July 3rd --
There were storm clouds in the distance, but we figured we could get a good ride in before the fireworks and fun that night. Besides, those storms usually hung over the mountain range to the west and would probably go around us in the valley. The dogs hadn't been out for awhile so we decided to let them go with us this time. We picked a route that we hadn't been on for awhile. We didn't have time to trailer anywhere before dark, but we could still explore a bit. We headed for the frontage road and went under the interstate through a tunnel and over the hill on the other side. This was an unusual ride for us. We usually stuck to the mountains to the east of the house. This time we took to the the road for a hour or so until we noticed some lightning in those storm clouds in the distance. At that point we thought we should head back just in case those clouds drifted our way. We were both surprised to realize that both labs were struggling to keep up at this point. This was odd because they usually had no problems keeping up and this had been a short ride so far. I was a little concerned, but confident we would make it back without any problems. It was about this time that the wind picked up and the lightning got closer and closer. Amazingly it seemed to be circling around us, but nothing just overhead. We still had fairly clear sky directly above. Baylee and I picked up the pace and started to worry a bit because the dogs were really struggling by this time. We called to them encouragingly, but kept up the steady pace for home. We left the road and headed over the hills in a direct line for home. Just as we reached the interstate and the tunnel that led to the frontage road we looked back to see my black lab collapse. We called and called. I watched him struggle to his feet and drop like he'd been shot. He didn't get up again. Lightning was still all around us. We were getting worried at this point, but we still didn't feel like we needed to get off or seek shelter. (Not that there was any shelter). I told Baylee we should go back for Coal. If the lightning came closer we may need to leave him until we could come back and find him. It was a heart wrenching thought having to leave my dog out there. We had to search for him because he went down in the tall grass. We knew the area, but not the exact spot. Baylee found him first. It was a good thing because our situation was starting to get desperate. The weather was getting worse. Tucker, the yellow lab, couldn't keep up any more and it was starting to get dark. I picked Coal up and put him on my young green broke horse. (No easy job--he's pretty heavy.) Baylee held my horse while I got on and held Coal across my lap. We turned and started for home. It was slow going with a slightly overweight injured lab on my already nervous horse. The horses knew what was coming. When I think about it now, they did remarkably well. First the rain hit. It hit hard. We were soaked to the bone in seconds. We watched as cars pulled over on the interstate because of the torrent. We walked the horses at a steady pace hoping to get to the tunnel as quickly as possible for a bit of shelter from the storm. Suddenly the horses started snorting and prancing. Harley was backing into my horse refusing to go on. My horse was dancing and Coals weight was shifting on my lap. That is when the hail hit us!! It wasn't a little hail. It ended up covering the ground like snow, inches deep. We could see more cars pull off the road and stop. I didn't look at faces in the windows because I couldn't see them. I can only imagine how shocked they must have looked seeing us in the rain and hail. I yelled to Baylee to jump off her horse and push Coal back up so I didn't drop him. In the dancing around he was slowly slipping off the saddle. If I dropped him it would certainly injure him greatly. But, I couldn't keep Hannah in check and hold him any more. Baylee never hesitated. While Harley continued to back and prance, little Bales jumped clear and the little gal that hardly weighed more than the dog on my lap gave him a shove that put him back squarely on the saddle and my lap. I told her to lead her horse towards the tunnel. I watched the little gal that was afraid to trot her horse a couple of years ago calmly lead her horse through the hail, rain and wind towards home. She couldn't have been more soaked if she had jumped in the lake. She was calm and quiet and her horse settled down and followed her lead. Mine did the same. By the time we reached the tunnel the rain and hail abruptly stopped. Did you expect any less?! We calmed our nerves a bit as we stood dripping and waiting for Tucker to catch up. Trooper, the Beagle, had his tail between his legs and was looking at us pleadingly to continue on home. Coal moaned slightly, but never struggled or tried to get down. Once Tucker caught up we headed through the tunnel and started on the road towards home. By then the weather had passed and we rode along laughing a bit about how wet we were. We chuckled about what people in passing cars would think of the two goofy girls with a dog on the saddle. Once we got home we fed the horses and made the dogs comfortable. Coal was able to walk up the stairs to his couch and the rest of my tension went away. We changed to swimsuits and sat in the hot tub until feeling came back into our hands and feet.
Coal and Tucker are both doing well, but I think I will be very cautious about taking them on rides longer than an hour or so for awhile. I couldn't be prouder of my little mare. She put up with a lot for a green broke horse. But the biggest credit goes to the little gal that kept her cool and never once complained. What a pleasure to ride with a kid that has such a good head on her shoulders and a willing and able heart!! I have to admit I was near to tears with pride thinking about the image of that tiny girl leading the way through the hail. She has certainly come a long way from the 5 year old that started riding with me 7 years ago. I no longer saddle her horse or coax her into taking her hands off the saddle horn. She has grown up and become quite the horse woman!
