Im sitting here unwinding from what turned into a pretty intense day...Few days ago I happily agreed to help a great friend on his last bear hunt..more than anything I just wanted to get into the hills!! ..We rode into camp yesterday, hunted one bait last night that has a big bear on it, but he has been nocturnal and decided not to give us a chance..so this morning my friend and I went to take a couple buckets of cookie dough that he uses to bait up to a couple of the other bait sites that have been getting hammered by a couple good bears...about 15 minutes out of camp, shit hit the fan!...for no reason at all, his horse BLEW UP! we were nowhere near the bait or any bear scent area...but that horse came uncorked..and he hit the dirt hard after making it a few rounds...His collarbone was smashed, Ribs broken, and lung bruised (according to the official doctor over 8 hours later). .
At this point we are 8 miles from the trailhead; no cell service at all until the trailhead; and in the heart of western WY mountains...While I hauled ass back to camp to catch that horse and saddle our others; and get the client packed and loaded...he began walking out..I picked him up on the trail little over an hour later, all the while we were in the midst of a nasty set of rain storms...He was in full shock, I fashioned a sling for him, and loaded him up on the gentlest horse he owns...going uphill was doable..but the moment we crested over and began heading down to the trailhead..the pressure from his ribs was killing him and he couldnt even breathe..I got him back off and the client and him took their time down the mountain, while I pulled all the stock to the trailhead and got them unloaded/unsaddled and I drove as far up the road I could with another pickup to make his walk as short as it could be....So, 8 hours after the accident, I pulled into the ER!
He is one tough SOB! and im just thankful for my experience in First Aid/Cpr classes every year over the past 10, and that he was able to stay awake and make it out...I dont know exactly what im going for in this post aside from my rambling..BUT between him and I, there is over 50 years of horse packing/riding experience; You just never know when a great day can turn into a life threatening one in a moment notice..He had rode that same horse the entire day before without even a sidestep off the trail. Horses are/and will always be, there own animal. Just because you think you are experienced, always be prepared for whatever could happen. If I had not been there, it could have been a much worse situation, so Im just thankful I took the opportunity to go have a good time in the mountains, and in turn was able to make sure my friend made it out under terrible circumstances. This is not my first time having a severe accident revolving around horses, but it was the furthest from civilization ive been for something this significant, Just gotta remember to stay calm and do what you know how to do hopefully, because at that point, its all you can do.
At this point we are 8 miles from the trailhead; no cell service at all until the trailhead; and in the heart of western WY mountains...While I hauled ass back to camp to catch that horse and saddle our others; and get the client packed and loaded...he began walking out..I picked him up on the trail little over an hour later, all the while we were in the midst of a nasty set of rain storms...He was in full shock, I fashioned a sling for him, and loaded him up on the gentlest horse he owns...going uphill was doable..but the moment we crested over and began heading down to the trailhead..the pressure from his ribs was killing him and he couldnt even breathe..I got him back off and the client and him took their time down the mountain, while I pulled all the stock to the trailhead and got them unloaded/unsaddled and I drove as far up the road I could with another pickup to make his walk as short as it could be....So, 8 hours after the accident, I pulled into the ER!
He is one tough SOB! and im just thankful for my experience in First Aid/Cpr classes every year over the past 10, and that he was able to stay awake and make it out...I dont know exactly what im going for in this post aside from my rambling..BUT between him and I, there is over 50 years of horse packing/riding experience; You just never know when a great day can turn into a life threatening one in a moment notice..He had rode that same horse the entire day before without even a sidestep off the trail. Horses are/and will always be, there own animal. Just because you think you are experienced, always be prepared for whatever could happen. If I had not been there, it could have been a much worse situation, so Im just thankful I took the opportunity to go have a good time in the mountains, and in turn was able to make sure my friend made it out under terrible circumstances. This is not my first time having a severe accident revolving around horses, but it was the furthest from civilization ive been for something this significant, Just gotta remember to stay calm and do what you know how to do hopefully, because at that point, its all you can do.
