Posted 2012-05-28 1:30 PM (#144256) Subject: hitching post accident~warning
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326
Location: central IL
I've camped for over 40 years and tied to many a hitching rail. I'm only posting this so that other riders can avoid what happened to our group while riding down in TN.
We had ridden all day and were trying to avoid riding the highway back to camp. We tied our horses to 3 different hitching rails at a convenience/camping area to ask for directions and get a soft drink. What spooked the horses is anyone's guess, but off they bolted still tied to the huge rails which were actually logs. Miracles do happen as had anyone been in the open area, they'd surely have been seriously injured and most likely killed. Luckily, the horses stopped just short of the busy highway. My horse is seriously injured, but we are thankful that no humans were.
I'm without a riding horse, but when I resume I will thoroughly inspect the hitching rails before ever tying up again. Please take note, and I pray that none of you riders will ever experience what our group just did.
The "after" pic was taken from where the horses stood. The 2 horses only took out the top rail while you see nothing standing to the right where our 3 horses were tied. The 6th horse didn't take off at all, and I'd say he is worth 10 x his real value.
Posted 2012-05-28 1:41 PM (#144257 - in reply to #144256) Subject: RE: hitching post accident~warning
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326
Location: central IL
p.s. Only sharing this with you for your own sake and not for sympathy. Two of the riders sat just feet away to watch over the horses, but it was just a crazy accident. We are all still really shook up over the whole incident. (tried to edit original post but wasn't fast enough)
Posted 2012-05-28 7:07 PM (#144261 - in reply to #144256) Subject: RE: hitching post accident~warning
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326
Location: central IL
Crowleysridgegirl, Tks for the kind sentiment. We are located only 30 miles from the University of Illinois veterinary teaching hospital. I've already placed a call for an appt. to have him evaluated. Hoping he doesn't have to be put down. We are lucky that no people were trampled, so we are all very thankful.
Posted 2012-05-28 8:26 PM (#144262 - in reply to #144256) Subject: RE: hitching post accident~warning
Veteran
Posts: 174
Location: Missouri
What a horrible accident. I can't imagine how awful it must have been to see this happen and not be able to do anything. Prayers for your horse. We just went thru a horrific accident last week while riding. My husbands horse stepped on an old limb with a front foot. It popped up underneath the horse and it gored him in the groin. We almost lost him back in the woods, miles from the trailer. I finally had to leave them in the woods and found some help and got the truck/trailer back in as close as possible. Finally got him to a vet. Luckily no arteries or intestines were hit but he has a hole that the vet could put his arm in. He's doing well now and we expect him to recover although it will be a long time. Hoping your horses injuries are not as serious as they appear and remember no matter how well you take care of them sometimes things happen.
Posted 2012-05-28 9:04 PM (#144264 - in reply to #144256) Subject: RE: hitching post accident~warning
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326
Location: central IL
Pooperscooper, (I love your login!)
That sounds SO awful, and I'm so sorry about your hubby's horse. Thank goodness you were able to get it safely to a vet. I'm sure your horse's wound is healing by now, but I'm sending you a PM about some wound spray that friends brought over for me. They've managed a barn of expensive race horses for years and swear by this spray. They've seen lots of injuries over the years and know it works. Plus, it keeps flies off the open wounds.
My horse sustained numerous cuts, but the impact blow to the front leg's tendon is the problem...we think. The numerous cuts were in bad places~puncture to the knee and a cut down to the tendon sheath. Other cuts were more minor. I did have an emergency vet call the evening of the injury, and am waiting on a call back from the University of Illinois vet hospital to have an evaluation and possible course of action. I am not overly optomistic.
Posted 2012-05-28 9:23 PM (#144266 - in reply to #144264) Subject: RE: hitching post accident~warning
Expert
Posts: 2614
I know how I would feel if that were my beloved saddle mare,we just finished a weekend in MO riding and she takes SUCH care with me. Will be praying that your horse will be spared what you may be thinking,and that God will give you and your bud a miracle!
Posted 2012-05-29 2:26 AM (#144272 - in reply to #144256) Subject: RE: hitching post accident~warning
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326
Location: central IL
I used to camp in MO since the early 70's. At that time it was called the "Big Piney" ride. Rode it for years till children came into the picture. In more recent years, I've been attending the Big Creek Ride at Harshorn, MO. Lots of great folks and the food is to die for. Haven't been in several years since "life" got in the way. Hope to get back down there. However, lots of other MO rides have cropped up. Can you share more information about your ride? MO is not too far from me. I grew up just a few mile from St. Louis but on the IL side.
Posted 2012-05-29 7:56 AM (#144273 - in reply to #144272) Subject: RE: hitching post accident~warning
Expert
Posts: 2614
We go up to Big Creek's 3 day ride twice a year,spring and fall.We just got back from a nice new camp called "Flying R" between West Plains and Ava,MO.They don't serve meals like Big Creek does,but,they are working on establishing that or a restaurant.Trails in the National Forest,most are marked,and they are similiar to Big Creek's.They are on the North Fork river.They have a website if you'd like to check into it.
Posted 2012-05-29 8:15 AM (#144275 - in reply to #144256) Subject: RE: hitching post accident~warning
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326
Location: central IL
We camped from Sunday till Thursday at Jamestown, TN. We were supposed to stay till Sunday. We had a wonderful vet come out Thursday evening; he was extremely thorough. I'm heading to the university today with my horse. Keep your fingers crossed that his injury is one that can be healed.
Posted 2012-05-29 12:26 PM (#144283 - in reply to #144256) Subject: RE: hitching post accident~warning
Elite Veteran
Posts: 656
Location: Rayne, LA
I hope your horse recovers.
We has a similiar incident when riding out of Cedar Lake in Heavener, OK. There is a bar that you can ride to from camp and we decided to stop for a drink and tied to several hitching post at the bar. On one post we had two horses tied and when a dump truck came by it spooked one horse. He up rooted the hitching post and a tug-of-war began between these two horses. The post where not that deep in the ground. The horse owner then tied his horse to the post on the front porch of the bar. When the dump truck came back the horse pulled back so hard he broke the lead rope and flipped backwards. That is when we decided to head back down the trail ( the dump truck may not be finished for the day and we couldn't take any more excitement).
Posted 2012-05-29 1:55 PM (#144288 - in reply to #144256) Subject: RE: hitching post accident~warning
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326
Location: central IL
Tks for your kind words. 2 riders in our group were sitting right in front of the horses when our train wreck began. They are still baffled as to what caused the explosion.
I just got back from taking my horse up to the University of Illinois vet hospital to be evaluated. There is so much swelling that a sonogram would fail to show exactly what is going on in the leg. So they are administering strong antibiotics and pressure wrapping. He will be up there for several days, and then hopefully I can learn the extent of the damage. I feel I did the right thing at this point.
Posted 2012-05-29 3:39 PM (#144296 - in reply to #144256) Subject: RE: hitching post accident~warning
Elite Veteran
Posts: 656
Location: Rayne, LA
Z71, By your response I guess the bar name has changed. It use to be something like the Broken or Crooked Branch Saloon. I agree it is a great place to stop for a break.
Posted 2012-05-29 3:59 PM (#144297 - in reply to #144256) Subject: RE: hitching post accident~warning
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326
Location: central IL
Cajunmuleman, As for me, I don't care if I ever see a hitchin' rail again! Glad your horses weren't seriously injured. We left the owner of True West $150 to replace the rails. And my vet bill is climbing as I write. But if my horse comes out of this on 4 good legs in due time, I'll figure all the cost has been worth it.
Posted 2012-05-29 5:48 PM (#144300 - in reply to #144256) Subject: RE: hitching post accident~warning
Veteran
Posts: 178
Location: Richmond, Ky
we were camping at Honeycreek in BSF, and I didn't personally see this thank goodness but a man had his horse tied via the bridle reins and some 4 wheelers came roaring up to the overlook...spooked the horse and he pulled back and broke loose he was too close to the overlook and he fell to his death, about a year later I just happened to meet this fellow at a small horsecamp in Ky and we got to talking about BSF and come to find out he was the one that lost his horse, he said he grabbed the reins and pulled as hard as he could to try and save his horse he finally let go when he was at the very edge of the overlook and watched the horse fall to his death, that night everyone in the campground took up around $2000.00.,for him. He had to repel down the cliff and get what was left of his tack the next day. Park rangers were looking to find the 4 wheelers responsible but they didn't have any luck. You just can't be to careful when it comes to a horse they are powerful and spook from some things at different times.
Hope your horse makes a full recovery!!!
Posted 2012-05-29 6:21 PM (#144303 - in reply to #144256) Subject: RE: hitching post accident~warning
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326
Location: central IL
Yeehaw, How terrribly awful to have to watch your horse succumb to such a demise. My heart goes out to that gentleman. I'm sure that's an image that still haunts him. I woke up at 1:30 last night dreaming I was back at the stall in TN swatting flies to keep them off my horse. Then the scene of our runaways with those rails bouncing wildly as the horses jumped like jackrabbits crept into my mind. Think I got to sleep again at 4.
In the case you described, the fellow's horse probably felt as it was being attacked by loud angy monsters. Wonder if the 4-wheelers ever realized what transpired? So sad.
Posted 2012-05-30 8:37 AM (#144328 - in reply to #144300) Subject: RE: hitching post accident~warning
Expert
Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah
The gentleman is just lucky the Forest Service didn't require him to remove the corpse. I've always felt that was pretty mean to require a horse owner who just lost a long time pet to remove the dead animal. But I can understand that it really affect many hikers, and other outdoors people that might use that same area for the next few months.
Posted 2012-05-30 7:39 PM (#144343 - in reply to #144328) Subject: RE: hitching post accident~warning
Veteran
Posts: 178
Location: Richmond, Ky
The "corpse" was probably 100 ft straight down a sheer rock wall, laying on a ledge from what I was told, several other horse people complained of the 4 wheelers trying to run them off the road also. It was a sad thing too see I'm sure.
Posted 2012-06-01 12:21 AM (#144400 - in reply to #144256) Subject: RE: hitching post accident~warning
Elite Veteran
Posts: 644
Location: Odenville, Alabama
Wow ! I'm so sorry. Saw a similar accident in Brown County State Park probably 25 years ago. Horse tied to a hitching rail, reared up and broke the rail and split the support post came back down on the split post and impaled himself. Had to put him down . Accidents. Bad stuff. I hope your horse recovers quickly . Where were you? East Fork, South Fork?
Posted 2012-06-01 9:14 AM (#144410 - in reply to #144256) Subject: RE: hitching post accident~warning
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 326
Location: central IL
We were tied up at True West in BSF asking for a shortcut back to camp so we could avoid riding the highway. These were calm and tired horses, so what caused such a horrific chain reaction is totally beyond us. Two of our group were sitting on the porch watching over them.
I've camped a lot of times at Brown County and always regarded their hitching posts as very secure. But a horse is a mighty strong animal especially when the fight/flight instinct kicks in. That had to be a terrible situation to witness.