Kicked by a horse who meant it!

Winters100

Winters100

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The phrase 'no good deed shall go unpunished' comes to mind about today.

One of the other liveries at the yard asked me to remove the hoof boots from her horse. No problem for me, I have done it for her several times before. Today was somehow different. As I undid the velcro on the back boot he kicked me squarely in the shin. Nothing broken, thankfully I had moved my head, but I am very grateful that I was wearing long fake fur lined boots and I have a nice big lump as a souvenir! My friend who was holding him said that he really meant it, flattened ears etc. The strange thing is that when I told the owner she just said 'oh he does that sometimes, he is afraid of falling over, just shout at him next time'. Horse was not afraid of falling - he had all 4 feet on the floor and I was just undoing the velcro. Really I don't get how people make excuses for dangerous behaviour! I will have to explain it to her, but I am keeping that conversation for when we meet in person.
 
ihatework said:
It pees me off big style when people don’t stamp out that kind of behaviour immediately. So dangerous.
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It also pees me off when people are well aware of their horses' "quirks" but don't bother telling you until you've found out for yourself.

I had that far too often with horses sent to me for schooling (aka send it to someone else to sort out because I can't cope and don't tell them why) :rolleyes:
 
Yes Rowreach, this is what I also upset about. Had I been warned that the horse kicks I would have worn a helmet and would have been ready for it. I really like this owner as a person, but she gave me every excuse, even that he doesn't like the groom and asked was he nearby (it was his day off). I do understand that it is difficult if you have a horse with these issues, but they need to be addressed not excused!
 
Gingerwitch said:
Is he in pain or was it shear nastiness ?
I would be pretty annoyed with the owner to, especially as you have just got over one incident, surely she has more kindness in her than to risk you getting hurt again ?
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Yes, pain was my first thought too. I wrote to her to check him, but it seems he has a history of doing this sort of thing. I learned a few minutes ago that the reason that she asked me to take the boots off is because the groom refuses to do it. Of course this doesn't mean that it is not pain, but yes, I am a bit upset that I was not told any of this. I would probably still have helped, but I would have asked a lot more questions and been prepared. My gut feeling is that he just wanted to get into his box to eat hay and was irritated at being held outside for his boots. Unfortunately he is allowed to do whatever he wants, so I think he has a lack of impulse control.
 
utter-nutter said:
lordy was that the reason why she didn't want to take them off?!
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To be fair she usually does it herself, she was just delayed today. Our stable is all half livery, and I had not really understood why she did not just ask that one of the grooms do it....now I know.

Edited to add that it is not an every day event, I have taken them off many times with no problems, just seems that his way of expressing frustration is to kick. Now I think about it every time I have done it before he has been already inside eating hay for a while, so maybe he was hungry, but to understand it is not to excuse it!
 
I remember going for a job trial once at a dressage yard - one horse I was leading in was rearing, trying to steam roll me down and trying to cow kick me as I lead them in. I put that horse away and went into the next box to hay and that one also went up and was boxing out.

The YO when I said what had happened said 'that's what hot horses do, if you can't deal with it then you shouldn't be working here'.. My issue with it wasn't that they had done it, it was more that she hasn't though it prudent to mention it to me, as like you I would have worn a hat etc. At least at the reply I knew she was a dick and got in my car and went home.

Hope your leg is better soon OP! I wouldn't be keen to help her any more!
 
My horse kicks out when other horses are ‘in her space’ so I assume she has the potential to kick in any circumstance. I make it clear to others that she kicks, it doesn’t come with a caveat that it is only in certain circumstances.
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
I remember going for a job trial once at a dressage yard - one horse I was leading in was rearing, trying to steam roll me down and trying to cow kick me as I lead them in. I put that horse away and went into the next box to hay and that one also went up and was boxing out.

The YO when I said what had happened said 'that's what hot horses do, if you can't deal with it then you shouldn't be working here'.. My issue with it wasn't that they had done it, it was more that she hasn't though it prudent to mention it to me, as like you I would have worn a hat etc. At least at the reply I knew she was a dick and got in my car and went home.
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Been there. Briefly worked at my old yard, and some of the horses were totally feral to turn out. When I got dragged around by a couple of them, YO said, "These horses aren't like your horse." It took every ounce of willpower to not say, "You mean they're not trained? No sh1t."
 
Ouch...i hope you recover quickly from that kick...be sure to be sporting a nice bruise!

I just wanted to mention it might be the velcro that caused him to react without thinking...?

I’ve just got my mare some front hoof boots and she’s never had them before, and despite sensitising her to the sound of the velcro-ripping, when i take them off she really doesn’t like the velcro sound ripping. She’s even lifted her foot fast after me doing it. Not sure how long it’ll take for her to get used to it and not flinch, but so far, she’s not digging the velcro ripping sound...tho’ she loves the boots!

So im wondering if the horse you were with might have the same velcro issue? Especially if he’s in a chilled out mood, isnt paying attention to what the people handling him are doing...then the sudden ripping of velcro, especially if you started on the hinds - mightve shocked him and he popped a low fast kick instinctively?
The times you removed the boots for the livery before did you start on the hinds?
 
PurBee said:
So im wondering if the horse you were with might have the same velcro issue? Especially if he’s in a chilled out mood, isnt paying attention to what the people handling him are doing...then the sudden ripping of velcro, especially if you started on the hinds - mightve shocked him and he popped a low fast kick instinctively?
The times you removed the boots for the livery before did you start on the hinds?
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Well I am pretty sure that it is not the sound of the velcro, because he has been wearing the boots for a couple of years to my knowledge and has never reacted before. I approached him normally, ran my hand over him and touched the leg first, so he would have been expecting it, but it is a very good point you make that I do normally start with the fronts. Maybe that set him off.
 
"Horses kick at one end bite at the other and are damned uncomfortable in the middle" quote from dad who had working Clydesdales we all take risks but we should always be informed of any quirks or dangerous behaviour its just rude not to. Hope you recover quickly and no real harm done
 
Green Bean said:
My horse kicks out when other horses are ‘in her space’ so I assume she has the potential to kick in any circumstance. I make it clear to others that she kicks, it doesn’t come with a caveat that it is only in certain circumstances.
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My mare is like this too (though she has improved with age) and I am constantly saying to people not to get too close to her just in case. There is always one numpty that knows better though ?
 
I was mortified when my mare kicked the therapist. I am usually on the ball about telling them her left hind is challenging territory post injury and I'll run my hands down it first to gauge the reaction. This time though the therapist just went to it and fortunately it was only a warning shot. I pretty much spent the rest of the session apologising - not making excuses!

Hope your leg mends fast
 
Winters100 said:
Well I am pretty sure that it is not the sound of the velcro, because he has been wearing the boots for a couple of years to my knowledge and has never reacted before. I approached him normally, ran my hand over him and touched the leg first, so he would have been expecting it, but it is a very good point you make that I do normally start with the fronts. Maybe that set him off.
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Even if im not working on front hooves, i’ll pick them out or just lift them first to let the horse definitely know it’s ‘working on hooves time’...this has become my habit as i have a gelding who’s can be sensitive with his hinds, but once he’s in ‘hoof lifting mode’ he’s fine.

He can be so stubborn. Literally the hind im wanting to lift he plants flat on the ground, while the other hind he points his toe on the ground resting. I ask for the hoof, and his response is to defiantly lift his pointed other hoof and stamp it back down pointed....”nope, im resting that hoof”...so i go to the other hind pointed hoof, and he immediately switches stance, planting that flat on the ground, and pointing the other! “Oh youre playing games huh?!”
At times when he’s being a stubborn git and wont give his hinds, i tell him he has a choice. Give me the hoof and he can stay with me caring for him, or ill have to sell him if he wont let me have his hoof....and by jove, he lifted up his hind into the air!! Lol

Certainly with a horse i dont know...i’d start with the fronts just to gauge how they are with hoof handling. Its a shame the owner wasnt more open with you about her horse...that couldve been much nastier.

Yet i was surprised by the constant flinching reaction my normally chilled out mare has with the velcro. Its like its the most alien sound/sensation in the universe, and i do wonder if she’ll ever get used to it!
 
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