Harley celebrated his 9th birthday yesterday by tossing John--a little birthday buck! Poor John, hobbling on a sore knee, hiked back up to the barn to find Harley standing in the paddock, reins dragging in the mud, looking innocently at him as if to say, "What? It was scary down in the woods and then suddenly you were down in the dirt below me."
John got back on and took him for a nice long ride back through the woods on the lollipop loop trail. Harley worked his kinks out and broke a little sweat, allowing John to ride him home on the buckle. Now that's more like it, my bad boy!
As I was driving to work yesterday, I'd been thinking about what was the best way to have a long lead line safely attached to me should the same thing happen (which it has) so Harley doesn't get away from me and head for home. I must have jinxed John. But it might be a good idea for me to have a backup plan for when 'ole Harley is feelin' snarley and might pull that stunt again.
When I visited Harley after work, he was coated in mud on one side. How he loves to roll after a ride. He got a good currying, hair and mud flying off. I offered him a birthday treat of maple sugar which my Maryland-bred son declined to eat. It's carrots all the way for him--none of New England's finest spring treat!
Happy Birthday Harley! Thank you for visiting my blog. I am just now going to learn about your naughty and adorable boy. Sorry to hear about the nasty tossing, but glad he went back into the woods and sorted it all out. I, too, would like some sort of system for collecting an errant horse should they "go missing" after a fall. Your idea sounds like the old way we tied on our skis - that is it exactly - the runaway ski/horse strap. I would be afraid that the lead line would get tangled, though.
ReplyDeleteHello, neighbor! Our horses and we all have spring fever, too. Happy Birthday to Harley! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading Harley's blog. Every ride proves to be an adventure!
ReplyDeleteAs for my "runaway strap", I've rigged up a nylon rope (lighter than a lead shank) that loops through the noseband and then up through the breastplate D rings laying over his withers. I can quickly yank it free should the need arise. After one badly sprained finger (from hanging onto the reins), I needed a better option. I know Harley will head for home and I worry about vehicles on the road--those drivers with no horse sense. Like your Pie, it doesn't take much sometimes to spook Harley, and man can that horse spin!