No amount of careful

This post was supposed to be about my Thanksgiving Day adventure over to the large equestrian centre I was intending on introducing Savvy to.

Just this.

You see, I have actually entered a show October 22nd. I know right? I haven't done ANY shows this year. And it is not a dressage show--just a super fun little Halloween Hunter Jumper show and I was gonna toodle around the ground poles class and cross rails.

I put into place a plan to prepare for my toodle show; first take Savvy over to this venue on my own and introduce her to all the sights. Second, two lessons scheduled with one of the on-site coaches to have a chance to show Savvy the jumps that will be in the show. Great plan right?

Sunday morning I arrived with Savvy and left her in the trailer while I met with the owner and paid arena fees and asked some questions. When I got back, Savvy was a tad worked up. She wanted out. As the trailer is still new to us, I have put in a lot of work to get her loading safely. The unloading is still a work in progress. Even when she is not emotional, the off-load is a bit of a rushed shit show.

At this particular time, Savvy was in full emotional melt down. In hindsight, I should have waited it out. I should have hung out with her at her head and waited as long as it took for her to settle. But I didn't. I undid her from the trailer and put on her lead rope, and then proceeded to open the trailer, thinking I just need to let her out and all will be fine. Once I got the back door open, she shot out so fast I couldn't grab her lead rope. I panicked! My horse was spinning around on unfamiliar property, close to a highway and seconds from being a loose horse. It was right there--I missed it again and again, but finally felt my fingers around rope and then, boom.

First shock. Then blood. Then much more shock. I had just been kicked in the face.

With Savvy in tow, I walked slowly to the arena, holding one hand over my nose and mouth to try to stop the blood from getting too much on my jacket.  My mind was in slow motion. I was trying to formulate a plan, but beyond getting to the arena, I was not sure. The owner was walking towards me.

Let me take your horse.
Thank you.
She can just stay in the arena.
Okay.
Come to the kitchen.
Okay.

He helped me stop the bleeding. I was so worried. There was so much blood in front of me, but I did not know yet what my face looked like. I thought maybe my nose was cut open? Are all my teeth still there. The owner assured me that my nose was not cut and all teeth seemed in place.

Next I was worried about concussion. I have had one before as a child and it was bad. I had spent two days in the hospital (yes that was horse related too!). I was waiting for the tell-tale signs to start.

During all of this, Savvy had transformed from psycho to sweetheart and was meandering the arena like an old school horse. humf.

After sitting for a while and allowing shock to subside, I found I was actually amazingly alright. My nose looked fine and wasn't bleeding any more, and my lip was fat with a few cuts inside, but nothing that needed stitches. I did have a headache starting, but my vision was clear and there was no nausea starting, so it seemed I had avoided a major concussion luckily.

The owner throughout this whole experience was just so helpful and positive. Everyone should be so lucky to have someone like that around in a crisis.

So, here I am, fat-faced and sore two days later.  My neck and shoulders hurt so bad today, I feel like, well, like I was kicked by a horse.

I have that lesson scheduled for this Thursday. Wish me luck that I can just do the thing, and not let this damage my hard-earned confidence.