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Expresso --lost and found in a Texas Forrest
Date:09/23/2004 10:21:11 AM Central Daylight Time
From:walkingK@aol.com
This is from Cindy, Expresso's Mama! It is a little long but thought some of
you might be interested to learn more of the details. The response to this
has been amazing! Got a call from a man in the 713 area code this morning as I
am responding to different emails etc asking what he could do to help!
I would love to see something come out of all of this. It doesn't matter if
we have different breeds or ride english or western or whatever, it is
obivious we all love our horses and are willing to help the fellow horse lover in
their time of peril.
I contacted the Trailriders Journal List and Montgomery County Horse Council
personally and then local friends. Others did the NATRC Region 4 List plus
others contacted various list, all on the computer via the internet. This is
something that we need to explore and establish so that if anyone, anywhere in
Texas or within our regions can activate on the spur of a moment. So you all
think about this and start organizing!
Marilyn Kinney
_http://walkingk.com_ (http://walkingk.com)
First, let me say that I have not had a chance to check my email or
catch up on the messages on the list. But, I had to share the good
news with all of you first.
As most of you have heard, Expresso was lost at 11:45 am on Sunday
morning and was found about 5 pm on Monday. I have the pleasure of
reporting that he is fine. He came through this whole ordeal with
only a few minor scratches. Amazing, well, more like a miracle!!
We got home just before dark last night and when I turned him out he
took off at a nice trot, went to his favorite roll spot, and rolled
and rolled and rolled. He then got up and trotted off. He appears
perfectly sound and no worse for wear. I never dreamed I would be
able to tell you this. By mid-afternoon yesterday, I was fearing the
worst. We hadn't turned up any signs of him. It was like he had
been plucked off the face of the earth. With each passing minute, I
was losing hope.
By 2 pm yesterday, I literally couldn't ride anymore. So, I had gone
out on the 4-wheeler with Kristi Skarbovig. By then, we had broadened the search, so when we finally got the call that Expresso
had been found we were at the far, far, far South end of the forest.
All we were told was that he had been found. I weekly asked Kristi, "Is he okay?" But Kristi had already hung up and we
were
zooming down the road back to the parking area. Now, I have to tell
you, it wasn't the wind whipping in my face that caused the tears
to be rolling down my face. It was pure relief from 29 hours of sheer
torment and the joy that he HAD been found. Now, I was bracing myself for the worst and telling myself that I can handle this,
you've been through worse, you can deal with this. You see, I could
envision a hurried trip to the vet for stitches. I could imagine him
terribly lame. I thought of all the horrible possibilities in the
few minutes that it took us to get to him. As I got off the 4-wheeler, I could barely choke out the words, "Is he okay?"
YES! Just a few scratches and a whole lot of fly bites. HE WAS FINE!!
He looked absolutely amazing!!
Not only was Expresso fine, the saddle and tack were in nearly perfect shape!! Again, I had imagined a horrible mess – tattered
saddle and tack askew. But, the saddle wasn't even scratched, the
heart rate monitor was still in place. The only thing damaged was
the halter-bridle combo. Fortunately, the bit hangers had ripped off
from the headstall. So, somewhere deep in the forest is a bit, bit
hangers, and reins. Again, how Expresso could come through this so
unharmed is almost beyond belief.
I am trying to process all that has happened since Expresso and I
parted ways on Sunday morning. It's a bit overwhelming, to say the
least.
Due to a mix-up on where we were meeting on Sunday, Expresso and I
ended up riding alone. Now, before you go telling me I should not do
this, you should know that I, of all people, know how things can
suddenly go awry in an instance. You see, Devon and I had a bit of a
riding accident 5 ˝ years ago which resulted in a broken leg for
me. Yes, I can attest to the fact that you CAN get back on your horse if
you break a body part, and then ride back to your trailer if circumstances require that you do that. Anyway, THAT is another
story....
So, after finding out I was in New Waverly and my riding buddies were
in Coldspring, I figured we would just take it nice and slow. Expresso is a go-go kind of horse so he needs a lot of long, slow
training (i.e. walking) before we do much in the way of trotting or
cantering. I also thought he needed to learn to be by himself –just
him and me bonding. Hey, this would work, right? We'd be careful.
So, off we went. He finally settled in and we were having a great
ride. One of the reasons that I like to ride on the New Waverly side
of Sam Houston National Forest is that this side of the forest has
lots of bridges. Expresso had never done bridges – a perfect day to
learn!! Well, I must report that he now does bridges with OR without
a rider. Let's just say he's very comfortable with it. Anyway, this
side of the forest also allows off road vehicles. Hey, another great
opportunity to teach him that dirt bikes don't eat horses. So,
our first encounter with a dirt bike that day was uneventful. I had
enough warning that they were headed our way to move about 30 feet
off the trail. Two dirt bikes went by and we continued on. The next
dirt bike caught us in an area where the forest was so dense that I
couldn't move us off the trail. So, I hopped off, positioned us smack in the middle of the trail and as far away as possible from the
next bend in the trail. So, when the dirt bike rounded the corner,
the guy immediately came to a stop and cut the engine. Mark (who
would later come to my aid, little did I know) let me walk Expresso
up to his bike and Expresso sniffed it and then him. Expresso seemed
to think, "Okay, no big deal." So, we moved on down the trail and
proceeded on. The trail took us up to FM 1375 and my plan was to
reverse and go back the same way we had come.
Well, shortly after heading back, Expresso decided that he had had
enough of walking and that we should go faster. We were having a
discussion about our intended rate of speed. I was insistent that a
walk was suitable and that his head should not be up and all over the
place trying to evade me. It was then that he took a bad stumble, I
mean a BAD STUMBLE, followed by another. I suddenly found us headed
to the ground. There was enough force to pop me right out of the
saddle. After my accident with Devon where I tried to "ride it out"
and hang on to the reins, I told myself I was not going to get hurt
again if I could do anything to avoid it. If I say so myself, I now
do a rather nice tuck and roll (can give lessons if needed). Anyway,
Expresso immediately popped up and pulled the reins from my hands.
You know that sinking feeling you get?? Well, that feeling was in
the pit of my stomach as I watched him round the next corner at a
canter. I hadn't even picked myself up off the ground before he was
out of sight!!
At this point, I remembered why I kept telling myself I should cross
train. Jogging to catch up with Expresso was quite out of the question though since I HADN'T done that and it was incredibly
hot and humid and my water bottles were with Expresso. I was also far
from the trailer. So, I calmly walked and walked. At each bend in
the trail I just KNEW I would find Expresso – well I had hoped I
would anyway. What I DID find was the indication of a horse that was
traveling at a high rate of speed. First one water bottle was found,
but the top had flown off upon impact. On down the trail, the second
bottle was found and was intact so I had some Gatorade to help make
my trek back to the trailer. It took me about 45 minutes to get to
Forest Road 234. At that intersection, I met Mark and his 2 buddies. I asked if they had seen a horse and they said they
hadn't. So, then I asked for a ride to my horse trailer and Mark
zoomed me back there in a flash.
Meanwhile, about 5 minutes after Expresso and I parted ways, Marilyn
Kinney called me on my cell phone. I found out later that she was
calling to cancel our SHFEA meeting and get Judith's phone number
to let her know not to come.... But Marilyn quickly found out that I was
in search of a horse. She was still tacked up and said she was on
her way to help. So, with me back at my trailer and cell phone in
hand, I called everyone I could think of. By the time I got to the
R's (my farrier) I was just about in tears. I now know that most
people (about 9 out of 10 according to my survey) are not home on
Sunday afternoon. I left message after message. Fortunately, one of
the first people I was to get was Doanna. She immediately said she
was on her way. Whew. My brain was not working on all cylinders (I
did not hit my head, I do wear a helmet, I was just rattled) and I
didn't think to tell her to go by my house and pick up Devon.
So, when I DID finally think of it she had to backtrack.... Anyway, so
Doanna arrives with horses in tow and shortly after along comes a
whole bunch of other folks. Marilyn was already out searching. People were now calling me back, trailers were pulling in.
Doanna had the presence of mind to get Kevin to put a message out on the
list and call a few folks. I am now reminded of what good net workers
we all are. That is invaluable when time is of the essence. The
almost 2 hours from when the whole thing started and when Doanna arrived was excruciating for me. I was a mess (emotionally) by the
time she and Prissy arrived. So, we saddled up and went out to find
this rather energetic horse.
We looked and looked. I called as I rode. Nothing. Not a sign. We
couldn't track him after he hit FR 234. So, he could have been anywhere. Over the past 2 days I have gained a great appreciation
for just how vast this forest is. It just goes on and on seemingly
endlessly. It's a wonderful place to ride but tough when you are looking for a horse.
When I got back to the parking area after searching, so many folks
were there. Jonna Johnson had brought food. Amy Martin had brought
drinks. People had left work to come look. Others were arranging
their Mondays so they could come and search, if needed. These folks
really had it together. Good thing too since I was functioning but
that was about it.
After searching and searching Sunday afternoon, we finally had to
call it a day. Driving home that evening I called my neighbor (they
are also horsy people) to tell Bobby I was only bringing Devon
home. He was sick.
Monday morning found me at the Ranger Station early. No one had called to say they had found Expresso. Again, trailers started
arriving at the parking area and everyone was determined to find this
horse. People who didn't know us but had heard of our plight via
the Internet were coming to help look!!
We hit all the logical spots and then started bushwhacking. Devon was
sure patient and must have thought that I had lost my mind. We went
through stuff as tall as Devon and thick as can be. I was again
reminded how important it is to have an obedient horse who will work
with you when they get stuck in vines.... Still no Expresso.
Afternoon comes, we all are trying to be hopeful but I'm getting more
and more concerned. Time is a killer for us.
It's now getting to be late afternoon, I'm now calling in reinforcements. Anyone who had offered to help, no matter how far
away they were, I was welcoming their help. I was beginning to feel
desperate. Tuesday morning was looming ever closer and I was dreading it.... And then we get the call that EXPRESSO HAD BEEN
FOUND!!
Driving home I called my neighbor and left the following message:
"Hi, Bobby, this is Cindy. I'm calling to let you know that I am
bringing home 2 horses in my trailer. And the best part is that Expresso is fine. Talk to you later."
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