Month: October 2018

Safety Always Comes First

“There’s just nothing to ride.”

How can that be with two dozen horses always anxious to get their noses in the feed bucket?

Of course, excitement adrenalin flowed when the nice lady asked for another outrider in the community historical pageant.

Initial smiling consensual agreement then turned into concerned caution. Maybe that wouldn’t really be such a good idea all things considered.

Magnified voices, background sounds, extensive props, live bonfires, other animals, and costumed people create an atypical environment. Especially when dark and chill of the night are added to the equation.

An outsider looking in wouldn’t give second thoughts of what all actually could happen. Especially when seeing other participating horses very relaxed nonchalant to the unique circumstances.

Yet, easily there could be a real catastrophe if a horse decided those were the bogeyman out to get him. Even if a horse just sashayed a little bit with the tight scene layout unthinkable damage could occur.

Yes, the whole play would be caput with serious destruction to the extensively coordinated staging area.

That’s bad, but the horse, other horses and animals, could be readily hurt, too. Much worse is high possibility of injury to so many people, those in the cast and the spectators.

Several of the horses are considered well broke, while some have collected innumerable championships in a wide array of competitions.

Yet, none were considered safe to be a part of the program. Horsemanship abilities of handler can come into play, but that just doesn’t matter with certain horses.

Based on experience, perhaps horse sense, it just wouldn’t be sensible to take the high risks involved.

Still, surely somebody has a horse that would fit right in, just borrow one from another horseman.

“Say, what about using one of your horses?” You bet there’s that one the kids ride all of the time. She’s old, gentle, will work fine.

Time to get the horse, readiness turned into reservations. “No guarantees. It’d probably be better to find another one.” Same response came again, a handful of times.  

Nobody felt they had an extra horse that could be used for the program.

Apologetically bowed out, “Maybe it’ll work next time.” Always better to be safe than sorry.    

Reminded of Genesis 43:9: “I’ll take full responsibility for the safety, or be the guilty one.”

+++ALLELUIA+++

XII–43–10-22-18

/ Frank J. Buchman