2 Kids and a Pony

Let me first say that no children or animals were injured during this experience.

22 years ago, when I first met my husband, I gave him a certificate after he helped me win a team cattle sorting competition by lending me his horse to ride.  On the certificate, it declare him to be “SUPER COWBOY”.  He has always worn that big “S” well.  This last weekend I got the big “S”. 

We attended a draft horse, mule and horse sale in Tulare, California.   We arrived Thursday to have time to get our horses settled into this new environment. None of our horses had ever “gone to town” or been exposed to horse-drawn wagons and carts.  All our horses had their pens bedded with shavings, water and feed  to make them comfortable  for the next three days.

I served as labor force, groom, and general ”go-fer”, carrying bridles, ropes and spurs.  But I kept my eye on the steady stream of animals being ridden and driven by our pens and in the various arenas.  When I say “driven” it means pulling carts, wagons, and buggies.  There were Clydesdales, like the Budweiser horses, saddle horses like ours, miniature horses and ponies, and mules of every size, being ridden or pulling wagons. There was a good sized palomino that an Amish girl was riding Roman style (standing on his back holding the reins). We all hooped and hollered for her as she went past. She looked over her shoulder with a sheepish little grin.  Everywhere I went a tiny black and white pony, harnessed to a little two wheel cart, was being driven by an Amish girl from South Dakota.  That pony was really getting around.  Sometimes there was a young blonde boy, about 5, with the biggest black hat, riding with her.  I would also see that little girl riding that pony bareback just as calm as could be (the pony and the girl).

After 2 days of watching this little pony, I took a picture and sent it to my daughter.  I knew her husband loves black and white paint horses and my grandson could definitely get a kick out of this cute pony. She was really interested and wanted to know if she had  time to get there.  People were getting ready for the sale but it was still early enough. 

I had some time so I followed the pony and cart over to the big arena to get a video.  There wasn’t anyone around since that arena is set apart from the sales area.  I stood next to the arena fence to get lined up for my shot.  The little girl was looking away from where she was heading and that cart hit the pipe of the arena.  The clang of that pipe cause that pony to stampede sideways.  He made a hard left and turned that cart over sending those two kids flying. Now without those kids in that cart that pony could really move.  The girl jumped up and started chasing the pony.  I had somehow jumped that 6 foot fence and was heading for the kids.  When kids are involved you can do the “super mom” thing without even knowing. By then the little boy was up and chasing his sister, so they were okay.  But this was not going well.  The cart was dragging sideways behind the pony and the kids were chasing him.  He just sped up.  I saw what was going to happen.  Both gates were open. I ran across the arena to cut him off and even with my short legs managed to get to him first.  I grabbed those reins in the middle of his back and dug in my heels.  He was really strong for a little guy.  Fear makes them stronger too.  I got him stopped just long enough for the girl to catch up. She grabbed his head.  While I held onto the reins I righted the cart to stop the shafts of the cart (side rails) from digging in to the poor little guy. 

The girl sent her brother to go get their dad.  This pony was not getting much calmer and it was everything we could do to hold on to him.  We moved him headed into the fence and I ran over and shut the gates in case he pie-eyed again.  

My husband told me that the little boy got to his dad and was talking so fast that he couldn't understand what was going on, but luckily his dad did.  Dad came over to the arena, as calm as can be, got in the cart, made both kids get in with him, and drove the pony around in that arena for quite a while.  There was nothing else for me to do but go back over to the barns.  

I got on the phone and text my daughter and said, “never mind”.