Sorry Peeps! Crazy Busy!

Horseback Riding Cont.

Soon, the rest of the riders found their way to the stable, chose their horses and we were off on our new adventure.

The trail had been used all summer so it was free of any major obstacles, allowing for a smooth ride. And it was beautiful. It followed a creek that over time had created amazing rocky bluffs. The forest was in full bloom with wild flowers, conifers and large oak trees. Ahh, nature could be so breathtaking.

            As we moved slowly through the forest, I continued to take in my surroundings. I actually spent so much time focusing on my surroundings that I forgot to look directly in front of me. And before I could make any sense of it, my horse started walking straight into the creek while the majority of the horses stayed on dry land.

Dig and Dave’s horses started the water walk. I cannot remember whose horse went first, I just know that eventually each of their horses was up to it’s belly in water, happily eating the much desired foliage on the opposite side of the creek. And as their horses were eating, Dig and Dave had to pull their feet out of the stirrups and pull off some kind of circus act to keep them dry.

            My horse decided that the creek walk was also a good idea, so we followed the troublemakers—although my horse took a slightly different route under a fallen tree. The incident would have been less dramatic had I been able to fit under that fallen tree, but instead there was just enough room for the horse and absolutely zero room for me.

           As the horse moved forward, I began to feel the physical pain of being pinched between the horse and the tree. I screamed as though someone were physically assaulting me and at the same time grabbed onto the tree and threw myself off of the horse. There I was hanging on the limb of a tree over the creek. My heart was racing like crazy and I thought I was going to die. Then the worst-case scenarios popped into my head. I thought I was either going to hang there forever or let go and drown. I could not help it, that’s just how my adolescent brain worked.

            Meanwhile, as I was hanging there waiting for someone to save me, my cries for help stirred up another dramatic scene—this one was among the horse line. The guy leading us brought most of the line up a small embankment before hearing my cries. Through the sheer terror of losing a kid on his route, he grabbed his horse’s reins and without a second thought jumped off a ten foot cliff to come to my rescue.

            I wish I could have seen it. I bet it was like an old western movie. The hero risks himself to save a maiden in distress. Okay, maybe I’ve watched one too many romantic comedies but it probably looked really cool.

            Although looks can be deceiving because Leah, Ann and Kyle did not think it was cool, not even for a second. The reason for this apprehension, their horses decided to do what they were taught and follow the leader. Now even thought we all thought we were great riders, we really possessed the very basic skills of horse riding. They said it took every ounce of strength they had to keep their horses from launching themselves off that cliff.

Meanwhile, I felt as though I was dangling over a gushing river. As if the water would swallow me up should I let go of that tree. I held on for dear life and waited…forever! Finally our guide came crashing through the water, dove off his horse and rescued me.

            My whole body was shaking. I was so scared yet relieved to finally place my feet on the ground. I thanked him continually for the next minute straight as I collected myself. Then with a brave heart and my head held high, I turned around and looked directly at the river that nearly took my life.

Hmmm….that’s it, huh? Apparently, I had only been hanging two feet in the air and the water beneath me was maybe three inches deep. Uhhh…oops! Maybe I over reacted just a bit. In my defense, I had closed my eyes the moment I grabbed the tree, so the only image of my surroundings was my irrational imagination. And once reality set in and I realized my mistake, embarrassment overtook me. I bet every observer of that dramatic scene was wondering why I didn’t just shut up and let go.

            Although this incident scarred me slightly, the story is still credited as a “Happy Tale.” The event actually became larger than life as it was told and retold throughout that week and the years thereafter. We each had our own personal perspective of the outing, which forced the story to change from Angie Gets Rescued to The Event of the Neighborhood. And what an event it became.