“With all of the pleasures horses can provide, they are still very dangerous animals.”
That statement will bring many horse lovers up-in-arms, red-faced mad, and contradicting.
However, it is true as proven numerous times throughout the years and sadly again at a recent Sunday horse show.
It would be difficult if not impossible to find anyone more appreciative of horses, but facts are facts.
“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” Winston Churchill has often been quoted.
“No hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle,” the renowned leader was also known to say
He is correct in his comments and beliefs without any argument or disagreement.
However, three very scary incidents occurred in one afternoon proving how important safety is around horses.
“A horse is dangerous at both ends and uncomfortable in the middle,” is another familiar uncredited quote. Accidents can occur whatever one is doing with a horse.
It was the second class including 15 geldings showing at halter with handlers from very young to quite old.
Several horses had ribbons tied to their tails to identify that the horses had been known to kick.
Judge was starting to evaluate the lineup when suddenly, a gelding kicked the little cowgirl behind him. Details are unclear, but the kicking horse did not have a red ribbon.
The cowgirl was kicked in the nose and eye causing serious bleeding requiring emergency hospital treatment. Uncertain about recovery but early reports indicated extreme severity.
Come to find out, the cowgirl was a first-time exhibitor although the accident could have happened to anybody. However, there’s possibility she may become scared of horses, maybe to the extent of not wanting to ever show again.
Not long afterward, an older cowboy had his horse spook and buck him off. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured and no other riders in the warmup area were hurt other than being scared.
Later in the day, another young cowgirl’s running horse bucked hard, so she fell to the ground. The determined rider remounted and continued riding.
Two longtime riders had been bucked off what were considered well broke horses earlier in the week.
Reminded of Habakkuk 1:8: Horses are faster than leopards, more dangerous than wolves, always requiring caution.”
+++ALLELUIA+++
XVI–23B–6-5-2022