Our Last Ride

I have several pictures and lots of memories of various rides with Shadow. However, I took my first ride alone with her on a warm December day in 2006. It was a Saturday that Danny had things he needed to do that didn’t require my help. The sky was an intense blue and I was itching to ride. Danny and I felt it was time that I take Shadow out alone, since she and I seemed to do okay together. I liked the idea, because I hated having to rely on others joining me to ride. Shadow seemed content with the idea as well, and the two of us went off on our first, and last, ride together.

She was a bit stubborn at times, but no more than I was. We rode the trails around our and the Fowler property. I talked her ears off during the entire ride. We talked about trusting each other and the future we had ahead of us. I told her how I couldn’t believe that I finally had a horse and was riding her so frequently. She was everything I’d ever dreamt of having and I loved her dearly. I loved stroking her mane and kissing her nose in the evening when I fed. She was full of life and spirit, and she was a sparkle in my eye.

I am probably to blame for getting her excited, but we began running toward the end of our trip on that last ride. We were going to go, I thought, down by the river below the cabin. When Shadow recognized the power lines that passed through her pasture, she had different plans. Shadow had this habit of raring up and doing a half-circle spin to direct you the way she wanted to go. After three times of that, I’d had enough. Plus, she’s a lot stronger than I am, and I didn’t think I could overpower her. I’ve never claimed to be a tough cowgirl, I just love horses. I dismounted just before I punched her in her nose and walked her to the cabin, tying her up while we discussed a few things. I immensely apologized several times for the punch, and I believe she forgave me quickly. After speaking with Danny on my cell phone, Worth rode his little Filly, Alice, over to the cabin to ride with me home. Shadow showed off on the steep upward trail home…pushing and driving up the hill with no problem, while Alice stumbled behind. I was amazed at the strength and stamina of this horse, bragging on her the next day to Danny. Worth eventually made it to the top and decided to take one of the steeper trails home. Alice began trotting down the path, gradually increasing speed. Shadow took off after. Remember, she was not fond of going down steep hills, and showed her disgust by bucking down the hill. I’m not so sure how I held on; I thought most of the way down that I was going to get tossed, preparing myself for the fall. My feet came out of the stirrups near the beginning, never to return. Shadow, bucking and jumping down the trail, sped after Alice, who kept gaining speed. I kept yelling to Shadow to slow down, but she was frenzied and paid no attention to me. During my fretting and preparation to break my fall, I saw Worth fly through the air with his head landing next to a boulder. I commented that his amazing guardian angel had spared him yet again. When we arrived next to Worth, I came to my senses and realized that I had lost my left contact, my right
glove, and my cell phone clip had been broken, while in the front upper pocket of my jacket. What a ride it was…one I will never forget.