Operator Error: Unscheduled Dismount

It was a beautiful Saturday morning. The first Saturday of summer vacation for me and the start of Lynn's vacation. Once on top, we turned to the left and rode the Hennessey trail in reverse. I think the horses were feeling good because it was cool and the trail looked different from the opposite direction. We let them go a little faster than normal and all of us were jumping logs and creeks and whatever. It was fun!

As we were making our way up the backside of the mountain, Jupes and I were in the back and he was trotting hard to keep up. At one point, we came down off a slope and he jumped the muddy ditch and began loping/cantering/trotting/crow-hopping to pass the boys and get in front. I do not know exactly what kind of gait it was. Lynn said it was a new invention that Jupes simply created in his desire to be in the lead! All I know is, it felt funny and I was trying not to yell at him and pull him up if he wasn't bucking, but trying to read him to make sure he wasn't going pitch me off in a hard buck. It's kind of a fine line of discrimination with him. I can hear him thinking, "Whoohoo! I'm in front! Catch me if you can!", as he shifts into happy gear and kicks up in joy! (Been there, done that!)

For all his mellowness, Ziggy really likes to be in front. I think Buster really likes to be in front of Jupes (payback for all the orneryness in the field!). So when Jupiter got the lead, the competition was on and he was not going to let go of it. Heading up toward the creek, I took him around a downed tree and Lynn had Zigs jump it. Jupiter could see Ziggy and knew that his long legs would take him over the tree and into the lead, so he cut the corner tight and squirted out in front him and back on the trail. As we headed up, Lynn laughed and said, "I saw daylight (between me and the saddle)! You'd better watch out, you're getting a little out of control!"

Well we stopped for a quick drink and then headed up the hill. I told Jupes to go easy as we went on downslopes and then I would let him power run up the next side. Well. I think the branches bend the opposite way since we usually come from the other direction, because the next thing I knew, I am trying to slow him down as I am fighting the branches. I was laying across his neck when I was lifted up and found myself looking down at his back. My right leg was still over him and as I was thinking, "Am I strong enough to pull myself back into the saddle?", I landed on my knees on the ground next to him. The hard-packed ground, I might add!

I landed with the reins in my left hand and my right hand and knees were in tabletop position right next him. He was looking at me like, "You know, we could have a lot more fun if you would just stay up there!" I  got up and led him up to the flat so I could look at my knees and brush myself off. Thankfully, I am fine--scraped up knees is the worst of it. I think the tree limbs broke my fall.

I heard Lynn's, "Rider off!" as they slowed down and walked up to me. Shirley was laughing, "Well you almost made it a year!" But she also gave me a compliment--she said I was good rider and blamed my fall on not having a horn or bucking rolls. Yeah, well I know all but two times I have gone off have been my fault! I guess I should be happy that I have down to one a year. (: