Horses are unpredictable

[kigerfan]

Firefly has been around ropes, had ropes run over her, around her, under her, tied to her, etc. She should be very used to them...

Yesterday, it was raining pretty strongly and I've not been able to get a cover for her stall yet. I felt sorry for her, so when my hubby suggested we tie her under a tree, I though that might be a good plan. It worked well for a good amount of time, until, the rope rested at the back of one of her front legs. For some reason, that freaked her out and she tried to run. I can't explain what happend because it happened so very fast, but she came to rest on her front knees (on thankfully very soft soil) and she had her halter pulled so tight it was making breathing difficult. I had been walking around the house with my shoes off, so when this happened, I ran outside in my socks.
Thankfully, Firefly trusted me enough to be calm and holds still, while I pulled the halter tighter still, in order to unbuckle it. When it was unbuckled, I asked her to stand and she did without a problem. I checked her over and she was none the worse for wear. I had used a very thick very soft cotton rope to tie her and so it didn't cut into her or anything when this happened.
I was shaken by the experience and already a little out of breath. I got hold of her mane and her nose and guided her down towards the stall. She did great, till she realized I was putting her back into the stall. She wasn't keen on that idea, so after many attempts to evade me, she finally succeeded..... sort of.
I still had hold of her mane as she whirled and took off at a gallop. I got two hanks of mane in my hands and I held on tight. My feet were hitting the ground about one every ten feet. We gallopped all over the property that way until she decided finally, that she wasn't getting away from me. At that point, she stopped and decided to listen to me. I guided her about ten feet and turned her a few times and then scratched her neck and let go. By this time, my breathing was very labored. I worked my way back up to the front gate and made sure it was locked, then made my way to the house. I got inside and stood on the area rug, dripping wet, muddy and out of breath. I called my husband a few times before he heard me from the end of the hall. He was a little shocked at what his wife looked like!
I told him in bits and spurts, what had happened and after I regained my breath, I put on new socks and my shoes and we went back out to get Firefly. I walked right up to her, turned her and put her halter on. Then my hubby walked her to her stall and guided her in, taking off her halter and leaving the stall. By this time the rain had settled down and was just a soft sprinkle. I checked on her off and on throughout the rest of the day and the night and she shows absolutely no sign of any soreness or trauma of any kind for her experience. I, on the other hand, am very very sore all over. I think my next ride shall be on her back and not indian style running next to her
I'm thankful that everything turned out okay, and if all that happened is for me to be very sore, it's all good with me, as long as Firefly is unhurt.
I did however ask a friend of mine... at just shy of 49 years old... what the HECK am I doing flying around a five acre parcel dangling off the side of my horse like a mane decoration???

[fantasykiger]

All I can say is YIKES and it is OK to let go honey ... maybe a water proof blanket is a better idea ;D

[stlkigers]

Well, that's a heck of a barefoot pasture surfing story....WOW....Think of how much money you could have got for a video, eh?

Glad you girls are both ok.....and I agree with Tiffany, it is ok to let go.....Hehehe.....If it helps any I will admit that I have done almost the same thing...not barefoot though...My daughter's mare was being a stinker, not wanting to get caught, and I grabbed hold of her tail while she was standing still and off we went...Thankfully she didn't kick and we didn't go too far...The bright side of the whole story is she can now be stopped and led by her tail!

[DianneC]

Boy, you are DETERMINED when you make your mind up to it aren't you? LOL Did she get a foot over the rope?

[kigerfan]

Definitely stubborn, I'm half Irish and half Portuguese, I have stubborn down to a science. I didn't want to let go for two reasons. I didn't want her to think she could get away from me by running, and, I wasn't positive the front gate was still closed and locked and I didn't want her getting outside the property. I found I was somewhat able to turn her by putting my feet down and putting on the brakes a bit, so I was able to keep her in the back acreage.

I've always been told, once I make my mind up about something it's very hard to sway me. I'd made my mind up that I was going to be right there with her when she stopped running and that was the case. I have to say, I've never run THAT fast in my entire life She can gallop pretty fast when she wants to. It definitely would have been a heck of a wild video. I'm glad I had on my thick whooly socks, because, though caked with mud and whatnot else, they somewhat protected my feet from all the pokey dead weeds and such we ran through. I do have to say, I'm still pretty sore, two days later. But the bright side is, we're supposed to have sunny days for the rest of the week

[kigerfan]

Oh, and yes, she did get a foot over the rope, but she has done that many many times before with no reactions. I've wound ropes all around and under her, she's had them pressing against every part of her legs. The only thing I can figure is that all the time she'd had ropes all over her before, I was right there, and this time, I wasn't. I'm just very thankful that she trusted me enough to let me tighten the halter even more, in order to unbuckle it and get it off.

[fantasykiger]

I can say this all the rope work you did with her was a lesson learned in that when she found herself frightened and tangled tight, she remained calm and steady, she did not pitch a fit thrash about at the slightest touch.
I have found Wickee a few time in such a predicament, after finishing up her grain tied in the barn she has yet learned to just stand patiently until I return. She is always fidgeting around and sometimes that means tangling herslef up. I will often leave her tangled and just to watch her brain work out a way to release or untangle herself. Eventually she just stands there, I have to go to her rescue. She is a silly filly.