alternative mode of transportation ;-)

[KatherinePlumer]

This doesn't work too well if you're in a hurry, but it doesn't use any gasoline! Some friends and I rode into Elk Grove and went through the Starbucks drive-thru on Sunday! Definitely garners some interesting looks in a town that still thinks of itself as a cow town but honestly wouldn't know a cow if one walked up and kicked it in the butt. People really gawk at horses. It was fun! Thought you all might enjoy this. I am of course in the gray helmet on the little black horse (her name is Shylah).





Happy trails!



-Katherine

[Roger Bleile]

I like that little horse! Looks like it would be just about right for my size. Do they have some kind of helment law in California or are just safety conscious?

Roger

[KatherinePlumer]

Thanks Roger! She's a good horse, purebred Canadian Horse (also spelled Canadien, either way acceptable). They share some ancestry with Morgans. She's only about 14.2 but very stocky, and just a super cool horse who is so easy to work with.

There's no helmet law here, I've just gotten to be old and wise enough that I figure as inherently unattractive as helmets are it would be far worse to get my brains splattered on the road somewhere if an accident happened, and I've had a close call on a friend's horse, one of those "gee if I wasn't wearing a helmet I'd be really in bad shape right now" situations. It's increasingly common that people wear them out and about on trail rides. I still get some funny looks for it, but hey, that's their problem! There were seven riders on this ride, 4 in helmets and 3 without.

-Katherine

[PS_Bond]

'Ware the red ribbon! Never gone to a drive-through on horseback, but I've taken a ride down to the pub & back a few times... A friend of mine only uses her horses to go to her local, never drives there (but she's in the New Forest, which makes things a wee bit easier).

I never ride without a helmet on, seems a reasonable safety precaution (although when I've been dumped, it's never been on my head). I only wear my back protector when I'm jumping, again, feels like common sense. Events & establishments will insist on the appropriate safety gear, but outside of that it's a case of whatever you deem right.

[SVD]

Not really being a horse person I've always wondered - how do they manage to tie on that red warning ribbon without getting kicked?

[PS_Bond]

Glue their feet down first :D

[KatherinePlumer]

Lol, the red ribbon.. it means a horse kicks at other horses. Not people! (well, some might, but not mine!). This one grew up around my Evil Mare Gwen and unfortunately learned Gwen's manners toward other horses. So no worries about humans, it just tells the other riders to mind their distance (something that everyone should do to all horses anyway, in almost every group ride I go on it's one of the non-ribbon horses that kicks someone!)

-Katherine

[SVD]

Ah - I just knew it was 'this one kicks' warning but didn't realize it wasn't (necessarily) for people.

I guess if you see a horse with red spray paint on their tail you know it's not horses it likes to kick.

[PS_Bond]

I just thought of another use for a paintball marker...
Like firearms & recoil, if you keep in close you'll usually be better off. That, and you'll see the precursor to a kick far faster!

[metalman]

I can think of people who should wear a red ribbon.

[tonytigerhk45]

I thought she was just dressed to the "nine's" with the ribbon, because she was getting to go to town. Thought it was something fancy. Learn something new everyday.

[KatherinePlumer]

Well that's what I tell her, makes her extra pretty. :p We're going again tomorrow!

[Peter]

Cool pictures. Not being a horse person either, that is interesting about the red ribbon. I could see where horses could be really cool in the right environment. I know of many horses around where I live that are owned and boarded, and from what I can tell.....rarely ridden?? I just don't understand that.

Motorcyles work best for me.

Peter

[Gail]

This was my favorite alternative means of transportation for many years. A Morgan stallion of some distinction. He had a 'hambone' personality and would even fetch your hat if it was tossed where he could retrieve it. He was 21 when this pic was taken.
gailm