I’ve been gimping around as of late.  Little grouchy pains egging on bigger pains and finally made the move to head out the door to the desert late this evening with my doggie-o.  She was crazy to go, jumping around, panting, pacing as she waited for me to get ready.

As soon as we hit the street we saw our young friend Nicole that lives about five houses down, walking behind the horse she normally rides, with one of her g-friends in the saddle on the horse.  Just the way the horse moved and the way the girl looked, I could tell she was nervous and this might be her first ride.

I put the leash on Scout so she wouldn’t make any doggie-o moves and start barking at the girls or the horse.  Nicole and I said “HI!” and Scout and I were out in front of them by about 100 yards. Scout stopped to do some dog business and I turned to see Nicole up in the saddle with her friend on behind.  We crossed Murphy a moment later and hit the desert and they peeled off to an empty lot right at the end of our street that is bordered by Murphy.

We weren’t out long, headed out behind the mesquites and cut back around to Murphy and as we got closer to the empty lot, I watched the girl try to ride the horse alone.  OUCH!  The horse took off, the girl was bouncing in the saddle and then went BOOM.  She hit the ground and did a bounce/roll kind of thing.  The horse headed for home.

Nicole was running for the girl who was laying in a heap and I slapped the leash back on Scout and did my version of trying to wog (jog/walk) without killing myself to get to them. They both had cell phones even though I offered mine when I reached them.  The girl was on her knees, head down on the ground by this time.  I could see where her shirt had slip up that her upper hip and waist already had a bruise starting and she didn’t move but she wasn’t in a heap any longer so there was some progress.

We talked for a minute.  We knew the horse was going home and since Nicole’s mom knows when she’s out and riding, they would be alerted immediately. I offered a ride, to make a call, anything to help and Nicole had an incoming call within a few seconds.

The girl managed to sit — groaning — nothing appeared to be broken and then she looked at her hand.  At least one finger was way weird, sticking out strangely and turning purple.  She was sure it was broken…me too.  UGH!

Scout and I headed out and her dad/brother/mom’s boyfriend, or someone was already pulling into the lot in a pickup.

I got home without dying from trying to wog, vowing that I would start doing more to improve the shape I’m in. YIPPEE!

I managed to get bounced off a horse a few times in my younger days.  Lucky I didn’t break something in one of those falls.  I was stiff and sore and creaky for about four days afterwards…yah…it was much younger.  Today it would flat out kill my ass.

I know this gal is young and will recoup fairly fast but I still feel for her.  I knew as soon as the horse took off she wasn’t going to control it or slow it down so it was one of those “just waiting for the fall” kind of moments.

*****

How about the Poker Hall of Fame? I figure Daniel Negreanu is a shoe in for one of the spots – or the only one if they vote one player in.  Can’t help but wonder if the qualifications will be revamped at some point and they will start bringing in more than two at a time each year.  Can hardly wait until Daniel Colman is nominated…Mr. Good for Poker himself.  I can hear his speech now:  “Yes, I broke records for winning the most money in one year playing poker — and I am a zillionaire because of it — but it’s a seedy, dark hole that trapped me.  I just can’t walk away because all the donkeys out there keep lining up and building the game so I can win millions more,” as a sadistic twisted smile plays across his face.

Hey…I’m out.  I didn’t fall off of a horse but I almost feel like it.  G’nite all.