Horseback with a cell phone
Posted by Bill on Apr 06 2007 at 10:14 am | Tagged as: Horse Lifestyle
I just got back from another great trip from Arizona. My last trip there was in January when it was quite a bit colder. Even so, the quick horseback riding trip I took back then made all the shivering worthwhile. On this recent trip, my new friends Gary and Jennifer once again invited me over, this time for a much warmer horseback ride. My equine host was Buck, the same horse I rode last time. I feel like I’m getting to know him. We rode off into the sunset again, for a leisurely stroll around rural Maricopa, Arizona. It was a beautiful ride, with the sun setting over the mountains nearby. Gary and my stepson Chris, more skilled than I at riding, both piloted more spirited horses. Old Buck and I held back a little and enjoyed the view…and entertainment. Buck seems like a great horse but every once and a while trips or stumbles so I held the saddle horn with a ninja death grip.
I was having such a great time, a thought occurred to me. This would be a great place to call Mikki (she didn’t come with me on this trip), as part of my ongoing “call people from cool places” project. I’ve called from beside a track at a Nascar race, from an aircraft carrier and from the top of a few mountains, so why not while horseback riding into the warm desert sunset in Arizona? I whipped out my phone with one hand and opened the cover with my thumb. It would be so easy to drop the phone to it’s destruction from that height. I had to try a few times punching buttons. It’s a little bouncy up there. Finally I got the right number, pushed send and held the phone up to my ear. Since Buck neck reigns, it was difficult to do this because one hand held the steering wheel (the reigns) and the other hand didn’t want to let go of the ninja death grip it had on the saddle horn. My plan was simple. “Hi honey, calling you from on top of a horse. Gotta go, bye!” The phone rang and rang and rang…I try again. Same thing. I never did get through so I can’t prove I actually made the call but I swear I really did make a scary, dangerous cell phone call from atop a horse!
With more confidence, I’m sure I could have pulled it off more gracefully but making cell phone calls from horseback doesn’t seem like a great idea, at least for new riders. For me it was just a novelty but I wonder if experienced riders and real cowboys do it these days.
I don’t know that I would call myself experienced and certainly not a cowboy BUT I do take my cell phone with me on trail rides. I’m usually leaving my daughters with someone when I go so you never know when someone will need me. I have called to check in while on horseback and even taken a few calls while on a trail ride. It has nothing to do with me but how good I know my horse is - LOL!
cells phones, doesn’t matter where you go, there’s no way to get away from them. I ride with mine too. Mostly out of self defense, I figure if I ever get dumped off of a green horse (which is about all I ever ride) I might need to dial 911 for help.
It is amazing the places you can call from though. I hadn’t thought about making it a “project” to call from unusual places. Kinda cool…..
After reading this through, I personally would take my cell phone because while it is romantic to be away from it a while, emergencies can happen at any time and I think it is important to be able to keep in touch with other people.
Oh yes, I admonish my daughter to ALWAYS ride with her cell phone in case she gets into trouble. But do I do it? Heck no, and I am the one who got dumped last week, and my trustworthy steed ran the mile or so back to the barn, leaving me in the mud (as opposed to the dust!) Lessons learned.
I always have my cell phone with me as well. Gone are the days of walking miles home after being dumped and just for the fact that anything can happen to you when you’re out on your own. I figure the technology is there you might as well use it!
A while back I was riding with someone who made a credit card purchase using a mobile phone whilst on horseback. One just cannot get away from these gadgets.
Training out here alone most days my cell phone gives me peace of mind. I take it on trails and in the ring just in case. I have even thought they should make one of those ” ive fallen and i cant get up” things for riders to wear around their necks in case dialing is to difficult in a bad spill…