Well...I sorta got bucked off Tripp today!

Yep, it is true. After several overly cold days and nights, we had a fairly nice day out today. I have been wanting to ride so bad, and after we got a couple of things done that needed done, it was time. I was so darn happy!

I don't know that it hit 40 today, hard to tell due to the winds. It was very windy and everyone was feeling pretty good, including me.

It started out great...Tripp came to me and I spent a lot of time grooming him. Brushing and loving on the horses is therapeutic. Good thing! Little did I know how much I would need it. :-)

I took Tripp to the outer hillside and the plan was to ride to the back of the place. I was pretty excited, and up to this point all was well.

Here we are...ready to go.



Here is the view of Tripp from the ground!



If this would have happened at the Mustang Makeover I would have received extra points - he came back to me! He could have taken off but he didn't. This tells me that I did something right! He was a little freaked out too - he was just feeling good and full of it, and seeing me laying on the ground making weird noises was a surprise to him. In spite of what happened, I am proud of him.

This is what happened...
I started down the fence line and when he got to the closed gate and saw the other horses, he snorted and threw that head around and took off. I managed to get him pulled around and we did a couple of small circles. At this point Brian stopped - I think it was the squeal of shock that came out of my mouth that made him turn around to check on us.
It was cool, windy, and he was feeling good! At this point I thought I would just ride up and down the fence line a few times to see how he did. I was right to the point of getting ready to turn around and he did it a split second ahead of me. He took off bucking and pitching and while I was trying to hold on, I was also trying to get a hold of the right rein with both hands so I could pull that nose around. I was almost there...I got a hold of it, my butt tucked right back in the saddle so I was balanced again, I was feeling pretty good about getting stopped and going to Plan B, and that little snot dropped that head and swung around to the left! I did not mention this to Brian because everyone says "I was fine until they turned..." and come to find out they didn't turn so much. Then Brian said "I really thought you had it, then he turned that head and went to the left!" That is when I knew he really did it. So much for balance...I went sailing and as I was sailing thru the air and watching the ground get closer several things went thru my mind.
1. I was mad that I didn't think to have Brian bring his camera out (I had mine on my belt) because now I can't watch it to see what I could have done different - short of keeping my butt on my horse! (this really was a thought!)
2. As the ground was coming towards the side of my face, I was thinking a lot of good that helmet was doing on my head instead of on my face. (at least it was there just in case...right?)
3. Most important of all, I should have taken him to the round pen first. Everyone was feeling good and full of themselves due to the weather, and I was too focused on getting out and riding. After all, he was great when I hopped on him bareback the other day. Yes, my blinders were on - so shame on me! I knew better.
4. I was telling myself "Don't use your hand/arm to brace yourself as you hit the ground...tuck it and try to roll!" So I tucked it and felt this big THUD!
5. Well, I am sure there was another one and I am just not remembering right now. Ha!

The right side of my face hit the dirt and I was trying to stay breathing. I kept telling myself to relax and breathe...and was also yelling to Brian that I was alright (even tho I didn't know if I was or not...it seemed like the thing to say) but he could not hear me because of the wind noise.

I decided I would take him for a walk instead, but that was short lived too. He was just feeling too good and kept trying to take off...so we headed to the round pen. I left him saddled, then worked on basics. I remember telling someone who was having problems with their horse maybe going back to basics like a lot of trainers suggest would help, and I was told that their horse knew what to do, that they didn't need basics. Part of learning what works for me is also knowing what does not work for me. That particular person's methods don't work for me. So back to basics we went, and we also worked with the flag on the stick. He did so good with that. Sure, he was still afraid of it, but not terrified like he used to be. We had to be careful with our speed in the round pen because the top thin layer of dirt was slick. He slipped and fell once, and that was at an easy trot.
After the round pen work, we took a walk and he did much better.

So, what is the plan tomorrow? Saddle him up, go to the round pen, work on some basics, then I will get on IN THE ROUND PEN. :-) I will play it by ear at that time. It isn't supposed to be near as windy...

As I was leading Tripp to the round pen, I checked the mail, and Tripp noticed I had a package from the Mustang Heritage Foundation. Yep, we got our DVD's from the competition! Woo hoo!



LOOK INTO MY EYES...YOU ARE GETTING DIZZY.....I MEAN SLEEPY...



Of course a self portrait is in order. It has been a while. :-)



As far as how I feel right now - I am very sore. I have enough abrasions on my face to make lotion sting, my shoulder is getting stiff, and my jaw really aches. I am lucky tho, it could have been worse! I really don't think Tripp's goal was to get rid of me...he was just having fun. I just didn't want him to know that it was possible for me to fall off. Maybe he will forget...hee hee!

After we were done in the round pen, I trimmed his hooves and brushed and loved on him some more.
Then I trimmed one of the other 'babies' we have. It got dark so I had to stop.

All in all it was a good day, even tho my ride only lasted about 2 minutes....well actually about 1.6 seconds shy of the buzzer... :-)

Until later...Karen and Tripp