Bit of a dilemma... help please!

Katie__Connie

Katie__Connie

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My YO's son is a keen shooter and is often out shooting birds and things in their woods right next to the yard and menage... the thing is my horse is really scared of the bangs from the gun and it makes it pretty difficult to ride in the menage when he's out there...

So the question is what should I do? I could speak to the YO but since it's their land the son has every right to go shooting on it...
Thanks and ice cream and pimms for reading! :D
 
I suppose it depends on what your YO is like, but I'd be tempted to mention that the shooting scares your horse and is there any possibility that YO's son could let you know in advance when he will be shooting, as you don't want an accident happening.
Try the peaceful nice approach, always works better than going in guns blazing. And they can only say no, can't they?!:)
 
Hi I would have a word with your YO they may not realise that it is causing a problem and your horse is scared. maybe they could let you know when he is going to do it or you let them know when you are going to ride. As you are paying for you livery etc you should be able to ride without problems hope this helps good luck
 
If you speak to YO and son continues to keep on shooting could you turn your pony out in the arena whilst the shooting is going on to get him/her used to the noise?

At our old yard there was a clay shoot every other weekend and the horses got used to it, even scared of life pony was fine with the noise once he had got used to it.
 
Hi on turning out when shooting is going on, horse may injure himself or worse depending on how scared he his. I know of a yard that keeps the horses in when an organised shoot is going on as it only lasts a few hours. The horses there are used to the bangs etc but are still kept in for safety reasons.
 
monkeybum13 said:
If you speak to YO and son continues to keep on shooting could you turn your pony out in the arena whilst the shooting is going on to get him/her used to the noise?

At our old yard there was a clay shoot every other weekend and the horses got used to it, even scared of life pony was fine with the noise once he had got used to it.
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I agree. Maybe your could arrange a time with the YO son so you could be there to keep an eye on your horse.
I used to keep my horse next to Salisbury Plain and he soon got used to the loud bangs, low flying helicopters etc etc. He wouldn't bat an eyelid if a helicopter landed in the next field - but has a fit is someone walks past him with an umbrella!

Otherwise mention it politely to YO and see if you can find a time to ride when YOs son is not shooting.
 
My old girl is scared of anything that goes bang and there are sometimes all-day shoots in the field right next to her, or a single gun wandering around. Believe me, she has NEVER got used to it and despite the fact the others are untroubled, runs around constantly in distress. Unfortunately since we never know when the guns are going to be there, there isn't much I can do about it. I suspect that in todays litigeous society, you would have a good case against the YO's son if his shooting caused you or your horse injury, especially if he started shooting after you had arrived in the menage, or you didn't know he was there.
 
fatpiggy said:
I suspect that in todays litigeous society, you would have a good case against the YO's son if his shooting caused you or your horse injury, especially if he started shooting after you had arrived in the menage, or you didn't know he was there.
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I think this is a bit OTT - the OP hasn't even discussed it with the YO yet and you're talking about suing!
 
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