Horse beater on the yard

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JoJo_

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The yard I keep my horse at is wonderful but the new 16yr old girl who has turned up with a 4yr old warmblood showjumper is vile! Shes probably been here a month and has been caught hitting her horse more than what is necessary. She always seems frustrated and angry with the mare even though she seems a good natured sweetie. Its as if she thinks the mare shouldnt put a foot wrong. She's competing her and from the gossip it seems most of the shows she goes to hasnt gone well and ends up with the girl getting violent. People on the yard have told her to stop when they felt it was getting out of hand but they just get a load of abuse. My horse is stabled on the other side of the barn so I havent seen half of it. The girl's mother is there every night and is very nice but her daughter has no respect for her and uses such bad language at her. She never seems to step in.

Tonight she got bucked off because she was yanking the mare in the mouth getting frustrated with it then one of the guys went to make sure she didnt take it out on the horse and literally had to stand in front of the mare to stop the girl smacking it with its own bridle!!

On top of that I found out the girl has been stealing feed from other peoples bins so now I know why my oil went down so quick. Helping herself to other peoples haylage and taking bales of flax without asking for more.

Everyone else on the yard is very nice, nothing has ever gone missing before. I wont be surprised if she gets kicked off very soon but I feel bad for the mare. Even if she leaves she'll still treat her that way elsewhere. Is there anything we could do to stop her?

Sorry for the rant. I got all the gossip tonight so am feeling quite helpless. Only got my first horse in May and this is the first yard i've been at. Never witnessed someone mistreating their horse so bad before.
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She's competing her and from the <font color="red"> gossip </font> it seems most of the shows she goes to hasnt gone well and ends up with the girl getting violent.

I got all the <font color="red"> gossip </font> tonight so am feeling quite helpless. Only got my first horse in May and this is the first yard i've been at. Never witnessed someone mistreating their horse so bad before.
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"Gossip" - is that all you have to go on? I'm sorry but unless you know for a FACT this horse is in danger, I don't think there's much you can do about it
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firstly, I am not making excuses here!

but some teenagers (myself occasionally included if I remember correctly) have lots of hormones/stress and they are unable to cope very well with it which makes them very grumpy. If the girl has a unhappy homelife, she probably finds that the horse is an easy target for her to vent her anger. (although I was never that bad to my horse, I can definitely say I had a shorter temper then than I do now
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I would most likely try a sympathetic approach first, ask if she's ok, does she have any probs etc. She wil most likely not take kindly to this, but if you persevere you never know.

But then again, she could just be a grumpy b*tch who needs a good slap
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There are plenty witnesses on the yard like I said. I say gossip because I wasnt there to see it myself. Another girl on the yard has gone to compete with her and said she was hitting it round the head with a whip because they got eliminated
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So I only know this because she told me.

I should add some people are worrying what she will do if she gets kicked off like steal more/damage peoples stuff before she goes.

I havent tried to talk to her other than a friendly hello since I saw her yelling at another lady on the yard because she told her to stop hitting her horse the other week.
 
I posted a vaguely similar post about a kid at my yard about six months ago, except she was more into bombing her four year old into fences at 100mph and galloping endlessly round and round the field on rock solid ground, although there was a fair bit of socking in the teeth and the odd slap round the horses face too. I was worried about both horse and rider but I chose to step back as its not my business and I knew it would start arguments.

Six months on - horse is now ridden in an american gag for flatwork, not hacked or jumped for fear of it taking off, and I've seen it buck, rear, spin nap and take off all in the space of 15 minutes. Its kicked people in the field and become very aggressive to handle, and been intermittently lame a few times too - the vet couldn't find anything specific, but I'm sure another summer of bombing round will solve that problem. The naughtier the horse gets, the more aggressive the rider gets and she has taken to riding with spurs - not to refine her leg aid, but to turn out her toes and boot the horse in the ribs with.
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I still haven't said anything. We don't get on and they've made it clear my opinion isn't welcome - all I can do is sit and watch the horse get worse and worse and the riders' confidence slipping away. If I wasn't so shy perhaps I'd step in - have a stern word with the girl, or her mother - of course they won't listen and will likely bite your head off but maybe the more people speak up, they might begin to listen, or the girl will get so fed up of being told off she'll throw a teenage strop and demand to sell the horse, which is probably a good thing. At the end of the day very few of us appreciate people telling us what to do with our horses, stroppy kids even less so, and as you are largely going on gossip and hearsay, I don't think you can make a difference. Speak up if you like, but don't expect it to change.
 
Having hormones or stress or an unhappy home life is a rubbish excuse. It is NO excuse for hurting an animal or treating it unkindly. This mare is only four and is just learning, half the things she is doing 'wrong' will probably be down to her being green. Even if she is being naughty there is no need to beat a horse. I hate seeeing people hit a horse more than twice for one thing like you see so often. And I hate to see people hit a horse as hard as they can (raising whip above head upside down in hand etc).

I would try the slap route. If she has a bad life maybe she should stop thinking it is ok to treat the horse that way, she should understand how the horse feels.

Abusers don't always become abusers. I would personally drag her off the horse and smack her one. I saw one of my horses being beaten before I bought him and the owner at the time said nothing as 'it did the trick'.

Does the yard owner know what is going on? Has anyone had a word with the parents?
 
Hmm i was a teenager not so long ago but my temper was not that bad. She sounds like
a) there is something going on with Boyfriend, sexual feelings, parents
B) she is really competitive and sounds like she probs wants to win so she can sound good
C) she obviously does not have much diiscipline in her life.

If you witness this behaviour then tell her No and stop her. She is likely to respect you as you are not a relative of hers.
Lock your food away and make a note of what is taken and ask her about it, but maybe also ask other people on the yard so she doesnt feel singled out. If you see her go mental at her horse take the horse waya from her ASAP as that is not going to make the horse happy and may end up making it headshy/ very difficult to deal with. If she doesnt stop can't u call out the RSPCA or something. I suspect because the horse is a mare and will have opinions of her own that the girl will wnd up getting very hurt by the horse is she doesnt stop beating it up as she will not take it much longer.
 
I'm a teenager and I'm not a horse beater. And my horse bites, which makes this whole ordeal a whole lot worse.

ziggy, I dont think a teenage strop will remove the horse in question; if anything she might go take it out on the mare...

How long has she had this horse? is she there every day? does she only come up to ride? more info please
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thanks
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YO knows all about it. The only other two teenagers on the yard have been friends with the girl but now cant stand this either. They have all said things. YO is member of this forum so will probably see this thread. She hasnt seen the girl stealing I dont think and im not sure if shes witnessed the mistreatment but she has had a word already. I expect she will be kicked off soon because the girl doesnt care if other people see her and tell her to stop. I was just wondering if there is anyone else to tell of this abuse or if theres nothing more anyone can do? I suppose because the mare looks healthy nobody could take the horse from her at all. I think she was threatening to sell the mare because they had a bad time at a show the other night. I hope for the mare's sake they do sell her.

Ziggy i'm a bit the same. I dont think I could speak up to her face. Plenty of others on the yard and it stops her for then but she'll soon find another reason to take it out on the horse the next evening.
 
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How long has she had this horse? is she there every day? does she only come up to ride?

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Not long. Shes just moved up from having a pony. Not sure what happened to the pony. I'm not sure exactly when they bought the mare but it was middle of this year. Perhaps June/July. Shes on DIY so does everything. First arguement kicked off because she was grooming the mare outside her stable and kept hitting it with something so another lady told her to stop. My friend saw her hitting the mare on the head when pulling its mane because she was eating from a haynet so was putting her head up to pull the hay out! Wasnt even misbehaving! I've seen little things like her elbowing the mare in the side because she was putting cream on its hock and the mare kept picking her foot up. I presume she thought she was wanting to pick her feet out. I am surprised the mare is as nice as she is at the moment as she doesnt seem to get any love from the girl. Just a raised voice and hand a lot. So sad
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I know this is probably not a done thing but could you perhaps sneakily film her just in case she throws a benny and hits the horse and then try and gather proper evidence that you could take to the RSPCA. If you were closer I would offer up myself as it has really upset me and I want to take the horse away myself. Maybe ring the RSPCA and get some advice. I witnessed a horse being beaten at a yard i worked at once, a horse they had gien me to school on and i apparently was taking to long so they got in this dodgy polish vloke to whip the sh*t out of it. I have to say I stood there in total shock but then got him back after the bloke got off took him for a walk put him back in his stable and then walked off the yard never to return. I then called the RSPCA who saent an officer out (after i cried to them on the phone for half an hour) but they could not do anything as he looked fine. But they didnt try and ride him. Unfortunatly I heard that the horse was sent to the Hunt a month later as no one else could get on it. Poor boy, I still feel awful about it but at least he is happy now, up in Horsey hunting heaven.
 
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YO knows all about it.

YO is member of this forum so will probably see this thread.

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well, let's hope she reads, and has the balls to do the right thing then.
 
Has anyone tried to help her ?
Not tell her what she's doing is awful ( which I know it is if its as bad as you say) but helping her with the (obvious) problems she is having with the mare ?
 
hi, new here.
we had a grown woman move to our yard last year with a horse. when it napped with her daughter she beat it so badly, had it up against the wall in the corner of the yard with a stick. ended up someone dragging her away and the horse had bleeding whip marks. the rest of us ended up on the yard owners front door (its a working farm so he's a old style farmer type) until he agreed to boot her out of the yard, also reported to the rspca. why dont you try talking to the yard owner? i know its hard as ours really needs the money but no excuse for that
 
I'd only say something unless you actually caught her acting like this with your own eyes.

People may disagree with here but I'm sorry but I'd have to say something to her, everyone gets stressed, being a teenager makes no difference, mothers get stressed, going through divorce is stressful, being in dept is stressful, coping with lots of other horses is stressful but we cant take our stresses and strains out on our animals and children.

I'm not quick to judge someone who needs to take their horse to hand, its there own business but if feel they are going too far (like it sounds here if you are correct) then it would really upset me and I would approach her and tell her exactly what I think, sometimes it takes a good dressing down and good bit of embaressment to sort this type of behaviour out.

If I acted like that then my parents would have had the horse in the paper for sale the very next day!

But I agree, dont go by gossip no matter how reliable, some people can make mountains out of mole hills ...like chinese whispers hence why if it was me, I would not act until I saw it with my own eyes...but thats just me.

I'd let your YM deal with stuff like that to be honest to avoid any possible trouble.
 
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She is not having a problem with the mare.

The mare is having a problem with her!

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I really doubt she is just beating the sh!t into it because horse is behaving impeccably

Getting eliminated at competitions (why ? )
Getting bucked of because she was yanking it in the gob (again why was she?)

Maybe , just maybe she doesn't know what to do with the horse hence she is taking her frustration out on her ?

IDK , just a suggestion
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waits to be jumped on ...
 
Mother told me they left the previous yard because of b*tching on it. They knew about the yard i'm at because they viewed a showjumper for sale there back in May. I'm not too sure who YO spoke to. But ever since the first arguement the mother has been there "helping" or maybe supervising her daughter each night. I dont think there is any discipline there.

The mare is a sweetheart. If she does anything wrong its because of being young. When being ridden she seems to really try but it seems to me like the girl wants a horse that will go straight out and win so she gets frustrated when things dont go right.
 
Sounds like the parents need approaching. Put it on them, maybe they will care if they get a dressing down and are humiliated even if the girl doesn't. She doesn't deserve the horse and it is about time the parents took some responsibilty. My mum would have taken my horse away if she saw or heard of me doing anything like that.
 
They should not have bought a 4 yr old! What a shame, so many people buy young horses and then find that they can't cope. Does she have lessons? If not maybe someone should hint to the mother. Is the mother horsey?

My mum knows nothing about horses but she is probably the best coach I have had because she approaches everything with love, care, understanding and patience. Sounds like this little mare need some of that.

But I myself would have to say something to her. Seeing things like that makes my blood boil. I'm not a violent person and can't stand it.

She was yanking it in the gob because she can't ride or just wanted to abuse her horse. No other reason for it. You ride with your seat and legs, not your hand. Yanking is to inflict pain and punish - unless you are being bolted with and can't stop.

Let's hope thhey sell the poor mare.
 
Does this girl have lessons at all? if the horse is young and she is getting fustrated because its not perfect (like any are) then maybe she needs telling/showing by someone who she looks up to, someone she respects. If she doesnt listen to her own mother and acts like a spoilt so and so, then maybe she will listen and take help from a good RI?....just a thought, rather than feeling 'talked down to' by other yard members or her parents....teenagers are stubbon buggars...I know because I was one
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but didnt my horses though
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Sorry been on soap box. Husband has been making cocktails. I just hate hearing things like this and people trying to approach the girl/situation with understanding.

DO NOT credit this girl with understanding. She does not deserve it. She has given the horse none.

Just another innocent animal going down drain.
 
JoJo_Eventer -

I think you need to see this 'abuse' with your own eyes before you can do anything .
If she really is 'beating' her horse then something needs to be said .

I suspect that she probably doesn't have a clue that you all reckon she is a horse beater
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, and maybe some gentle help would be better than accusing her of beating the sh!t into her horse .

I really feel for you and the situation your in but I think you need solid proof before you can have serious words with her

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Sorry been on soap box. Husband has been making cocktails. I just hate hearing things like this and people trying to approach the girl/situation with understanding.

DO NOT credit this girl with understanding. She does not deserve it. She has given the horse none.

Just another innocent animal going down drain.

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Sorry ladyfresha1 are you at the same yard as J_J_E ?
 
Do I need to be?

Maybe she is beating her horse, maybe she isn't.

But yes, IF you see her, like you said other people HAVE seen her and ALL feel the same. Then she needs help of some sort - or rather the mare does.

IF she is misteating her horse there is no excuse. IF you are genuinely concerned (which i assume you would be to be posting on here) the do what you feel is right.

And by RIGHT I mean what is right by the HORSE, if you feel it is your duty to do so.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. No one will protect this horse, not even the law. The horse is at the mercy of it's owners but at least you will feel you have tried to help.

I think maybe lessons with someone the girl respects and admires may be a good idea, but this is up to the parents. Try talking to the mother while the girl is not there? Sounds like she is having a tough time of it as well. Is the mother approachable?
 
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