Now my Dad thrived on competition, showing, winning, and being in the spotlight ... its what put food on our table as I grew up. Me ... I hate attention and am basically a quiet person in the background. Dad wanted me to carry the flag at the horse show one year and it was something I dreaded. Don't get me wrong, I love my country and all the flag stands for as I swore an oath to protect the US Constitution and honor the American flag when I served honorably for 6 years in the US Air Force. An oath that in my opinion never expires. But at that age (about 14) I didn't want to ride a horse carrying the flag in my hometown with all my friends watching.
About a week or two before the show, Dad had me out in the ring at the barn practicing on the horse. He was a 3 year old, a little skittish, but I'd been riding my whole life whether I wanted to or not, so piece of cake. As soon as I put that flag in the holder of the stirrup and unfurled the flag, the wind came up pretty strong and scared the heck out of the horse. He took off with me still in the saddle galloping as fast as he could around the ring. No problem ... until I felt the saddle slipping as the girth wasn't quite tight enough around his midsection. As I vainly tried to slow the horse down, the saddle slipped and off I came, hitting my back on the fence of the ring. Knocked the breath out of me and nursed some sore ribs and shoulders for weeks afterward.
Well, I didn't have to ride the horse carrying the flag at the horse show but I paid a small price for it.
Message Thread | This response ↓
« Back to index | View thread »