Horse Camping Follies

Some years ago, my late, great saddle horse, Magnum, and I participated in a three-day trail ride and camping trip into the Adirondacks. If there was anything you could do wrong horse camping, we probably did it, but we also had a memorable time....trout fishing...horses jumping into the middle of the bridges on Route 30 (in heavy summertime traffic) up along the Sacandaga Reservoir, early bear season and all.

The first night we got permission to sleep across the road from the old Atomic Gas Station up in Mayfield. We went down a tiny access road almost to the lake, picketed the horses along the edge of the road, and quickly collapsed into our sleeping bags, exhausted from a whole day of riding, and the excitement of broken bridles, horses leaping into the center of highway bridges, etc. etc. Back then, there were no boat docks, camps or development there, just a wild little corner of the lake and lots and lots of real big trees. (In fact, when I went down to the edge of the lake early the next morning I saw the first common mergansers I ever saw, a mother and a row of fluffy little grey and red babies.)

Anyhow, we were tired enough to fall deeply asleep, there among the rocks and trees, just a few yards from the swishing of the traffic on Route 30. It is amazing just how well you sleep under those circumstances. A few hours passed.....

Suddenly the night erupted in a cacophony of horsey squeals and an incredible string of vehement oaths.

Seems a couple of guys were on their way somewhere after closing time at the local bars. Having imbibed heavily, they needed to relieve their discomfort so to speak. Thus they parked their truck along the edge of the little access road and walked down over the bank to the woods.

It was dark

They were drunk.

Thus the fellow in the lead didn't see or smell or hear my friend's gigantic chestnut mare until he walked square into her hindquarters.

They didn't linger but hied themselves back to that truck and drove off with screaming tires. I wonder what they thought they ran into down there beside the lake.....