Wednesday Night Horse Wrangling

Last night I went to the barn to ride, and when I got there, this guy was loading manure into a trailer with Bob's tractor (as Bob was bringing in horses for the evening). Common enough sight, especially this time of year (gardening and all).

I got Coos out of his stall, and as I was walking him around the far end of the arena to the tack area, in come galloping two horses into the arena from outside. At first I thought Bob had let them loose to run into the barn on their own...that's what he does with Quzqo , but Quz is uber-intelligent and will trot right into his very own stall (and trot right out again if there's no food in it!)

But then I recognized the horses as the Muslim family's crazy Trakehner mare and her POA companion (the one that was in front of us on Saturday's trail ride...you can see her in the pix on my blog). They ran into the round hay bales, started scarfing down hay, then wheeled away to run around the arena... in the wide-open far doorway a lone figure appears and calls "BOB????" It was the guy who was loading the manure!

The mares BOLTED back out of the barn and started racing around the barnyard...oh SHIT! The manure pile is in the pasture the mares are, er, were in, and obviously while they had the gate open to get the tractor through, the mares bolted and were loose!!! SHITSHITSHIT!!!

Course Bob was nowhere to be found, having probably headed on up to the house for dinner. The way the mares were galloping hither and yon, I was worried they'd head for the road. Frankly I'm intimidated by that Trakehner, she's got a reputation for kicking and striking out at humans, plus rearing and biting...there's a reason she was in a pasture with only her friend for company!

They ran around the paddocks where the pony mare and her baby are living, ran down to the outdoor arena, ran up and down the mares' pasture, trying to get back in, stopping to graze and snatch up huge mouthfuls of long grass. I tried to approach the pony with a lead rope, she let me get so close before wheeling away and galloping bucking down the hill with the Trakehner following close behind!

The manure guy had NO clue about horses, so I used him and his lady companion as barricades to block the exit towards the front and the road, and I slowly walked up after the mares, with my arms outstretched and the lead rope whirling (they'd already bolted past the manure guy to escape once, almost knocking him down). I figured a scary whirling lead rope would prevent that.

I tell ya, I've gotten SO cautious since the broken leg thing, I guess that's understandable!

The idiot mares wandered into a narrow space between a pasture fence and the guy's truck and trailer, with a mangled fence panel at the end (I don't know if they hit it w/a tractor a horse smashed it)...last thing I wanted was the mares to spook and get tangled in the panel, or smash into the fence, or smash into the guy's truck! Eventually they came back out, and we backed away in unison so they didn't feel threatened.

The pony mare again pointed herself towards the barn, and once she started moving that way, we followed and sort of herded them in...they ran down the aisle, ducking in and out of stalls. I got the manure guy to close the gate to the indoor arena as I closed the door to the aisle. I tried to get him to close the big doors too, but he didn't understand, so he stood in the gap between the arena fence and the wall, blocking the way out that way!

The mares were trotting up and down, they both ducked into a stall, the POA ducked out, I tried to slide the door shut to trap the Trakehner in the stall but she shouldered her way out, nearly breaking the door, and they both ran to the now-closed door. There they flirted noisily with my farrier's QH gelding, kicking at the wall and squealing...the manure guy got them moving again down the aisle, and THANKFULLY they ducked into the open arena gate. The POA slid on the mud from the rain (the roof leaks right there) and almost went down, but regained her footing and they both galloped back to the big door, only to find the gate shut!

I ran like hell across the arena to shut the far side gate...all this time Quzqo is tied by the tack rooms, just nickering and whinneying and dancing around, getting all worked up by the chaos. Even the outside horses were galloping back and forth.

I ran to the far end to close the big gates there (where the tractor is normally parked), the mares ran through the opening and were milling around the hay bales...I managed to shoo them back into the arena and got the gate shut. And they ran and galloped and bucked and snorted and whinnied and rolled and carried on!

The Manure Man went back to loading up his trailer, but once he was done, he had to bring the tractor back in (I'm wondering why Bob just let some stranger use his equipment like that, but maybe he knew the guy from somewhere else)...so his lady friend goes to open the end gates...and the MARES ARE LOOSE THERE! Thankfully they wandered away and they were able to get the tractor into the arena, and close the gate behind. This time I'm thinking if the mares got loose, to hell with 'em, I ain't chasing them anywhere, if they get hit by a truck, so be it. My socks were soaking wet from chasing them the first time (yeah, my boots leak)

We got the tractor parked, and the guy asked if maybe he should stop at the house on his way out and let Bob know what happened. Duuuh, ya think????

Had to LOL...they both were scared of Quzqo, the guy didn't want to go around his rear end, so he ducked UNDER his neck to get by him. Just as the woman was about to make her way behind him, Quz chose that moment to raise his hind leg and stomp it down...she jumped back like she'd been stung...so I had to move him waaaay over so she had around 6 feet of space between the horse's butt and herself, ha ha! Quz does that leg-stomping thing when he's agitated and frustrated...which was understandable, considering the circumstances.

So they left, and I had an arena full of batshit mares running and whinneying and carrying on, and I was disappointed because dammit, I wanted to RIDE! Bob never showed up, I knew their people would be by in the evening to tend their horses, but it was only 7 and they don't show up 'til 8 or so. I managed to screw up enough courage to catch the POA and I got her into her stall, which only agitated the Trakehner who started whinneying and trotting back and forth back and forth. I stepped into the arena with a rope, and she tore away from me, not wanting ANYthing to do with me! Dammit, it's not my job, I shouldn't have to do this!

I was so disgusted and discouraged, I just put Quzqo back in his stall and was ready to leave, when the barn's resident trainer showed up to ride a couple of her horses. Thankfully she's not the least bit afraid of "Angel", and the horse walked right up to her, she got a rope on her head, and put her in the stall with no problem at all. Figures.

So I did get to ride Quzqo last night, we had a good time, he did well, the mares' people did show up around 8 and were not pleased to find out their horses had been running wild. Can't blame them one bit.

I guess it was a good thing I was there to help, imagine if nobody was around, though the mares probably would have ended up grazing outside the mares' pasture until the family did show up. But you never know, and I'd hate for a family in a compact car to smash into a Trakehner on the road.

Noteworthy occurrence: I had run out of peppermints, and I normally bribe Quzqo to stand still when I mount with a peppermint. This time I just growled that I was in NO mood for bullshit, and he stood rock-solid for me, ha ha!

Where the Wild Things Roam

The Saturday of Memorial Day weekend was also the day the barn hosted their "Poker Run Trail Ride" in conjunction with an "Extreme Cowboy Trail Race". Back in March when I found out about this, I was ecstatic, and have been looking forward to it all spring long! I should know better by now. All I'd need to do is re-read this blog, especially all the entries dealing with past group trail rides. Isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results each time?

For the past ten days I've been laid low with a nasty respiratory flu, but by God I was determined to go on this trail ride if it killed me! Being sick also meant I hadn't ridden the horse in over 10 days as well! Hm. What could possibly go wrong??

I awoke Saturday feeling weak and dizzy and headachey and congested. Maybe a protein-filled breakfast would help. No, it didn't. Well, I figured I'd at least go to the barn and get the horse, who spent the night out in the pasture instead of in his stall. My theory is that Quzqo doesn't sleep well outside, so he'd be tired out ahead of time. Makes sense, right? Right?

IF I felt good enough to do that, I'd at least brush him...and if I could, tack him up. IF I managed to be able to lift the saddle, I'd at least sit on him in the indoor arena...if I was too dizzy to keep my balance, I'd go home.

There wasn't much of a gang at the barn yet...a couple of families were camping out in the south pasture, and the barn provided breakfast (for a price). I dragged my horse in from the field and gave him breakfast, and I dozed in the tack room with a bridle on my lap so I'd look like I was doing something and not sleeping.

Yeah, this sounds like someone ready to go on a 3 hour trail ride, doesn't it??

Things began picking up around the barn...boarders began arriving to get their horses ready, people bringing their critters in from the fields. A quick look out the door revealed quite a few trailers had pulled up, and strange horses being tacked up. Hey, looks like this thing might take off after all!

Quzqo finished his breakfast and I got him tacked up, surprising myself with how easily I was able to lift my heavy trail saddle up on his back. I must be stronger than I feel! One thing I've learned with age is that falling off a horse hurts, so I pulled out all the stops; western trail saddle, breast collar, shanked curb bit. No more trying to impress people by riding with the bitless bridle or in an English saddle! I couldn't find my red ribbon for Quzqo's tail (yes, he's a kicker), but we found some hot pink construction ribbon that I used instead. It got the message across I'm sure.

By that time the indoor arena was full of people warming up, getting to know their horses (the barn was also renting out horses for those who didn't have an extra). I was able to get up on Quzqo without issue, and I felt a little light-headed, but my bear-trap of a saddle kept me upright whether I wanted to or not.

Blearily and fuzzily we made our way outside and congregated in the yard where others were getting ready. The ride was already 15 minutes behind schedule, having been slated to leave at 10 a.m. Par for the course. The horses were already acting up, picking up on each other's nervousness and that of their riders. I didn't feel particularly nervous, feeling more like puking and taking a nap at the same time. It's kind of nice riding while ill...there's sort of a sedating effect, any anxiety nullified by a pleasant buzzing in the ears.


It was a beautiful day though...blue sky, sunny, cool, but not cold. Occasionally a horse would kick at a neighbor, a novice rider would burst out in tears of fear as her loaner horse would begin backing up and for some reason the fact the rider was cranking on a curb bit wouldn't make it stop. Eventually I gave up offering riding advice, they didn't listen. Fine, pull those reins tight as a guitar string, maybe you'll be able to back that horse all the way around the trail. Keep those heels up and hunch forward, there you go! Have a good ride!

A lot of familiar faces showed up, friends and acquaintances, past boarders and riding buddies. Many asked how my leg was doing. Just fine, thank you, doesn't hurt at all any more. Quite a few remembered my disastrous accident when I was chased by dirt bikes, and had to keep reminding me of it. Since I still have amnesia from that, well, I guess somebody has to remind me.

Bob, the barn owner, came around the building astride a big Belgian mare! Oddly, he didn't look ridiculous, even when he rode near his little grand daughter who was riding the infamous Shetland Pony, "RolyPolyOly".

Two of my friends were taking their green horses out on their very first group trail ride, and were understandably nervous. C'mon, what could happen? Look at the size of the group here, they'll be FINE!

We all headed off, Quzqo and I were near the end...I'm beginning to realize that's maybe NOT the best thing to do...but more on that later. Reportedly there were 38 riders, which, I think, is a record for ME at any rate! It made quite an impressive sight...all sorts of horses from Quarter Horses to Paints, Appaloosas, Tennessee Walking Horses, ponies, the afore-mentioned Belgian, even another Arabian!

Heading out across the hay fields

The first mile or so went well. Quzqo was surprisingly well-behaved, with none of the usual Drama-Queen antics at the property line where I used to be treated to rearing and spinning...actually, another horse performed that duty, right at the same spot. A little bay mare ridden by an experienced teen girl, she (the mare) stopped, balked, started backing up, gave a little half-rear, and was 30 feet into the hayfield back to the barn before the girl got her back in the right direction. Gee, that looked awfully familiar *cough*Quzqo*cough*. But this time he was fine, didn't even shy at the tractor tire on the roadside, or the satellite dish he usually spooks at. Too busy trying to keep up with the 30+ horses in front of him!

For some reason everyone stopped after a bit, I think it was for tack adjustments, as a few folks dismounted... Quzqo took the opportunity to pee. The little bay mare started acting up again, backing up and swinging her rear all over the place. The girl couldn't stop her or turn her, and the mare backed right into my friend's young Quarter Horse (who had only been out on the trails once before in his young 4 year old life)...the mare suddenly began kicking poor "Charlie", giving him three rapid-fire double-barrel kicks to the left haunch! His rider couldn't get him to move his massive QH Butt out of the way fast enough, and she got one of the kicks to her ankle!

Bob swapped horses with the girl, and he rode the little bay mare the rest of the way. She appeared to be behaving with him on board...ya think? I don't think the gal was thrilled having to ride a Belgian, but at least she (the Belgian) wasn't prone to rearing, spinning, or backing down the trail!

"Charlie" didn't seem to have suffered any injury, he wasn't limping, there wasn't any swelling or edema. I think it's because the mare was so close, she couldn't build up any velocity. Having been shoved into the rump of a TWH years ago, and getting kicked in the back with both hind legs, I can attest that it doesn't really hurt that much when you're that close.

The bad thing about riding with a massive group of riders, is that you can't really do much more than walk. We got to the stretch of dirt road where Quzqo and I traditionally trot, canter, and gallop, because it's long, flat and straight. Can't do that with dozens of horses in front of you. So we walked.

Into the deep woods down the two-track. Most of the column made the turn onto the Shore-To-Shore trail, and as we were approaching the turnoff, a familiar sound came echoing through the trees.

Dirt bikes.

I've got an aversion to dirt bikes. Even if I see them being hauled on a trailer down the road, I make the sign of the Evil Eye in their direction. And here came no less than four of them down the two track! Thankfully they were going slowly, and there's an advantage to riding a white horse, they saw us right away and stopped. We waved and moved off the road into the trees before they continued on. Bob and a few others were about 100 yards behind us...hope that little bay mare liked dirt bikes!

The four or five riders in my group eventually lost the others, because some horses walk faster than others, some horses stop to pee, some didn't want to cross the bridge and had to be led across. Once we were away from the others the horses calmed down and walked/jogged nicely. Quzqo was very agitated, and was constantly tossing his head in frustration. It wasn't the bit bothering him, he was just getting himself fired up and had to express it somehow. I noticed he was the only horse darkened with sweat, and not from any exertion. I lost count of the times he flipped his reins up over his head, leaving me with either both reins on one side, or else a rein flopped between his ears. Eventually I managed to tie the reins together below his neck with some baling twine in a makeshift German martingale...didn't stop the head-tossing, but kept the reins where they were supposed to be.

I notice he only does that constant head-tossing on group trail rides. Hm. File that little nugget of information away for later.

After 90 minutes a pattern had developed...Quzqo became a high-strung needy insecure herd-bound tailgater, and any attempt by me to slow down his frantic walking-jogging to keep up was met with head-tossing, side-stepping, tail-wringing and grunting. The worst parts were when the horses maybe 10 ahead of us would begin to canter up a hill, which of course triggered a near-stampede by the other horses, and plenty of curses from their riders who didn't WANT to canter uncontrollably through the woods. My friends on the green horses were about ready to head home, they were getting so stressed out, as their horses would give little bucks or side-steps or back into trees, getting so worked up themselves. Thankfully I had the shanked curb in Quzqo's mouth, or it would have been Katie-bar-the-door-good-bye-Sue (gee, just like last Fall!).

Instead of being able to bolt after the other horses, Quzqo either backed into trees, or side-passed up, or down the hills, depending. We came to a VERY steep hill, that Quzqo has been down a few times before. But this time, since the horses ahead of us were fast disappearing into the trees, he became frighteningly upset, and when he wasn't trotting in place on the hillside, he was side-passing down the side of the trail in the underbrush, tail cranking, head tossing, grunting away. I felt bad for the boy, he was obviously scared. I know it was the fact I was sick, but I felt rather distant from all of it, almost an observer. I suppose I'd snap back to reality if he started falling down the hill with me under him. Luckily that didn't happen.

We came to our nemesis, the Mud Pit on the trail, a 3 foot wide mud bog smack dab in the pathway. Over the years people had tossed branches into it to make some sort of half-assed bridge, but that obviously didn't work, and now it's about 6" of hoof-sucking black goo. Quzqo HATES that bit, and if I were by myself, there would be no way to get him across it. One benefit to riding with a group; without a moment's hesitation, he bunched up his hindquarters and FLEW across that muck!

My friend, Sandy, had to dismount and lead her young Quarter Horse, Spike...between calling to me to wait up, she kept warning Spike not to run her over. Meanwhile I've got a tap-dancing Arabian doing his best to side-pass up a trail too narrow for a horse to fit through side-ways.

Further up the trail we were surprised by a deer busting through the underbrush. Quzqo jammed on the brakes and spun 180 degrees, catching me totally by surprise! I didn't lose a stirrup, but almost lost my shoe! Now if I'd have put his rhythm beads on him the jingling would have warned the deer off before we got near it... no, I didn't think to put his rhythm beads on. Figures.

Since the point of the ride was a Poker Run, Bob's daughter met us at various roadsides with playing cards and handed them out to each rider, and at the end we'd show our poker hands, whoever had the best cards would win the cash jackpot. My biggest challenge was getting the horse close enough to the SCARY WOMAN WITH PLAYING CARDS in order to draw one!

Once we left the hilly terrain behind, things did calm down. No longer could people go galloping up hills, freaking out the horses (and riders) behind them. I won't say we were able to relax, but Quzqo could at least lower his head and quit tossing it for a while, and I think I got a glimpse of the surrounding landscape and even got a chance to take a couple of photos!

Even Quzqo's ears look annoyed in this photo!

My friends on their Greenies, bringing up the rear.

We eventually made it to the trail camp where most people decided they needed a potty break. Well, there are outhouses after all. Even if I wanted to stop, Quzqo wouldn't have any of it, and he kept going, refusing to stand still and wait more than a few seconds. My friends and I decided we didn't need a break, since we were maybe 40 minutes from the barn. They wanted to get back and get off their stressed out Quarter Horses, and I seriously had had enough of dealing with my Drama Queen and his herd-obsessed antics.

We left the main group back at the outhouses, and headed out of the campground. Of course, away from the herd, Quzqo adopted his Don Knotts personality and began spooking at cars/people/tents/signs/pumps/stumps... I'd had enough and he earned either spurs to his sides or a smack in the butt with the end of the reins to get him past his self-indulgent spooking fits. We got back onto the campground road, a few other riders were also going on ahead, and I saw them leaving the road and heading up into the little narrow trail that'll lead through a forest for at least an hours' worth of windy hill trails. Which would mean at least another hour's worth of Quzqo antics.

No thanks.

I pointed Quzqo down the dirt road, he wanted to spook at some fishermen, I spurred him past them (I don't enjoy him trotting in place sideways on a narrow dirt road with a lake on one side and a steep drop-0ff into a swamp on the other), got him trotting, and gave him his head. We flew past the other riders and disappeared over the hill down the dirt road.

He FLEW! He stretched those legs and his neck and pistoned down the road, I stood in the stirrups, gasping for air with my congested lungs, and feeling like a ton of lead weights had been lifted from both our shoulders! I just let him run, and run he did! A quick glance behind, nobody at all. Slowing him to a walk so we could descend a steep hill, it felt like cool refreshing water...a calm and peace I hadn't felt all day washed over me. The horse let out a mighty sigh.

A truck passed us, Quzqo didn't care. Once the truck was gone, I got him into a canter, and we cantered happily down the road until I couldn't breathe, then we trotted the rest of the way.

We took the roads back to the barn, a route Quzqo has travelled many a time. Not as pretty as the woods, but by that time I couldn't keep track of all the body parts that were in pain and only wanted to get back to the barn! I felt bad for the horse too...due to all the walking we had to do, our normal 3-hour ride was approaching 4 hours!

Needless to say we were the first ones to return to the barn. Alas, no prizes were given for that (not that it'd be fair since we took a short cut). The horse was a sweaty mess, I was a sweaty mess, and I was damned glad it was over with!

My friends with the Greenies also took the same short-cut we did, and got back to the barn maybe 20 minutes after I did. A couple other riders came in shortly thereafter, cantering down the road back to the barn. I think the rest of the riders came in maybe 45 minutes after me. By that time Quzqo had been hosed off and turned out to pasture, where he TORE off, glad to be rid of me no doubt!

Well, my poker hand ended up being a pair of 2's, a pair of 6's and a king, but not good enough to even get 4th place. Some boy ended up with 3 Aces and won $59, which he spent at the tack auction that evening on a longhorn steer skull. There's a moral to that story somewhere I'm sure, but heck if I know what it is.

So, what did we learn. Don't go out in large groups if you want a relaxing trail ride. Put bells on your horse to warn wildlife. Buy a German Martingale. Monkey Butt Powder does work, but not on the parts you don't apply it to. Don't ride angry.

But as I like to say, any ride that doesn't involve a phone call to 911 is a good ride! And you know I'll do it again in a heartbeat.

Love Those Near-Death Experiences

What a way to spend Mother's Day...almost joining her in the frickin'afterlife!!!!

Today was special because today my neighbor lady came to the barn with me, and we took Quzqo for a drive! Fun! And a good workout for Fat Boy, hauling both of us over hill and dale, ha ha!

He was good until I started harnessing him, then he started to get all "Let's go let's go let's go let's GOOOOO!" pawing the concrete, flinging his head, trying to walk off until he hit the end of the cross-ties, then pawing and flinging the head, fuss fuss wiggle wiggle!

I knew there'd be NO help from my neighbor, who wants nothing to do with horses, she wouldn't even give him a treat, and kept herself a good 10' away at all times (so he won't kick her or bite her).

Being Mother's Day, there was also a big Mother's Day shindig up at the barn owner's house, with his three daughters and THEIR families/hubbies/kids running around, and they were hauling horses in from the field for pony/horsie rides.

Got Quzqo hitched up and sent my neighbor ahead to open the door and to stay out of the way. He was as good as gold once he was on the move, and stood quietly for me to get into the cart, and for her to get in as well. I felt the cart tip back and the shafts go up, LOL...not quite balanced for that big a load. Now my neighbor isn't a hefty gal, but still the weight had essentially doubled.

Didn't bother Quz, we stepped right off when I told him to, and eagerly strutted towards the road. Once we got on the road we trotted off and he did so prissily, not really wanting to leave the barn, but wanting to GOGOGO...sort of torn between the two appealing alternatives.

He gamely hauled us up the lonnnnggggg 1/2 mile hill, the woods are GORGEOUS, just full of trilliums and dogtooth violets and spring beauties, the trees leafing out in that baby green that only springtime is allowed to use. More trotting 'til we got to the end of the dirt road. my neighbor got out of the cart to retrieve a beer can for me (ha, I knew there was a good reason to bring her along), and while we were waiting, I phoned up our mutual friend who lives one road over, and see if she'd like us to drop by! She sure did, as her husband was visting for a week from MN, plus her sister and her husband were visiting. Full house!

We got to their house about 20 minutes later, and Quz was again regaled with carrots (no maple sugar this time) and nose-pats and adoring noises from everyone who were suitably impressed. We then gave cart rides to everyone but the sister, who didn't want anything to do with the horse except to look at him from a safe distance.

Gave the friend a ride up and down the road, then her husband, then her brother-in-law, they were all impressed. While we were yakking in the driveway, a mini van slowed to a stop and the woman asked me all sorts of questions about Quz and driving, where'd I get the cart, the harness, etc, and turns out she's training their 3 yr old filly to drive, and was very interested. I have NO idea who she was, never saw her before, but that was kind of cool!

After a while it got time to be heading back, so my neighbor got back in the cart, got Quzqo turned around, and he KNEW darned well he was heading back to the barn. He'd had enough of pony cart rides, he was heading HOME to his grain bucket by God!

Well, he took off at a fast walk, I barely was able to get him to a stop at the intersection. Truth be told, my neighbor was blabbing so damned much I couldn't hear the cars coming...but we got a break in the traffic and turned south towards the barn.

We were doing fine, Quzqo was happy, my neighbor was blabbing away...suddenly I hear something go thunk-thunk behind us...quick glance...there goes my neighbor's water bottle, rolling away, it'd fallen out of her pocket. I asked her if she wanted it, she said of course (it was just a water bottle, not a store-bought fancy one!). So I stopped the horse, and just as she had one foot on the pavement and the other in
the cart, the horse starts walking off.

Now the lady has a bum knee, and couldn't get moving fast enough, I'm afraid I hauled on the reins a little hard to stop Quz...she got free of the cart, and Quzqo started to freak...he wanted to GO HOME NOT STOP, and his butt went down, and started to BACK UP! NOT GOOD! I slapped the reins on his butt and he backed up more, at an angle, and the cart started slipping down into the ditch!!! I got him back up on the shoulder, and quickly got out of the cart (EZ Entry...EZ Bailout!!) and went up to his head to calm him down. My neighbor got her (damned) water bottle and stood behind the cart, not knowing what to do.

Quzqo(sort of) calmed down, traffic cleared...I walked back to the cart and got in...IMMEDIATELY he crouched down and started BACKING UP again! NOO! He lunged forward and took a left straight into the middle of the road, backing zig-zags on the centerline...cars were coming, the ones in the northbound lane stopped a good 100 feet away. The horse started backing up...I slapped reins on his butt, somehow I had dropped the whip, and the more I hit him on the butt and was yelling "WALK! WALK" the further back he went. The cart went entirely into the ditch, and the horse followed, somehow turning so that the cart was at a 45 degree angle SIDEWAYS and the horse this ---><---- close to exploding into a full-flung freakout.  I'll admit here and now...I was scared shitless! Hello, Worst Nightmare, table for one! Quzqo luckily froze in place, his legs all bunched up underneath him like one of those Chinese horse statues, I managed to get out of the cart and up onto the shoulder above Coos. Slowly and carefully I led him forward and up the ditch bank back onto the shoulder. My neighbor was acting as Traffic Cop, halting the traffic coming up behind us.  We stood on the roadside for a few minutes, Quz was nuzzling my arm and lipping at my sleeve, like he wanted reassurance that it'd be okay. I kept rubbing his head and petting his neck as the cars whizzed past.   I ended up leading him a fair distance down the road to a private dirt road, then down that a bit until we were far enough from the paved road. Only then did I get in, then my neighbor. He was fine this time, moved forward willingly, got a little silly towards the intersection, so I turned him in a tight circle before going on. We got back on the paved road, and got him trotting. He FLEW down that road like a harness racer, only one goal; to go back to the barn!! He covered that mile or so in less than 10 minutes easily!  All my neighbor could say was "Well, that was exciting!" Yeah, easy for her as she was safely standing up on the shoulder of the road!!  Hadda LOL, as I lead Quz into the barn after unhitching him outside...he was dragggging and yawning, and the barn owner says "he's sure slowed down from when you left!" Yeah, I'd say!   Can't really blame him, I told my neighbor next time I'll BUY her a new bottle of water, she ain't ever getting out of the cart on the road heading home again! There's a reason the driving pros say NEVER get out of the cart until you're back at the barn and finished.   I'm still a little shaken up, a combination of fear, insecurity, and yes, embarassment. I'm thankful the worst didn't happen but for a few split seconds as the cart was teetering as the horse slid down the embankment....  Poor boy gave himself a couple of lacerations on the insides of his front fetlocks. I have to find his splint boots.   But as I like to say, any excursion that doesn't end with a call to 9-11 is a good one, and we left him tucked into his stall with his face in a bucket of bran mash (with apples and carrots this time), and to celebrate our surviving another day, stopped for ice cream on the way home.   Don't know if my neighbor will ever want to do that again...wouldn't blame her if she didn't.