Get off or stay on?

Lancelot

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13 November 2008
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Hi,

If your horse becomes lame on a hack do you get off and lead them home or stay on and walk home?
My gut feeling was to get off but i've been told it's safer to stay on and walk home staying on softer ground where possible?
 
Get off, check there is no stone in hoof, lead home if not. If stone removed get back on (easier said than done in my case) and ride home being careful in case of bruising.
 
Get off.
For the longest time, back in Scotland, my fellow liveries thought my horse decked me on every hack...because I got off and walked the last 1/2 mile home with her.

S
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with my boy i have to say on, i got of and tried to lead him home once and he kept trying to walk on top of me. so just back on
 
It would depend on circumstances - if horse is placid and plodding along I'd get off. If there is a chance you could lose it if you did - perhaps your near a busy road and horse is het up Id probably stay on until I was in safer place unless it was hopping lame of course when it would be only fair to get off. As in so many situations the right thing to do depends on so many circumstances - its never black and white. Follow your instinct
 
I would also check for a stone, especially for a sudden, significant lameness. If the horse is still lame I would try to find someone who could pick us up with a horsebox, if not possible I would ride home in walk taking the most direct route possible; I don't think the rider's weight makes much of a difference in such a situation.
 
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Get off.
For the longest time, back in Scotland, my fellow liveries thought my horse decked me on every hack...because I got off and walked the last 1/2 mile home with her.

S
grin.gif


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Same here!!! I also walk the last bit home - because if i don't i stiffen up and can't friggin get off
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One thing i have noticed though, is traffic slows down more when i am leading than when i am riding!!
 
If its lame it's obviously in some sort of pain somewhere, no matter how lame it is, you could make the injury worse if the horse is also carrying added weight of the rider, hence I'd get off and walk it back.
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Get off. Mine is no problem to lead as I get off anyway to give his back a rest and also my bum when on a long hack so he is used to it.

Jane
 
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