AIBU - lead rein size

[Aperchristmas]

I understand being disappointed but if the Clydesdale gets super excited (as many do at a hunt) you have no hope of being able to hold him whereas you have more of a chance with a more standard lead rein pony. It's a shame but I understand the hunt's response.

 

[KittenInTheTree]

Thanks HHO for making me realise what a monster I am as I was going to cause the death of many tots and their ponies by bringing my ton of fire breathing stallion to attack them all.

You're welcome. Also, he really shouldn't be breathing fire. That's not normal for Clydesdales. It's more of a dragon thing, so I'd get the vet to check that, hun.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

From a practical point of view lead rein ponies shouldn't really exceed 13.2hh as after that they are too big and could worry other children and ponies who aren't used to such big animals. As has previously been said the hunt may well have a set route going under low branches or through narrow gaps that your horse would not fit through.

I'm afraid it's going to have to be one of these things you are just going to have to suck up and accept that you can't do.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

I generally find horses are fine with bigger horses.

Would you consider it reasonable if the hunt had said no to a kid riding a bad tempered Shetland that had hunted before?

Many horses find Shetlands a bit scary at first (I've had mine in a field next to a Shetland and he's figured it out now)

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

How does the hunt know that the Clydesdale is well-trained? How do they know what the horse is like during a hunt? I'd much rather handle - and I'd have far more control of - an unruly Sec A than an unruly Clydesdale.

OP said she'd explained to the hunt the horse was exceptionally well trained. I believe this horse did an exhibition ride at the Royal Cheshire amongst enthusiastic crowds, flags, vintage tractors etc while quite young.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I generally find horses are fine with bigger horses.

Would you consider it reasonable if the hunt had said no to a kid riding a bad tempered Shetland that had hunted before?

Many horses find Shetlands a bit scary at first (I've had mine in a field next to a Shetland and he's figured it out now)

This one scares my boy she is a witch

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[OrangeAndLemon]

This one scares my boy she is a witch

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Love it! She's dancing to her own theme tune!

 

[Barton Bounty]

Love it! She's dancing to her own theme tune!

Ive had to catch her with a haynet before, shes an escape artist and shes not shy about it lol

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[Winters100]

OP said she'd explained to the hunt the horse was exceptionally well trained. g.

Yes, but the problem is that 'exceptionally well trained' is subjective, and unless they know the horse and the owner very well it is also hard for them to know if they are being told the truth. I think all of us have had some sort of contact with parents who say that their child 'rides very well', only to see an almost total beginner when they are put on a pony. The organisers are taking a fair bit of responsibility in arranging these sort of events, so they are well within their rights to introduce what rules they see fit. It seems quite simple to me, if you want to do events aimed at children on small ponies then you need to have a child and a small pony.

I also find it a bit surprising that OP refers to letting the organisers know about the size of the horse as a 'mistake'. Would she prefer to turn up, and cause stress and embarrassment to the organisers, in the hope that she could somehow persuade or bully them into allowing her to participate?

I am absolutely not against children learning to ride larger horses, in many countries it is the norm, but I do believe that those who organise events should be respected, and their rules accepted as final without complaint.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Ive had to catch her with a haynet before, shes an escape artist and shes not shy about it lol

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Absolutely adore her purple bonnet. What a superstar. Off to learn how to subscribe to YouTube.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

I'd be curious to know how many of you who are against a Clydesdale LR pony have actually lived with a Clydesdale, not just met one once, but actually seen what it's like to live with them?

The one on my yard last week was stressing in his field because he was the last one to be brought in. He showed that stress by standing at the gate whinnying. The gate was broken and he could have pushed past it at any moment. He didn't because he is well trained.

Another used to help with putting the bins out which meant he followed on the end of a lead rope as the grooms pushed a huge, heavy biffa bin down a concrete corridor to where the bin lorry collects them.

The heavy horses at our yard are turned out in the paddocks next to the gallops because they don't react when the racehorses go up the gallops. Even on their first day, the biggest reaction you see is they put their head up and stare. They keep all the other horses calm because they don't react

 

[Red-1]

I'd be curious to know how many of you who are against a Clydesdale LR pony have actually lived with a Clydesdale, not just met one once, but actually seen what it's like to live with them?

The one on my yard last week was stressing in his field because he was the last one to be brought in. He showed that stress by standing at the gate whinnying. The gate was broken and he could have pushed past it at any moment. He didn't because he is well trained.

Another used to help with putting the bins out which meant he followed on the end of a lead rope as the grooms pushed a huge, heavy biffa bin down a concrete corridor to where the bin lorry collects them.

The heavy horses at our yard are turned out in the paddocks next to the gallops because they don't react when the racehorses go up the gallops. Even on their first day, the biggest reaction you see is they put their head up and stare. They keep all the other horses calm because they don't react

I used to train Police Horses for a living and would not enjoy riding amongst 12.2 lead rein ponies on one. They were exceptionally well trained. They were used to working in pedestrianised areas with push chairs and small children gathered around them. That was their job, and mine. They were cartey types of many breeds, minimum 17hh.

I would still not choose to get one in amongst a set of small lead rein ponies, who may well be excited in a hunt situation, whose little riders can't prevent quarters swinging even though the leader has control of their heads. Of course, I would go Police such an event, stay at the back or slightly away. But then, the organisers would know the standard of training they would likely have received. They would know I was attending to assure the safety of all, not there for a jolly myself, so would not get right in there amongst the ponies.

I'm afraid that, since the follow up post from OP, it would not just be the horse I was worried about at the hunt. That post shows a different attitude to a professional who was there with the prime concern to help and protect others.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

I have to admit, I can understand the OPs disappointment.

I thought this sort of thinking was on the way out due to the work by H&H, RBST, HOYs, BD etc to really showcase heavies over the past few years.

If this is still the thinking that resonates across the equine community then there really is little hope to save these rare breeds.

 

[conniegirl]

The last clyde i had anything to do with was a nightmare, lovely enough to handle but used his size to get his way, fences, doors etc didn’t stand a chance. His owner would have protested that he was exceptionally well trained too.
so well trained the yard owner had to invest in reenforced steel motorway crash barriers for fencing.

OP said she'd explained to the hunt the horse was exceptionally well trained. I believe this horse did an exhibition ride at the Royal Cheshire amongst enthusiastic crowds, flags, vintage tractors etc while quite young.

my welshie has been showing since he was 2, he is now 22.
in the show ring you literally cannot phase him, he has even been to reenactment event and not bothered by cannon. he still almost lost his mind when i took him cubbing once.

 

[conniegirl]

I have to admit, I can understand the OPs disappointment.

I thought this sort of thinking was on the way out due to the work by H&H, RBST, HOYs, BD etc to really showcase heavies over the past few years.

If this is still the thinking that resonates across the equine community then there really is little hope to save these rare breeds.

given the recent enough death of a 2 year-old child in pretty much the same situation, do you really think the worries unfounded?

this is not a thing against heavies, this is a thing against ANY huge horse (many hw hunters can be 17hh+) at a leadrein meet.

leadrein rules are there for safety.
I’d also be in the camp of turning round snd going home again if huge horses were going to be in the middle of a leadrein meet where i had a small child and pony.
so by allowing one big horse they would likely lose many others

 

[cauda equina]

I have to admit, I can understand the OPs disappointment.

I thought this sort of thinking was on the way out due to the work by H&H, RBST, HOYs, BD etc to really showcase heavies over the past few years.

If this is still the thinking that resonates across the equine community then there really is little hope to save these rare breeds.

It's only one event! Missing one event isn't going to cause the demise of heavy breeds
It sounds as if the OP's horse is absolutely lovely and there are plenty of other things he can be doing, but horses for courses and all that

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

It's only one event! Missing one event isn't going to cause the demise of heavy breeds
It sounds as if the OP's horse is absolutely lovely and there are plenty of other things he can be doing, but horses for courses and all that

It isn't the one event, it's all the comments on here saying they wouldn't want a heavy horse in the neighbourhood.

 

[conniegirl]

It isn't the one event, it's all the comments on here saying they wouldn't want a heavy horse in the neighbourhood.

No one is saying they don’t specifically want a heavy near, its any big horse not just heavies. Many hunters, some race horses and a lot of warmbloods can be 17hh+. Wouldn’t want any of them in the middle of a leadrein meet.

 

[cauda equina]

It isn't the one event, it's all the comments on here saying they wouldn't want a heavy horse in the neighbourhood.

Oh really?
I was reading the comments as saying they wouldn't want such a big horse at a lead rein event; sorry if I misunderstood

 

[scats]

A 17hh Clydesdale is a fabulous animal, but not at a lead rein meet where the majority will be on tiny ponies.
The organisers are thinking of everyone’s safety. I think the tragic story of the tot who was kicked in the head a few years ago will always be at the forefront of every hunts mind when little ‘uns are involved in their meets.

 

[Red-1]

It isn't the one event, it's all the comments on here saying they wouldn't want a heavy horse in the neighbourhood.

Gosh, this is another over reaction. Maybe I don't want a fire breathing dragon in the neighbourhood, but then I didn't see anyone apart from OP refer to her horse as such either!

 

[Katieg123]

It isn't the one event, it's all the comments on here saying they wouldn't want a heavy horse in the neighbourhood.

I would love to see more heavies out and about in all sorts of scenarios but is it not fair to say that maybe this is not the best scenario for that horse? If op was reasonable she could ask to stick right to the back but even if the horse was a literal angel the child could get clothes lined off by a tree branch and its a decent way down!

 

[ycbm]

This one scares my boy she is a witch

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I don't know about her being a witch, but she's upset and if she'd added a bit of a rear to her turn as many do, she would have strangled herself.
.

 

[Katieg123]

I don't know about her being a witch, but she's upset and if she'd added a bit of a rear to her turn as many do, she would have strangled herself.
.

The owner was obviously right there watching her for any trouble she might get in

 

[ycbm]

Thanks HHO for making me realise what a monster I am as I was going to cause the death of many tots and their ponies by bringing my ton of fire breathing stallion to attack them all.

The problem is that none of the other leaders would know that you weren't going to do this, unless they all knew him personally.
.

 

[wills_91]

I'd be curious to know how many of you who are against a Clydesdale LR pony have actually lived with a Clydesdale, not just met one once, but actually seen what it's like to live with them?

The one on my yard last week was stressing in his field because he was the last one to be brought in. He showed that stress by standing at the gate whinnying. The gate was broken and he could have pushed past it at any moment. He didn't because he is well trained.

Another used to help with putting the bins out which meant he followed on the end of a lead rope as the grooms pushed a huge, heavy biffa bin down a concrete corridor to where the bin lorry collects them.

The heavy horses at our yard are turned out in the paddocks next to the gallops because they don't react when the racehorses go up the gallops. Even on their first day, the biggest reaction you see is they put their head up and stare. They keep all the other horses calm because they don't react

Probably the same as those who have strong opinions of "sh!tlands" having never owned one or spent time around them . The only 2 heavies I've had real close contant with over a number of years where/are both quite hot headed, although I understand this is not typical of the breed. It's nothing to do with the breed anyway, it's the sheer size and power. The OP would be getting the same response if it was a 17hh warmblood she wanted to take.

I've never been involved in hunting, but it makes me nervous to see small children on ponies at meets, so I don't think I'd be happy to have any big horse at a lead rein meet either.

 

[Goldenstar]

No the hunt is not being unreasonable .

 

[conniegirl]

Probably the same as those who have strong opinions of "sh!tlands" having never owned one or spent time around them

Having owned one and spent many years round them my opinion is that they deserve thier reputation. The one we had caused £3k of damage in one night and went on to cause havoc for the entire time we had him

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Shetlands are some of the easiest, funniest ponies to deal with if you respect them and don't treat them like pets. That's when things go wrong.

The only really bad shetland we have had here was one that was bought in at 11yo. He had no manners, no respect for humans or fences and savaged other ponies and horses. He quickly got shipped back out again! The rest have been an utter delight 99% of the time.

It's all how they are brought up and treated as to what makes them.

 

[rabatsa]

So OP your clyde is a stallion?

That is what would be of more concern to me at a childrens meet, than his size.

Stallions are not allowed to be used at any RDA group and this is without the excitement of a hunt in the vacinity.