Okay, here is my sharing about “horse thunder snow”:
Man, you won’t believe the day I had. It all started innocently enough. I’ve been meaning to get back into horseback riding, something I haven’t done since I was a kid. So, I booked a session at a local stable. The weather was a bit iffy, but hey, what’s a little adventure without some unpredictability, right?
First off, I made sure to gear up properly. I’m no expert, but I remembered the basics from my childhood lessons. Long pants, boots with a bit of a heel, and of course, a helmet. Safety first, always. The stable provided a gentle giant named Snowflake. He was a beauty, all white with a calm demeanor. I felt pretty confident, even though it had been years.
- Getting on Snowflake was a bit of a challenge. I definitely don’t have the grace of a seasoned rider, but I managed. We started with a few warm-up laps around the indoor arena. It was all good, Snowflake was responsive, and I was starting to feel the rhythm again.
- Then, the instructor suggested we head out to the trails. The sky had gotten a bit darker, but I figured it was just a bit of overcast. No big deal, right? Wrong. We were about 15 minutes into the trail ride when the first rumble of thunder hit. Snowflake got a little jumpy, and I had to work to keep him calm.
- Things escalated quickly. The wind picked up, and then, out of nowhere, it started to snow. I mean, big, fluffy flakes coming down hard. It was surreal, thunder rumbling, snow falling, and me on a horse that was getting increasingly nervous.
- We turned back immediately, but it felt like an eternity getting back to the stable. Snowflake was spooked, and I was doing my best to stay calm and guide him. I kept talking to him, trying to soothe him, and honestly, maybe trying to soothe myself a little, too.
We finally made it back, safe and sound, but let me tell you, it was quite the experience. I learned a valuable lesson that day: always, always check the weather forecast, and if there’s even a hint of a storm, postpone the ride. Also, never underestimate how quickly conditions can change, especially when you’re dealing with animals. I still love horses, but I’ll be a bit more cautious next time. That was too much “excitement” for one day!
