Is freeschooling a horse with a bungee on even safe?!

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JackWillsFan

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The other day I was browsing on the internet and found a video of a girl loose schooling/freeschooling her horse (I think its loan/share from reading descriptions of other videos) in a bungee. Now I may not know everying about horses but this does not strike me as being particularly 'safe'. The girl is not wearing a hat which in my opinion is dangerous if he kicked her in the wrong place. The loose schooling with a bungee, kind of scares me as what happens if the horse spooked or tripped and fell?

here's a link to the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVOWlfAXZuY

From watching her other videos some of the other things she does don't look particulary safe. I was reading through the comments and some people where trying to give her advice/gently correct her but she was geting quite aggresive at the person, I'm not quite sure how people are going to learn if they refuse to listen.

Maybe I just 'err on the side of caution' But I kind of feel worried for the poor horse and the girls saftey :/
 
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I don't really like bungees anyway but I don't see it as anymore dangerous than lunging with one? Also I don't wear a hat to loose school, horse is nowhere near me. Don't see anything wrong with the video? Not sure why you'd be worried for the horse or the girl, odd post.
 
Atleast with lunging you have some control over the horse. I have a friend who rode without a hat and her 'safe' horse spooked and she fell off and got kicked and was seriously ill. This all happened because she wanted to get a 'cool' picture of her riding for her profile picture. Horses aren't machines they can be unpredictable, which is why its wise to wear a hat. What would happen if you got kicked when you where freeschooling?
 
Do you know this person? Seems a bit off to post the link without her permission especially when using it to criticise her methods (which incidentally, I don't have a problem with)

Do you wear a hat from the moment you get to the yard, til you leave? You seem very safety conscious, which is good - but where do you draw the line? I am shockingly laissez faire about wearing gloves/hats etc to handle in the ground- but I woudn't condemn anyone for being the other way. I would like to think that people would be similarly respectful of my choices.
 
JackWillsFan said:
Atleast with lunging you have some control over the horse. I have a friend who rode without a hat and her 'safe' horse spooked and she fell off and got kicked and was seriously ill. This all happened because she wanted to get a 'cool' picture of her riding for her profile picture. Horses aren't machines they can be unpredictable, which is why its wise to wear a hat. What would happen if you got kicked when you where freeschooling?
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Believe me my horse would never get in a position where he could kick me when free-schooling, he actually has manners. And I hate this saying horses are unpredictable, they're very predictable indeed, they do exactly what you would expect a horse to do! Spook, buck, run, generally be a flight animal, not very unpredictable at all when you really think about it. If you make a loud noise, I predict my horse will spook.

Not sure what your friend falling off has to do with someone free-schooling without a hat.
 
I will be freeschooling my boy later today. He is recovering from back issues and lunging the traditional way often sees him leaning on or pulling away from the single point of contact. 2 lines or nothing works better for him. I have got him used to it without such equipment and later today I will be using a loose-ish lungie bungie to emulate light rein contact so I can see how he moves without interfering, other than using my body position and voice to gently move him. I don't see anything wrong with it. I think it can be a very useful way of schooling.

We tend to stay in walk and trot and keep sessions short. We use a small arena with high fences so he can't get out. Not that he ever tries, he seems to enjoy it! We free school regularly, he never explodes or does anything stupid and I don't always wear a hat.

I always wear one riding and occasionally when leading out along the road or if I were to do anything that I consider more risky or puts me in close proximity to possibly flailing legs. I hear what you are saying but it comes down to personal choice. At least I wear one riding, around here some people don't even do that!
 
no I don't know this person I'm just worried. I did'nt know it was against the law to post a video link without asking someone. Many people do it on here and other forums and have a bitch about them but when I post one and voice my concern It's suddenly wrong?. It's a public forum where people can post what they like as long as its not against the rules and as far as I'm aware posting a video is not.

I wear my hat whenever handling my horse ( grooming, bringing in from field, leading etc). I wear a body protector when I ride, flat, jumping or hacking. I have worked on many yards and I have seen how fragile our bodies our and how dangerous horses can be. I am not a nervous rider in any way and I am in no way part of the 'pink fluffly bunnies club' But I value my saftey and I know how someone's life can be hanging in the balance because of incorrect saftey procedures. When I see people acting irresponsibly especially young people who are not fully aware of the consequences I get worried for their saftey as I have been through the process of being terrified that you will loose someone due to a silly accident. People just need to be careful.
 
JackWillsFan said:
no I don't know this person I'm just worried. I did'nt know it was against the law to post a video link without asking someone. Many people do it on here and other forums and have a bitch about them but when I post one and voice my concern It's suddenly wrong?. It's a public forum where people can post what they like as long as its not against the rules and as far as I'm aware posting a video is not.

I wear my hat whenever handling my horse ( grooming, bringing in from field, leading etc). I wear a body protector when I ride, flat, jumping or hacking. I have worked on many yards and I have seen how fragile our bodies our and how dangerous horses can be. I am not a nervous rider in any way and I am in no way part of the 'pink fluffly bunnies club' But I value my saftey and I know how someone's life can be hanging in the balance because of incorrect saftey procedures. When I see people acting irresponsibly especially young people who are not fully aware of the consequences I get worried for their saftey as I have been through the process of being terrified that you will loose someone due to a silly accident. People just need to be careful.
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It's not 'against the law' but it is a bit rude. I think you will find that most people who do so will get picked up on it.

Your attitude to safety is commendable - and I wouldn't expect any different from someone your age. I just think you should be a little more circumspect in making statements about other peoples practices, particularly when the majority of users on here are adults - many of them highly experienced. Just be a little bit aware that you're not just communicating with other teenagers, and your posting style might get the old'uns backs up a bit!
 
Personally, I think bungees are the work of the devil, in any use. But if someone chooses to use one, or use another tool in a manner I don't like, it really isn't my business. I might judge them on it, but it's not really something you can link on here and expect everyone to agree with you, or share in your concerns.

As for wearing a hat, I often used to ride without one and there are videos of me doing so on youtube. I still don't wear one to handle my horses or to free school - my horses have manners and it's entirely my risk assessment to make. Ultimately, it's this girl, her yard, her parents (if a minor) and the horse owner's business what attitude she has towards H&S and the treatment of the horse. It seems rather unfair (personal?) to pick on her when there is a wealth of worse videos on youtube in the same vein.

If people choose to respond to comments on youtube in a manner you don't like, I don't see that it is a major problem to you, or anyone else. There are unwritten laws on youtube, the main one being "your video, your rules" - you respond to comments however you see fit and the poster retains to option to have the last word by blocking other commenters, or deleting comments. I wouldn't necessarily presume that the poster of the video doesn't heed safety concerns voiced on videos, just because they object to the manner they're posted in the video comments, and because they choose to retaliate.
 
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