Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Christmas In July

Monday evening I took Sinker out for a trail ride and miscalculated how quickly it was getting dark.  I decided to bring him back on the road instead of through the state park, because the road doesn't have much traffic and it was going to be shorter.

I was slightly incorrect about the amount of traffic.  The street doesn't get much traffic on our end, but the end I started on had quite a bit more include ATVs and other loud vehicles.  Stinker was a little nervous, but he was quite steady.  The traffic thinned the closer I got to our end of the street.


Once I turned onto our street I pulled out my phone to check messages, because there is only one other house on the street and I wasn't expecting any traffic.  Plus he was eager to be home so I didn't need to worry about steering.  Except he hit the brakes, spun, and gave a half hearted attempt to bolt.

Thankfully, I have a well installed verbal cue for easy bud so he didn't actually go anywhere.  I was really confused what freaked him out so much until I got him turned back around.  Our neighbor was riding her bike and wearing Christmas light (so she could see and people could see her).  Poor Stinker thought it was the most terrifying thing ever.


I felt bad, because she kept apologizing.  It really wasn't a big deal, because I should have been paying attention.  And it wasn't her fault that my horse spooked.  I don't blame him for spooking, because I am sure it looked terrifying to him instead of amusing.  But now I know to watch out for cyclists wearing Christmas lights in July.

14 comments:

  1. I feel like that would spook basically every horse in the history of ever. I get lights, but Christmas lights seem.... weird. Your neighbors sound like maybe they could give my crazy neighbors a run for their money hahaha. Poor Stinker.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is... highly unusual! It must have looked like a UFO to poor Stinker. I can't really blame him for that one :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I couldn't. All I could do was laugh and tell him I promise it won't eat you.

      Delete
  3. wait is that actually the picture of her?!? uhhhhh, that's a LOT of lights haha. i thought you just meant she had like a strand or two looped around her body or the bike. not the entire thing - spokes and all - basically bedazzled in twinkling lights lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No it isn't her. There were just a couple loops. That picture is from google. I decided to go for humor and not accuracy.

      Delete
  4. Totally legit spook. In fact he deserves a bucket of carrots for not hauling ass to the next county.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He really was quite good. Obviously scared but still listened.

      Delete
  5. Ha, that's a pretty good idea for night biking. Just not so much for crossing paths with a horse... Glad it wasn't too bad of a spook!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a great idea even if Stinker was sure he was going to die 😂

      Delete
  6. Ha! Wow! I just stumbled upon your blog. It's really great. I can't imagine what my horse would do if my neighbor roll up looking like that! Good horse for sure.

    ReplyDelete