(Submitted by Marci Reno)

You just never know what’s going to happen on the trail, do you?  A regularly scheduled trail workday turned into quite an adventure for us!  I will do my best to describe our day: All started out well. We were about a mile down the Bench trail, and I noticed that Penny, the horse that Mike McGee was riding,  jumped to the side when she stepped on a large limb, which had popped up under her belly where it actually was caught for a second before she was freed.

Shortly, Mike and Jeff Blake dismounted to clear some brush and noticed that Penny was bleeding pretty badly down her leg. Mike looked under her belly; the blood was coming from a wound that the branch had made. He couldn’t tell how bad it really was, but decided to be cautious and turn around to take Penny home to tend to her wound.

Jeff, Bev Roberts, and I decided to continue the ride and work along the way.   When we got back to the Compton trail head (the timing was providential!), a young man (who had just called 911) asked us if the Park allowed horses on the hiking trail. We replied, ” Only in an emergency.”   He said it was: His father was having a very high heart rate coming out of Hemmed-In Hollow (a notoriously steep and well-used trail). He would stop and rest, but every time he continued his heart rate would go sky-high, (he had a monitor to check it), on top of that, he had asthma and other health issues. They just didn’t realize how tough that trail is coming back out!

Conclusion…Jeff rode his wonderful (brand new!) mule Belle,  Bev rode her beautiful Arabian Buddy, and together they followed the son down the trail and brought the very grateful gentleman safely out where the EMT’s and park ranger awaited them.  Bev had a good hike coming back after she gave up her horse to the hiker.

As you can see from the photos, the gentleman (whose name we never heard) seemed to be in good shape after his rescue.  I am so proud of the way our Arkansas BCH members stepped up to the emergency with such professionalism and enthusiasm!
I love happy endings!!