Saturday, March 5, 2011

Riding with Ridge

I was feeling much better and we had sent our helper home again. The fall apples were ripening and I wanted to can a lot of apple pie filling. There were still way more apples than we needed for ourselves. We offered my parents that they could have how ever many they wanted. Mom suggested that we could spend a day together making pie filling.

I looked forward to spending a day visiting and working with Mom once again. LV hitched our horse, Ridge to the buggy for me and lifted a lot of five gallon pails and bushel boxes of apples in. Lifted the reins I clucked to Ridge and we headed down the driveway.

Once we got out on the road I tried urging him to run but he seemed to think the idea was a joke and walked slowly up the road. I was frustrated that I couldn't get him to listen to me but apparently he thought I was to small to be much of a threat and he could go what ever speed he wanted to.

Once I got to my parents Daddy came to take care of Ridge and unload the apples. I went to the house and we spent all day peeling and cooking apples. By the time came for me to go home I had two five gallon pails full of pie filling. Daddy lifted them into the buggy for me and handed me the reins. Waving good-bye to everyone I told Ridge to go, expecting to have another leisurely ride home.

He started up the road in a brisk trot. I had the storm front and the doors open enjoying the beautiful crisp fall air. Turning down our road Ridge seemed to know he was nearing home and picked up speed. I tried slowing him down to no avail. We kept going faster and faster, my bonnet flap snapped and blew in the wind that was stinging my eyes.

As we neared our driveway I pulled back on the reins as hard as I could trying to get him slowed down.  He turned up our driveway. the buggy tipped over on two wheels and then plopped back down on all four, swaying crazily. Ridge slowed down to a walk up our long winding driveway.  My heart still pounding wildly as I sat limply.

LV came to meet me glad to see that I was still okay after having heard us coming down the road he had been sure we would crash. That was the last time I drove Ridge by myself. He had one master, LV, and would listen only to him.

16 comments:

  1. Whoa! What a fright that must have been! Just happy you lived to tell the story. :) I once had a slightly similar experience in an SUV, and lived to tell, also. Frightening indeed! Have a great weekend!

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  2. My oh my! I would love to know how to drive a horse, but wow! What story!

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  3. One reason I've never been a "horsey" sort of person. No matter how skilled the driver/rider, horses are not machines and have minds and wills of their own!

    hope you didn't spill too much pie filling.

    - Sally

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  4. Another terrific saga. I have never had a horse like that, but I have had children and friends, and people in the pew with "minds of their own" who gave me a real thrill-ride from time to time. :)

    Thank you for another enjoyable read. God bless you - Marsha

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  5. Wow! What a ride! I do hope you didn't spill too much of that pie filling. After spending all day making working, it would have been tragic to have lost it all to that bossy old horse.

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  6. It's only funny because you were ok, but I laughed so hard over this! I've had very similar experiences with horses who do what they want regardless. Wonderful story!

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  7. I would imagine that was a pretty scary ride! I don't know anything about horses.....

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  8. My goodeness, you had me holding my breath! What a terrifying ride. I wouldn't have taken that horse out again either! How nice to get all the pie filling made. My girl's make it too and can it. I made some one year and did half with cinnamon and white sugar and the other half with brown sugar. It tasted like a caramel apple pie. Yummy!

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  9. That must have been a really scary ride for you! I would have been reluctant to take him back out by myself again too!

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  10. I love reading about your life. i hope none of the pie filling was spilled.

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  11. Well... I've finally caught up to the present. My mom sent me to your blog about two weeks ago, and I've been reading your story from the very beginning ever since then. I must say that I am hooked, and a little sad that I can no longer read a month's worth of entries at a time anymore. Thanks for sharing so many wonderful stories! I'm gonna go now and add you to my Google Reader and become one of your followers. God bless!

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  12. Just stopping by to say hello thanks for the nice comment on my blog, I hope you have a happy Sunday :o)

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  13. Your blog is wonderful. Thankyou for sharing it.

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  14. All I kept thinking is I hope the baby's OK!! Glad you were safe and sound ~

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  15. I was worried about you and the baby and then when the buggy tipped right side up, I worried about the pie filling!

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  16. That ride home sounds terrifying! I love horses, but they scare me a bit. Thank God you did not get hurt. Blessings, Joanne

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.