Do you take your horses out and about on your own?

milliepops

milliepops

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In the lorry or trailer I mean ;)

Had a bit of a rubbish experience yesterday at a clinic that would have been easier to manage with a helper, but equally wouldn't have happened if there was a bit more consideration for the lone traveller.

Just got me thinking as everyone else was there with at least one other person, how many people go to shows or clinics etc on their own? I can't remember the last time I had a helper, probably Salty's first show over a year ago. Just wondering what the norm is :)
 
I’ve always managed to drag someone along ... occasionally I’ve ended up at the vets alone but competitions and clinics I’ve alaays had a helper even if it’s someone who is also riding that we’ve shared transport... hats off tho to those who go alone I’m not sure how you manage but I’m impressed you do!
 
I always have a helper with me, mainly because Spook is tricky and can’t be left on the trailer/tied to the trailer without supervision and has in the past been a tricky loader. I’m always very impressed by those who go it alone!
 
Pretty much always go on my own, never had any issues, my old boy is a saint out and about. It's rare that I would have a helper. Not sure how the new boy will be, although he has been good on his recent trips to the vets, hopefully he will be fine once we start going out and about next year, as I do not want to rely on someone to have to come with me.
 
I am on my own more often than I have help. I do sometimes take two of my horses out and have a friend ride one, but more often than not she will meet me wherever we are competing/staying rather than travel with me.

I think there are two things that really help me when out and about on my own - the first is a side loading Equi-trek as it makes loading alone so much easier than a rear loading trailer where you are trying to be a tthe horse's head and tail simultaneously. The other is having horses that will happily stand on the trailer with the ramp down eating hay and watching what is going on, as they do not stress I can sort everything out, go to secretary etc before fetching them off to tack up.
 
Yes, just about every time.
If a new one, then I try and persuade husband who is very non horsey to come for 1st outing, possibly 2nd one too.
Initially I travel to somewhere like a friends arena so I know the might be help at other end, or if doing something v different, like last weekend our 1st hunter trial then I get a friend to meet me there in case of mishaps.
Otherwise, yes I fly solo just about all the time.
 
I don't go out often but have had to load alone the last few times. Not ideal, it would have been much easier to have a helper close the tail gate! I managed though. Would rather take a companion if I can find one ;) For conversation and filming/photo purposes!
 
Back in the day I regularly took one eventing on my own and often two to dressage, how I did it and learned up to 4 tests I have no idea.
I now go as the helper/ trainer/ groom and am always aware of the few people who are alone or have less useful helpers and offer a hand if they look as if the need it, holding something while they walk a course, read a test, help load, as long as it doesn't interfere with my own client it takes nothing to assist for a minute or two.

A clinic should be one of the easier places to cope alone as everyone is there to learn not under the same pressures as a competition and there are usually some spectators/ hangers on with nothing to do, sorry you had a rubbish experience, some people are just difficult because they can be, don't take it personally they are probably just as bad with everyone .
 
Thanks bp, tbf at most shows etc people are generally helpful and kind, I was a bit staggered by how thoughtless these were by comparison! With a more established horse I generally don't find it an issue, but with a newbie learning the ropes it's a different matter ;)
 
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I guess it may reflect on either the yard the clinic was at or the person taking the clinic, bad manners tend to start at the top and trickle down, kind people tend to attract similar clients, possibly totally unfair but may be worth thinking about, hope the clinic was of benefit otherwise.
 
I go most places alone I do have an older friend who comes out and about with me when she can it’s not so much managing alone I have good systems in my head for this , but it’s much more fun with a like minded partner in crime .
One of advantages of being old ( in relation to most other people ) and fabulously broken is that people are always offering help .
Mounting is a difficulty for me I used to find it hideously embarrassing but I am over that now .
It’s harder with a new horse ( I have one atm ) but I am just get out and about within my comfort zone at first .
In my younger days I would happily head off to clinic with three horses alone .
 
milliepops said:
In the lorry or trailer I mean ;)

Had a bit of a rubbish experience yesterday at a clinic that would have been easier to manage with a helper, but equally wouldn't have happened if there was a bit more consideration for the lone traveller.

Just got me thinking as everyone else was there with at least one other person, how many people go to shows or clinics etc on their own? I can't remember the last time I had a helper, probably Salty's first show over a year ago. Just wondering what the norm is :)
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I am really sorry that no one came to help or even to say something kind .
I don’t think that would happen round here at a clinic .
 
Goldenstar said:
I am really sorry that no one came to help or even to say something kind .
I don’t think that would happen round here at a clinic .
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Thanks GS :) I'm usually quite resilient but this caught me at a low spot!

Nice to hear there are plenty of other people going it alone, I think when you are used to being on your tod it's maybe easier to relate to the challenges?
 
It depends how experienced the horse is and what we're doing. I have often done trips alone to shows with my older boy - he's a doddle. I've also taken my youngsters to the breakers and vets on my own as once there, I can ask for help if needed. However, taking said young horses out to their first parties, absolutely no chance I can do it on my own - asking for trouble really as they have been quite sharp.
 
I always pretty much go alone, as i normally have done weekday bd nobody was ever around so i would learn one test, trundle off alone and its always been fine. Probably wouldn't go miles away alone though - generally up to one hour each way, this has always been with well established horses. I have a baby horse aswell and i would definitely be taking help when he is ready, mainly because the chance of me falling off is fairly high :)
I have seen people in trouble at shows, loose horses, not loading and a few times i have offered to help and had my head bitten off, i guess because they're stressed. But generally i would always be helpful to people alone esp if they get into trouble.
 
I have recently had to start going out on my own after ex wandered off to pastures new, although he wasn't at all horsey I found him very useful! I put off going out alone for ages as I struggle to load however I have been out a few times now and it's been ok, I find there's normally someone around to help load. Luckily he stands mostly quietly on the box if I open the doors so he can have a look out. I think I would have really struggled when I first started taking him out alone as he used to get quite stressed so it was good to have someone to stand with him. Whilst not perfect now he is at least calm enough to leave for short periods of time!
The loading was a bit of an issue this weekend on my own but I could grab someone to help luckily. Sorry to hear you had a bad experience, I think people should be aware when someone is on their own, I don't really like asking for help so appreciate when someone notices!
 
I'm do a bit of both but I mainly travel (trailer) to hunt these days. When I used to compete I preferred to go alone as my horse gets very clingy to the horse he travels with which could make him nap. He is easier to handle if we travel alone. He is good to load and stands quietly whilst I put trailer breach bar up.
 
milliepops said:
In the lorry or trailer I mean ;)

Had a bit of a rubbish experience yesterday at a clinic that would have been easier to manage with a helper, but equally wouldn't have happened if there was a bit more consideration for the lone traveller.

Just got me thinking as everyone else was there with at least one other person, how many people go to shows or clinics etc on their own? I can't remember the last time I had a helper, probably Salty's first show over a year ago. Just wondering what the norm is :)
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I've been competing for 23 years and have never had a helper albeit the odd occassion when someone has come along for the ride.

I've always coped on my own but then I am quite an independent person and have never needed the company of others - being an only child sets you up for life!

I'd never met anyone before that was the same as me, they either had a parent or partner for moral support or a group of about five people! Then a lady moved onto our yard and goes out all the time on her own, and sometimes further than I've even ventured. I'm always telling her I admire her independence.

I used to compete in quite a dangerous sport (for a horse that would take delight in shying at anything slightly 'strange') and have had a few falls in my time where I have been concussed and ended up in an ambulance on the way to get checked out at hospital. When my Dad was alive he would pick up my partner and drive to wherever I'd been competing and Dad would follow behind the ambulance and the partner would get someone at the showground to load the horse and then he would tow it home for me.

I am probably making it sound more dramatic than it actually was (touch wood I never broke anything) it was always spinal board, neck brace, and precautionary with me, apart from 1997 when it was blue light job and an overnight stay in intensive care followed by 4 days on a ward. :)

Of course it always helps to be in a breakdown organisation (especially as Dad is no longer with me) and to keep the trailer and car well serviced. Oh, and to have a horse that will doze for 2 or 3 hours in between classes tied to the back of the trailer....... now that's something money can't buy!!
 
I have a non-horsey camera (wo)man, so I'm never alone exactly, but I do have to do everything alone as I'm not convinced any "help" would be beneficial (it's not the same as being completely alone though, I know). It can be logistically challenging but usually works out OK - mine are pretty zen mostly, but one of the reasons I don't take Dae out so much is the hassle of trying to tack up a spinning, snorting, prancing Daemon by myself :rolleyes: trying to bandage him and plait his tail for polocrosse was an actual nightmare.

I'm sorry people didn't try to help / offer / check you were OK. I would have, in those circs (unless I'd also been flying a Dae-kite and trying not to die!).
 
On my own unless I can drag someone along. Millie’s not the easiest to take out alone so I do try to have someone with me if possible. She doesn’t like to tie up to the wagon, she doesn’t like to stay on board the wagon (this is all a work in progress at the moment, we will get there!) and she is generally a spooky and a bit hyper so simple things like tacking up can be a nightmare.

Diva was amazing. I could go anywhere with her on my own.
 
Littlebear said:
I have seen people in trouble at shows, loose horses, not loading and a few times i have offered to help and had my head bitten off, i guess because they're stressed. .
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I think you're right there.

I didn't actually need help when I arrived,I am generally well prepared and rehearse what I can at home. But the people in question parked so close to my box (in an empty car park) that I couldn't access my tie rings, and then dropped the ramp just as I was putting my bridle on, so horse legged it in fright sending me flying. Then made some remark about needing to secure him.... well, yeah, that's the point of the now-inaccessible tie rings.

Ho hum ;) Bring on the 7.5t so I can safely tack up inside!

So nice to hear about all the helpful people out there though, I do tend to come across lovely friendly people when out and about.
 
milliepops said:
Thanks GS :) I'm usually quite resilient but this caught me at a low spot!

Nice to hear there are plenty of other people going it alone, I think when you are used to being on your tod it's maybe easier to relate to the challenges?
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Yes I think it’s something you get into the mindset And then on with it .
I also think it gives you an edge if you think about it .
The arena is a lonely place no one can help you there .
Without doubt the worse thing to many alone is the SJ warmup at a higher level comp that’s the pits .
 
Always go alone when we are out haven't had any issue other than people parking too close and I can't get my trailer door down. Thankfully the Hipo is very chill and I can tie him to the nearest object with grass and move the trailer forward
 
milliepops said:
But the people in question parked so close to my box (in an empty car park) that I couldn't access my tie rings...
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That really flips me off. Utterly unnecessary. I've had people park so close I couldn't get my front ramp down. Fine, I can reverse Fergs off the back and tie up to the rear of my trailer, the only place left to tie (as no room on the ramp side and can't tie on the jockey door side). Once they then complained about F being in the way of them unloading :rolleyes: You chose to park there, dipshit - deal with it!
 
I mostly go alone to clinics, lessons and the occasional dressage test. I'm quite lucky really in that my mare is a doddle to take out alone, she stands on the trailer nicely, stands to load well, happy enough for me to tack up and faff about in the car while she's stood next to the trailer.

It's generally nicer to have some company (if only to fetch a cuppa while I'm warming up) but it's not always possible. My long suffering friend who usually comes with me has a young daughter, so was struggling to come with me all the time, and I usually go out a few times a month so we did our first solo trip to compete in the early summer. I had got myself all worked up about the 'what ifs' but I needn't have worried.

I think it helps going to venues that you know are helpful. There is one very close to me that I wouldn't be keen on going alone, as everyone there is downright unhelpful in all honesty, but then there are a few venues a little further away who couldn't be more helpful. Most of the times when I've been out alone, I have let the secretary know I'm alone, and there has always been someone around to give me a hand if needs be.

I wouldn't have been able to take my last horse out alone as he was a bag of nerves and particularly flighty, so I think I'm quite lucky currently with Bean.

It's a shame you have had a less than pleasant experience though MP, sorry it has left you with a bit of a bad taste in your mouth!
 
milliepops said:
I think you're right there.

I didn't actually need help when I arrived,I am generally well prepared and rehearse what I can at home. But the people in question parked so close to my box (in an empty car park) that I couldn't access my tie rings, and then dropped the ramp just as I was putting my bridle on, so horse legged it in fright sending me flying. Then made some remark about needing to secure him.... well, yeah, that's the point of the now-inaccessible tie rings.

Ho hum ;) Bring on the 7.5t so I can safely tack up inside!

So nice to hear about all the helpful people out there though, I do tend to come across lovely friendly people when out and about.
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They sound like idiots MP. Hope you are ok.
 
milliepops said:
So nice to hear about all the helpful people out there though, I do tend to come across lovely friendly people when out and about.
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I've had show centres stable my horse for a few hours until my horse can be picked up to be traillered home following a trip to the hospital.

I've also had a very kind man put my spare tyre on when I got to the showground and realised my tyre had literally shredded coming down the driveway.

And I've had countless people offer to hold my horse when I've had to move the trailer forwards to load. People can be so nice.
 
JFTD-WS said:
That really flips me off. Utterly unnecessary. I've had people park so close I couldn't get my front ramp down. Fine, I can reverse Fergs off the back and tie up to the rear of my trailer, the only place left to tie (as no room on the ramp side and can't tie on the jockey door side). Once they then complained about F being in the way of them unloading :rolleyes: You chose to park there, dipshit - deal with it!
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I was at a show (with Kira who is now a complete dream to take out and about fortunately) and while I was riding someone slipped in the gap between me and another lorry which was so tight I couldn't get the horse down it to retrieve my now-trapped headcollar and leadrope. There was oodles of space elsewhere. Anyway, while I left K loose to get the headcollar, she slurped up all the water they had left in a bucket ready for their return. That'll do, hoss, that'll do ;)
 
People can be so thoughtless.

When I had a sticky loader I used to park in the furthest away, most deserted corner of the lorry park to minimise distractions.
At one show someone parked right next to me, unloaded their horse just as I was getting mine on, and then laughed when he came straight off again.
It took another half hour to get him in
 
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