Before anyone hollars at me that I did a stupid thing, I want to tell
everyone that I KNOW I did a stupid thing - and that I've already yelled at
myself so long and hard that I'll NEVER do what I did ever again ......
    It's Friday the 13th -- that SHOULD have been a clue for me to stay in 
ed
.... but, I didn't -- and, after work I decided to take SEDONA and my little
surrey down the street for a drive.
    I had forgotten to get my sunglasses so I drove up to the house, got out 
of
the surrey and proceeded into the house for the forgotten sunglasses.  I did
not tie SEDONA -- she was standing quietly -- I went into the house (I've 
one
this a number of times -- with X, Tuffy AND SEDONA ..... never thought it 
might
lead to trouble).
    As I came out of the house I spotted SEDONA trotting down our driveway
(it's 200 feet from our house to the road in front of our house).  I started 
on
a dead run after her.  She so very polietly made a turn out of the driveway
into the roadway -- if one didn't know what was happening you would think 
hat
the driver really did a good job maneuvering a turn with the horse at a full
trot.
    I'm running MADLY down the street after my "runaway" horse and carriage
...... one neighbor tried to catch hold of SEDONA but SEDONA has having no 
part
of it.  Another neighber ran to his car, raced down the driveway shouting to 
me
'GET IN' .... here I am half way in and he guns it .....
    SEDONA was headed for ROUTE 80 (VERY busy road).  I was praying that she
would stop and fearing that she wouldn't and she and the surrey would get 
t.
    But, as luck would have it, (and the Good Lord looking after me and my
horse), ALL traffic STOPPED ...... heck, cars were lined up a mile going west
AND going east ... they just let SEDONA go wherever she wanted to go.  By the
time *I* got to that intersection I saw SEDONA alongside the road (in the
grassy area) just trotting as if she were going to a Sunday Social.  ALL
traffic was stopped and sitting still and everyone had their headlights on.
    A very nice young man jumped out of his pickup truck and stopped SEDONA.  
I
was never so happy to see anyone in my entire life.  By this time Buddy had
gotten to the scene in his Jeep.
    SEDONA was NOT scared ..... she wasn't even blowing hard nor was she
shaking -- she was calm as a cucumber -- *I* was the one scared half out of 
y
mind.
    Buddy drove her back home ...... on a trot and he kept ON trotting her
right on past our house down the road.  By the time they got back SEDONA was
ready to be VERY quiet and stand still.
    I know I SHOULD have tied her ...... and, ya'll can bet I'll NEVER leave
her (or any other horse)_ unattended ever again!!!
---
---------------