be careful

A casual ride this weekend turned into a drama (spoiler: me and Major are fine). Be prepared. Know your horse and friends. Do the right thing. 

Major and I were just coming back from a nice quick ride with E and Tux. We stepped off the upper trail for some other riders to pass and heard a call. It sounded like a goose or loon, a yelling sound. Till it said "help me!" 

A tiny spot moved it's arm down by the lake. I worried someone maybe was mired there in the mud, so Major and I charged down to the shore. I got off about 50 feet from a fallen woman, and dragged Major behind me over to her. She was lucid, and said her horse had run off after she fell. 

She didn't want to move. I didn't want her to! I called the local park service dispatch, which can be faster than 911 as they might know your location. They didn't. (Know where you are, can you tell them GPS coordinates?) I had to explain multiple times how to find us. This is in rural area along a lakeshore, about a mile from the last parking lot. I knew it might be awhile. Meanwhile I'd handed my horse off to someone, and then we waited. (Will your horse stand nicely with a stranger, with strange horses?)

After emergency was called I talked with her, got her name, husband's name and phone number. I called her husband without much info, and waited. Others were standing about, but can't be much help. I sent Major home with E and Tux. Hoping he would pony (Will your horse pony home? It sounds like Major did ok, but not great.)

We waited and I just talked with her, and tried to shade her from the sun. The lake bed is rock hard and dry, but at least she hasn't fallen on rocks. About an hour after my first call the first park ranger and lifeguards arrived. They couldn't do too much until full EMS arrived, so we all waited. The fallen rider was scared, she could feel her feet but moving anything was super painful. We all just kept talking, hoping help would arrive soon. 

Not too much later, EMS arrived. They had to hike or precariously 4 wheel drive in. They put the fallen rider on a backboard, and put her in the shade of the truck. And we waited more. She didn't want me to leave, so I just stayed and held her hand. 

Meanwhile I called my SO, had him meet E at the ranch to deal with Major, put him away, etc. E could do it too, but it's always easier with help. 

EMS was trying to decide on helicopter or boat to move the rider, too bumpy and treacherous to take her out in the back of a 4x4. The rider was worried about the helicopter flight cost (anyone in California: get CalStar insurance. $45 a year for life flight, a great deal) and it turned out the boat was faster. They put her on the boat about two hours after the first call, to an awaiting ambulance. 

Then I got a ride out with the EMS captain. And my SO picked me up near the gate to the park. The EMS folks also said they'd drive me back to the ranch, which is nice. 

I did go back and check on Major. He seemed a bit confused, we hadn't really finished our ride! Another time, today was a day to help someone else. 

P.S. I did hear from the rider! She is severely bruised and hurting, but nothing broken. She is super grateful, but I think and hope that all of us would do the right thing if presented with the circumstances. It could be any of us: a wrong step, some naughty horse behavior, or just a bad day. Be careful out there.