Following on from pony bit my daughter, what things have you done

Devonshire dumpling

Devonshire dumpling

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Only a couple months ago, we took one horse out of the field and the other wanted to follow so I used my back to hold him back (15.2hh vanner type) he literally crushed me up against a gatepost and I couldnt move, I could feel the air being squeezed out of me, fortunetly for me he backed off, but I can tell you it was a why on earth did I do that moment!!

Come on lets hear your guilty secrets hehe
 
Oh got another, and this was beyond stupid!

We took a few shetlands out for a walk and the cob and nobody wanted to take the 4 yr old 15hher.. i felt sorry for him and said ohhh he will be fine and had my flipflops on, on going up the drive he stood on the back of my flipflop and pulled it off! but missed my foot! anyway it gets stupider I carried on and he was very over excited by the little shetlands and was being a totaly goof.. I had him in just a headcollar, he became so stupid we had to upclip another leadrope from a shetland so we had 2 leadropes on him and 2 of us lead him back.

Now i have been around horses all my life and should know better, i assumed he would be quiet and enjoy his walk around the farm and want to nibble on some grass verges and be relaxed.

Major fail!!
 
I bought a shetland for my little girl had it about 2 months and we went to ride him whilst he was slightly damp well he tried to roll in our sand school with tiny bash on board! I was leading her so as soon as he started digging I grabbed her off but had she not been on LR it would've been a different story.... Trust that to be the day oh's non horsey family come to see her ride for the first time! :$
 
We 'man' the gate and let our horses out of the field, across the yard and into their own stables under their own steam. It means that one person can bring in 4 horses more easily.
One November evening (about 7 0'clock) I was alone and did just that. Clydie came up first, cob was next. Their stables were at different sides of the yard. Cob went across into her own box. Clydie followed her! I shut the gate and tried to get between them but couldn't get there in time. I ended up with a 17hh and a 14.3 in one 12x12 box. Cob was NOT pleased when Clydie tried to eat her tea! Fortunately neither had shoes but the stable wall suffered and eventually gave in.
Clydie was pinned in the far corner, they were head to tail and cob refused to come out. So in the end, I went into the box, picked up the bucket, gave it to Clydie stood between them and backed cob out through the doorway. Then I took her away from the stable and tied her up. Clydie peeped out of the door and snuck back across the yard to her own box. I put cob back into her stable, shut the doors and let the other 2 horses up.
There were so many things that I thought afterwards, that I should have done differently. I was lucky and the only casualty was the stable wall which was relatively easily mended.
But I have always been careful to make sure that each horse is in it's own box with the door shut before letting the next one up, since then.
.
 
flying solo said:
I bought a shetland for my little girl had it about 2 months and we went to ride him whilst he was slightly damp well he tried to roll in our sand school with tiny bash on board! I was leading her so as soon as he started digging I grabbed her off but had she not been on LR it would've been a different story.... Trust that to be the day oh's non horsey family come to see her ride for the first time! :$
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Typical lol
 
Pearlsasinger said:
We 'man' the gate and let our horses out of the field, across the yard and into their own stables under their own steam. It means that one person can bring in 4 horses more easily.
One November evening (about 7 0'clock) I was alone and did just that. Clydie came up first, cob was next. Their stables were at different sides of the yard. Cob went across into her own box. Clydie followed her! I shut the gate and tried to get between them but couldn't get there in time. I ended up with a 17hh and a 14.3 in one 12x12 box. Cob was NOT pleased when Clydie tried to eat her tea! Fortunately neither had shoes but the stable wall suffered and eventually gave in.
Clydie was pinned in the far corner, they were head to tail and cob refused to come out. So in the end, I went into the box, picked up the bucket, gave it to Clydie stood between them and backed cob out through the doorway. Then I took her away from the stable and tied her up. Clydie peeped out of the door and snuck back across the yard to her own box. I put cob back into her stable, shut the doors and let the other 2 horses up.
There were so many things that I thought afterwards, that I should have done differently. I was lucky and the only casualty was the stable wall which was relatively easily mended.
But I have always been careful to make sure that each horse is in it's own box with the door shut before letting the next one up, since then.
.
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Ahhh see this is a sign of complacency.... they are usually fine, why not with one person type thing, how irresponsible!! haha..... seriously sort of thing I would do then stand there in panic thinking OMG!
 
Oh god we've all done something stupid, but chances are you won't do it again!

Mine was about 2 months ago and I can't remember the reason I did it but I needed to tie my boy up at the field gate. There was no string so I must have though 'oh I'll only be a second' and tied him directly to the gate something spoked him and he went back pulling the gate off the hinges and on top of me (now on the ground), somehow I has the presence of mind to tug the quick release knot that we all use and he now free stood there and waited for me to climb out and restore the gate.

In 20 years of horse ownership that was the 1st and VERY LAST time I will ever do that!
 
Oh heck. I did so many 'reckless' things on a daily basis to remember all of them!

Bareback hacking [out round the village/fields/etc] in a headcollar, shorts and barefoot [Walked up the yard not intending to ride obviously, cob was by the gate with said headcollar by it too = new plan!!! I did have flipflops on still to start with but they fell off before we'd even got down the drive!].

Deciding to hop on the very green not long backed rising 4 year old 'project' bareback, and jump him. [That didn't end or even start well...It was more like our own little rodeo show going on the school!]

Thinking electric wire [that had been turned off] would deter cobs from the much jucier field next door....

Hopping on the coloured cobs that some Romanies kept down near my house as a kid, which none were backed let alone handled much and had the stallion in with them, foals, etc.I'd be there with a 15 minute supply of carrots and bread on the ground to keep them quiet by the fencing or gate so I could just climb up and hop on them. Even got a canter out of one round the field and a log [accidental I had no control over where we went haha]!

And when I couldn't even safely jump a 1ft cross pole when I'd just started to learn to jump, I was quite happy enough to hop on a girls slightly insane ISH and jump her to the top barrels and jump wings! [Luckily, or unluckily?, mare was crazy enough that she always just attacked anything put in front of her regardless of who was on her lol. It was just a case of managing to stay on her everywhere else other than the actual jump!]. I remember just being told to knot the reins, grab her mane the whole way round and that she'd do the jump herself! LOL.


Hmmm.

God I was so desperate to ride as a kid!!!!
 
I remember riding on the roads with no hat never mind hiviz and racing the traffic! Riding my horse and leading 4 or 5 back down the duel carriageway to the fields all in head collars. Funily enough no adults taught us any better it was the done thing back then :-(
 
Put some freshly laundered rugs still in their plastic wrappers on the rug racks in the lorry before going to a show. 10 mins away from the show, they started to move and all fell down on my mare. She understandably panicked, pulled both back shoes off and cut her leg. Fortunately there was a farrier at the show and the cut was only minor so we were able to compete, but now all rugs are securely fastened into the racks with bungee cords!

Oh, and another one, a week after purchasing him tied up my 2yo to the tie ring in the yard, forgetting there was a stallion in the next stable. Stallion not pleased and tried to come over the wall - fortunately very laid back 2yo just looked at him, and we were able to get a headcollar on the stallion and tie him up out of the way! YM commented that another horse tied up in the same position had really panicked when the stallion appeared - didn't tie my boy there again!
 
Racing my old Tb against my dog along a verge next to a road - there were no cars coming, but one spook and we would have been splat.

Getting too close to my mum's Sec D when I was a kid, he was being a a*se being caught and a flicked a rope at him. He span, kicked out and hit me square on the chest. I flew backwards and landed on the concrete completely winded. One huge hoof shaped bruise on my front, but thankfully he didn't get my head! :eek:

And one for my mum, putting a 3yo (me!) on a TB on the way back from playschool, probably with her velvet cap on (well, it was the 80s). Me (I think) saying 'look mummy, I can trot' flapping legs and making horse go - horse spooks at pheasant - I'm in hospital in a coma :eek: :D
 
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh the dual nowcarriage way one just reminded me!!!



My now husband and I used to cross the North Devon Link road on horseback so we could get to a very very nice river ride where we could swim the horses...... now anyone who knows this road will realise how utterly stupid this is, its nicknamed the bloodbath road as it goes from dual carriage way to single carriage way, and has caused many deaths, the average speed would be about 70mph.

We used to sit on the grass verge patiently and wait for a gap in traffic (was single lane where we crossed and merrily trot across. Must have done it 100 times in my teens!

Hubby now a firefighter and cut many ppl out of that section... STUPID STUPID STUPID!!
 
Stencilface said:
Racing my old Tb against my dog along a verge next to a road - there were no cars coming, but one spook and we would have been splat.

Getting too close to my mum's Sec D when I was a kid, he was being a a*se being caught and a flicked a rope at him. He span, kicked out and hit me square on the chest. I flew backwards and landed on the concrete completely winded. One huge hoof shaped bruise on my front, but thankfully he didn't get my head! :eek:

And one for my mum, putting a 3yo (me!) on a TB on the way back from playschool, probably with her velvet cap on (well, it was the 80s). Me (I think) saying 'look mummy, I can trot' flapping legs and making horse go - horse spooks at pheasant - I'm in hospital in a coma :eek: :D
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OMG your poor mum!!!!!!! Did she tell the drs the truth?? I bet she was made to feel terrible!!!
 
oh where do I start. Hacking on my very very laid back TB on a hot day, bikini top only. Flipping horse spooked and old man walking his dog got a complete eyeful. Never again. Feeding treats to my new boy when I got him in March (see how long it was since I had a baby). After he properly mugged me the second time I decided not to do that any more (and still don't). Not checking the ground when jumping (it was very dry) but turned out the arenas were well watered. Horse slipped over and we were eliminated for leaving the ring in the incorrect manner (as in, we slipped under the rope around the edge of the arena - me still on the horse)

Thats enough I think before I really show myself up to be a total idiot!
 
:o i did a completely stupid thing the other week , daughter wanted to ride relatively new pony around the farm with hubby leading her and me riding my mare, first time pony had been out on farm so he was a bit looky, was ok until we got to the end of our track and realised all the cows were stood there, :eek: turned around and went back to the field and said to hubby to take daughter back into paddock for a ride round and i'd go for a quick blast round the farm. BIG MISTAKE:o pony did not want to be left and threw a hissy fit, hubby not overly horsey and instead of remaining calm had a hissy at pony, cue one scared daughter and one dancing pony:o i could have kicked myself for being so stupid at trying to leave pony behind and leaving hubby in charge!!!
 
Ibblebibble said:
:o i did a completely stupid thing the other week , daughter wanted to ride relatively new pony around the farm with hubby leading her and me riding my mare, first time pony had been out on farm so he was a bit looky, was ok until we got to the end of our track and realised all the cows were stood there, :eek: turned around and went back to the field and said to hubby to take daughter back into paddock for a ride round and i'd go for a quick blast round the farm. BIG MISTAKE:o pony did not want to be left and threw a hissy fit, hubby not overly horsey and instead of remaining calm had a hissy at pony, cue one scared daughter and one dancing pony:o i could have kicked myself for being so stupid at trying to leave pony behind and leaving hubby in charge!!!
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I do this all the time, 11 yr old on cob starts getting tearful as cob screaming for mate, I say oh don't be daft he will be fine.. ends up anger all round, learnt now a quick blast isnt worth it lol
 
Hmm, my latest was last week. I was trying to get both of my girls out of their field, aided and abetted by their three companions. It's a tricky gateway, with the water trough too close to the entrance/exit, a gate that swings both ways, and a narrow area outside the gate before the main drive that heads down to the yard. I managed to extricate them one at a time, but before I could get the gate closed, one of the other horses tried to barge out. The younger of my girls (two) got a bit worried and I was struggling to juggle two leadropes, two very large horses in a small space, with a gate that swings all over the place and has to be tied closed, in conjunction with a bargy horse. So I flicked the leadrope of my older mare (thirteen) over her neck and trusted her to stand still, while I navigated the tangle. I've done this before and the older mare has always just stood there...

Not this time! This time, I get the bargy beast back, the gate closed and tied, the two year old pacified, turn around and find the other mare has climbed into the large ditch beside the gate and track and is happily munching the grass in it. She's safe enough, but one small problem: the ditch is steep, her rope is hooked over her neck, she's got her back to me, and I can't reach! Do I have treats? Nope. Will she come when I call? Not right this second. Cue ten minutes of standing on the side of the ditch like an idiot trying to wheedle her out. Just to cap it all, when I did manage to coax her to come out again, I discover there's a dog walker and his daughter watching the whole fiasco. Niiiiice.
 
Back in the days of New Zealand rugs with clips on the leg straps... I let my pony rub his head on another pony's bottom. The clip clipped itself very neatly on to the headcollar. Result was small pony hanging with his back legs off the ground off the headcollar. Oddly enough neither pony worried about it and I managed to get the headcollar off. My pony hardly noticed he was lifting the smaller one off the ground.

A complete brain missing moment for me - encountered a pheasant out hacking. It crouched down in about 1mm of grass as we went past and I said "I can still see you" and leant down and tickled it with my schooling whip.
Why oh why would you do that? :eek::o:D
It flew up and hit my horse in the face whilst I was leaning right forward out of the saddle :D luckily I was on the right horse to take a direct hit from a pheasant and he just stood there :)
 
wyrdsister said:
Hmm, my latest was last week. I was trying to get both of my girls out of their field, aided and abetted by their three companions. It's a tricky gateway, with the water trough too close to the entrance/exit, a gate that swings both ways, and a narrow area outside the gate before the main drive that heads down to the yard. I managed to extricate them one at a time, but before I could get the gate closed, one of the other horses tried to barge out. The younger of my girls (two) got a bit worried and I was struggling to juggle two leadropes, two very large horses in a small space, with a gate that swings all over the place and has to be tied closed, in conjunction with a bargy horse. So I flicked the leadrope of my older mare (thirteen) over her neck and trusted her to stand still, while I navigated the tangle. I've done this before and the older mare has always just stood there...

Not this time! This time, I get the bargy beast back, the gate closed and tied, the two year old pacified, turn around and find the other mare has climbed into the large ditch beside the gate and track and is happily munching the grass in it. She's safe enough, but one small problem: the ditch is steep, her rope is hooked over her neck, she's got her back to me, and I can't reach! Do I have treats? Nope. Will she come when I call? Not right this second. Cue ten minutes of standing on the side of the ditch like an idiot trying to wheedle her out. Just to cap it all, when I did manage to coax her to come out again, I discover there's a dog walker and his daughter watching the whole fiasco. Niiiiice.
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**sniggers** :D
 
RebelRebel said:
Back in the days of New Zealand rugs with clips on the leg straps... I let my pony rub his head on another pony's bottom. The clip clipped itself very neatly on to the headcollar. Result was small pony hanging with his back legs off the ground off the headcollar. Oddly enough neither pony worried about it and I managed to get the headcollar off. My pony hardly noticed he was lifting the smaller one off the ground.

A complete brain missing moment for me - encountered a pheasant out hacking. It crouched down in about 1mm of grass as we went past and I said "I can still see you" and leant down and tickled it with my schooling whip.
Why oh why would you do that? :eek::o:D
It flew up and hit my horse in the face whilst I was leaning right forward out of the saddle :D luckily I was on the right horse to take a direct hit from a pheasant and he just stood there :)
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LOL to both your stories!!!!!!
 
RebelRebel said:
Back in the days of New Zealand rugs with clips on the leg straps... I let my pony rub his head on another pony's bottom. The clip clipped itself very neatly on to the headcollar. Result was small pony hanging with his back legs off the ground off the headcollar. Oddly enough neither pony worried about it and I managed to get the headcollar off. My pony hardly noticed he was lifting the smaller one off the ground.
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oh that is fantastic, I'm chuckling away picturing small pony attatched to big ponys bum:D:D
 
LOL at both your stories RebelRebel. I shudder when I look back at some of the things I did with ponies in my younger days. My most recent was a couple of winters ago. Murphy is a pig in the stable in that when anyone goes in to him he lunges at his pony pal in the stable adjacent, when no one is about they lean over the dividing wall chatting but different story when you are in with him. So my brain was not in gear when I went out one winter morning in trainers not boots, and whilst changing rugs stood between him and pony, right in firing range. He landed on my big toe with great force and ground it into the concrete. After turning them out I thought I better investigate the warm feeling in my shoe :eek:, to cut it short cue visit to hospital, nail that was nearly off removed and hobbling round for the next few weeks in sons size 10 steel toe caps which were the only boots I could gt over my strapped up broken toe and gooey nail. Totally my own fault cos I know he is an arse and set myself up for it to happen.:o
 
I had one of those moments when you think "well they've always been good before" Took Fany for a walk just head collar and lead rein, I'd done it many times before and she had always behaved perfectly. We were just heading for home, down a very long private road and her BF calls, she starts trotting off. I pull her up and she walks fine, he shouts again and she is off. She is a draft horse and there was no way I could stop her, so there I was basically land skiing behind her, no gloves on. Finally had to give up and let go. She trotted over to her BF then back to her stable! Never again, now she is walked out in her bridle and bit!

I can also agree with all the things people used to do when they were young, I used to go out for hours in shorts and bare foot, barebacked on my welshie. Never thought of wearing a hat, just used to have a head collar and off we went.
FDC
 
Not quite on the same scale....noticed a fly in my horses ear so did a sharp blow into her ear to get the fly out. Strangely enough she didn't like me blowing in her ear! (but is a saint so only did a brief startle). Really a case of 'must engage brain'
 
Devonshire dumpling said:
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh the dual nowcarriage way one just reminded me!!!



My now husband and I used to cross the North Devon Link road on horseback so we could get to a very very nice river ride where we could swim the horses...... now anyone who knows this road will realise how utterly stupid this is, its nicknamed the bloodbath road as it goes from dual carriage way to single carriage way, and has caused many deaths, the average speed would be about 70mph.

We used to sit on the grass verge patiently and wait for a gap in traffic (was single lane where we crossed and merrily trot across. Must have done it 100 times in my teens!

Hubby now a firefighter and cut many ppl out of that section... STUPID STUPID STUPID!!
Click to expand...

Went on a riding holiday when I was 17 and the YO took my brother and I across the A303 (dual carriageway) on a hack. This was a lady in her late 70s...she was riding bareback and stood us at the side of the road and said "When I say now, trot to the central reservation as fast as you can" and then we did the same to get to the other side :0 Luckily we came back a different way ;)
 
RebelRebel said:
A complete brain missing moment for me - encountered a pheasant out hacking. It crouched down in about 1mm of grass as we went past and I said "I can still see you" and leant down and tickled it with my schooling whip.
Why oh why would you do that? :eek::o:D
It flew up and hit my horse in the face whilst I was leaning right forward out of the saddle :D luckily I was on the right horse to take a direct hit from a pheasant and he just stood there :)
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that's fantastic!
 
ironhorse said:
Went on a riding holiday when I was 17 and the YO took my brother and I across the A303 (dual carriageway) on a hack. This was a lady in her late 70s...she was riding bareback and stood us at the side of the road and said "When I say now, trot to the central reservation as fast as you can" and then we did the same to get to the other side :0 Luckily we came back a different way ;)
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Hmmmmmmmmmm thought you were going to accuse me then, I used to take hacks across there too, was a trekking centre haha.. but defo not 70, I was about 15!

these stories are all so funny!
 
The the story of the wheelbarrow racing pony!

Thought of another... in the summer i'd quite enjoy putting on a long boho style skirt long hair down (NO HAT) and hope on my mums cob (NO HEAD COLLAR) and have a nice canter (NO WARM UP) up the big field hair and skirt flapping in the wind it was the most amazing feeling- don't think my WB now would look after me in quite the same way though :o(
 
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