did NOT need to be in a hurry to get down my stairs. Am I cautious? Yes, I am. I don't rush down the stairs now. I also quit wearing slippery socks,. Also especially mindful that I have multiple cats who often camp out on the stairs, and won't see them. So I am more careful now. Not acting like I was a spring chicken.
I hope she has an easy recovery!
I always carry a cellphone. I now buy riding breeches thst have the cell phone pocket. Before I would carry it on a holster’ that fastened to my belt. The older I get the better I ride and the less interested I am in dealing with blow ups.
You're doing great at handling those "special" moments!
So sorry Kay had a wreck. I hope she recovers fully. Gussie looks like she is sorry... sometimes accidents happen.
I have a side pack that hooks onto my belt loops, and I carry my phone and keys in it. If I pack a gun, it is also attached on my belt.
I hate to hear that about Kay.
Thank you Shirley, for being such a faithful reader and commenter on my blog. As you know, I blog more or less as a diary, but it is always nice to get validation from others. I have a long way to go before ever thinking of getting on a horse again. I really hope that was not my last ride. I too have come off probably half the horses I have had. Some, multiple times. This has been my worst injury but not my only break. Time will tell what I can do in the future. So far, Hugo has not bucked. I could also consider something smaller, in the 13 hand category. Stay tuned. As for the cell phone, I just stick mine in my back pocket. I was listening to a pod cast. There is a good chance that is what I landed on. I was so lucky to have the phone and to have at least heard someone mention a couple of weeks prior that they had no service, just sos. I didn't think anything about it at the time just that it was probably some kind of tech speak. Now I tell everyone about SOS. Thank you for your prayers. And thank your readers too. Kay
Hope you will heal well enough to keep riding!
If I put my cell phone in my back pocket it ends up falling out, hence the pouch. How did you access the SOS on your phone?
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