Growing up, my family had quarter horses. We had a 4 acre horse farm adjacent a private country club that backed up to a mammoth park encircling metro Cleveland, the Metroparks' Emerald Necklace. Yes, reader, I was spoiled.
In winter, Mighty (my Mom's nick) would gallop down the parkway, towing at the end of a serious lasso (true), a big wooden toboggan. On it was me, my sister, and one or two friends (victims).
It was awesome.
The first time we did this, I sat in front. Now with the horse galloping along, snow compacts into its hooves. This forms hard, oblong snowballs which as the horse gallops, fly out at anything trailing behind, kind of like a crazy, possessed, pitching machine. If you're in the first seat, their trajectory pretty much sends them directly at you. More specifically, directly at your head.
The 1st time one gets hit with these projectiles, you're like, "Fuck?! WTF?", only to look up and again get smacked in the face with another.
One learns quick. So, after my initial hazing, I kept my head down and enjoyed the ride, only to hear my friend(s) behind me scream in surprise and agony.
Life was good, still is.
