Hmmm.. I'm still trying to grasp the fact that there is a Starbucks out there with a hitching post in front of it. It makes me want to pack up and move to Calafornia!
Your lucky to live in such a horsey country. Where I live, almost nobody rides, it's sad. I hope that guy gets some new brains or something and stops doing that, he could really hurt someone. I hope his horse dumps him too, for the horse's sake.
I don't see much humor in that. I would be calling the authorities myself before he causes injury to himself ( who cares) his horse and some innocent rider who happens to be in the wrong place at the moment. Are there no rules on/in your horse community and it's trails that can get him under control??
Cindy, you are not alone. We have some of those oddities up here too. They dress up in their vintage gear, flopping in the saddle as they ride down the paved street at speed. I am baffled each time I see them as to why they would do this when they have easy access to some of the best trail riding around. I just hope they do not get themselves, their horses or someone else killed.
YES, TINA, IN EVERY HORSEY COMMUNITY IT SEEMS THERE ARE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO MOVE IN, BUY A HORSE AND SOME GEAR AND CREATE HAVOC ON HORSEBACK. JULIE, MY GOAL HERE WASN'T TO OUTRIGHT LAUGH AT THE ANTICS OF CRAZY GALLOPING MAN. IT'S MORE LIKE I'M SIMPLY AMAZED AT HOW MISGUIDED SOME PEOPLE ARE IN HOW THEY "THINK" THEY'RE BEING REALLY COOL RIDERS WHEN WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY DISPLAYING IS THEIR IGNORANCE. I DO INDEED FEEL BADLY FOR HIS HORSE. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN THOUGH OUR TOWN HAS ADOPTED THE MOTTO "HORSETOWN, USA" THERE ARE NOT ANY OFFICIAL RULES THAT PREVENT THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR. I AM, HOWEVER, WORKING WITH A GROUP OF RIDERS TO AT LEAST GET THE CITY TO POST SOME SENSIBLE RULES OUTSIDE THE ARENA. OF COURSE, THERE'S NO REAL WAY TO ENFORCE THE RULES. I'LL BE WRITING ABOUT THIS SOON IN ANOTHER BLOG.
Cindy, In response to your response to me (??) I too have encountered these type people in my long life with my horses. I do see humor in most situations and here too, especially in the way you described the " crazy galloping man" himself !! I guess I wrote while in shock after reading it. I have kept my horses at home for the last 18+ years and mainly ride alone around fields since then.I think my lack of contact with the outside world, as far as riders go made this a bit a bit shocking at first . I know your welfare and concern is for the horses.
Maybe the guy just can't get his horse to stop. Like the Chevy Chase movie Funny Farm where the dog just keeps running all the time.