@roger,
that makes a lot more sense to me...
as I recall it, my uncle was punished by karma rather than my granddad.
his horse returned alone (I ran back to the farmhouse hollering about holy flying crap) with the saddle under his belly. apparently he had forgotten to re-tighten the cinch. we walked out toward the pasture to find him limping home.
I imagine it was quite a wild ride down...