Monday, July 13, 2015

Bucket list items - not always as imagined

People talk about having a "bucket list" - things they want to do before they die. I've never really had such a list, but there are three things I've always wanted to try on horseback that I've never done, and one of them is riding on the beach. On our recent vacation to France, we were invited by a colleague of my husband's to go on a beach ride. Everyone in their family rode, and we were both SUPER excited.

This is how I imagined our ride:

Obviously not me, obviously not my picture. But doesn't this look like fun?

Things got off to a bit of a dubious start. The horses were well-kept, but the tack had seen better days. I carefully checked our girths and billets and figured they were sturdy enough for a nice trail ride. I was warned (in French) that my mount could be strong and liked to toss his head. Oh, and he was quite young, was that OK? 

I've ridden enough trail horses to be relatively confident that I could stay on, and generally those horses know their jobs way better than I do. In those sorts of situations I'm pretty content to just be a passenger, and let the horses follow nose-to-tail. I don't need a well-trained dressage horse to enjoy the scenery. 

We climbed aboard and started our ride through the French countryside, which is GORGEOUS. I quickly found that "strong" was a bit of an understatement for my horse - the brakes were almost nonexistent. So I just used the time-honored tradition of using the horse in front of me for braking, which worked well enough. Things were going along nicely until our guide led us down a cliff.

Image stolen from The Man From Snowy River, because I'm pretty sure this is what it looked like.

Now I should point out that we take the boys out trail riding at least once or twice a week. But our trails are nice double track and fairly flat. We also don't gallop up or down rocky hills (who am I kidding - we only *really* gallop when fox hunting). But apparently in France on beach trail rides, they do this all the time.

Gulp.

Eventually we made our way down to the beach. We were warned that the horses would get quite excited once we got on the beach because they knew it was time to gallop. What we didn't understand was that this meant they were quite likely to bolt off down the beach... which is pretty much exactly what happened. My horse jumped down the last section of trail onto the beach, slammed into the guide's horse, then spun while I tried to hold him until we got onto the harder sand. And then he just threw his shoulder sideways and bolted off down the beach at a flat-out gallop. I had little steering and no brakes, so I grabbed mane and held on.

The beach we rode on. The trail you see on the bottom left is the one we took down to the water. Not my picture, because I was too busy holding on to take pictures. Also, I didn't have the camera, which turned out to be a really good thing.

There's a point in a horse's speed where you as the rider simply cease to exist. They are going flat-out and running for the sheer speed of it. I've hit it when foxhunting, but always when asked and always on horses that I'm familiar with, so I knew I could eventually bring them back.  With this horse, I had no such assurances, and it was pretty mind-numbing. Fortunately, he knew to stop at the end of the beach!  

We regrouped after the gallop and began to trot back up the beach, but my horse was having none of me trying to control him. Rather than fight, I kept him in knee-deep surf and just let him trot it out. Note to self: When trotting a 14.2 hh horse in relatively deep surf, wear a swimsuit instead of your nice full-seats!

I figured that when we were trotting to the end of the beach and would then head back home, but as my horse got more and more antsy, I realized that we actually might be in for another gallop. I guided him to slightly shallower surf so I could ask the guide, and was told that yes, we would gallop again. I told our guide that I didn't want to do so, and hubby at this point also said he didn't want to gallop again. Suddenly, my horse (who had been dancing and spinning as we were talking) spun again and bolted back off down the beach.

Then my right rein broke.

I've had this happen once before, with my own tack - the hook stud came out and the rein failed. Fortunately, it was in an arena and we were just trotting, so I had turned the horse into the arena fence. Obviously on a huge beach, I had no such fence, nor was I on a horse that I felt like I could stop or even steer much. 

So I did the only thing I could think of, which was to pull as hard as I could on the remaining rein - which pointed him out into the water. When he was about chest-deep, I kicked both feet out of the stirrups and bailed.

I will say that it was the softest landing I've ever had, lol!

The rest of the group managed to pull up down the beach, and my horse ran to his herd. Unfortunately, he then played a game of keep-away, which resulted in my husband chasing him on foot, one rider being left on the beach holding two horses, and the guide and one other rider spending the next 30 minutes trying to catch my horse. Eventually they managed to find him, we regrouped, and we all made it back to the barn.

So, there you have the story of my bucket-list beach ride. I'm glad we got the chance to do it and am grateful to my hubby's colleagues for setting it all up, even if it certainly didn't turn out quite the way I had imagined! I think the moral of the story is to be careful what you wish for... oh, and make sure the person who has the camera and the car keys stays dry!

PS. Anybody got any tips for getting salt water out of leather?

33 comments:

  1. OMG! What a horrible, horrifying experience. Riding on the beach was a bucket list item for me, too, and when I was in the Dominican, we signed up for a ride. I was furious because we spent maybe 3 min on the beach and the rest of the ride was on the side of the road. But your experience was SO much worse. Glad you're OK!

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    1. Well, discounting the unintentional dismount, the scenery was great... and I DID get to ride on a beach, so I can cross it off my list! :)

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  2. WTF?! I want to ask if this was a sketchy outfit, but I assume salt water is probably as hard on reins as it is currently being to your full seats. (Btw, I would wash with Leather Therapy ASAP.)

    That does not sound fun at all. You should obviously just move back to DC and we'll take Pig and Paddy and Brego (he can carry both husbands at the same time, right?) and we'll go to the beach out here. Pig will lose his brains, and you can all laugh at me. Sounds much better, no?

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    1. Fortunately the F/S are fake leather, so no harm done. My boots were goners though, and my half chaps... well, we'll see how well they clean up!

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  3. um YIKES. that is definitely NOT how i would envision a beautiful and romantic ride through the french country side and across the beach... haha not at all. tho, of course, if you also happened to have 'breezing racehorses' as a bucket list item, at least you could consider it a two-fer? glad you're ok and hope the rest was a little more enjoyable!

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    1. Oooh, good point about breezing a racehorse! That wasn't on my list, but I think I'll cross it off anyway. :D

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  4. Oh dear, I'm glad you survived to blog about it!! Sounds similar to one of my early experiences - George had not been riding long, and we went on holiday to the north west of Ireland. He was given what was probably the only horse they had that was big enough for him (the use of Irish cobs in trekking centres was unheard of 30 years ago) but it was a youngster. Same thing - its toes hit the sand and it was gone, but it threw in a couple of bucks for good measure. And that was George's first experience of riding outside of an arena :-(
    I'm always worried when the speed gets up THERE. I reckon I'm a control freak and I know for sure I'm not in control any more when that happens.

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    1. Yikes, our experiences sound very similar! I hope your husband was OK. At least my landing was super soft, and the water was actually a really nice temperature lol!

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  5. I was snorting water all over my desk at work.

    I'm glad there was no injuries and it sounds like the host of this little gathering/trail ride was not as risk adverse as one would like when placing your life and limbs in their hands. The idea of riding the wild Black Stallion on the beach is not nearly as fun in real life.

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    1. I think it's all about what you're used to - apparently that was a normal ride. I imagine that if I told them we'd take them on a trail ride in Texas, they'd think Western saddles and cows. Imagine the disappointment at walking down flat trails through suburbia, riding in an English saddle!

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  6. Holy crap that's awful... :( I've had the beach dream on my bucket list forever, that sounds like a nightmare!

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    1. It was definitely not what I pictured, lol!

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  7. I'm sorry it went so poorly. Riding on the beach is amazing when it goes well.

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    1. Well, it certainly wasn't as imagined, but it ended well all things considered. Plus, the scenery was gorgeous!

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  8. Yikes! That sounds like it must have been absolutely terrifying at the time.

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    1. It's definitely not something I will forget soon!

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  9. Ok you have to admit that's kind of awesome. I mean, terrifying in a way and I'm glad you had to suffer through the French countryside instead of me, but still kind of awesome.

    Bailing into the ocean. Amazing. Still want my beach ride, though possibly on my horse horse. C would be kick ass at water once he got past losing his mind.

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    1. If you have to bail, I definitely recommend doing so in 4 feet of 70 degree sea water. The only problem is sand in your breeches makes for an uncomfortable ride home.

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  10. I'm not going to lie... I love this story. I find it amazing. I want to hear it told in person bahhahahaha.

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    1. I feel dinner at Kerby Lane coming on...

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  11. OMG, that sounds horrible! ...and these were friends???

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    1. While it definitely isn't what I had imagined, I'm still glad we got to do it. And I really do think a lot of it is what you're used to... we're just not used to riding at that pace on that terrain. Everyone else thought it was perfectly fine!

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  12. I rode Gogo on the beach all the time when we were in CT. The first time we went, she was fine.... until these two giant off-leash dogs came bounding over the cliff-like rocks hovering above us. She turned tail and galloped RIGHT into the ocean. I only managed to get her turned around when she was actually paddling her way out towards Long Island. Lots and lots of conditioning that poor saddle.....

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    1. HAHAHAHA! I can totally picture her doing that. Too funny!

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  13. What is up with these people with crazy horses for trails! I've heard of people having crazy mounts before and it just seems insane. I can't imagine the poor torture a beginner would have gone through on this horse.

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    1. Well, you have to consider that a lot of those horses put up with people who don't ride much - that the riders certainly don't demand obedience. They also know what they are supposed to do and when. I mean, if you always do a canter depart in the same corner of the arena, your horse will eventually anticipate and do one for you. These horses are just the same. And again, it's all about what the rider is used to. We're just not used to galloping flat out, lol!

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  14. Ok, I did have to laugh, partly because that's happened to me, but yes, it does take a good deal of the fun out of it!! Glad you got to choose the water landing though, much preferable to sand, which I've learned can be surprisingly hard. On the rare occasions I go on rides like that, I now be very careful to say "intermediate" rider & if my mother is there, I clamp my hand over her mouth immediately, ROFL, so she can't "kid brag" & then they give me the "oh, this one just came in & doesn't really know the drill yet" horse.

    My favourite was when I was living in Australia & was part of my university's riding club; my 2nd trip, they were assigning horses & our club president piped up, "Hey, the Yank's a good rider!" The owners, two trademark rural Aussie horsemen, replied, "Oh, great, here's Gyppo!" I was handed the reins to a massive dark bay 4 y.o who couldn't have been less than 17.2 & told "just hop on & gallop him up & down the driveway so he can get his bucks out & then he'll be great."

    0.o It did turn out to be fantastic two days of riding, even though Gyppo never did quite acknowledge the concept of brakes, but I'll certainly never forget that introduction!!!

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    1. If we ever do that sort of thing again, we're going to say we are absolute beginners and just do a little trail riding. Because really, I would prefer to walk for 2 hours!

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  15. Uhhhh...... wow...... that sounds terrifying!! I can't believe they do that... do they not have to worry about liability over there?? What if you'd been hurt?? I'm glad you weren't!!! I'll keep this in mind when I try to cross this off my list...

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    1. Yeah, bring your helmet and tell them you've only ridden a few times lol!

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  16. Beach-riding was definitely a bucket list item and I've now done it twice, with one other failed attempt. The failed attempt was really epic: it was our honeymoon on Maui and practically everything that could go wrong did, ending with the entire group being turned around and taken back in the rain to the ranch, where I dismounted and promptly barfed from a stomach bug I'd been incubating all morning. Not good... (was glad I'd at least made it out of the saddle).

    The next attempt was somewhat better: we did at least make it onto the beach in CA. It was a grey, overcast, chilly day (no bathing suits in sparkling blue seas a la Caribbean) and similar to your experience, the second the horses stepped toe on the sand it was game on. VROOOOOM! I was 50% clinging for dear life to the Western saddle (I can't stand all the leather and float in them) and 50% certain my non-riding spouse would be killed. It was NOT fun. Fortunately, Spouse survived and was laughing about his lost hat, and our horses at least had working brakes.

    My last beach ride was wonderful.:) This was last spring in Bermuda and if you ever go, please patronize Spicelands Equestrian Centre. It's a regular H/J barn which was nice to begin with (I had researched beforehand so I knew). I turned to be the only rider for the Sunrise Beach Ride that day so I was catered to in every fashion, up to and including being given their best horse, a darling Pinto WB mare, being allowed to groom and tack her in a Pessoa hunt saddle and having my pick of very nice helmets (I found an Ovation that fit perfectly). The beach was stunning and I was able to wade "Gypsy" into the most gorgeous cove ever (it's on a lot of postcards). The guide was delightful and took epic photos of me without even being asked. And yes, we did briskly canter in the sand dunes WHEN we chose to and Gypsy had excellent brakes! :) I even was fed a delicious breakfast of fruit and pastries (part of the price of the ride). Worth every penny and a cherished memory, for sure. Highly recommended if you visit the island.

    Hope YOUR next beach ride is more like my last one and glad you found a soft landing!

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    1. Wow, I'm impressed that you had the courage to try it again after your first two failed attempts! Alas, I think I'm done with beach rides... once was enough, thanks!

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    2. I was determined and I read a lot of research/read reviews of Spicelands before I signed up. :) It wasn't cheap ($130, I think? More with guide tip and very pricey taxi from cruise ship) so that was extra incentive to try and make SURE I would have a good experience. I even called them and asked if I could use an English saddle and they said ok - normal riders get a Wintec Western saddle. I also asked about helmets and was told a) they had plenty and b) they were required. I was so delighted with the whole thing I left them a glowing review on FB as soon as I was back online.

      Wait 'til you hear the icing on the cake, though: I discovered on the bus back to the cruise ship that I had lost one of my diamond hoop earrings (I know, stupid idiot for wearing them in the first place). I got off the bus straight away at a gas station and called the barn, but of course the earring was nowhere to be found. I figured it came off during the beach part and was THOROUGHLY gone forever. I tried not to be too upset and focus on the great experience but I was pretty bummed out.

      I got back to the US, was home for several days and then I get a FB Message: THEY FOUND THE FREAKING EARRING IN THE BARN. Oh yes they did! In the dirt aisle! AND, the BO packaged it up to the nth degree, paid the ($15) shipping and excise tax and sent that sucker all the back to Missouri. I am still agog at this level of "customer service." You can really see now why I'm so high on the place! :)

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