Yikes
Don't worry about yesterday's entry. Here's what happened today.
So I went to Goddard Park for my usual walk. I neared the end and was walking back to my car, down that little stretch of sand between the horse area and the sandy/water/boat area where my car was. Anyway, there was what sounded like a kid screaming in the woods up ahead. Well, whatever. . .that's what kids do. For a second it really sounded like a genuine *scream* though, and it certainly made me wonder what was going on. Well, next thing I know, I see a horse *galloping* down the hill, out of the woods,and heading straight for the path where I was standing. O_o I jumped over the little fence so I wouldn't get trampled as the chestnut horse got closer. My first thought was that someone had fallen off or gotten hurt during a trail ride (I had seen a bunch of people riding in the woods earlier, on the Goddard Park horses) and so someone had been sent back to get help. This had happened a few times when I used to be at Tower Hill with my horse. But as the horse ran by, I noticed that the person on top was just a little girl and she was holding on for dear life. *She* had been the one screaming! Before I could even react, a riderless horse went running by and I saw several more horses coming out of the woods. . .two riderless and one with a Hispanic guy who, again, I thought might have been with the barn.
Once the coast seemed clear, I decided to go walk down the trail to see if anyone was hurt or whatnot. Obviously something very not cool had happened and my heart was beating fast just from being nearby. I walked up the hill aways and ran into two short Hispanic guys who asked me if I had seen some horses. . .I said that I had and pointed in the direction they had run off in, but that didn't seem to be what they were trying to ask me and after seeming like they were trying to think how else to word their question (didn't seem like they spoke English very well) they just nodded and said thanks. I kept walking. A little further ahead was a little boy with a riding helmet on and two adults walking on either side. He seemed okay and I was still a little rattled and confused to what had happened, so I didn't ask if they needed help or anything.
I turned around to head back towards my car and heard *more* hoofbeats coming back *up* the hill this time. It was the Hispanic guy that had galloped by before and the blonde lady that runs the farm, on the chestnut horse that had run away with the girl. She saw me and called out "Is anyone hurt up ahead?!" and I told her no, I saw a little boy and some adults who all looked fine. But they rode on and I continued back to my car.
I sat in my car for a few minutes just kinda like ". . ." A few seconds later the lady and the chestnut came back down the hill, and even she seemed to be having a very difficult time controlling the horse. When they were safely out of the way I started up my car and then headed home.
There could be any number of reasons for what happened. My first thought, besides the whole "someone needs help" thing, was that trail horses often learn the route so well that they get excited when they're turned towards home. When I saw the riderless horses though, I pretty much figured that wasn't the case, or maybe not entirely. Although the little girl couldn't have been more than 8 years old, the chestnut they had put her on was a pretty big mount for someone her size-- it was not a pony by any means. It's also possible that one of the horses got frightened by something which could have set off a chain reaction since they *are* very much herd animals. In any case, it's hard for anyone to stop a running, frightened horse, nevermind a tiny girl on a full sized animal.
I'm also not sure who the other two riders had been-- either the two Hispanic men or the two adults with the little boy. Not that it makes a difference, but I was just wondering.
I don't know. It doesn't sound upsetting just reading it here, but I really felt as though I should have done more. I was pretty shaken up myself though, and I just hope that no one really *was* hurt. And I feel bad too cuz I bet the two little kids aren't going to want to get on a horse again for a real long time. :( Having a horse run away with you is probably one of the scariest things ever just because you honestly lose all control. It would be like driving on the highway and suddenly losing control of the steering wheel and the brakes all at once. . .while the gas pedal keeps accelerating. And there are just so many bad things that *could* have happened, like the horse stumbling and flipping over from running down the sandy/rocky hill, or running into a car (if one happened to be turning into the parking area at just the wrong moment), etc. Oi. ._.
I also hope that this was not caused by stupidity. I noticed that the barn that hosts the trail rides are also into gymkhana-- ie. barrel racing, pole racing and other SPEED EVENTS. I would HOPE that they do not use the same horses for trail riding *and* those types of activities. I've watched gymkhanas before, and those horses are usually able to go from a halt to a full out gallop within seconds. So again, I really hope the chestnut was just frightened by something, and that they wouldn't be stupid enough to put a kid on a fricken' speed event horse. But the way peope are these days, you never know. v_v
On another horse related note, the lady I know who was looking for barn help DID call. It was the other day, while I was out unfortunately. She ended up talking to my Mom though and told her the situation. Apparently her husband left her suddenly and it really decimated her and her daughter and I guess that taking care of their horses and riding have been the last thing on their minds. It's not right for me to get into specifics here online, but anyhow. She did hire someone else, but I guess she isn't entirely happy with her. SooooOooOo, there is a chance I will still get the opportunity if the current girl doesn't work out. In the meantime, I still plan on trying to get a working student/riding lesson thing going. I just need to find $400 laying around so I can buy all the stuff I need. :p
So I went to Goddard Park for my usual walk. I neared the end and was walking back to my car, down that little stretch of sand between the horse area and the sandy/water/boat area where my car was. Anyway, there was what sounded like a kid screaming in the woods up ahead. Well, whatever. . .that's what kids do. For a second it really sounded like a genuine *scream* though, and it certainly made me wonder what was going on. Well, next thing I know, I see a horse *galloping* down the hill, out of the woods,and heading straight for the path where I was standing. O_o I jumped over the little fence so I wouldn't get trampled as the chestnut horse got closer. My first thought was that someone had fallen off or gotten hurt during a trail ride (I had seen a bunch of people riding in the woods earlier, on the Goddard Park horses) and so someone had been sent back to get help. This had happened a few times when I used to be at Tower Hill with my horse. But as the horse ran by, I noticed that the person on top was just a little girl and she was holding on for dear life. *She* had been the one screaming! Before I could even react, a riderless horse went running by and I saw several more horses coming out of the woods. . .two riderless and one with a Hispanic guy who, again, I thought might have been with the barn.
Once the coast seemed clear, I decided to go walk down the trail to see if anyone was hurt or whatnot. Obviously something very not cool had happened and my heart was beating fast just from being nearby. I walked up the hill aways and ran into two short Hispanic guys who asked me if I had seen some horses. . .I said that I had and pointed in the direction they had run off in, but that didn't seem to be what they were trying to ask me and after seeming like they were trying to think how else to word their question (didn't seem like they spoke English very well) they just nodded and said thanks. I kept walking. A little further ahead was a little boy with a riding helmet on and two adults walking on either side. He seemed okay and I was still a little rattled and confused to what had happened, so I didn't ask if they needed help or anything.
I turned around to head back towards my car and heard *more* hoofbeats coming back *up* the hill this time. It was the Hispanic guy that had galloped by before and the blonde lady that runs the farm, on the chestnut horse that had run away with the girl. She saw me and called out "Is anyone hurt up ahead?!" and I told her no, I saw a little boy and some adults who all looked fine. But they rode on and I continued back to my car.
I sat in my car for a few minutes just kinda like ". . ." A few seconds later the lady and the chestnut came back down the hill, and even she seemed to be having a very difficult time controlling the horse. When they were safely out of the way I started up my car and then headed home.
There could be any number of reasons for what happened. My first thought, besides the whole "someone needs help" thing, was that trail horses often learn the route so well that they get excited when they're turned towards home. When I saw the riderless horses though, I pretty much figured that wasn't the case, or maybe not entirely. Although the little girl couldn't have been more than 8 years old, the chestnut they had put her on was a pretty big mount for someone her size-- it was not a pony by any means. It's also possible that one of the horses got frightened by something which could have set off a chain reaction since they *are* very much herd animals. In any case, it's hard for anyone to stop a running, frightened horse, nevermind a tiny girl on a full sized animal.
I'm also not sure who the other two riders had been-- either the two Hispanic men or the two adults with the little boy. Not that it makes a difference, but I was just wondering.
I don't know. It doesn't sound upsetting just reading it here, but I really felt as though I should have done more. I was pretty shaken up myself though, and I just hope that no one really *was* hurt. And I feel bad too cuz I bet the two little kids aren't going to want to get on a horse again for a real long time. :( Having a horse run away with you is probably one of the scariest things ever just because you honestly lose all control. It would be like driving on the highway and suddenly losing control of the steering wheel and the brakes all at once. . .while the gas pedal keeps accelerating. And there are just so many bad things that *could* have happened, like the horse stumbling and flipping over from running down the sandy/rocky hill, or running into a car (if one happened to be turning into the parking area at just the wrong moment), etc. Oi. ._.
I also hope that this was not caused by stupidity. I noticed that the barn that hosts the trail rides are also into gymkhana-- ie. barrel racing, pole racing and other SPEED EVENTS. I would HOPE that they do not use the same horses for trail riding *and* those types of activities. I've watched gymkhanas before, and those horses are usually able to go from a halt to a full out gallop within seconds. So again, I really hope the chestnut was just frightened by something, and that they wouldn't be stupid enough to put a kid on a fricken' speed event horse. But the way peope are these days, you never know. v_v
On another horse related note, the lady I know who was looking for barn help DID call. It was the other day, while I was out unfortunately. She ended up talking to my Mom though and told her the situation. Apparently her husband left her suddenly and it really decimated her and her daughter and I guess that taking care of their horses and riding have been the last thing on their minds. It's not right for me to get into specifics here online, but anyhow. She did hire someone else, but I guess she isn't entirely happy with her. SooooOooOo, there is a chance I will still get the opportunity if the current girl doesn't work out. In the meantime, I still plan on trying to get a working student/riding lesson thing going. I just need to find $400 laying around so I can buy all the stuff I need. :p
posted by Erica at 9:03 PM
2 Comments:
(M here...)
Weird.... I would say more, but I'm going to bed. I really hope everyone was OK.
Yeah, riding horses is expensive. But I think it's cool, and a healthy thing to do--gives you exercise, gets you outside, and gives you something to do (you being the plural form).
You and Rich should do something with me and Heidi soon. Unless Heidi can sweet talk me into coming up next weekend, it looks like I'll be in RI... with or without her (I dunno). So let me know if you're interested in doing something.
And um... I forgot the last thing I wanted to say.
Oh wait! That's right.... I saw three MOOSE today! I have some pictures, I'll put them on my blog when I get home. (I'm excited, cuz it's only the second time I've seen wild moose.)
That does sound scary. When I was younger I went horseback riding, and the horse that I was on tripped on a big rock and started bucking and threw me off. I didn't really get hurt, but it was really startling. I was lucky it didn't step on me or anything. I'm still a little scared of horses! I'd like to get over the fear though.
~Sarah
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