It is late September and we have had a most horrible heat and humidity summer. I predicted Fall would start TODAY! I had no idea that both the spouse and Fancy would make my prediction a “Near Fall” exciting event!
Oh the fun today when I got to ride in a lesson today given by Erin Patterson. I got to ride with another student (who is amazing and has an amazing horse). The focus was on a Ranch Horse pattern, a Reining pattern, turns on the haunches, stopping and speed control. This is my kind of heaven.
We were in the gait and speed control portion of the class when Fancy did the unthinkable. Her front foot tripped, front legs lost it and we were on the way down. The horse trips, the horse falls on one knees and perhaps the other knee. The back legs can fail too, making it a full body slam. Fancy had both knees on the ground. Gravity was pulling me forward, towards the ground. There was that split second when I knew Fancy’s legs had failed and we would crash. I was thinking about my forward trajectory over her neck. There was not time for Plan A or B body control.
One leg came forward. She struggled and the leg won. It stood up which allowed the other leg to recover also. I stayed in the saddle. Fancy had two knees on the ground. Fancy had a NEAR FALL!
After we stood quiet and relaxed, we resumed the rest of the fun lesson. Fancy got a lot of rewards after the lesson was over.
Now it is time to eat dinner. I was anxious to tell Terry how great Fancy did today. Half of Fancy’s purchase price came from Terry.
We went El Rancho, the New Mexican Restaurant in town. I was fiddling in the car when Terry and his walker were sailing through the door. The door was held open by our soon to be hero. In the middle of the doorway, Terry started to fall. I looked up from the car and saw a young man with his arms around a slanted Terry body chest. Our hero saved Terry from a bad Fall! Terry did not hit the ground or his head etc.. Terry had joined Fancy in a “Near Fall” event. We made quite an entrance into the restaurant! I had not yet told him about Fancy’s “Near Fall”. I could only think about effect Terry’s performance upon all the staff and customers who witnessed it.
That hero was our waiter. Our hero got a big tip!
“Near Fall” is over. Those two words will never be used together again.
Scream!