What a day!

Carri · 08-15-2008, 06:55 PM

So, he looks pretty harmless, right?

We had quite the day today!
We were riding at the equestrian park, where we always ride, almost every day, and we were in the ring, passing a large metal storage building next to the ring. I could hear people in there, so I was talking to Opie, and the kids, so they would know I was there (thinking if I heard them, they could hear me).

Someone dropped something RIGHT next to Opie on the other side of the wall, and Opie spooked monstrously (remember, this is the horse I call the Spookmonster anyway!). He leaped forward, and my foot came out of my stirrup. Somehow, my stirrup flew up and the leather loop got CAUGHT ON THE FENCEPOST!

Opie was still moving forward when the stirrup leather got caught, so it yanked him back. He completely freaked out!! He started pulling back, and when the leather finally came loose (the buckle broke against the 1200 pounds pulling frantically against it, THANK GOD!), Opie fell backward onto his haunches. He was literally sitting down like a dog.

I managed to hang on through all of this, through nothing but sheer determination and self preservation. Needless to say, I got off of him and took him home.

I was supposed to be showing tomorrow, but I am guessing he might be a little sore, and besides, that sounds like a really good excuse, doesn't it, since I am now scared silly to get back on him.

horsegirl4 · 08-15-2008, 07:21 PM

wow that was a ruff day!

im glad you and your horse weren't hurt badly at all except for being shaken up!

merleliz · 08-15-2008, 07:26 PM

Oh, WOW!

That would have given me heart failure! What did the girl's ponies do?! And how in the world did you stay on through all that with only one stirrup! You should be very proud of yourself, Carri, that could have been a horrific accident, and you shouldn't be scared, if you stayed on through all that you can handle anything!

Carri · 08-15-2008, 07:28 PM

Oh, no, believe me, I was just hunkered down on his neck. I pulled out half his mane where I was holding on. The only reason I stayed on was because after the big spook, the biggest motion was just when he fell backwards, and I was so far forward from the spook I stayed on!

The ponies were ANGELS, they just stood and stared, like they were wondering what on earth had gotten into their friend. I think they thought he had lost his mind!!

Gotta Love Duns · 08-15-2008, 07:33 PM

I'm glad that you wern't hurt! That sounds like it could have been much much worse!
You can get back on because you rode that out you can do it!

Carri · 08-15-2008, 07:36 PM

I will definitely get back on tomorrow, but I am not going to show, it might take a few days (weeks) to get my confidence back! I just started jumping again after a long break, and it has taken a lot to do that. I thought for sure I would have an accident jumping, and instead it was just walking!

merleliz · 08-15-2008, 07:40 PM

Actually....it was sitting!

dproaps · 08-15-2008, 07:40 PM

Yeah, you did great! If you can ride through that you are ok. Get back up there and ride, girl!

**seerfarm** · 08-15-2008, 07:48 PM

Scary indeed Carri......

I am just glad that you and Opie are fine. I agree, the sooner you get back on the better.

tuffsmom · 08-15-2008, 08:00 PM

Carri, that sounds very scary. I'm glad you two were not hurt. Have a great ride tomorrow.

Horses&Soccer · 08-15-2008, 08:12 PM

Just glad that you and Opie are both okay, that could have gone so much worse.

**gbarmranch** · 08-15-2008, 08:42 PM

Poor you.. and poor Opie.. I am so glad that neither of you were hurt..

It has to be the weather.. this is the third incident I have heard of this week..

AllUpHill · 08-15-2008, 08:51 PM

Its a full moon tomorrow.

DustyTrailsHorseRescue · 08-15-2008, 10:41 PM

I'm glad both of you are OK! That must have been scary!

kshnooks · 08-15-2008, 11:13 PM

oh geez, what a freak incident! I'm glad things went the way they did and no one got hurt!

Wolfie · 08-16-2008, 12:07 AM

I would have been terrified! Way to go and handle the situation, Carri!

roberts617 · 08-16-2008, 12:22 AM

Man, that is so scary! I am so glad you are okay!

paso_lover · 08-16-2008, 04:58 AM

Holy geez Carri

you're lucky you weren't hurt

and take it from me (the one who rides the Queen of Intimidation

) can't be scared or it'll get the best of ya

scrapchick · 08-16-2008, 06:10 AM

wow, what are the odds of all that happening? Good for you, velcro butt!!

Carri · 08-16-2008, 06:59 AM

The odds were greatly increased by the fact that I had brand new stirrup leathers, so they were still really stiff and had not gotten used to their new position of being looped, so when my foot came out, I am sure they gapped. I have always been taught that you are not supposed to oil your stirrup leathers, though...

Thanks for all the support! I am actually a bit nauseous at the thought of getting on again today, but I will do it. I was just telling my trainer the other day that one reason I am so cautious is because I really feel like if I ever have a bad accident on Opie, I probably won't ever be able to make myself ride again. I feel like that because when something like this happens, which thankfully is not too often, it is really hard for me to get back on. Since I have owned him two years, all of our near accidents have been due to really big spooks, and I know one day I am not going to stay on. It is just a matter of time.

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08-15-2008, 06:55 PM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 10,086	What a day! So, he looks pretty harmless, right? We had quite the day today! We were riding at the equestrian park, where we always ride, almost every day, and we were in the ring, passing a large metal storage building next to the ring. I could hear people in there, so I was talking to Opie, and the kids, so they would know I was there (thinking if I heard them, they could hear me). Someone dropped something RIGHT next to Opie on the other side of the wall, and Opie spooked monstrously (remember, this is the horse I call the Spookmonster anyway!). He leaped forward, and my foot came out of my stirrup. Somehow, my stirrup flew up and the leather loop got CAUGHT ON THE FENCEPOST! Opie was still moving forward when the stirrup leather got caught, so it yanked him back. He completely freaked out!! He started pulling back, and when the leather finally came loose (the buckle broke against the 1200 pounds pulling frantically against it, THANK GOD!), Opie fell backward onto his haunches. He was literally sitting down like a dog. I managed to hang on through all of this, through nothing but sheer determination and self preservation. Needless to say, I got off of him and took him home. I was supposed to be showing tomorrow, but I am guessing he might be a little sore, and besides, that sounds like a really good excuse, doesn't it, since I am now scared silly to get back on him. __________________

08-15-2008, 07:21 PM
horsegirl4 Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Evergreen State Posts: 591	wow that was a ruff day! im glad you and your horse weren't hurt badly at all except for being shaken up! __________________ Don't Mess with Me, You will not Win! For I am a Wild Spirit, that no one can Tame!

08-15-2008, 07:26 PM
merleliz Long Yearling Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fairburn, Georgia Posts: 1,183	Oh, WOW! That would have given me heart failure! What did the girl's ponies do?! And how in the world did you stay on through all that with only one stirrup! You should be very proud of yourself, Carri, that could have been a horrific accident, and you shouldn't be scared, if you stayed on through all that you can handle anything! __________________ Proud sponsor of one humpbacked whale named Onyx and a wild mustang mare named Sope.

08-15-2008, 07:28 PM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 10,086	Oh, no, believe me, I was just hunkered down on his neck. I pulled out half his mane where I was holding on. The only reason I stayed on was because after the big spook, the biggest motion was just when he fell backwards, and I was so far forward from the spook I stayed on! The ponies were ANGELS, they just stood and stared, like they were wondering what on earth had gotten into their friend. I think they thought he had lost his mind!! __________________

08-15-2008, 07:33 PM
Gotta Love Duns Bombproof Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dixonville, Alberta Posts: 7,965	I'm glad that you wern't hurt! That sounds like it could have been much much worse! You can get back on because you rode that out you can do it! __________________ A penny saved is a penny you can spend on your next horse.

08-15-2008, 07:36 PM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 10,086	I will definitely get back on tomorrow, but I am not going to show, it might take a few days (weeks) to get my confidence back! I just started jumping again after a long break, and it has taken a lot to do that. I thought for sure I would have an accident jumping, and instead it was just walking! __________________

08-15-2008, 07:40 PM
merleliz Long Yearling Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fairburn, Georgia Posts: 1,183	Actually....it was sitting! __________________ Proud sponsor of one humpbacked whale named Onyx and a wild mustang mare named Sope.

08-15-2008, 07:40 PM
dproaps Coming two Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dickson, Tennessee Posts: 1,511	Yeah, you did great! If you can ride through that you are ok. Get back up there and ride, girl! __________________ Those who suffer with the suffering are dancing to the rhythm of God.

08-15-2008, 07:48 PM
seerfarm Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portal, Ga Posts: 7,844	Scary indeed Carri...... I am just glad that you and Opie are fine. I agree, the sooner you get back on the better. __________________ The man who questions opinions is wise. The man who quarrels with facts is a fool.

08-15-2008, 08:00 PM
tuffsmom Seasoned Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Nebraska Posts: 4,077	Carri, that sounds very scary. I'm glad you two were not hurt. Have a great ride tomorrow. __________________

08-15-2008, 08:12 PM
Horses&Soccer Started Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Warrenton, MO Posts: 2,789	Just glad that you and Opie are both okay, that could have gone so much worse. __________________ When life gives you lemons - find someone to throw them at!

08-15-2008, 08:42 PM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 29,240	Poor you.. and poor Opie.. I am so glad that neither of you were hurt.. It has to be the weather.. this is the third incident I have heard of this week.. __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles. ~Author Unknown

08-15-2008, 08:51 PM
AllUpHill Yearling Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: US Posts: 670	Its a full moon tomorrow.

08-15-2008, 10:41 PM
DustyTrailsHorseRescue Long Yearling Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Montgomery, Alabama Posts: 1,490	I'm glad both of you are OK! That must have been scary! __________________ www.dthr.org "All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke

08-15-2008, 11:13 PM
kshnooks Coming two Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: California Posts: 1,867	oh geez, what a freak incident! I'm glad things went the way they did and no one got hurt!

08-16-2008, 12:07 AM
Wolfie Coming two Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: US Posts: 1,547	I would have been terrified! Way to go and handle the situation, Carri!

08-16-2008, 12:22 AM
roberts617 Seasoned Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Oklahoma Posts: 4,873	Man, that is so scary! I am so glad you are okay! __________________ Never be too quick to criticize yourself. It's not fair to all the people who are dying to do it for you!!

08-16-2008, 04:58 AM
paso_lover Seasoned Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sudbury Ontario Canada Posts: 4,563	Holy geez Carri you're lucky you weren't hurt and take it from me (the one who rides the Queen of Intimidation ) can't be scared or it'll get the best of ya __________________ "I wish I was half the rider she thinks she is" \"Some people feel compelled to cut off the heads of others in order to make themselves appear taller\" ---Paramahansa Yoginanda

08-16-2008, 06:10 AM
scrapchick Seasoned Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Festus, Missouri Posts: 4,838	wow, what are the odds of all that happening? Good for you, velcro butt!! __________________ Better living through chemistry.

08-16-2008, 06:59 AM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 10,086	The odds were greatly increased by the fact that I had brand new stirrup leathers, so they were still really stiff and had not gotten used to their new position of being looped, so when my foot came out, I am sure they gapped. I have always been taught that you are not supposed to oil your stirrup leathers, though... Thanks for all the support! I am actually a bit nauseous at the thought of getting on again today, but I will do it. I was just telling my trainer the other day that one reason I am so cautious is because I really feel like if I ever have a bad accident on Opie, I probably won't ever be able to make myself ride again. I feel like that because when something like this happens, which thankfully is not too often, it is really hard for me to get back on. Since I have owned him two years, all of our near accidents have been due to really big spooks, and I know one day I am not going to stay on. It is just a matter of time. __________________