But I knew he would need my aid. I found my weapons, placed a saddle on my horse and started as fast as possible down the trail taken by Powell.

VOA: special.2010.07.10

Photos and video taken of the rescue show Kelly and others placing a tow line under the horse's saddle and securing it to the boat.

CNN: Horse rescued after swimming 2 miles into ocean

The race is run without a saddle, and the jockey need not be on the horse for the horse to win.

FORBES: Bet On The Horse Or The Jockey?: Investing Lessons From An Italian Horse Race

He might have taken the time to saddle the horse or hitched up three spans of mules to Concord stage-coach and smoked a pipe as it seems no one in that city was after him.

NPR: Excerpt: 'True Grit'