The collective noun for a group of ravens is an “unkindness.” While riding my Missouri Fox Trotter gelding, Poncho, recently, I experienced an unkindness of ravens firsthand. I like ravens, admire them, and welcome them to my property—so this particular unkindness was truly uncalled for!
We were riding with our buddies, Gerry and her Tennessee Walker, Boogie, through the Black Canyon outside Heber, Arizona. It was a lovely ride with colorful cliffs, trees, flowers, and dry washes. At one point, the trail approaches the base of a cliff. Suddenly, Boogie, who was in front, spooked. Poncho, never one to be outdone, spooked right along with him, executing a sudden jump and spin.
Apparently, I wasn’t paying as much attention to my seat as I should have been, and his spin spun me right out of the saddle. I landed with a thump! Fortunately, I was completely uninjured thanks to my equestrian riding cushion vest. The air cushions squished and expelled air noisily upon impact, successfully preventing any injury. I really like this vest!
What Scared the Horses?
Neither of our boys is prone to excessive reactions, so what could have elicited such a strong response? You guessed it—an unkindness of ravens.
This particular group had at least six members. I’m used to seeing ravens in pairs, as these are the Common Ravens (Corvus corax) found throughout Arizona. They’re good-sized, intelligent birds that can be active predators and scavengers. This unkindness had been eating the remains of a deer alongside the trail. Our sudden approach disturbed their feast, and they were not happy about it! They flew up toward the horses, setting off a classic equine reaction.
They continued to caw loudly at us as I picked myself up off the ground while Poncho waited patiently. I was able to remount using a nearby rock. After checking out the skeleton to identify the victim—fortunately a deer and not a horse—we continued on our ride.
However, we eventually needed to return by that same route. Not wanting a repeat performance of the unkind attack, we used a parallel track that put some extra distance between us and the ravens. They still yelled at us as we passed by, which was rather unkind as well.
P.S. The next morning, there were six ravens sitting outside the cabin. You don’t think the unkindness followed us home, do you?
Gear Notes: Staying Safe on the Trail
If you’re curious about the safety vest I ride in, it is a Hilason Western Adult Safety Equestrian Eventing Protective Vest. The vest I use for riding up north is bright red, which helps ATV drivers and bicyclists spot us on the trail. Around the Tucson stables, I wear a tan one so my body can be easily discovered by other boarders and staff if something goes wrong!
Even with the high summer temperatures in Southern Arizona, the vest is not hot and remains very comfortable. My riding buddy says it makes a terrifying “swoosh” noise when I hit the ground. But if it has to swoosh to protect me, swoosh away, vest—swoosh away!
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