Hunter Pace at Biltmore House

[katyb]

![](t was just gorgeous and perfect. My friend, Maria, drove us over to Asheville, and we had a blast. I have no idea how we did - we just went for the scenery.

[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/jula4me/IMG_2873-1.jpg)

I did an awful job getting a pic of Maria and Sky jumping, oops.

[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/jula4me/IMG_2871.jpg)

Sky is so cute.

[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/jula4me/IMG_2867.jpg)

This is a mid point check, where you check in, then they hold the riders to space us back out. You can see that Jet is looking down the trail, thinking LET’S GO!!!

[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/jula4me/IMG_2864.jpg)

Nice trails!

[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/jula4me/IMG_2856.jpg)

My pretty Jet - she is such a good girl.

[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/jula4me/IMG_2849.jpg)

The turn-out was great - and there were only two skinny horses and one out of control horse. That was great.

[IMG]http://i1088.photobucket.com/albums/i334/jula4me/IMG_2846.jpg)

[bluemooncowgirl]

Great photos! It was a couple of gorgeous fall days in NC this past weekend!

[katyb]

It was such a perfect day - windy, but just gorgeous! That was my first time riding there, and the trails were great - super easy and well maintained.

[mildot]

That does look like a perfect day.

[monstrpony]

I remember getting attacked by ground bees on one of those trails once! Glad you had a great ride, it certainly was gorgeous weather!

[katyb]

[QUOTE=monstrpony;5872536]
I remember getting attacked by ground bees on one of those trails once! Glad you had a great ride, it certainly was gorgeous weather![/QUOTE]

I’m glad you didn’t tell me that before we went! Maybe it was cold enough to have them quiet. That would have been horrible, given the number of horses and riders about.

[Equibrit]

The only problem there is if you win. They give you Biltmore Estate Champagne.

[katyb]

I guess they mail it, because the results still aren’t up. Is it that bad?

[Trinity3205]

Hey Katy! We musta missed you! We were wayyyyy at the far end of the parking lot and started out about 1PM.

On another note, Did you hear that a lady died trying to load her horse? A friend over in Bryson just texted me asking me if I knew anything about it and she saw it on the news Im searching to find anything…If that is true, how terrible! Havewnt found anything however so far so I cant verify any truth to it yet.

[alteringwego]

Yes, heard lady died after getting trampled by 2 horses in her trailer. Haven’t heard a name but Hunter Pace Series is reporting over 150 horses.
Tragedy though and keeping the family in my thoughts.

[katyb]

I didn’t hear that, and we were there until most of the trailers had pulled out. That is terrible.

I’m sorry I missed you, D. I kept looking around, but there were so many people and horses.

[Equibrit]

[QUOTE=katyb;5873034]
I guess they mail it, because the results still aren’t up. Is it that bad?[/QUOTE]

Paint stripper.

[katyb]

[QUOTE=katyb;5873253]
I didn’t hear that, and we were there until most of the trailers had pulled out. That is terrible.

I’m sorry I missed you, D. I kept looking around, but there were so many people and horses.[/QUOTE]

Sorry - I’m still processing this news. I can’t believe we never heard any sirens or anything. Maybe it was after we left, which was about 4, I think. We rode out about 11, were back sometime around 1 (probably just after you rode out, Danielle), then ate, rode out a bit more, played (rather unsuccessfully) on the obstacles, and I think it was about 4 when we pulled out.

[Equibrit]

There does not seem to be anything on the local TV stations’ news. It may not be true at all.

[katyb]

[QUOTE=Equibrit;5873333]
There does not seem to be anything on the local TV stations’ news. It may not be true at all.[/QUOTE]

I hope that is the case. I did a google search and didn’t find anything.

[Trinity3205]

I cant find anything either but my friend would not have any reason to lie about seeing it on the news…Let me see if I can find more info and wherre she saw this…

[Trinity3205]

Just got forwarded an email from the people involved. I now know the name of who the victim is…Still trying to verify. My friend said it was on news 13 this AM. I am shocked because I think i was right there and left just before this happened.

All I can say is if it is true, It is a very stark warning to teach your horses to self load and NEVER to get on with them in such a tight space… I have escape doors and I still never get on with them but send them on instead. every horse that comes here learns to be sent on the trailer first thing…

ETA sorry Katy. Not trying to hijack…Just kinda shocked and trying to verify what Im hearing…

[katyb]

It’s on the Facebook page now, so it’s obviously correct.

[Trinity3205]

I just saw it…How terrible. My thoughts and prayers are with her family.

[monstrpony]

Just received this email from my vet, who was forwarding it from another client.

"Today was…a very difficult day. I watched a woman struggle for her life, but unfortunately, died. I’m emailing my horsey friends, asking if you load your horse by getting in the trailer with the horse, DON’T. Others, I’m emailing, for prayers for the family. We call prayed after the ambulance left, but God felt He needed (her) with Him.

“I had just untacked (my horse) (we were at Biltmore), when the ladies behind me were having problems loading one of their two horses. Long story short, after both horses were loaded, a tremendous amount of stomping, kicking, bucking was going on in the trailer, by both horses. I heard screaming, so I ran over. One of the two ladies ran to the back of the trailer, swung open the door, with horses’ legs kicking out. I yelled at her to get away, because she almost got kicked, and that’s when she said “my friend’s in there”. Her friend was lifeless, laying crossway in the trailer, face down, under both horses. We got both horses out, secured them, and attempted to help the woman. She was unresponsive. I had already called 911, Biltmore Police. We cut her clothes off (as much we could) - there were no apparent injuries…we knew it was internal. Her helmet had gotten kicked out of the trailer, in many pieces. I can only assume she still had her helmet on when this was all happening, but I’m not sure. She was barely alive when they took her off, but died, either on the way to the hospital or there at the hospital. I didn’t know the woman…learned her name from her friend. She was 54, had horses all her life…was very good around horses.”

Sympathy to all of her family and friends. What an awful thing to experience, such a tragedy. Glad her last ride was on such a lovely day.