Horse kickin out WWYD

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toulouse1

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I'm a regular at local events, showing dressage and SJ, recently my horse has taken a fright and kicked me (didn't mean it) and at a recent warm up kicked out and caught a horse that cantered up behind and past him (it was too close) I was reported and asked to put on ares ribbon, was mortified even though I feel the rider was way to close it shouldn't have happened I know .... Any way it's given me a real confidence knock for warm up rings, already felt intimidated but now I feel
I can't even go in....what would you do in this situation ?? Stop going to shows even with a red ribbon in tail? I would normally take myself off and warm up but the rings seem to be getting smaller and busier :(
 
Start off in the parking area and keep him busy - VERY busy - so his attention is all focussed on you. Get closer and closer to the busier areas and still keep him working hard - transitions, circles, halts, more small circles etc etc, so that in the end other horses just become background to him working. You might need to do it a fair few times but the key is not to allow him to get annoyed by other horses, just focussing on what you are asking him to do.
And yes, wear a red ribbon until you are 100% certain he is safe to ride behind, it's only fair to others. He is known to have kicked so you have a responsibility to others to warn them to keep away.
 
It happens. Horses don't know its bad and actually, its poor behaviour on the part of the other rider to get that close. I would stick on a red ribbon. Try and work in around the lorries etc to warm up with a short time over the jumps etc. I did have one who did kick when another horse crashed into him. It was incredibly unpleasant but from thereon I had to treat my horse as a confirmed kicker and just got on with it. I did opt to not hunt him as felt that was too risky but carried on competing (and got very good at shouting at people not paying attention that he was a kicker)
 
I wouldn't worry too much about the event with the other horse these things happen. I would put a red ribbon on and carry on then in warm ups just manage what u have control on like trying to not put your horse into a tricky situation yourself and let the red ribbon do its job to others. Hopefully then you can rebut your confidence together.
 
Wear a red ribbon.
Anyone coming too close, give a verbal warning e.g. 'please give us more room, this horse may kick'.

Try to keep yourself away from clusters of riders, and be aware of where you're stopped if you stand for any length of time (e.g. people trying to respect the red ribbon should have room not to pass too close) - wearing a ribbon doesn't absolve you of responsibility, but it warns other riders to keep away.

Then just carry on with your warmup - you're a competitor too, you have equal right to be there.
 
I go to a particular venue to compete and I have to say that the collecting ring stewards let the show centre down somewhat. They are usually young girls who spend all day chatting to their mates or texting on their phone. They announce the next horse to go into the ring when the horse before has come out (which delays a class by half an hour or so) and they let mounted horses stand inside the collecting ring at a right angle so the horses bums are facing the practice fence. If you are unfortunate enough to be trotting around the side of the collecting ring at the same time as someone else coming in the other direction you are within inches of that horses bottom, my horse nearly got kicked once, so I went to the show secretary and told her and she made sure this didn't happen again for the rest of that day.

Last time I went to the same venue my number for the next class had just been written on the board for third to go even though the class was 'declaring your number on the board'! I told her to put me tenth as I wasn't even warmed up. One day in the clear round I watched a girl riding a pony jumping fences 9-12 even though they were not included in the clear round and had the fence numbers positioned underneath to stop people from doing so. This gave her an unfair advantage for the next class so I told the show secretary even though I wasn't doing the next class but that should have been the job of the collecting ring steward. I don't necessarily blame these young girls, I think they have been put in a position of authority and great responsibility and are not shown how to do the job correctly. This could have a huge implication for both horse and rider in the event of an accident.

I think you need to forget about putting a red ribbon in your horses tail and go and have a strong word with the secretary of the show as ultimately they are responsible if your horse gets injured due to a collecting ring steward not having proper control over his/her collecting ring.

When my partner, who is head groundsman of a very busy show centre works collecting ring he is constantly watching around him, seeing people have the correct dress on, i.e. not wellies! the height of the practice fence is no more than two holes above that of the track being jumped at the time (or whatever it should be) the people on standing horses are the correct side of the barrier, he calls the next number or name as the horse before starts its round and he is on the ball at all times watching, studying and being proactive. I know this because if I try to text him whilst he is working collecting ring, nine times out of ten I won't get an answer :)
 
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the problem is, a lot of people ignore red tail ribbons. one of mine hates having his personal space invaded so he always has a ribbon in his tail at shows to cover my backside in case he ever does kick out. But honestly, the number of people that go up his backside and/or pass too close is unreal... 😤

I would pop a ribbon in your horse's tail from now on and aim to give them a good experience the next few times you're out, even if that means getting there super early (before the first class starts) and just letting him/her have a quick walk/trot around. Baby steps and build it up from there.

Also, you could ask if there's another warmup available or for an early draw if jumping. I've found that if you ask nicely and explain the situation, most show secretaries will do their best to help/accommodate you.

Mine now gets a calmer and wears earplugs, and they do seem to be helping. I also try to time my warmup and keep it as minimal as I can get away with so we're in and out before he can get his knickers in a twist. It's a shame because he settles instantly when we go into the ring for our round.

anyways, my point is it can be done... so don't give up just yet.
 
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**carried on I don't know why that posted!
Frustrating because he's really chilled in the warm up, and not normally bothered by other horses but I think she got too close
Anyway the two shows that I have been to that has given us both a fright, one didn't even have a warm up ring! And the other was tiny, it's both run by the same people
I need to pluck up the courage to put in a conplaint\feedbak but I'm a wimp!
 
toulouse1 said:
recently my horse has taken a fright and kicked me (didn't mean it) and at a recent warm up kicked out and caught a horse that cantered up behind and past him (it was too close) :(
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What were the circumstances of the first instance where the horse kicked you and how do you know he didn't mean it?

You say in the second instance that the horse cantered by too close - how close is too close?

Also, how old is your horse and how long have you owned the horse? Mare or gelding?
 
gunnergundog said:
What were the circumstances of the first instance where the horse kicked you and how do you know he didn't mean it?

You say in the second instance that the horse cantered by too close - how close is too close?

Also, how old is your horse and how long have you owned the horse? Mare or gelding?
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He stood on something and spooked, I was stood behind him (rightly or wrongly) and he kicked out, I know he didn't mean to kick me, he's never done it before and was v unexpected although I'll be cautions from now on

I know the horse was close as I was I between a fence and the ring side and it came in between that, in canter and shouldn't of, my horse didn't move just kicked out, so he was close enough to reach him

He's a gelding and owned for 18 months, he's 7
 
toulouse1 said:
He stood on something and spooked, I was stood behind him (rightly or wrongly) and he kicked out, I know he didn't mean to kick me, he's never done it before and was v unexpected although I'll be cautions from now on

I know the horse was close as I was I between a fence and the ring side and it came in between that, in canter and shouldn't of, my horse didn't move just kicked out, so he was close enough to reach him

He's a gelding and owned for 18 months, he's 7
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This won't be popular and you won't like it, but your horse needs to be taught manners and what is acceptable and what is not.

I would expect a 7 year old in a collecting ring to be able to pass in canter left to left without issue.

Having said that, having spent most of last week at Aston (firstly affiliated and then unaffiliated) the difference in the collecting rings was horrendous. The affiliated days, the rings were rammed but no incidents, everyone aware and under control; the unaffiliated days you couldn't rely even on left to left.
 
My gelding kicked out twice out hunting once at a hound and once at another horse, both times I made it known to him immediately and in no uncertain terms it was unacceptable, never did it again!! Better a swift reprimand that won't physically hurt your horse than a broken leg of either horse or human.

You can't control other people and their horses unfortunately.
 
Some people ride very close to others when they go past them, but sometimes there isn't much choice in a tightly packed collecting ring. My horse always withdraws into himself if something passes him too close, especially if they pass in canter, he kind of scrunches up his body and nose and puts his ears flat back, not to be nasty but I think because of his hocks (treated) he feels a little vulnerable in case he is run down or run into! He would never kick out but whose to say that wouldn't happen if pushed to his limits.

I hope you get sorted OP, don't feel too bad about what's happened and don't let it spoil your future enjoyment.
 
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