It's not every day I get stuck in traffic behind a horse. Oh, living in the Miami Redlands, I see horses being transported all the time. And I usually see local horse owners taking them out for leisurely rides. But today I saw something different.
I was driving on SW 200th Street when I saw a horse galloping like a bat out of you-know-where towards 200th street. I knew that if I didn't slow down he and my vehicle might actually have a sudden and, more than likely, injuring collision.
As he reached the street he barely slowed and turned onto the street and in front of my car. He didn't even signal. That told me he's a Miami native ;-) My daughter and I were very interested in seeing where he was going. He continued galloping at about 25 miles per hour with us right behind him.
The cars started to accumulate behind us. SW 200th Street has a speed limit of 45 mph in that area but I can tell you most folks do 60. To the state troopers it's like shooting fish in a barrel when they hang out on that street and give out speeding tickets. They can reach their monthly quota in one day, I bet. But now everyone had to slow down to 25 or less based on the horse's whim. Plus the horse had the oncoming traffic to deal with as well.
Thankfully most folks were pretty patient and everyone was slowing down to look at this spectacular creature running free in the middle of traffic. Whheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I kept thinking I had to do something and asked my daughter for permission to stop. I was taking her to school, you see, to look at the posted results and find out if she had made it onto the cheerleading squad. We mustn't be late! It might rain or something and the ink could run and render the results illegible and she might have to wait until Monday to find out if she'd made it. Horrors! She begrudgingly agreed that she could spare 5 minutes.
Broker Maggie and Little One to the rescue! The horse had now decided that a side road looked more interesting and turned down that way (again, without using the turn signal). We had travelled about half a mile from were we saw the horse get onto the street and I had not seen any vehicles come in off that road. I checked traffic and made a u-turn. As I passed a few cars that had gathered I asked one man getting out if that was his horse. He told me it wasn't and I told him I knew where he'd come from and I would go alert the owner.
The horse was oblivious to all this hoopla and was now quietly and calmly getting farther and farther away from us and the civilization to be found on the state road. I took off to find the owner, the whole time hoping I would be successful. I'd heard stories of horses getting stolen in the Miami Redlands and I certainly didn't want this poor fella to be one of the statistics.
As I reached the road from whence he'd come I turned and saw a truck careening down the dirt road towards us. I honked frantically at him and he finally stopped. It turned out he was indeed the owner and I told him exactly where he could find him. As soon as you pass the train tracks make a right and follow the road. No, no, the horse isn't on the train tracks, he's on the next road that runs beside them and gaining distance every minute. He thanked me and off he sped!
As we got back on course and headed to school Little One commented "that was fun." "Yes Little One. Living the Redlands often is."
Maggie Dokic, SFR is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Florida selling residential real estate in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables, Gables by the Sea, High Pines, the Redland and other select areas of SW Miami-Dade County.
Maggie has earned her SFR certification to be able to better serve the needs of her customers in today's non-traditional real estate market. SFR is a Short Sale, Foreclosure Resource Specialist. Designees have been trained to understand the highly specialized options available to Sellers facing short sales & foreclosures and Buyers looking to buy them.
For more information on our local real estate market, or to see or sell a home in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables or the Redland, visit my Miami Real Estate blog or contact me at Maggie (at) TheBlogThatAteMiami (dot) com.
The opinions expressed herein, are those of the author, and not necessarily of Keller Williams Realty.
None of this information is to be deemed legal or financial advice. Please contact your attorney or accountant for same.
As a former equestrian myself, I read your story with come concern, as I know what can happen when the equine species gets loose and goes on a wild run - they aren't very bright about these sorts of things. Fortunately it all worked out it seems I was waiting for bad news, I must admit). Most drivers would probably show the concern that you did. Bravo, Maggie.
Jeff
Woo-Hoo, Broker Maggie Horse Wrangler!! What a story!! You had me laughing out loud at several points! (I was worried for the horse, too -- pavement and horseshoes do NOT mix! No tread.) That is an unusual sight and a story well told!
But I'm still left in suspense -- did Little One make the team?!?! <Fingers crossed and eyes scrunched, waiting for good news!!>
Maggie The Horse Rescuer! What a fantastic story! Thanks for taking the time to find the owner Maggie and Cheerleader Daughter, you made my day!
Ok, make it better, did she make the squad Maggie?
Jeff - I'm sorry to have concerned you! The horse was fine and I'm sure the owner is securing the gates a little better from now on. But now that you mention that I can see how this story could have had a not-so-happy ending. We have quite an equestrian community here in the Redland. Did you give it up altogether?
Sarah and Lysa - YES! She made the squad. Even though she's been cheering for years they make them try out each year anew. She always gets nervous. Now she's looking forward to getting tagged. At least I think that's what they call it. My girls get upset with me because I don't remember all the lingo. I just pay, show up and scream really loud! Tagging, if that's what it's called, is when they show up in class and present them with a paper megaphone to wear all day as a symbol of their making the squad. Of course the girls love all the attention. This year we had our first boy try out and he made it. We're a co-ed squad now! Woooooo hoooooooo!!
Ladieees and Gentlemen of Active Rain! It gives us grrrreat pleasure to present
to you: Maaagie Dokic, the now renowned BUCKAROOO-BROKER OF MIAMI REDLANDS!!!
Jay
MAggie - yep, gave it up when I went off to college. BUt my daughters both ended up spending about 5 years riding (we even had our own horses) while they we in Jr. and Sr. HS.
Glad to hear YOUR daughter made the squad. She must have been thrilled!
Jeff
Jay - you are so funny! You made me chuckle. Am I a double B now? Buckaroo Broker ... he he he. Can we come up with another 2 B's so I can compete with Blog Boy Broker Bryant?
Jeff - I think that's such a regal sport. I was always impressed by people who can ride. That's not something I was ever able to do. Thanks for the words about Little One. She's such a stinker that when she was walking back to the car she walked real slowly looking down at the ground. She's a good actress and I was becoming concerned that she hadn't made the squad. She was only trying to fool me and burst out laughing when she got closer. She loves playing tricks on Mommy.
MAGGIE! YeeHaw! Are you sure you were not driving down a street in Texas? How about Maggie the Blogging Buckaroo Broker? Congrats to the little Cheerleader!
Congratulations, Little One!!!!
Yaaaaaayy!!!!!
Broker Bryant - I am too. I was feeling a little protective of that horse when I saw the man get out of his car. I don't know what I was thinking but the New Yorker in me always has her antenna up! All's well that ends well. =)
Danny - I like that! You've got me up to 3 B's now. Wait! I think I can come up with a 4th. Bouncing Blogging Buckaroo Broker. Oh crud, this is a Localism post. Now my consumer will find out that I'm a real person who enjoys a little sillyness amongst her friends. hee hee =)
Sarah- thanks! I'll tell her. She loves reading about herself. I think Carly Simon's song, You're So Vain, suits her to a T. She'll enjoy all the attention.
Beth - I love your sense of humor. But I think I told you that already. In the better known areas of Miami that is all you see, plus the occasional iguanas. My little slice of Miami suffers not from the usual ailments =) The pace is a little slower here (except of course on the state roads, where, as I've said, most of the rascals are speeding.)
Matthew - now that would have been something! I bet getting those great shots on Animal Planet requires a lot of patience.
Broker Maggie...
Hi ho Silver and away...Hmmm. I may be giving away my age with that remark. SVW.
Great post. I really enjoyed finding something to read that was NOT about Real Estate and AR. How bad is that anyway? LOL.
TLW...ROAR!
Billie, do NOT even go there with the age remark. You see, I remember that show clearly! LOL I'm glad you were able to get away from the real estate posts. We're multi-faceted around here and eager to please =)
I think I got Elderberry in honor of you!
Maggie,
Too bad you didn't have a bucket of oats to woo him in. Then you could've ridden him back home!
Some horses can be very stubborn when they get free "Reign". :)
Lucky :)
oh Maggie! Thank goodness you helped rescue him, I read your post with beating heart, afraid of the outcome. I stop constantly to help animals (including horses, goats and cows) find their way home. I am sure that man is STILL thanking you in his heart. Hopefully all was well with the cheerleading results! Thank you good Samaritan!