loose saddle

I learned a valuable lesson on my early and quite cool weathered ride this morning. The saddle CAN and will slide over to the side of your horse if you don't synch it right tight!

I'm feeling pretty blessed that my first fall off Gwinivere (and my second fall off of any horse) wasn't too too bad. I'm sure you've guess, I didn't synch the saddle real tight today. I thought it would be getting hotter and hotter as we rode and I was certain we wouldn't do any loping.

Well, after a nice ride out to my house, a visit with Zeek and Greg, a ride through my woods, and a quick paced walk back to Gwen's, I had forgotten ALL about that loose saddle. I thought we'd take a little trot around the neighbors' acre before we finished up.

On the stride back to the barn I let her lope. Once on the gravel driveway I could tell the saddle was sliding. I whoa'ed her and pulled back, but the trot to slow only made things worse, and before I knew it I was taking the plunge.

Thankfully, I did more of a roll off from the side, so there were no limbs involved and only a very slight touch on the back of the head. I took most of the hit in the lower small of my back along my hip bones. Gwin immediately stopped HARD and just stood there looking at me.

My body was stunned enough that when I tried to stand my legs wouldn't allow it at first. I had to stay sitting for a couple of minutes. Fortunately, I had the comfort of being right next to Gwen and Jack's house and knowing Jack was home on a Saturday morning.

I recovered and decided it would be best to ride Gwin a little more, for both of our sakes. We shook it off well.

I'm glad we rode, and even more glad I fell where I did and how I did. And not anything worse.