Gordy Wesen
Member
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2003
- Messages
- 422
Rural walking trails here were once railroad right-of-ways but now with the tracks removed they provide miles of secluded walking enjoyment. I've seen cougar, coyotes and bear but never anything like this.
It was a warm afternoon and sunny as I walked my German Shepherd. We approached a concrete bridge (15 feet wide - 75 yards long) over a small river but before getting on it I saw a horse with rider and his dog...some kind of mastiff (bull dog - pit bull mix) down the dirt trail paralleling the river and perhaps 30 yards off. We walked on to the bridge and here came the dog at a run to challenge my dog. Seeing intent, I grabbed my dogs collar and we squared off. We were in for a fight so I told my dog it was OK to demonstrate. His tail went up and out came the barking with teeth. I told the comer to get out of here. He stopped close then backed off and returned to his master. We began to continue across the bridge when here came the pissed off horse rider like John Wayne at a run bearing down on us with his dog close behind. I pulled to the side rail and he slowed as he went by coming to a stop blocking our progress. He was upset with our behavior and wanted to let me know I was not a "from around there" but he was. As he talked I noticed that he was backing his horse up to me and goading it to kick me. I stepped around in front of him to get out of there and down he came from his horse. I turned to square with him and told my dog to sit on my left as I held his collar.
Now, let me tell you - riders are forbiden by law to cross these bridges on horseback. When he came at us initially I thought about suddenly waving my hands and yelling to spook the horse but I did not want to see this fellow possibly killed if he was thrown. And likewise, when he backed his horse up to me I thought about slapping the horses butt as I sidestepped and hollering, but I didn't want to get him hurt.
But now here he comes. His dog is circling and barking viciously. He has just dismounted his horse is bucking and we are all close. He approaches and raises his left arm. I countered by raising a block with my right arm and contacted his. He looked surprised. I look at my dog and wonder when he will choose to attack and the fellow looks at my dog at the same time. As suddenly as it started it stops. He backs up, remounts and begins to ride leaving choice words. I'm not one to let somebody get the last word so I tell him with cold blood "I know where you live". And I got out of there. I did find a cop on the way out and told him about it...and where the fellow lived. He told me it would be my word against his so I headed home recognizing that conflicts can be multiple and rarely black and white.
Yea, it worked out OK. But how could this have been handled tactically?
It was a warm afternoon and sunny as I walked my German Shepherd. We approached a concrete bridge (15 feet wide - 75 yards long) over a small river but before getting on it I saw a horse with rider and his dog...some kind of mastiff (bull dog - pit bull mix) down the dirt trail paralleling the river and perhaps 30 yards off. We walked on to the bridge and here came the dog at a run to challenge my dog. Seeing intent, I grabbed my dogs collar and we squared off. We were in for a fight so I told my dog it was OK to demonstrate. His tail went up and out came the barking with teeth. I told the comer to get out of here. He stopped close then backed off and returned to his master. We began to continue across the bridge when here came the pissed off horse rider like John Wayne at a run bearing down on us with his dog close behind. I pulled to the side rail and he slowed as he went by coming to a stop blocking our progress. He was upset with our behavior and wanted to let me know I was not a "from around there" but he was. As he talked I noticed that he was backing his horse up to me and goading it to kick me. I stepped around in front of him to get out of there and down he came from his horse. I turned to square with him and told my dog to sit on my left as I held his collar.
Now, let me tell you - riders are forbiden by law to cross these bridges on horseback. When he came at us initially I thought about suddenly waving my hands and yelling to spook the horse but I did not want to see this fellow possibly killed if he was thrown. And likewise, when he backed his horse up to me I thought about slapping the horses butt as I sidestepped and hollering, but I didn't want to get him hurt.
But now here he comes. His dog is circling and barking viciously. He has just dismounted his horse is bucking and we are all close. He approaches and raises his left arm. I countered by raising a block with my right arm and contacted his. He looked surprised. I look at my dog and wonder when he will choose to attack and the fellow looks at my dog at the same time. As suddenly as it started it stops. He backs up, remounts and begins to ride leaving choice words. I'm not one to let somebody get the last word so I tell him with cold blood "I know where you live". And I got out of there. I did find a cop on the way out and told him about it...and where the fellow lived. He told me it would be my word against his so I headed home recognizing that conflicts can be multiple and rarely black and white.
Yea, it worked out OK. But how could this have been handled tactically?
