This message is from: Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day here, +30 with a 4-6" layer of snow on the ground. I saddled up Bjorken, my 15-2hh gelding for a ride, wearing my snow joggers which aren't particularly bulky, but have rubber lug soles. Mounting up I noticed I had to really jam them in the stirrups and made a mental note to remember they might be stuck when I dismounted. So off we went for a delightful ride around the property, then finished up riding next door to check on the neighbor's unoccupied summer cabin. Walking along the edge of the woods on their lawn, Bjorken suddenly spooked from something in the woods, jumped sideways and I found myself unseated, hanging off the right..Since he was only walking I decided to let go and fall into the soft snow still hanging on to the reins. But I found myself hung up with my right foot jammed in the stirrup. I told Bjorken to Whoa and he stopped, looked at me and decided he would check out the grass under the snow while Mom figured out what to do. Typical Fjord! This obsession with eating does pay off! So there I was sitting in the snow, one foot jammed in the stirrup and I couldn't get it out. Finally I reached up and unlaced the boot to free my foot. WHEW! Now to get the boot back on without getting it full of snow. Meanwhile Bjorken was pawing for grass while I got the boot back on and stood up covered with now. GOOD BOY! I gave him a handful of carrot pieces from my pocket and then led him around looking for something to climb on to get back on.
Oh Boy! It could have been so much worse..Would he have stopped if we were being charge by a moose or a snowmachine? Would my foot have pulled out if he had run? My Ortho-flex saddle doesn't have safety stirrup hangers, but I had "Foot Free" safety stirrups (english), the kind where the outside is bent back to allow the foot to come out easily. But with the bulky boot and rubber lug soles, it didn't work. I have oversize stirrups, the same style, which I will put on the saddle now (They're HUGE!), but I think that when I ride with winter boots which might get jammed, I will loosen the laces or fasteners enough to allow my foot to slip out of the boot easily, just in case. Hopefully this incident will translate into a training experience, for him to stop when I fall off, even when threatend by a moose. Of course, maybe it would be better to be dragged than stomped by the moose? Jean in still mild Fairbanks, Alaska, cloudy and only +20 today. ************************************************************ Jean Ernest Fairbanks, Alaska mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
