Pony Soldier
WKR
The worst wreck I got into was early in the elk season with my favorite horse. It had rained for a week before I got there, and then it froze. I was taking an old USFS trail from the bottom. Everything in the trees was fine but I stepped out into the open I could tell by the sound that the ground was frozen. The horse took about three steps and suddenly his feet went out from under him and we fell. I stayed on him in fear that if I jumped off it would tip him over the edge. He tried to get up and fell again and rolled over on top of me. He went over the edge after crushing my ribs and went down the hill like a rocket. I finally got up after a minute when I could breath again.
My cork boots allowed me to go down the hill after my horse without falling. The shock kept the pain at bay while I went down. My horse was under a pile of downfall and I had to cut him out with a hand saw. I got his head up hill and got him up.
My brand new rifle had a 45 degree bend in the barrel and the stock was kindling. I led him down the hill a half mile to the trailer and by chance an outfitter stopped and helped me pull the saddle and load the horse.
I drove back to my house and dropped the gun off with my gunsmith. Then I headed home to my ranch and help. The road was so rough going through Missoula, I had to stop to let the pain subside.
I had to fill up in Deerlodge and it took me 20 minutes to get out of the truck, fill up and go back to driving.
I made it to the ranch, did first aid on my horse, and stumbled into the house. My wife didn't get home till four hours later and take me into the hospital.
I hunted the rest of the season - painfully but didn't get to sleep in a bed for three months and was scared to sneeze for 6 months.
My cork boots allowed me to go down the hill after my horse without falling. The shock kept the pain at bay while I went down. My horse was under a pile of downfall and I had to cut him out with a hand saw. I got his head up hill and got him up.
My brand new rifle had a 45 degree bend in the barrel and the stock was kindling. I led him down the hill a half mile to the trailer and by chance an outfitter stopped and helped me pull the saddle and load the horse.
I drove back to my house and dropped the gun off with my gunsmith. Then I headed home to my ranch and help. The road was so rough going through Missoula, I had to stop to let the pain subside.
I had to fill up in Deerlodge and it took me 20 minutes to get out of the truck, fill up and go back to driving.
I made it to the ranch, did first aid on my horse, and stumbled into the house. My wife didn't get home till four hours later and take me into the hospital.
I hunted the rest of the season - painfully but didn't get to sleep in a bed for three months and was scared to sneeze for 6 months.
