I've been away for a couple of weeks with work and manage flying visits once or twice during the week and have only ridden twice in the last fortnight, the second today in very windy but warm weather. Flipo isn't a difficult horse these days, I don't worry that he's more spooky or lively after time off, so I tacked up and set off without issue. He wasn't even being a tit while tied up (usually if it's windy and he's tied, he'll wind himself up and jump about a bit in an effort to snap his leadrope. Obviously he was just lulling me into a false sense of security.
I had considered not putting on my hi viz tabard as I wasn't going anywhere near the road - well we cross one right at the end but it's a quiet Sunday afternoon. But I decided it would just be vanity not to shove it on so zipped it up and off we went - a slow plod in the sunshine.
Well we were about two minutes from home, had just had our first and only little trot when I noticed a runner approaching on the track. She stopped when she saw us, and proceeded to stretch, leaning against a field gate. There were now sheep in that field as well - historically flip has found sheep quite interesting. He doesn't like how they move and will get a tiny bit prancy, but usually it's not too much of an issue. Well I don't know if it was the lady turning around as we drew level, or the sheep running away in the field, but Flipo saw an excuse to be stupid and half heartedly spooked to the right. Sadly, my reins were like washing lines and I didn't catch him quick enough as he darted off the track and onto the road - just as a van was racing around the corner. I managed to swing him round and get him onto the pavement but I was so lucky that a)the van saw me and slowed, and b) I didn't come off.
I'm so glad I wore my hi viz, even though I wasn't really doing any road work, it's just confirmed my reasons for doing so and I won't be chancing it in future. Hope this makes folk think, my horse isn't psycho number one these days but even we have our off days. Don't take a chance.
I had considered not putting on my hi viz tabard as I wasn't going anywhere near the road - well we cross one right at the end but it's a quiet Sunday afternoon. But I decided it would just be vanity not to shove it on so zipped it up and off we went - a slow plod in the sunshine.
Well we were about two minutes from home, had just had our first and only little trot when I noticed a runner approaching on the track. She stopped when she saw us, and proceeded to stretch, leaning against a field gate. There were now sheep in that field as well - historically flip has found sheep quite interesting. He doesn't like how they move and will get a tiny bit prancy, but usually it's not too much of an issue. Well I don't know if it was the lady turning around as we drew level, or the sheep running away in the field, but Flipo saw an excuse to be stupid and half heartedly spooked to the right. Sadly, my reins were like washing lines and I didn't catch him quick enough as he darted off the track and onto the road - just as a van was racing around the corner. I managed to swing him round and get him onto the pavement but I was so lucky that a)the van saw me and slowed, and b) I didn't come off.
I'm so glad I wore my hi viz, even though I wasn't really doing any road work, it's just confirmed my reasons for doing so and I won't be chancing it in future. Hope this makes folk think, my horse isn't psycho number one these days but even we have our off days. Don't take a chance.