Scary, crazy horse story from my race

[joenali]

The race I did last weekend was in a very rural part of Washington, lots of farms, cows, horses etc.

I was on the run and up ahead I saw several horses and what looked to be like some sort of commotion going on. I kept running toward the scene and then here comes this horse (I'm never around horses and you forget how GIANT they are) sort of trotting my way WITHOUT a rider.

I could see where he was going but I had just passed a guy going the opposite direction and said "Ummm, watch out for that horse without a rider!" Then I see a truck pull up slowly and a lady got out and was able to get the horse.

I continue to run and see the horses and trucks all convening. It turns out a fairly new rider had been bucked off the horse. And then I passed the guy. He was on the ground and CLEARLY hurt. He was passed out and snoring. Coma maybe? Definite head injury? I'm no medical person, but that can't be good. All of the race volunteers scrambled and called 911 and gave directions to the area.

THe area is so out of the way that it took some time for the aid car to get there. I didn't stick around because I couldn't do anything and there were plenty of people helping. It was so scary.

I've been looking to see if there had been any news about it, but nothing. I really hope that guy is ok.

[Susie]

Yikes. Did he have a helmet on? I was thrown by an Arabian once, but fortunately I could roll out of the way and not get stepped on. I just got the wind knocked out of me.

We have friends who have a horse farm, and from their stories I have vicariously learned that if you aren't careful, horses can really hurt people, not necessarily intentionally. They are big, powerful animals.

[joenali]

Oh, not too close, but I am never around horses and didn't know what to do. He was obviously skittish and scared and then the owner (maybe), was able to guide him back to her.

[stingsharkruns]

Yikes! Hopefully the guy was okay! I've been bucked off a few times, it's definitely not fun. Never hurt. My sister has been bucked off and got a nice little ambulance ride to the ER with a hoof print on her stomach.

[joenali]

No helmet that I could see.

[SuziSaysDa]

That is crazy, but what a story to tell about your race.

[Deleted]

Oof, that hurts. I really hope he's ok!

I was thrown by a horse once, when I was about 10, she was my favorite. Short, stocky older mare who responded well and got along with all the other horses fine. We rode by a pile of shavings in the corner of the barn (the same one we rode by about 30 times already in class) and she spooked and took off towards the other end of the barn. I fell flat on my back, hurt like hell, but I was fine, but freaked out.

They decided she was done for the day and put me up on a different horse for the rest of the class, a very tall sleek gelding known to nip other horses on the butt. I was not thrilled, but he behaved and I got over the incident pretty quick.

Sigh. I miss riding.

[sadlebred]

Horses are amazing, but they definitely have minds and opinions of their own. They are also big. I never get on a horse (or bike) without a helmet just for that reason. Not even to ride bareback around the pasture for a few minutes. I hope the guy was ok.

[InBetweenDays]

How scary, and I hope the guy was ok!