A really scary moment.

I've considered myself a good and safe horseman for some time now.   I try to be as safe as possible, but something happened day before yesterday that I could not foresee.

Will was saddled and I'd been doing point to point with him.  He was doing very well and when he bee-lined it to the fence corner just from my focus only, I decided that we'd end the session right then and there. 

So, I gathered my rein and mane in my left hand, put my right hand on the horn, leaned forward, and at the same time brought both feet out of the stirrups and jumped out of the saddle to land on both feet.  Just like I always do.   I've done it hundreds of times. 

But this time, as I leaned forward, my belt caught on the horn.  I found myself hanging on the side of my horse.  All my weight was on the horn.  I was too far down to try to throw a leg back on.  Plus I was afraid this would spook him, the effort would have to be gigantic.

A full second didn't go by until I knew I was in trouble.  I couldn't go up and I couldn't go down.  All of my weight was beginning to pull the saddle down.  If that happened and he freaked I was gonna be toast.  My mind was working so fast as to what to do.  I told myself not to freak out....think damit!

It was useless, the only thing I could do was try to go up and heave myself high enough to get the buckle off the horn. 
I would just have to deal with whatever he did.  I had to make the effort huge because I figured I only had one shot.

I have two things to say.........

Thank goodness that I've been working out and am in shape...

And I'm so freakin proud of my horse and I now love him more than ever. 

He was already thinking "What the hell?", but when I heaved myself up and jerked the belt off he didn't move.  His head came up like "Holy Shit!" .... but he never moved and as soon as I was on the ground he acted like nothing had happened even though the saddle had been pulled off kilter.

Disaster averted.   I've lost 18 pounds since I've been here.  But old habits die hard and I'd still been putting my belt on the same hole as I always have.   

Rest assured my belt got tightened up four holes.  And I will NOT forget.



I did a lot of dirty work today... the yard debris dumpster is officially full.   Just about the time I got Will tacked up in the bareback pad and I was on him walking around, it started to rain.   I didn't care at first, but then I realized that the pad was leather.  Crap.   So I jumped off, took it off and turned it inside out and carried it under my arm while I opened the gate for Lily to follow us to the barn. 

I fed them in the rain, made sure they had plenty of hay and water, and headed for the house.   It was really hard to strip because my clothes were wet and sticking to me.

Man, did that shower feel good.