Stan..Funny you should mention.Had a similar experience.Horses will fly back to the barn but leave reluctantly as you know.Was racing a truck back and the bit broke so had no control.Coral gate was open just enuff for the horse but not my legs.It went thru.I and the saddle went another direction.Fortunately the girth strap broke.Tack was probably 50 years old.Horse less me and the saddle was standing calmly in his stall.

A few interesting horse observations;

You cannot hit anything with a six-shooter or rifle from a moving horse.Of course there are some exceptions with practice and if you get in close.Shotguns are prefered.Be carefull when swinging the saber.If you miss you can easily wack yourself or your horse.Cocked weapons have a tendency to discharge on a rearing and plunging horse.

This may explain to a degree the demise of Confederate Cavalry the last few years of the war.Big fat american horses must have corn,grain or oats to do good service.Only the Indian ponies can work on grass.The lack of suitable forage would have played havoc with Southern cavalry and also brought on diseases.I recollect feeding american horses oats and it was like giving them a double shot of Starbuck's expresso.

MWT