Okay so this happened… around 2 months ago and I sadly still think about the entire event. I feel bad, did what I could to make it better. I just need some reassurance since I had no one else ot back me up at the time.
I took my paint mare up to a poker ride in the hills, great terrain amazing trails. Our goal was not for the high hand or anything, but the timed prizes. Since we had been doing our best to train for hopefully an endurance ride someday I figured it would be a great place for a trial run. So off we went.
The entire ride I was good about other riders, I had bell necklace on Rain, than an even larger one on the cinch to ensure I was easy to hear. I would slow down the instant I was able to see other riders and would announce my incoming very vocally (I am a naturally loud person) Everyone was really cool, and showed a lot of interest when I explained what I was doing. They would gladly pull off to the side with smiles and let me and Rain go about our way with no issues. Was a great community of rides I was riding with through out the ride.
After about… I think the 3rd check point we were jogging along when we again came upon a group of riders. There were about 8 total of them. As normal we slowed to a walk, and I announced “Coming up behind you all” well before we joined their line up. The last guy in line looked back nodded and smiled before looking back ahead. No one made any move to step to the side, or anything else. But I don’t blame them, that section of the narrow trail had black berry bushes and thick brush on both sides. I had no issue waiting, I was already happy with the time showing on my watch.
Well, 15 minutes pass and they still have not offered to move, they are silent so my bells are pretty much the only thing making noise. I can see a large flat area that had been crunched gown by cattle I am assuming and figured I would pass them there. So I call out “I plan to pass you up ahead, I will keep at a walk” No response once more, even the back guy didn’t look back at me this time.
So we get to this open area, I again call out “Okay I am passing” as loud as I can, and nudge Rain around to get to the flat spot. She walked out fast and long, covering ground at a walk better then some walking horses ha. We give them about a 20 foot gap between myself and them, and head along fine. I get about half way across the group, when a middle horse stops in its tracks, turns and looks at Rain and me. The lady kicks the horse… hard, I mean legs off the horse’s sides and slams them back down. In an instant the horse turns, ears pinned mouth open and darts directly towards me. Looses its rider off the back who lands just off the trail in the soft powder. I get Rain out of the way, horse zooms past and runs for the trees. Other rides are with the gal who fell off so I took off and catch the now rider less horse. Little thing was easy to catch, didn’t act aggressive as I led her back to the group.
I am instantly attacked verbally, the lady is screaming about how stupid I am, how I should know better then to pass others on a trail. That I was just a stupid hick that didn’t know how to ride. Some of her companions joined in. No one even had tried to take her horse back from me. I just said sorry here is your horse and continued on my ride. I was shaken, pretty hurt by all the comments coming from these people. I didn’t think I had done anything wrong I hade made it very clear I was preset and intending to pass them. Its not like I shot by at a run, I was walking past.
I got back and was proud of my time on the ride, took Rain to the trailer and got her all unpacked and began to cool her off. No issues at all. Till here came the lady who had fallen off pulling the man who was in charge of the ride with. She instantly went off on me again, telling him I should be disqualified and then fined for what I did to her and her horse. She was pretty much in a complete rage. He made her leave, before he talked to me about what happened and he did take my side. Considering the lady showed no I’ll affects of the fall at the moment. I explained to him what happened and he only shook his head and laughed a bit, wondering how all that anger could have come from something so random. He said I was safe and not to worry about any of her threats. If she made any more issues for me to come get him. Considering I had gone to this ride on my own, it felt nice to have a little back up.
Well awards came, I ended up winning the time award, but of course her entire group booed and hissed at me in front of the entire mass of riders who had been there. I didn’t even stay to see if I had any prizes from my card. hand, I just left. I felt so attacked and embarrassed I didn’t even want to be around anyone at the ride anymore.
It still eats at me, could I have done anything different? I always replay it again and again wondering if I should have done something different? If I could have made it more clear? Idk why this has bugged me so bad, normally I am over things in an hour or two and move along. But for some reason this entire even has haunted me these past 2 months. I just want some other opinions since I was alone on this, and there were really no other witnesses to what happened.
So Those of you who do endurance, trail ride off property much more than I do… Did I Handle this right? Wrong? Could I have done anything differently to have changed the situation?
Thanks
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