Selena first getting onto her horse
Selena’s not going to be happy I’m retelling this story. There was a scary moment happened at the end of our horseback riding in Egypt.
Selena rode her horse too close behind one of the tied up broncos on the side of the road and it began to kick. It kicked once and hit Selena’s horse squarely in the front leg. The horse jolted forward and Selena a bit off balance slowed the horse by pulling the reigns back.
Unfortunately, pulling back also pulled the horse back a few steps again into the range of the tied up kicking bronco. It kicked again, and this time caught both Selena’s horse and Selena in their respective legs. The horse buckled and Selena fell.
It all happened so fast, too fast for anyone to react. Our group and guides were just witnessing this potential tragedy unfold.
Her fall was fortunate, she fell backwards away from the bucking bronco, which was still kicking her horse, and had she fallen forward she would have been directly in his line of fire.
It wasn’t until she was on the ground and rolled away from the bronco that our guides were finally able to get to Selena and pull her and her horse out of range of the bronco.
Where was I through all this? Stuck on a horse of my own. I knew I needed to get to her, but that’s when I realized I had no idea how to get down from my own horse. By the time I figured out how to descend the guides had already gotten her to safety.
I was fairly certain Selena would have a broken leg. I had visions of us rushing to some dodgy Egyptian hospital. But that vision was unfounded, Selena was fine, just a small bruise to the leg and a slightly larger one to the ego. She didn’t want to make a big deal about the fall and, literally, got back up on that horse again.
Having been on the receiving end of my fair share of horse kicks, throws, bites, and even their stubborn, sometimes stupid tendencies not to worry about your highly exposed human legs sticking off the side of their bodies, I can somewhat empathize. And with appreciation for her situation, I give her major kudos for literally getting back up on that horse!
I don’t think this is in any way a story to be embarrassed about! I can think of plenty of people whose story, had this happened to them, would have had an entirely different ending : )
Also, I can’t go without acknowledging, with a little pride, that less than a year ago I believe I participated in her FIRST horseback riding attempt (right…?) What a long way!
Wow — Selena, that must have been so scary! I’m glad you kept your cool and everything turned out okay. i’m guessing “dodgy hospital visit” is one experience you were okay with missing in Egypt.
Whoa! Happy to hear things turned out well.
I haven’t been on a horse in years…I miss them. But I am a touch skittish after being bit by a horse once. Never would expect a horse to bite you, but damn did it hurt…and it was the middle of my back! I was a kid and was walking thru the pasture with an armload of apples and the horse wanted them…he bit me…I dropped the apples and ran…he got his apples!
Holy Pete! Thank goodness that you are ok Selena! Does this mean that you will skip horse back riding on the ski trip?