Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Thump

I've been gone forever, I know! I'm sorry yall :) I had nothing much happening, then I got horribly sick. Like so sick I actually went to the doctor because I thought I had strep. It was actually a wicked sinus infection and a z-pac fixed me right up.

Then G came home for a week of vacation! That's awesome and I'm really enjoying cohabitating but he hijacked my computer for a couple of days - he set up a new Drobo and got everything to communicate with it, then upgraded my laptop to the newest version of OSX.

Today I woke up feeling awesome for once and headed out to ride. Dixie and I climbed up the hills behind the house (reverse of a Comstock loop), then went down the back of the hills into Hungry Valley. About 3/4 of the way down to the valley, we paced around a corner and spooked a herd of antelope. So cool! That is only the second time I've ever seen antelope.

We had a long discussion about continuing on. Dixie was totally convinced that antelope are equinivorous. With the greatest of reluctance she slowly hesitantly made it around two more turns of the road, when we turned up the damn antelope again! The second time they bounded off far far away - thank god because I don't think Dixie's nerves could've taken a third encounter. If she was a human she'd have needed a stiff shot of medicinal brandy and a liedown on the couch with a cold cloth.

Eventually, I got her moving again. When we got to the valley floor we took off for home.

Dixie rolled along at a rack and canter really strongly for 3.5 miles and all of a sudden on flat ground tripped and fell down. I crashed too, of course - I got launched, hit on my left shoulder, then bounced my head off the ground. A little road rash on my arm, my hip, and my finger. I hopped up immediately and Dixie was trotting to a halt about 20' away, shaking her head. She didn't run away (my worst fear), just let me catch her and inspect her. She was skinned behind her right ear and on her nose, with a little hair missing from behind the left ear too. I'm not missing any time and the saddle has no (new) scuffs, so I don't think she flipped. I think she tripped and skidded on her nose, folding her neck under to the right. I suspect the little line of missing hair on her left ear is rein-burn.

We were, I thought, about a mile from home (turns out it was more like 1.5 miles). I started out to walk Dixie home, but after about 10 minutes of politely following me she started trying to barge ahead and I decided she was ok to ride. I put the bridle back on (oooh sorry about that ear) and hopped up. She walked and trotted soundly home and even offered to canter. Oddly, I wasn't scared to canter again, I just thought it was a bad idea, so we eased home w/t.

I hosed Dixie off and checked all over for more wounds or sore spots, but she was fine. I put some ointment on the right ear, checked her legs one more time, and turned her out to roll and eat hay. She's stiff, but perfectly sound.

I'm quite sure I'm just bruised. I have full range of motion and no "weird" pains. I already ordered a new helmet. Once we both recover, we'll head back out.

8.40 miles, 1046' elevation gain, 1:36.

25 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you're both okay! I wonder what caused her to fall? Sounds like she was as surprised as you were, though, and what a good girl she was for not running for home (especially with those horse eating antelope running wild!)

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  2. Holy cow, Funder! Glad you're feeling better. What a scary tumble, though!

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  3. Weird. Sometimes a minor fall is HORRIBLY TRAUMATIC! And sometimes a worse fall is just a fall. Glad you are both okay with your boo-boos!

    Glad you didn't run into any more of those goat-monsters.

    Bill

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  4. Equinivorous... totally using that word now. Sorry to hear about your tumble. Sometimes Rose does that too... picks her way through something technical only to stumble to her knees on a flat part.

    Question though... why a new helmet? Did it get banged up? I know I had to replace mine when I bashed it up (glad it wasn't my head) when in the general wear cycle do you replace barring a helmet destructing accident?

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  5. Thanks, yall :)

    Caitlin - I think, since I did hit my head, the helmet's "stuffing" is compromised. It looks fine and feels fine, but helmet manufacturers are just adamant that any impact means it's dead. And it's only a $60 helmet - might as well!

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  6. Horses can be clumsy sometimes too and if they get too clumsy it is hard to right themselves quickly with a rider aboard. Just like us tripping while carrying a heavy back pack, I guess.

    So glad that you're a helmet-wearer!

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  7. Ouch! Maggie tripped & dumped me a month ago. Skinned up her poor nose really good. I got a couple easter egg colored bruises & sore muscles. But figure your good to go if you both walk away on your own steam. We see more horse eating rabbits & snakes than antelope. But then lately those mad horse murdering cattle are back... Oh the stress!

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  8. Funder?....Now your my type of girl!
    No fuss, no hassle and straight back in the saddle! I`m proud of you.

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  9. wow - so glad you're both OK!

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  10. Glad you two are okay... from the falls and your sickness. We missed you :)

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  11. Maybe she was too busy looking for antelope to watch where she was placing her feet???? Yikes! I'm so glad you were both ok and that she didn't run off from you - what a good girl!

    I agree about the helmet - especially if you hit your head. I never ever want to take chances with that, and sounds like you don't either.

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  12. Yikes! That is so odd. I'm so glad you are both ok. Don't do that again, Miss Dixie!

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  13. Never like seeing the title "Thump"!

    I'm going to have to agree with Allenspark... I actually flipped my horse over a jump and we both walked away with nothing. No scratches, no scrapes, nothing. She wasn't even sore (although I was). The only way I know it happened was all of the eye witness testimony and arena sand ground into the top of my saddle. I've also had my horse stumble over a clump of grass and be off for weeks.

    I'm super glad this turned into a non event for you both.

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  14. Yes, Funder should definitely replace her helmet. In fact I'm going to replace my helmet that has never been in a fall just because it is a couple years old. The materials in them break down over time.

    Glad you are both ok, sometimes we all take a bad step!

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  15. Falls like that are scary - they happen so fast and you have no time to think or react. I'm glad you're both OK, with just minor bruises and scrapes!

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  16. Exciting ride you had. Glad you're feelinng better and back in the saddle and that Dix is ok.

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  17. I'm glad the fall wasn't any more serious than some bruising for you and a little lost hair for Dixie - here's hoping nothing else develops and that it was just a simple case of stumblefoot. I get that sometimes.
    Antelope! I can imagine how beautiful they were, and thank goodness they weren't equinivorous (love that word!).

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  18. Glad to see you are back online! Despite the Thump. My gelding Blaze that you met at Patriot's Day..well he is a sweetheart but he is *incredibly* clumsy. He literally will stand ON himself just shuffling his feet around standing in the cross ties, he steps one hoof onto the other slightly and then does a little stumble: "oops, that's my other foot I guess"..like really, my mighty graceful 4 legged equine friend??!! This morning he was tripping and stumbling his way down the road (some days are better than others) and we encountered his one true nemesis: the incredibly terrifying beasts known as..tiny baby goats. I swear they are the only thing that make him stop in his tracks and snort, tremble, and generally act the fool Arabian. Anyway, glad you both came out of the antelope herd and tumble okay. And now I feel guilty, I should get a new helmet, mine is 4 yrs old and been through 1 major accident and a few minor ones...

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  19. Good to see you back! Those antelope...bet they are like the dairy cattle around here: SCARY STUFF!!!!

    Glad you and Dixie are okay...wonder what she stumbled over...her own feet? Just not paying attention maybe? Good move on the new helmet (and good on you for wearing one!)...they are designed to be one-hit wonders...one-hit and they're toast.

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  20. I totally agree with Dixie...Antelope stink ya know! LOL

    Glad you two survived the tumble with just a few minor scrapes and some sore muscles. I'm sure that was a total surprise for both of you. Stub a toe and the next thing you know, your rolling around in the dirt.

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  21. Glad you are a helmet wearer. My mare is clumsy and tripped over her own feet and went down on her knees at the walk.

    Hope you both get back out there quickly. :)

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  22. Helmets are Good! Sorry you've been sick! You're supposed to do that in the Winter! Check Dixie's toe length.

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  23. OUCH! that is no fun. glad you 2 are OK. I think pretty much all of our horses would run back home without me if I fell off. All except for maybe Finneas, if I fell off him in a big grass patch.
    - The Equestrian Vagabond

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  24. I know I'm late to the party, but I'm so glad that you're ok! Of course I had this on my mind the last time I went out on trail alone, but too bad. I'm used to having a clutz of a TWH.

    I hope Dixie's recovered fully by now. :)

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  25. Ouch! How scary. Glad you guys weren't badly hurt.

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