Horses and Metal Detectors

Hullabaloo

Hullabaloo

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Does anyone else's horse have a problem with metal detectors?
We have a large group come to our village for a weekend each year with their metal detectors. Last year my friend and I were hacking along the bridle path next to the fields. When we got close to them our horses started to panic.
We got off (don't know why, I've been better off on board!) and my horse got in such a panic he ran me over and bolted. My friend managed to keep hold of hers but he was very upset.
Luckily we were ok - a brave man doing his garden caught Boo on the road. I pulled my shoulder muscle and he trod on my boob which went a lovely purple colour but no lasting damage.
The people with the detectors were no help at all - they refused to believe the horses could hear them as they had ear things on - they obviously thought our horses always behave like that!
Since then I've met one person with a detector and my horse shook like a leaf but we managed to get past..
Its almost that time of year again for the convention. We had no idea there would be an issue or we'd never have gone past them. Obviously we'll steer well clear this year but just wondered if anyone else's horse has had problems with metal detectors?
 
Sorry to hear of your trouble...they are very high pitched and it must be that that upsets horses...I have heard of other people having the same problem too. I think for the sake of a weekend I would be staying on the yard just in case or using your school if you have one! Good luck.
 
I am not sure but maybe its the frequency of the radio? waves that the machines use that the horses pick up on, I too would stay in the yard for the weekend, we have a biker night here every Wednesday during the summer, so I dont hack on a Wednesday and I even leave riding in the menage till very late (21.45 this weds) because the noise of the bike winds my boy up!
 
Don't worry I've no intention of going anywhere near them this year.
I just wondered if it was common knowledge that horses and metal detectors don't mix as we were unaware there was an issue. If we had realised we wouldn't have gone near last year either!
 


I'm a metal detectorist (I know....I know.....I'm a total anorak, but it's very handy for looking for cast shoes amongst other things). I sometimes detect in my own horse's fields. At first my lot were aghast. I think it's the action of swinging the detector around that scared them as I tried it out without switching it on and there was much snorting and rolling of eyes. Them, not me.

Then they got curious and started following me about. After an hour or so they decided that archeology was FUN. Every time I got a signal and dug a hole they all had to come and gaze into it, and investigate every spadeful of earth that I pulled out. It was like being with the equine version of the Time Team. The wooly-jumpered on (my cob) thought it was especially amusing to shove his shod hoof under the detector and watch me jump 10 foot into the air as the signal almost blew my ears off. The shetland, when I looked over my shoulder, was gleefully digging up all the holes I'd just carefully filled in.

Hullabaloo, sorry you had such a bad experience. It must look very scary for a horse to see a bunch of weirdos ambling around a field swinging sticks. Do you know which club it is has the rally local to you? I can have a word with them.
 
Thanks Gala
Maybe I can get you to come and desensitise ours then!
No idea where they come from, they've just appeared one weekend for at least the last 2 years. Last year was the first time our horses met them and I was really surprised by their reaction. They could definately hear something and it drove them nuts. Maybe it was because there were so many detectors all together?
 
Ah, yes, the detectorists orchestra....!!

It's a shame I've recently moved from the Somerset/Wilts border to here on Exmoor, or I definately would come and help de-sensitise yours.

Hang on...bright idea incoming......make a mock up of a detector. Metal hoover tube with a large paper plate stuck on the bottom. Strap an old transistor radio halfway up the tube and tune it to halfway between stations so it squeaks and burbles. Buy huge, cheesy old headphones from your local charity shop and slap them on your head. Get half a dozen mates to do the same. Enter field, amble slowly around and occasionally drop to your knees looking excited (hmm that sounds slightly rude but you've got to make it authentic). Ignore horses while they thunder around looking disturbed, they'll only do it for a couple of minutes before nosiness takes over and come and investigate. At that point they'll either mutter something about bizarre human behaviour and wander off, or they will....irritatingly.... follow you closely, breathing over your shoulder, asking if you know Tony Robinson PERSONALLY and can you get his autograph. Oh, and try and eat the paper plate.

When is the rally on? If you know I can probably work out which club it is.
 
My friend and I were hacking around our local villages when we spotted signs for 'Coventry Moles'. We were intrigued but then saw a field full of people with metal detectors. The horses were also intrigued but not particularly bothered until we had to squeeze past the burger van than had set up on the bridleway that we needed to go along!!
 
P.S Gala -I love your description of your archaeology loving horses!!! I can picture them now. Mine follows me everytime I am poo-picking and watches as each shovel load goes in the barrow as if he is asking why I want his poo!!
 
My first TOTALLY irrelevant and blonde thought was why a horse would be at the airport...
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Oh dear. I'm soooo sorry!!
 
LOL - My horse already knows I'm a crazy woman but I try to keep it from the other owners at the yard. If they saw me doing this my secret would be rumbled!
Not sure when the rally is on but its usually around late Aug/early Sept.
 
Oh....aah....PapaFrita, yes, I can where the confusion lies.....yes, airport metal detectors. I've spent the whole afternoon tittering to myself at the splendid picture of a bunch of ponies playing silly beggars at the airport, hopping in and out of the MD check with their metal shoes on, like naughty children, and giving security a headache.
 
I shall come out of the closet with you Gala!! I have one too!
The amount of mane combs, hoof picks & name plates I have found plus the odd hunt button (one being my own as I went to look for it after horse & I came down & it skied along the ground with me underneath!!)

I have found horses scared of strimmers too even when switched off which makes be believe it is the actual item you have extended from your arm. The horses around us are use to us now & have a good laugh when we enter the fields!!
 
Hey K9H, I am not alone in the horse owning/detecting world then!! Ditto the mane combs and hoof picks, buckles from long rotted headcollars etc. Well done for finding your hunt button. I've found some beauties in the past, usually around gates...!
 
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