Okay so you think I may be crazy, but let’s explore the idea.

What is a Float Plan?  A Float Plan is what a captain of a ship/boat files before he leaves the port.  I believe a pilot files a flight plan.  It lists your estimated time of arrival, your destination and how you plan on getting there.  Perhaps who will be going with you, emergency contact information, your type of boat, etc.

You may ask “What does this have to do with horses?”  Well I’m glad you asked.

When I was young and stupid, now I’m just old and senile, I would hop on my horse and go where ever the spirit moved me.  No thought other than spending time with my horse in God’s beautiful creation.  The wind in my hair and the sun on my face.  Now that my hair is getting grey and my face looks more like a crunched up road map, my brain is starting to think of things that could happen.

Oh sure if something happened while I was out trail riding, the horse would go home, hopefully not crossing any major highways.  If I was lucky I’d pick myself up off the ground and start the long walk home myself.  But what if I couldn’t get up?  If I had my cell phone on me, as opposed to in my saddle bag, I could call; “you know I’m by the big oak just past the dip in the road, by last nights road kill.”  What if I was really hurt or unconscious?  My horse isn’t going to disclose where he left me.  “I don’t know, we were cantering along and she just jumped off a couple of miles down there somewhere.”  Of course if you’re married to Tonto (for those old enough to remember the Lone Ranger) he could follow the hoof prints.  That is, unless other people recently have ridden that way.  A dogs tracking collar would work, might look a little odd, (I said tracking, not shock) or if you’re lucky enough to have GPS tracking on you phone that would be a great thing, but what if you don’t?

So how about a riding plan, trail plan, or I’m going out for a ride don’t bother me plan.  Give it any name you would like, but let someone know where your destination is and how you are planning to get there.  Now I have to admit I’ve done that and then changed the direction because of unusual circumstances.  Trees down in the woods, trail closures, water is too deep, the horse eating (you fill in the blank) Dogs, Donkey’s, Cows, Lammas, Ostriches were out there and my horse wouldn’t go by them, but basically someone would know about where to look for you when your trusty steed says “See You Later.”  Have you ever noticed they’re brave until something scares them?  Then its sacrifice the horse behind me, or if there isn’t another horse around, the rider will do.  Most horses are smart enough to not be the first or the last horse in the group.  Another word for first horse or last horse is dinner.

So just to make it easier on your relatives or friends, let someone know where you plan on going.  My husband wouldn’t notice I was missing until dinner wasn’t on the table at 6:00, but most people really hate it when they’re out there in the dark, with flashlights, looking for you when they would rather be home watching their favorite TV show.

Oh a couple of more thoughts.  Don’t forget to program ICE into your cell phone.  Police and Paramedics look for that.  For those of you who are cell phone challenged it means “In Case of Emergency” contacts.  Also if you don’t carry a cell phone have emergency contact information on you.  You can usually pick up a little card that fits into your wallet at your local hospital, at least you used to be able to.  It will give anyone who finds you your name, phone numbers and any allergy’s you may have to medications.

Think about it.  Maybe telling someone what direction you plan on going isn’t such a bad idea after all.