Another Interesting Ride

Sometimes you talk about something that's happened to you, then it happens again, and it just strikes you as funny.

It may not have been elf, but it certainly was elk.

My dog Jackson and I, went off for a nice little horseback ride today. Just a few hours through the thick forest on a beautiful, sunny day. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Until we're headed home. We have a big loop we sometimes do, that runs across a ridge, up the mountain, then down through the forest across a couple creeks, then back to the road that goes home.
Our trek into the dense forest, is started with my horse Cochise, stopping dead in his tracks, and staring into the thick forest.
This is not one of those horses that looks sideways at a boulder, or a tree that he saw 5 minutes ago.
This is my rock steady Mustang, that does nothing but ride in the bush, never batting an eye.
Jackson, never caught on something was amiss, but as we started down the trail, Cochise picked up some speed. OK, so its not a bear, no big deal. He hates them. So far the only thing that makes him miss a stride.
Jackson suddenly bolts down the trail, and then the crashing commences.
Ah, the elk are in here. not for long I'm guessing. The trail zig zags like a switchback, down through the forest.
one second, the elk are crashing on my left, then on my right, all the while, Jackson in hot pursuit.
Cochise has given up caring. He knows what goes bump in the night now.
However, Jackson, with prey drive kicking in, is not listening to me, so I dig in the spurs, and off we go, to try and catch a dog, chasing a few elk crashing through the forest. Good times...
I catch the mutt, as the elk are gone. He's so proud of himself. Look what I just did dad.
Nearly got himself stomped into oblivion...that's the way I see it. Not him though.
The trail opens up into an old logging road.
Clopping down this, enjoying my well shaken beer, One elk comes crashing out of the bush about 50 feet in front of me. Jackson, thrilled with this, takes off yet again, as elk number two, comes thundering out of the dense forest, head full of antlers, about 20 feet in front of me. Cochise, doesn't miss a beat. I think I jumped more than him.
Now I'm laughing at my horse that just doesn't seem to give a crap about anything, and what a joyous ride this has turned into.
...Then crashing coming from my right.....Spurs again...I'm not sticking around for this one. There's still a few more elk out there, ready to come crashing out of the bush in my general direction.

As I'm now casually walking down the road, free from any other hazards, it occurs to me, I was just talking about some crazy elf herd a few days ago....

Aren't you worried that one of them will take a run at your horse? Moose, deer, elk and bozo's with guns in hot pursuit...this is high risk riding time of year! Wear your pink plaid and sing loudly!

My old boy was a basket case around Elk....he was the horse I had as a teen and rode him for 10 years or more.Brought him with me when I moved to Alberta.
you know how that is with a horse crazy kid.
That poor old boy had everything done to him,He was not a spook case.
I could NOT figure out why he was scared of Elk.Really scared!

Till !
I was sitting looking out the window one day and watched a Bull Elk chase him around his pasture!
Elk meant to kill him and it went on till I headed out with the 4 wheeler.

Old guy around home said .....yup Bull Elk will try and kill a horse.Something to do with the smell of a horse to the Elk.

Gave me a whole new respect for them.Moved the old horse closer to the house and crossed my fingers...North Cooking Lake area was riddled with Elk at that time.

We ran into Bears,cougers ,deer etc over the years I lived on Van island.
Took taking him to Alberta to blow the poor old guys mind.

Please watch yourself with them.I dont think a rider on a horse would fizz on them if you run into a mean one.

We're surrounded by elk here on the Island. They sleep in the same pasture as the horses, but I don't trust them either. The main herd doesn't worry me, its the satellites that bother me. 3 of them gored a horse not far from here last year. Needless to say, a firearm is a must on any outdoor excursion here.

We have been having moose around our yard recently, can't imagine having elk.

Elk scare me.

I was horseback riding a few years ago and going down the driveway a mule deer buck jumped from the steep bank beside us over our heads. I was on a very hot arab and we both had a moment of terror and then horse and I both exhaled. "Oh, just a deer". We both said. That was exciting enough.

Wow, oh Hillbilly, now that was a most wonderful and entertaining read, you too me right behind you on another horse. Wow, those tales of elk, I never knew they could be so aggressive as what I have been reading. Were they chasing you? Didn't quite get that, or were they running away from you?

Jackson, what a regal name. I had a rooster named Jackson, and think I will have more critters named that, just love that name, Jackson. Thanks for the interesting read on a remote part of Vancouver Island, coooool!! Have a wonderful day, CynthiaM.

Do you take a gun with you when you ride? I would imagine so, think I have read about you speaking of this another time, I think I remember anyways.

Im glad you enjoyed the read Cynthia. I generally don't have enough spare time to get into lengthy stories, so my posts are usually short, and abrupt. Never entertaining.
I do consider myself fortunate for the lifestyle I have chosen, instead of taking it all for granted, so I thought I would share a small bit of it with people that would appreciate it.

Yes, elk can be very aggressive. For the most part, they will avoid you, but, beginning around late November here, they can get nasty.
They are frequently in my yard, around 50 yards from my vehicle when I leave for work in the morning. They come in at dusk and graze in one pasture I don't use. They boys are quite destructive, mostly because they're locking antlers with each other, and pushing each other around, oblivious to anything in their path. This is how my neighbours' truck ended up in the body shop, and how most of my fence repairs start.
I watched a brief clip on the elk in some city in Canada where they pass through every year. They showed many clips of the elk chasing people in the city. It happens every year apparently. I would bet it's on youtube.

Yes, you are correct that I travel with a gun. Also a large hunting knife. There have been altercations in the area where cougars have stalked horse and rider. We have wolves here too. The previous land owner lost 3 horses one night to the wolves.

I don't expect to need these things, but if something gives chase to my horse, I'll more than likely be left face down in the dirt between the hunter and the prey. If I worried about such things, I would lose the passion I have of the great outdoors.
As the Boy Scouts teach you, Be Prepared. My saddle bags are full of various things I may need for myself, and my horse in case of emergency.

Jackson, is one of our rescue dogs from Mexico. He came with that name, and we liked it.
He was chasing the elk, so for the most part, they were in front of me.

heda gobbler wrote:Elk scare me.

I was horseback riding a few years ago and going down the driveway a mule deer buck jumped from the steep bank beside us over our heads. I was on a very hot arab and we both had a moment of terror and then horse and I both exhaled. "Oh, just a deer". We both said. That was exciting enough.

That encounter, on an arab, would have been not so fun!

One aspect of horseback riding in the bush, is the vantage point of your view - you can usually see over the underbrush. Your horse will also hear the things you don't, so his ears are your radar system. Keep an eye on them.
Except for flying deer LOL.

Well yes, I think we were all surprised to have a deer over our heads! Luckily he's a warlike arab, not a spooky one, so adjusted well. I like to ride with my dogs. They generally flush out anything well in advance of me riding up to it and the horses seem to feel that any rustle in the bushes is just our dogs, not a monster. All the same I never ride alone. I can just never figure out how I would manage a horse, a predator and a gun all at once.