Has a horse ever helped you..

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flurryjuno

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in a situation where you genuinely physically needed it? Yesterday I was struck down with something that ended with me thinking 'hmm should maybe bring horses in early then go to bed..' which, for everyone who doesn't know me, is nothing like me at all. I'd just brought Juno in and went to get her field mate in when my dizziness turned into full on jelly legs. I had just clipped the lead rope on when I temporarily lost vision and feeling in my legs, and bless his soul he let me cling on to him and very carefully tiptoed in with me hanging off his neck where I then collapsed in a heap at his feet, cue dad ambulance call etc. Home last night and I'm okay but honestly keep wanting to cry because of what a saint he was! This horse is usually spooky, nervous and generally all round sensitive soul yet he stepped up and got me carefully in to a safe area when he easily could have ditched me and went for his dinner :)

Anyone had similar stories?
 
Animals can do some amazing things, when we least expect it. What a saint of a horse you have.

I had an odd occasion many years ago whereby the horse and I were confronted by a threatening situation (group of rather drunk lads on the mountain where I rode). We came across them quite suddenly round a bend - and they started hurling abuse. The horse charged them, ears flat back and teeth bared. Couldn't believe it. No harm done. Lads scattered and we carried on. But that certainly gave me pause for thought...

Glad your feeling better.
 
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Not as good as that but as I was recovering from a broken bone in my foot and still walking with a stick, I was putting the horses out for the first time on my own. The first one out was the rather flighty, reactive 4 yr old, I wasn't sure it was good idea but there wasn't really an alternative, as sis had to set off very early for work.
The 4 yr old was an absolute star, matching her pace to my very slow one and making sure that I was alongside her shoulder every step of the way, turning carefully in the gateway and watching to make sure that I got back through the gate safely.
The others were also good but I expected them to be and actually none of them walked as carefully as she did.
 
Riding my old Arab stallion, got lost on new bridleway, dusk falling, ended up on a main road at rush hour. Horse usually quite spooky on busy roads, so didn't go on them. I vaguely knew which way we should go, so set off at a slow, measured trot - something else he didn't really 'do'.
He and I trotted steadily on, and eventually found our way back. Not a spook or a leap. I was really anxious, but he seemed to know the way and got us back safely. Could have been a disaster.
 
Nothing quite as dramatic, but I was taking my so called dangerous and uncontrollable mare to a bitless clinic where she paraded round like a pony on speed with a rocket up her bum but on the walk over there we had to negotiate a massive puddle. My boots weren't waterproof and so obviously I didn't want to get wet. My only option was basically to climb in the hedge. She walked at snail pace alongside me, one foot forward to match mine until we were clear of it.

On a sweet level, the same horse is known for matching my footfalls. I took her to a trec clinic in the summer where she created about me attempting to ride her over a water tray. I hopped off and walked over it. If I walked over it, she walked on it, if I jumped it, she jumped it. I got many 'awwwwwws' as we repeated it over and over!
 
I hope you are starting to feel better now. What a special horse!

I had a foot operation in Feb this year. I had pins and was on crutches fro 6 weeks after 4 weeks I could hobble around so my dad took me to the yard to see my ponies. They were being looked after but had not been out the field the whole time. I wanted to bring my boy in and groom him. He is usually a bit bolshy if not reminded of his place, but he walked in with me, so slowly and he let me lean on him the whole way in. A 2 minute journey took 10 minutes and he was such a sweetie to wait and support me :)
 
What a good boy he is, glad to hear you are ok now. Some horses are truely amazing.

When I collapsed and fainted in my field once all my daft gelding did was paw at me and nearly killed me trying to wake me up, luckily a friend was around to rescue me!
My little girls pony always "helps" her back on her feet when she falls over at the yard its really very heart warming to see how much he adores her, much more than anyone else, his manners and demeanor are far far better when hes around her, he follows her everywhere, shes not even 2 yet so they have a very bright and loving future ahead of them :)
 
Out hacking one day and met a neighbour with a lot of very small children with her. She was trying to gather them up away from the horse and a little boy of about 2/3 broke ranks and came straight for my Arab gelding and wrapped his arms around his leg. I was terrified that my boy would leap into the air and trample the kiddie and said "Do not move Ollie"
he never moved a muscle except to look down at him and then up again as if to say "Isn't Uncle Kind?" Young neighbour and I both had our hearts in our mouths but absolutely no harm done. I think they just know when they have to behave.
 
They really are amazing animals aren't they!
My story is nowhere near as dramatic but some years ago I went down to bring Pie in, back then he was very spooky and flighty. Something scared him, he went straight up in the air and landed on the arch of my foot. I almost passed out with pain and couldn't put my foot on the ground. Problem was I was some distance away from the yard, well out of shouting distance. He let me hang off his neck and hop / hobble slowly all the way up the hill to the yard - he was so gentle and careful with me (although I did point out to him it was all his fault).
Also he was just wonderful when I was very ill with depression. Normally quite a reserved horse he became very touchy nuzzly almost like he knew I needed a hug and a friend.
 
likewise not as dramatic but a couple of incidents:

When a lot younger I worked for a dealer and oneof my jobs was walking this horse called Oliver out in hand. Oliver was the sloooooowest horse you could imagine and I got really frustrated with his unchangeable plodding, I'd haul him all the way round and he never bothered, never even attempted to speed up - argh! Then one day we were travelling down a steep, slippy track on a hill and there was a sheer drop to a stream on one side and I slipped, feet completely went from under me, and the only thing that saved me was clutching Oliver's lead rope and he just stood there, holding me steady until I could get up again and from that moment on I never tried to hurry him again!

Next one is current mare, big old gypsy cob. She's a 'bombproof saint' but still with plenty of go - a really good hack, always good manners, no arguments etc. So I was a bit disgruntled with her when she planted in the middle of a bridleway for no apparent reason. We were *almost* home and I was NOT into the idea of retracing our steps all the way round so it was that way or no way. I tried being nice, cooing to her, pleading. i tried waiting it out so she'd be so bored she'd move forwards and then I decided she was being extremely naughty and tried whacking her with the lead rope I had (sorry Lady but to my mind we couldn't stand there all day!). She took it all with extreme politeness, but equally never moved forwards. As the whack hadn't worked I decided to just admit defeat, accept I had the stubbornest naughtiest cob around and get off to lead. At which point I plunged up to my thighs into the icy cold water in the tractor ruts all over this bridlepath (nice one, neighbours! >:( ) If we'd carried on with me onboard broken legs were surely the order of the day? As it was we managed to pick our way carefully through OK and it does mean I will always listen to her in future and I know I can trust her and she will look after us (herself, haha!).
 
Lovely thread.
A story I often tell and partically to people who think my girl looks a handful, is about the first hack we took on the second day of arriving at a new yard. There was 500 acres for us to ride, no gates or livestock and lots of it had good canter tracks. I couldn't wait to try them so when I saw this lovely gentle rise I just had to kick on.

Now I'm not a good rider, pretty poor in fact and I rely on my girl rather a lot . This particular evenings hack was to prove no different and highlighted just how badly balanced I rode! As we reached the top at a gallop, suddenly the hill ahead dropped steeply away and I found out pretty quickly as we were racing downhill that snatching at both reins, flailing both arms and wobbleing about in the saddle without stirrups would not keep me on board!

If it wasn't for my girl who shifted from left to right, lifted her shoulders and dropped her haunches as she slowed graciously beneath me, I'd of been toast!
She's helped me out like this so many times but this is the time I remember most clearly. Any other horse would of dropped a shoulder and given me the finger as it galloped off into the distance and I'm certain of that.
 
Mine is very different and quite funny, but horse believed he had saved my life which is what matters.

He had just finished a feed in his field when a JCB decided it could take a shortcut through 'his' paddock. Cue young horse hightailing it to other end like a quivering wreck. I went to open the gate for the driver and disappeared from view, I think the horse really thought I had been eaten by the digger because there was a thundering of hooves as he gallopped back, reared up and boxed at the digger. When it got through the gate and disappeared all he could do was run round me in circles bucking and rearing like a victory dance.

Same horse has done other similar things through his life, we are never in danger except in his head, but I find it very humbling that he overcomes his own fear to 'save' us.
 
Many years ago, jumping an ex P2P, event horse, I was learning to jump and hence a bit wobbly. I can remember this horse which I generally couldn't ride one side of kindly catching me over a jump, I was off to one side, somewhere in the air above him, he looked back and shifted in mid air to catch me.

Harley is a terrible wuss so would never save me from another horse but when I used to have a confidence crisis he would always give me the safest, steadiest ride possible, he was quite obviously nannying me!

Tinner has helped me out. I was in our barn, my three horses in there together. It is only about 20' x 20' and has one exit which is open at all times as its used as a field shelter so I'm always quite aware of how the horses are interacting. One day the youngest horse moved his back end directly towards me, he wasn't an aggressive horse and I wasn't concerned at all but Tinner walked straight between us and stopped with his shoulder blocking where a kick would come from.
 
My youngest daughter has reflex anoxic siezures. These are seizures triggered by pain, over excitement or fear so dont happen often (we're talking few months apart) but when they do happen they present as a grand mal and she cant be moved for a good 15 minutes or so and then needs to sleep if off. So needless to say when we are with the horses, the rule is she needs to be no more than ten feet away from me and not next to a horse on her own just incase. Few months ago she was on yard with my friend and eldest daughter and decided she didnt want to wait for them so snuck off and came upto field to find me. She climbed through tiny gap in hedge and got stung by a blooming wasp, triggering a siezure. I didnt know she was there but the big fella had seen her and my wonderful gentle boy came hairing over to me and grabbed my jacket and spun me around before belting off to stand where she was against the hedge. I was a bit shocked at first as thought my big softie had lost his marbles and tried to attack me! It was only seeing my two other boys and him standing quietly next to hedge looking down that I realized something must be there. I'm so grateful to them for that, they all three just stood very quietly watching whilst I waited for her to come round and my big boy walked with me to the gate with his nose gently touching her hand as I carried her back to yard. What is interesting is that the next day they all came to greet her so quietly as if they thought she needed extra looking after and ever since. What is interesting is if she has had a seizure both my horses, dogs and even my mum's child-hating cats will pay her alot of gentle attention and all seem to want to touch her hands.
 
If you build a good bond with an animal they will be there for you!

I have a really bad knee which makes it difficult to mount, my horse also has arthritis and has to be walked down hill, I always start by walking him up the road and down the steep hill, I get on by climbing on from the top of a five bar gate. One day I had mud on my boot, I slipped, he caught me with his shoulder and then pushed me up the gate with his neck..........all the while giving a big deep sigh, like I was an idiot!!!

He also didn't trample me when I fell over on the ramp of the lorry. I just tripped when leading him up. I landed on my knee, bruising it to the bone, it really hurt and I could not move. He could have panicked, trod on me, kicked me by accident. He did nothing of the sort, he very carefully touched me with his nose, as if to check me, then he carefully tip toed over me and walked into the box. Thank you Ffin.

My other little horse Moses is also a star. In the summer I took a wrong route in a field, I had strayed off the path by a matter of feet.(I was staying at a livery yard) This prompted a farmer to head after me in his tractor. I was riding my Five year old horse on a hack ,on my own ,for only the second time. I could hear the tractor bearing down on me and shouting, I was trying to find the path. I looked behind me to see the tractor and decided the best thing was to abandon ship as my lad was terrified. I managed to unclip my air jacket and leap off. At this point I expected Moses to head for the hills but no he shouldered me aside and stood between me and the tractor, protecting me. At this point the farmer twigged that chasing a horse rider with a tractor might not be a great idea. He pointed out the track, which was about a foot away and then headed off. Moses snorted like he had seen him off!
 
Someone I know told me this story:

She was in the field with her horse and his field mates when the horses all became very alert and watchfull. Lady looked up and saw a naked man standing in the field watching her. She was obviously frightened, alone and in the middle of nowhere with a naked weirdo 50 feet away.

Her horse evidently sensed her fear, and he started trotting in a circle around her. Soon the whole heard was following him, she was surrounded by horses trotting around her.

She rang the police who told her to stay put, and they were there in minutes, by which time the bloke had scarpered.

She said she couldn't believe what her boy did, getting the whole herd around her to protect her.
 
Ladyinred said:
Mine is very different and quite funny, but horse believed he had saved my life which is what matters.

He had just finished a feed in his field when a JCB decided it could take a shortcut through 'his' paddock. Cue young horse hightailing it to other end like a quivering wreck. I went to open the gate for the driver and disappeared from view, I think the horse really thought I had been eaten by the digger because there was a thundering of hooves as he gallopped back, reared up and boxed at the digger. When it got through the gate and disappeared all he could do was run round me in circles bucking and rearing like a victory dance.

Same horse has done other similar things through his life, we are never in danger except in his head, but I find it very humbling that he overcomes his own fear to 'save' us.
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That is such a gorgeous story, what a brave lad, even if you weren't actually in danger, it must have taken a lot for him to come and 'save' you!
 
My gelding was turned out with about 25 other horses in a 20 acre field. The herd were at the top end of the field and as I walked along the perimeter of the field the whole herd cantered over to me, surrounding me. There was alot of excitement and I felt quite nervous. I climbed over the perimeter fence but was trapped as there was a sheer drop the other side of the fence. My gelding came over and moved every horse away from me and continued doing so if any of the horses dared to move towards me. He then stood in front of me waiting. I felt totally humbled. When the herd was calm I climbed back over the fence and he walked back across the field by my side.
 
Many years ago, a friend's very young daughter came most Sundays to 'help' to bring our first horse, a gelding, in for the night. One winter evening, he was waiting for us at the gate furthest away from the yard, which was at the other side of the road and about 500yds away. I led him by walking between him and the traffic, 3 yr old walked between me and the horse, holding the end of the halter rope. The road was quiet, fairly narrow and with few streetlights.
Once we were on our way a car came up the hill towards us, the gelding turned his head and got hold of the little girl's hood in his mouth, gently positioning her in front of him, until the car had passed. He obviously didn't think I would be much good at protecting her!
 
Sisters big mare is convinced that her job is to protect us all at all times! One particular episode comes to mind, we were trotting on up a hill towards the village when we heard a car coming up behind us, so dropped back to walk to let the car pass. The car revved up behind the big girl (not something she ever appreciates), whizzed in front of my Appy, nearly taking her nose off! I shouted Pratt at him. It turned out it was one of the local 'hard men' who got out of his car wanting to know what I'd said. The big mare began piaffe (not her natural gait) neck arched and mane standing on end! Hard man scuttled off wasn't big enough to take her on, she was very pleased with herself :D

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sandy3924 said:
My gelding was turned out with about 25 other horses in a 20 acre field. The herd were at the top end of the field and as I walked along the perimeter of the field the whole herd cantered over to me, surrounding me. There was alot of excitement and I felt quite nervous. I climbed over the perimeter fence but was trapped as there was a sheer drop the other side of the fence. My gelding came over and moved every horse away from me and continued doing so if any of the horses dared to move towards me. He then stood in front of me waiting. I felt totally humbled. When the herd was calm I climbed back over the fence and he walked back across the field by my side.
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They are amazing animals aren't they. I had an experience not dissimilar . I was turning our pony out when 2 others in the field charged right at us. My pony stood right in front of me while the two others back barreled us. The minute I jumped over the fence, my pony got out of the way of the others. I will never forget that.
 
Picture the scene, Australian outback, 1920 a young British immigrant goes into labour with her first child. Being her first, she didn't realise what was happening so she was quite far along by the time she asked her husband to take her to the nearest hospital which was some miles away.

The young father rushed quick as he could to the stable to harness a horse to make the trip but the only horse left was a cantankerous old beast with a reputation for napping and generally being objectionable. Having no other option, the young man harnessed said beast and duly got his wife who at this point was ready to pop into the carriage.

The bl**dy horse galloped all the way to the hospital not stopping, spooking or shying once. The baby was born and other than a pointed head for a few weeks as a result of the mother having to keep her legs firmly closed on the journey, suffered no ill effects.

The father was so grateful to the horse for quite literally saving the life of his wife and child named the child after it. The horse was Silver, the child Sylvia.

That baby was my grandmother, and all my horses have either Silver or Sylvia in their names in honour of a great horse and an even greater lady :)
 
ElleSkywalkingintheair said:
Picture the scene, Australian outback, 1920 a young British immigrant goes into labour with her first child. Being her first, she didn't realise what was happening so she was quite far along by the time she asked her husband to take her to the nearest hospital which was some miles away.

The young father rushed quick as he could to the stable to harness a horse to make the trip but the only horse left was a cantankerous old beast with a reputation for napping and generally being objectionable. Having no other option, the young man harnessed said beast and duly got his wife who at this point was ready to pop into the carriage.

The bl**dy horse galloped all the way to the hospital not stopping, spooking or shying once. The baby was born and other than a pointed head for a few weeks as a result of the mother having to keep her legs firmly closed on the journey, suffered no ill effects.

The father was so grateful to the horse for quite literally saving the life of his wife and child named the child after it. The horse was Silver, the child Sylvia.

That baby was my grandmother, and all my horses have either Silver or Sylvia in their names in honour of a great horse and an even greater lady :)
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I think thats a truly wonderful story and I love the way your family honour them both x
 
Asha said:
They are amazing animals aren't they. I had an experience not dissimilar . I was turning our pony out when 2 others in the field charged right at us. My pony stood right in front of me while the two others back barreled us. The minute I jumped over the fence, my pony got out of the way of the others. I will never forget that.
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Dolly has more than once positioned herself between me and other horses in the field and seen them off from 'her' human including double barrelling them (I didn't think she had a buck in her!) I thought that was normal as old loan gelding used to do it as well! I now feel rather privileged, and even more smitten with my lass, as she is generally bottom of the heap in the herd, and does as she is bid by the other horses!
 
We have a weirdo mare in the yard. She is very, very marish! Touch her wrong and she will squeal and bronc round her box, squeak at her and the same thing happens (she loves it really and will always come back for more! attention seeking madam lol!) You can't touch her legs without express permission for fear of being fallen over on. You have to coax her to the front of her box to bridle her up, she will squash you against the wall as you do your girth up (she had a big sarcoid right on her elbow that got lasered off during her holiday but she still remembers). She rips the total and utter mick out of anyone who shows even the slightest moment of fear of her.

And yet you put the pregnant lady in with her and she drops her head and doesn't move a muscle - as though she is doped up to her eyeballs! Anyone can do literally anything with her whilst Ali is in the box with her. She drops her head to the level of her stomach and stands rock solid. She truly is a speshal mare lol! Maybe that's why I get on with her so well lol!
 
Love reading these stories. :) Didn't think I had one, but just remembered something that qualifies.

When we lost our mare in the summer, we moved my youngster, Harry, to the farm I livery at. He was turned out in 'our' field, which is lovely but to get in and out, it requires walking through a smaller paddock that the donkey lives in. She's not a nice animal. Very aggressive, doesn't matter whether you're a horse or a person, and she's just as happy to go for her owner as she is anyone else.

Anyway, my heavily pregnant sister (8 months) was helping my mum do him one afternoon (I was at work), and she wanted to bring him in from the field. He comes over, good as always, lets her pop the headcollar on and walks through the first gate with her. Donkey came hurtling down from the end of her field, reaches them and turns around to kick out at her - sister can't go anywhere in a hurry, obviously, and had nothing to hide behind or chase donkey away with. Harry immediately pulled the rope and darted in front of her in time to receive a belting from donkey, and didn't retaliate. Just stood there and took a bit of a lashing until someone found something to scare her off with. Any other action from him could just have easily gotten her caught in the fire. Very proud of my lovely boy for that. Luckily no one was hurt and that episode meant we were finally allowed to tape the path to the second gate off to stop it re-occurring.

The old mare was a gem, too. Nothing quite so dramatic, but I remember one occasion where a big old tractor backfired (or something close) outside the field gate. We were about 5 metres from it, grooming her. Both her field mates bolted immediately, and she jumped, looked around very carefully to see where we were, waited while we backed off, and span after them faster than I've ever seen her move. She was always very considerate when having a bit of a moment. :)
 
Not too dramatic, but nice nonetheless.

Was having a lesson with my ex when the farm owner walked into the school and started picking an argument with her. Nothing physical, but a very unpleasant bullying attitude. We obviously walked over, but I felt (rightly) that opening my mouth would have just inflamed things. The horse, on the other hand, went into full arched neck tail up mode and you could just feel him saying "She's one of my herd, one more step and I'll rip your face off". I think he would have, too. He's not averse to using his gnashers!
 
This thread is just lovely, very heart warming!

I was gifted a lovely mare as my first horse, she was 21 when she was given to me. I learnt everything I needed to know about horses and horse care from that mare, she gave me the best 10 years of her life.

One day, we were out solo hacking, as we often did, and went down quite a steep hill off a track. The track is an old railway line, filled in and used for riding, cycling, dog walking etc.

The hill we went down was, as I say quite steep and the path was worn at the sides with jutted grass edges. She tripped and I could feel her start to fall, she fell forwards first and then to the side. I was knocked unconscious and when I came too, she was lay facing down the hill on her side and i was still sat astride her, with my hip stuck under the juttec grass edge. I could not move and had excruciating pain in my hip.

My mare was deadly still, I thought she was dead, having had a heart attack. My phone was in my pocket, under my hip, so I could not reach it. I started to panic, shouting for help, my mare was so so still, I was crying and screaming.

Fortunately a man was walking his dog and heard my shouts, he saw my hi viz and came down, called an ambulance. All the time my mare was still, the guy reassured me she was breathing and when I started to calm down I could see her eye moving.

The ambulance crew arrived, took about 15 minutes to get to us, and they went to my horses head and said 'come on Impy, you can get up now' and she did, very very carefully. Not a scratch on her and as calm as anything. By this time my Hubbie had arrived on his push bike (no cars down the track).

The ambulance guy said he had seen it before where a horse had laid still as it knew to move in a panic would cause more injury, and my beautiful beautiful mare had done it too, looked after me in the best possible way.

I was airlifted to hospital and my lovely Hubbie walked my mare back to the stables whilst pushing his bike, she never put a hoof wrong.

Safe to say, when I next saw her, she had the biggest of hugs and kisses and was my hero.

I returned the favour a few years later and held her in my arms as she took her last breaths. Love you Impy xx
 
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