Come thick Clouds

Horse show day is always fun.  We ride with a very supportive and funny group of people.  I know I will always be in good company at the shows, no matter how much I mess up.

Today was a special day.  Bella and I took High Point in our Division.  Before you act way too impressed, it was for this show only, not the season and it is for the walk/trot division. This division is mostly made up of young, flighty horses, or divas like Bella who still have a fear that the white poles on the ground are going to rear up and bite her face.  Yeah, she's special.

James was Reserve high point for his division and I am so proud of him.  He and Jake rocked their classes and Jake is so patient and kind.

But what made this day stand out?

As we were loading up the horses to leave, there were dark clouds and some low rumblings of thunder.  Not a problem, I thought, there is still lots of clear sky and there was no rain.

We load up.  Please understand that we use a half top trailer.  That means only eight feet is covered and it is a slate, open sides.  We load Bella in the front, because she has discovered how to lean her head over and unlatch the back gate.  Yes, there is a story there, but that is for another day.

We then load Jake in the back and start home.  We aren't all that far, less than ten miles.  There was more lightening now.  The wind was starting to gust. 

I had James watch the back, keeping an eye on the horses as we drove.  The wind kicked in and clouds were thick and flashing with lightening.   As we were about three miles from home, the sky opened and rain poured forth.  James watched with worry as the horses tossed their heads.  The lightening was constant.

Then the hail hit.  I had no where I could pull the trailer and shelter the horses.  I had to go forward.

The wind came cross ways and the horses were ducking and kicking.  The hail was starting to pelt and I had to slow down to ten miles per hour because I couldn't see the road.  Poor James was calling out to Jake from the truck, "Almost home, baby!"

We pull into our very flooded barn yard, in the fury of the storm.  I made James stay in the truck while I went around to unload Jake.  He had his large head tucked into a corner and was frozen in fear.  I was out of the truck for less than 30 seconds and I was as wet as if I had jumped into a pool.  I had to physically haul Jake sideways and then out of the back.  I pounded on the door of the truck to get James.  He ran out and took Jake into the safety of the barn.

I ran back around, my boots now filled with water.  I threw the last gate open and Bella launched from the trailer.  She staggered into the storm and we were both driven into the barn with hail.

I passed her off the James and grabbed the nearest riding helmet.  I had barn gates to shut.  The helmet pinged as the hail bounced off of it.  I got the doors shut as James fed the spooked horses.  Feed fixes everything.

I ran back around and dropped the trailer from the truck in record time.  James donned another helmet to run from the barn to the truck and we drove it into the garage.

I know tomorrow, I will have to wiped down all of the tack.  We were wise enough to put the saddle pads in the cab, so at least those aren't soaked.  I will have to go over every inch of Bella and Jake, check for injuries, even though we checked as we fed.  No telling what swelling may pop up over night.

It was a wild reaffirmation of the power and fury of nature.  Those that aren't familiar with a High Plains hail storm have no true idea of the force that the rain and hail can pound you with.

Jake, solid, steady Jake, was  so scared.  He has yet to spook, but this had him in a totally different state.

In the end, we are all safe and secure.  A bit battered around the edges, but proud of our day and proud of our teamwork in taking care of the horses that give us so much joy.