Am I the one in the wrong??

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proctor

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The yard I work at runs a pony club at the weekends, and the weekend manager is a bit of a shouty in your face person. When I take the kids out on a hack, I usually take them in the forestry, but can't now as they are shooting, which now leaves the moors or a road ride round the block. Anyhoo, I refuse to take the kids on the moors when we've had alot of rain because it's not fair on the horses to gallop through boggy ground and it's slippery to the point where they could hurt theirselves. So I stick to the road route which obviously means no cantering. The manager says that I must take them on the moors because they must have a canter. She is a bit nuts and will gallop downhill and stuff and doesn't seem to have much thought for the horses. Am I right or am I being a bit too soft. At the end of the day my main priority are the horses. And I'm certainly not making MY horse go lame for anyone.
 
No. As long as the horses are getting exercised, it doesn't matter what pace they're in. And if they're your horses, then its nothing to do with her.

What does the pony club have to do with the story? Because you can't use the school or something?
 
Don't give in, because if anything happens you know she'll make it your fault. It's not worth the risk IMO, I don't think you're in the wrong at all.
 
Honey08 said:
No. As long as the horses are getting exercised, it doesn't matter what pace they're in. And if they're your horses, then its nothing to do with her.

What does the pony club have to do with the story? Because you can't use the school or something?
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Sorry, I didn't explain that bit! We have 4 groups of kids, 2 groups have a lesson and 2 groups have a hack, then they swap over the following weekend.
 
Oh I see, so the manager thinks that they ought to have a canter.. Say you'll canter when its safe, but at the moment you think its an insurance claim waiting to happen. Get them learning proper hand signals and road sense whilst out hacking - they could all work towards their riding and road safety tests - theres going to be elements of it in every pony club test next year, so it would be good for them to do...
 
Are we talking gallop or canter,I rather suspect it is the latter. Also ,in my experience boggy ground is not slippery,it is deep and holding. I do suspect that you are being over cautious.
 
I would prefer to be over cautious especially where children are concerned and i wouldn't want any horse or pony of mine put at risk as there is always another day. Imho!
 
Tell her you've done your risk assesment for 'ealth and safty, and its not safe. If you are the resposible adult in charge it is you who would be liable for the childrens safety
 
Mike007 said:
Are we talking gallop or canter,I rather suspect it is the latter. Also ,in my experience boggy ground is not slippery,it is deep and holding. I do suspect that you are being over cautious.
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I disagree. If it is like the boggy moor land nearmy parents then to even walk in that after a heavy heacy downpour you will sink! It is fine when dry. And I would most definately not canter on it if it was super sodden. If there are just RS ponies (or are they owned by the kids) then they will not be the fittest and more at risk of pulling something.

I know little kids usually can stick on to anything, but if they stuck to good and the pony goes down/slips then that is bad.

Just not worth it. Unless, can you ride round the route first to check the ground? Or do you know of anyone who has ridden it?
 
I totally agree with Wishful. Fast work in deep ground is a no-no in my books and what message are you giving the kids if you say it is fine to razz about whatever the going? There are enough of them that think like that already ta very much My then-very fit mare did her suspensory flying about in a wet field one Bonfire Night. It just isn't worth the risk. And anyway, do you want to bring home a kid who has fallen off in the mud and got soaked down to their skin in yuk???
 
I had a really scary fall when I was a kid and my RI insisted I jump in very wet weather in a sand school. I was only about 9 so not about to argue with a 35-year old plus RI. The pony I was riding slipped in the corner after the jump and came down right on top of me. Neither of us was injured but it really shook my confidence for ages afterwards. I wouldn't like to think of another child / novice rider experiencing the same thing.
You are definitely in the right!
 
Doesnt do a lot for the conservation of the ground let alone a horses legs or shoeing bill. I take it boss is one of those who would think nothing of ripping up someone elses land by hammering up and down a bridleway all winter.
 
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