Had an argument at the yard this morning - hate that place sometimes!

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CBFan

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Got to the field gate to find two of my Gelding's field mates hanging around the gate. I tried asking them to move back, and it didn't work. Their handler was still there and did NOTHING to help get them out of the way. So I used the stick that I was carrying (which happened to have a small piece of carrier bag attached to it (to encourage my gelding to move forward as he's been planting himself and refusing to budge!) to encourage them to move away from the gate. I literally waggled it once down by my side and backed it up with a voice command. Anyway, the next thing I know and the woman handler bellowed at me like a school mistress ' DON'T EVER LET ME CATCH YOU CHASING THOSE TWO WITH A CARRIER BAG AGAIN! I've spent ages teaching XXX Horse not to be afraid of carrier bags!' And I simply said, a) I wasn't chasing them, I flicked it by my side while requesting politely that they move out of my way - you're making me out to be some carrier bag on a stick wielding maniac! and b) you obviously haven't done a very good job of making your horse not scared of carrier bags if he still has a problem with them at 12 years of age!!

At the end of the day, she was there, she could've helped me - as I do others if my gelding follows me back to the gate after leaving him some 10 metres into the field for this very reason...she could've actually walked the horses into the field before letting them go - the gate swings shut by itself so no excuse... I apreciate that not everyone likes their horses, disciplined (although I wasn't strictly disciplining them) by others but she didn't help me and I did find her reaction quite extreme (and VERY rude - since when did a 'please don't do that because xyz' become an impossibilty!) and I personally would have no problem with anyone using a training aid to back up a request for my horse to move out of their way if necessary, bar beating the crap out of him...

.... just.... grrrrrrrrr!
 
Totally out of order that the owner didn't help you if they could see you struggling...

However (and please don't take this the wrong way) I would have something to say if someone waggled a carrier bag at my horse in that situation...I have a reactive, accident prone horse and that sort of action WOULD result in a vet bill for me....it may be the owner has the same problem!!

Difficult situation though, I pride myself on the good manners of my horses and it does annoy me to have to deal with other peoples bargey, or even just ignorant horses....VERY tempting to o a bit of teaching but I refrain becase it's not my place, and would hate someone else to take it on themseves to teach my horse something without asking me first (apart from in an emergency situation, when I would endorse whatever measures necessary for the safety of the people there!)
 
Just to add, the owner did overreact a bit though by the sounds of it! Having something to say doesn't mean it's ok to shout at someone!!!
 
Sorry but I'd be pretty mad if I saw anyone doing that to mine. Especially if there were multiple around the gate and could lead to a massive spook. Of course she should have helped you. Was there any way you could have asked in a 'could I have a quick hand moving ....'?
 
Well at least you know how to move them away from the gate next time. ;)

All you can do is explain what you did and why, it's not like you went in to purposely spook her horse, all horses should be tought to back off and move out of the way, if a hand signal or a voice doesn't work, what are you supposed to do, wait there all day and night till they decide to wander off...course not, you use a method that works, maybe next time the horse will listen.

Maybe she got out of bed on the wrong side, wouldn't worry too much about it, crabby women are worth loosing sleep over.
 
If you waggled a carrier bag at my horse, I am afraid you would get mugged lol,
better to waggle a bag than to throw a stone, or clod of earth, or a smack on the nose Imo, which I have seen many times. But have to admit I hate when horses are crowding the gate, recipe for an accident.
 
Tell her your next method is to use a super soaker :p:D:D

I did this with my friends gelding, with her blessing mind. Only took 2 goes to cure him of his gate hogging antics :).
 
Its tough watching someone else correcting your horses's manners, but using the upmost tact and dipolmacy with someone else's darling when being watched, is probably wise.
Just make sure she's not watching next time- or if she is, ask for help...hindsight is a wonderful thing,eh ? The other livery may have PMS (protective mummy syndrome.)
 
I have to say i dont agree with you using the whip and bag - i would be pretty peed off too and in the heat of the moment probably would have reacted the same way.

However she didnt help matters in standing there watching you. Bit rude.
 
See now if that had been me it the reply would have been along the lines of...

" you saw me struggling at the gate, and because you happen to be a rude, obnoxious kind of person, who appears to not care if your horses are causing a problem, I dealt with it. Next time, you want it done YOUR way, do it YOURSELF....simples!"

Then march off huffing loudly:D
 
Personally I wouldn't want someone carrying a stick and plastic bag into a field with my horses anyway (cobs..come on bag equals food..you'd be dead meat under the rush to eat you!) BUT nor would I stand around watching someone struggling with the gate so she should look at herself before telling you off for trying to get yourself safely through a gate!!!

6 of 1 and half a dozen of another, she should have offered to help, you should have asked her to help...maybe a chat once you've both chilled out and you can sort something that will suit you both. ;)
 
joeanne said:
See now if that had been me it the reply would have been along the lines of...

" you saw me struggling at the gate, and because you happen to be a rude, obnoxious kind of person, who appears to not care if your horses are causing a problem, I dealt with it. Next time, you want it done YOUR way, do it YOURSELF....simples!"

Then march off huffing loudly:D
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lol sounds like a great plan hehehe :D
 
I wouldn't have any problem what so ever with you waggling, and it sounds like a very little waggle TBF, at my two. Especially if I wasn't helping. Best to just forget about it though and pretend it never happened. No point letting bad feelings fester over something so small.

I hate dealing with other peoples rude horses too FWIW. Mine is a thug but at least he gets tole. Other people who let them walk all over them drive me crackers!
 
haha! it's funny the mixed reactions from this post alone but PLEASE be reasured I don't go out to spook horses and I HONESTLY wouldn't have considered using the small shred of carrier bag on the end of my stick, in any way had I not known how these horses would react. I have known them for four years and I probably spend more time with them than their owners do seeing as though I'm the only one who poo picks our 7 acre field :$ Their reaction was, as I predicted, to trot away a couple of metres. Hardly injury provoking stuff, and I had as I said in my original post, just waggled the sick by my side.

As for asking for help - in hindsight I could've and will in future just to inconvenience her!! but the woman (who is known as 'yard manager', with a sarcastic smile, by the majority at the yard who don't find her the least bit endearing) had chained the gate shut in front of me (even though I said 'leave it I'm here' and the gate is such that it will not open unless pushed) and started walking off... thats the sort of person I'm dealing with!

It made me laugh when she later came round to my stable to 'make a deal' and she explained that she'd, and I quote 'spent a year desensitising her horse to plasic bags by attaching them to a schooling whip and getting him used to having them flapping around him and all over him'... I said 'well clearly you failed on that one didn't you!'
 
Oh dear not nice. I feel for you I once flapped if it was even that a horse away as it kept trying to bite mine in stable and me. I gentle but firmly pushed him away repetitively before I sort of soft slapped him knowing if I made a sudden movement he risked being startled and hitting head . His owner flipped at me sent me to Coventry for ages saying I was hitting her horse. Eh her horse that tries to bite. she did sod all about when it could have caused an accident and she proceeded to boot the hell out of when the poor thing bumped into her when trying to eat and she was in his way. Seriously I was talking to her by that time and my jaw dropped at her mini melt down whacking him around face that she was so precious to me about as hes head shy (wonder why) and kicked him in stomach. And yes if she did it again I would have to speak to her and say Id report it. I know she loves him to bits and we all have bad days but we cant ever take it out on them no matter what reason.
I guess you have to be strong and know you didn't do anything real bad they were just being territorial over their horse that they couldn't be arsed supervising. Sign of guilt on their part me thinks.
 
joeanne said:
See now if that had been me it the reply would have been along the lines of...

" you saw me struggling at the gate, and because you happen to be a rude, obnoxious kind of person, who appears to not care if your horses are causing a problem, I dealt with it. Next time, you want it done YOUR way, do it YOURSELF....simples!"

Then march off huffing loudly:D
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Love it!! Why don't I think of replies like that at the time!! ;)
 
I find it strange that people can't get horses out of fields :confused:. You just shove the other horses out of the way and lead yours out surely? I've never had any trouble getting horses to move out of the way at the gates. Someone standing there flicking a carrier bag at my horses would be told to give it up and just go in there and physically push the horses out of the way.
 
Spring Feather said:
I find it strange that people can't get horses out of fields :confused:. You just shove the other horses out of the way and lead yours out surely? I've never had any trouble getting horses to move out of the way at the gates. Someone standing there flicking a carrier bag at my horses would be told to give it up and just go in there and physically push the horses out of the way.
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Thats fine and the tactic I would use in that situation but I was outside the field trying to get my horse into the field this morning... her Horse doesn't respond to voice comands... hmmmm...
 
Difficult though it is try to take it with a pinch of salt! Everyone has different ways of telling off or not their horses. I only have to flick a finger at Pidge to tell him off so get really cross with people physically reprimanding him as he doesn't need it to know he's been naughty.
Friend of mine doesn't like her horse being hit either so when he banged his head on mine by being a yob in the stable I slapped my hands together to make a noise rather than hit him, seemed to do the trick :rolleyes:
Anyway at the end of the day you should be able to move the horses out of the way of the gate to get yours in or out safely so if she wasn't able to help then she shouldn't complain as to you doing it :D
 
CBFan said:
Thats fine and the tactic I would use in that situation but I was outside the field trying to get my horse into the field this morning... her Horse doesn't respond to voice comands... hmmmm...
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Okay well in that case take your horse to the other side of the gate so that when you open the gate, they are not on the opening side of it. Push open gate, horses have to move, clear entrance for your horse to enter field, close gate, voila!
 
Spring Feather said:
I find it strange that people can't get horses out of fields :confused:. You just shove the other horses out of the way and lead yours out surely? I've never had any trouble getting horses to move out of the way at the gates. Someone standing there flicking a carrier bag at my horses would be told to give it up and just go in there and physically push the horses out of the way.
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Maybe you are lucky not to have met the type of pig ignorant horse I did. As I was getting mine out of the field, it charged from quite far back and went between me and my horse, ripped the lead rope out of my hand and somehow managed to de-glove the skin on my finger at the same time. Painful doesn't being to describe it!!!!
 
quirky said:
Maybe you are lucky not to have met the type of pig ignorant horse I did. As I was getting mine out of the field, it charged from quite far back and went between me and my horse, ripped the lead rope out of my hand and somehow managed to de-glove the skin on my finger at the same time. Painful doesn't being to describe it!!!!
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I own a large livery stable. I've met plenty of pig ignorant horses in my lifetime but I could count on one hand with many fingers left over the amount of times I've been injured due to their ignorance. If I know they are ignorant and rude then I prepare for that.
 
quirky said:
Maybe you are lucky not to have met the type of pig ignorant horse I did. As I was getting mine out of the field, it charged from quite far back and went between me and my horse, ripped the lead rope out of my hand and somehow managed to de-glove the skin on my finger at the same time. Painful doesn't being to describe it!!!!
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OUCH! and yes, I'd have to agree! Some people apear fortunate enough not to have to deal with ignorant or impolite horses in the field.

As for 'coaxing' horses to the hinge side of the gate, in our field it is not possible as said gate is in the corner of the field which I absoltutely HATE anyway as it makes getting horses in and out so much more difficult, but to encourage them to the hinge end would mean that the gate wouldn't be able to be opened at ALL. I guess these things can't be appreciated without being there but still. As others have said it's done now.. and I'm a very naughty girl and won't do it again ;)
 
I think I understand how the gate/fencing works; apologies if not. It sounds like a poor field planning if the gate is fitted with the hinge side opening to lie flush with the fenceline lying at 90 degrees? They could combat this by turning the gate around and having it opening into the field rather than against the fence and then the horses could be pushed away from your entrance using the gate to push them.
 
Spring Feather said:
I own a large livery stable. I've met plenty of pig ignorant horses in my lifetime but I could count on one hand with many fingers left over the amount of times I've been injured due to their ignorance. If I know they are ignorant and rude then I prepare for that.
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This particular horse had been out with mine for 8 years and had never, ever exhibited such behaviour.

How would you prepare for that, all knowing one :rolleyes::D.
 
quirky said:
This particular horse had been out with mine for 8 years and had never, ever exhibited such behaviour.

How would you prepare for that, all knowing one :rolleyes::D.
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No need for rudeness :confused:. I never loop leadropes around my hands. I always use cotton or leather leads, never nylon. I wear gloves and because I deal with such a lot of horses daily, I always keep my wits about me when in with my herds and that more than anything, has served me well.
 
just an idea, but can you creat a pen around the gate via electric fencing? I have a problem at my fields and find it much easier to let mine into a pen then worry about the gate.. it also stops the main gateway getting muddy, and you dont have to worry about others escaping.. in your case it would also possibley help the fact yr gate is in a corner.
 
Good grief reading this thread, I kept having to go back and check exactly what the OP had slightly shaken at her side to back the horse up with - I thought for a moment I'd misread and it was a rocket launcher or something.......!!

A slight shake of a plastic bag and stick should not send a horse into space, get its attention yes and I wouldn't have a problem with anyone doing that with mine.

In fact what has irritated me far far more over the years has been pathetic individuals who moan they can't get their horses out past my dominant mare - who does have manners, just chooses to play people, yet won't get a bit dominant with her and listen to my instructions on how to show her that her manners are required, but insist on feeding her treats so she thinks they are "nice" people, always move out of her way so allowing her to think that is OK and then moan like mad when she instantly spots them and follows them to the gate and stands waiting patiently in top spot!!

Its why I'm so thankful I have a field to myself nowadays with just my two in! I can insist to stands to the hinge end of the gate with just a look to get my 2 year out and the 2 year also knows to stand back as well if the roles are reversed.

I think the other owner was far more to blame first and foremost for just standing like a numpty whilst her horses crowded a gateway that someone blatantly wanted to enter and secondly for being so darn rude!
 
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