In which the author goes for a ride on the wild side...

2038-01-19T03:14:07Z

OK, so the weekend before last I accepted a co-workers invitation to go out and see her horses. She and her boyfriend keep drafts and do combined driving with them; apparently I would be able to “go for a drive”. In my head, my experience looked something like this:

(I would be the one on the left. My co-worker would be the unseen driver).
Worst case scenario, I would be this guy:

(I would be one of the guys at the back. My co-worker would still be the unseen driver).

Obviously, that’s not how things worked out. I mean, I probably should have guessed that things wouldn’t be going according to my fantasy plans when my co-worker asked if I had:
a) a helmet
b) sturdy boots
c) personal liability insurance (!!!).

I DID have all three of those things, and I did go anyway. And, I ended up being neither of the people featured above. Instead I was this guy:

The one hanging off the back of the cart. The one hanging off the back of the cart wearing all the protective equipment. The ballast hanging off the back of the cart wearing all the protective equipment.

I spent 3.5 hours hanging off the back of a cart whilst galloping through wooded trails while my co-worker laughed uproariously. The only thing that inspired me to maintain my death grip on the back of that cart was the fact that her boyfriend with his enormous draft mare was galloping BEHIND us.

When we finished, I had bruises everywhere (thank GOD for the suspension on the cart or I probably would have shaken all my teeth out)—apparently my form whilst clinging on by my fingertips was poor. I also have a renewed respect for how crazy horse people are.

Kate's Blog! Woot!

In which the author goes for a ride on the wild side...