TRAIN DERAILS RICHMOND RIDE!!

(from the July 1994 issue of Cobblestones)

April 10, 1994 was another beautiful day for the Third Annual Richmond Ride.  Although windy, the weather was perfect for a horseback jaunt through the City.  The parking lots which Ethyl Corporation graciously permitted us to use were packed to the max as the rigs of more than two hundred horses unloaded and prepared for the ride.  The crowd was advised of the rules (sit deep, keep up, stay off the grass and have fun) and the ride began on time (for a change).  Members of police mounted units from around the State and Washington, D.C. participated this year, bringing the total of mounted police officers nearly to that of the total number of riders in the first ride just two years ago. 
The route took an easterly course this year with riders climbing Church Hill on Broad Street, a long climb; winding through the restored area of the east end, beautiful homes; pausing at Libby Hill Park, a great scenic view of the river; winding through Chimborazo Park, another great view; dropping down to pass along the James River, needs more work; and finally, passing through the gates of the new flood wall beneath the C&O railroad tracks; AND THAT’S WHERE THE FUN BEGAN!! 
It was not planned that the train would rumble overhead at the moment that two hundred horses were trapped between the tracks and the huge concrete wall which would echo and amplify the sound to an unimaginable level.  Some horses broke, some bucked, and some just shivered.  Needless to say, it was intense.  In one or two cases, even some of the police horses reacted, although in response to the train or to the other horses is unknown.  (With police horses in mind, did anyone see that police sergeant bounce?)  I am sure that everyone learned a little from the incident, about their riding skill or their horse’s reaction to certain stimuli.  Everyone managed to survive without injury and we can all tell the world that our horse was the only one that stayed calm when the train attacked.