leaving ponies alone at shows - just a moan

windand rain said:
Mine too in fact i find it not unlike standing in a stable and plenty do that for long periods of time
Click to expand...

Even my 3 year old is happy to stand on the lorry with a haynet and when it's gone he has a snooze. I ensure he is used to being tied and being stabled.

Many of the small ponies will have been on picket lines at PC camp so will be very used to being tied and left.
 
It always amazes me the amount of horses that are left tied unattended to the sides of / inside lorries - yes, perfectly fine if they are well behaved, settled, and being kept an eye on by someone (even a lorry neighbour if asked nicely!) but so many are not and I've lost count of the number of times I've had to run to a horses rescue because a leg has been caught in a leadrope, a head has been caught under a mud guard on a trailer, or it has spooked at something and disappeared across the car park while it's owners are browsing the stands.
I unfortunately have a horse that simply cannot be left anywhere unattended (even leaving her to go inside the lorry isn't possible), but because of this I always go places with someone and am sensible enough to never leave her - however inconvenient and annoying it is. One of our horses will stand happily eating from a haynet for hours at the side of a lorry, but accidents happen so again, we never leave him and take it in turns to go to the secretarys tent / stands.
 
Last edited:
Once saw a horse galloping around a show ground with the side of a lorry still attached to it's leadrope. Horrific. Have therefore never left unattended horse tied to side of horsebox, but have left sensible, calm horses munching hay in box for short periods
 
FfionWinnie said:
Mine would stand in a trailer all day no problem because I've bothered to train them to do so.
Click to expand...

I'll send Frank up ;) tbf he will stand in if it's raining and he's only a fidget because he is usually desperate to see where he is and what fun awaits him (he is disappointed if it turns out to be our instructors ;) :D ).
 
I was at an event recently where someone left their pony tied to an unhitched trailer without the handbrake on. Pony slowly manage d to pull the trailer a good 10m or so in search if more grass whilst it's owners were else where. It was in a very quiet part of the trailer park - goodness knows what would have happened if he hadn't been noticed for much longer!

I agree with Thistle that there is an element of training where horses should learn to stand tied up and left without any attention for a while. I never saw one pony at PC camp misbehaving whilst being left tied up at trailers etc whilst their riders were off doing other stuff, admittedly parents were keeping an eye on everyone else's. It was actually lovely to see rows of little ponies all dozing in the sunshine all totally chilled out.
 
Last edited:
At least some of you have the sense to leave a number on your windscreen in case anything goes wrong...I'm not meaning you guys ( who obviously love and care and think about their horses, i understand its tricky when you're on your own!! Been there, done it), I mean those that just don't seem to have a brain cell at all :)...
nothing mine like more than a few chips :)
 
I have seen many incidents with horses and ponies left unattended at shows. The worst was when a horse put it's leg through the side of the (inappropriate) box. The vet and owner were called over the loud speaker and the owners took a very long time to arrive. In this case the vet got seriously injured as the horse was badly injured and upset. If I remember correctly the horse had got stung which can happen to the best horse at any time. I have also seen a fair few escape and get out onto busy roads.
 
I try not to leave mine alone, although all of them stand well both inside and outside of lorry. There is usually two of us, so that rarely happens.
Earlier this year, we witnessed an horrific accident where the owner (I believe alone) went to, do their entries. Horse left tied up inside horsebox.Ramp down,
The horse went mad, not sure why but possibly due to a bee sting or something equally unusual. It got its leg through the actual bars on the window, got stuck for what seemed like an eternity, before finally freeing itself, and cutting long story short, ended up jumping over the ramp gates, crumpling in a heap at the bottom of the ramp. It had severe gashes to the legs. The vet attended the show ground, but I do not know the outcome-hopefully the horse was ok.
At the same show, someone else left their pony unattended in a trailer. Like many on this thread, pony went mad, and started to come over front bar, so my friend closed the front ramp, which was left open. Only to met by a tirade of abuse by the owner when they reappeared, who said "he always does that, he won't actually jump out, and don't touch other people's property" amongst other abuse. Shocked,put it mildly bearing in mind that owner was aware of the first incident.
 
Not quite the same, but twice this year at big county shows, as ive been getting small hairy pony ready, I have gone round the back of my trailer and into other side of my truck, whilst pony tied to the other side , and complete idiots have rocked up, one lot with a picnic table, hamper and six kids with picnic snacks, and set up within inches of hungry ponies fat bottom, I was very unsympathetic when he s**t right next to them, and they were moaning about the smell!! Second time a range rover inched past him in the lorry park squeezing between us and the trailer next to us who had left us room, I was even less sympathetic when he proceeded to s**t down it too, Thank goodness I didn't leave him unattended as who knows what could have happened, We have seen plenty of ponies loose at shows this year too, normally followed with lots of people running after them shouting its not mine Lol lol ;) :)
 
daughter's groom said:
Once saw a horse galloping around a show ground with the side of a lorry still attached to it's leadrope. Horrific. Have therefore never left unattended horse tied to side of horsebox, but have left sensible, calm horses munching hay in box for short periods
Click to expand...

Leicester County about 12 years ago ? the sheet metal sliced the horse to pieces. The horse was pts next to my lorry, totally horrific.
 
Bernster - we were well placed in the pairs, but in the 80/90 I retired at fence 9 the horrible (too hard for this level of competition) sunken road. He struggled with the bank and the triple steps so though it kinder and safer to stop.
 
I never like to leave horses unattended tied up.. apart from the obvious reasons like getting loose etc, I very much doubt anyone would notice a horse being stolen would they? I wouldn't really think twice about a horse tied to the lorry next to mine being taken away, I wouldn't know if it was or wasn't the owner... I know it would be unlikely but the thought of one of my boys being stolen or injured through my own negligence would be just awful.
 
Best not go to a driving show either ;) Mine stands tied up to the side of the lorry for large portions unattended for 5 days and 4 nights at a time! As such I expect him to cope with the odd 20 min here and there at a riding show. He stands well on the lorry, but having had a few get tied up, due to being nosey ponies stood still for a few hours, not hysterical or badly behaved, and pulled partitions down/stood on tack lockers, I much prefer on the side.
 
daughter's groom said:
Once saw a horse galloping around a show ground with the side of a lorry still attached to it's leadrope. Horrific. Have therefore never left mine unattended tire to side of horsebox, but have left sensible, calm horses munching hay in box for short periods
Click to expand...

Mine unfortunately did that with my pony whilst I was sitting on the ramp eating my sandwich watching them. No idea what happened. Both were munching on their respective haynet at either end of the lorry and they both shot back. Unsure why the bailing twine or the quick release clips on my leadropes didn't give way. But those 2 are usually the safest most reliable horses at shows. We still don't know what spooked them. But constantly being with a pony still doesn't safeguard against accidents. Just means minor ones can be sorted very quickly. Mine used to be a pig to load so wouldn't have been able to get him to stand on the horsebox. That issue is resolved now, but I tend to take him with me around the show ground and have me lovely 70 year old active grandmother come with me for a day out. She tends to hold bud and have a chat with him whilst I walk the course. Not tying them up at all and never leaving unattended is however a luxury not everyone can manage. Just for the record when double trouble galloped off with the side of the lorry, neither was hurt and nobody else was miraculously. Big one got a graze so he just needed purple spray which I had in my first aid kit that comes everywhere.
 
coffeeandabagel said:
Bernster - we were well placed in the pairs, but in the 80/90 I retired at fence 9 the horrible (too hard for this level of competition) sunken road. He struggled with the bank and the triple steps so though it kinder and safer to stop.
Click to expand...

I feel like it's ok to reply slightly off topic as it's your thread O P ;-)

well done on the pairs but I did think the course was a bit meaty at times for an unaff RC event. Better to retire and compete another day keeping your confidence!

Off xc training at waresely park this weekend:-)
 
It's not always possible as many have said to either take the horse with you or stay with it all the time, but I would never leAve one tied up at the side! If I have to leave one of mine they stay on the horsebox with all doors/ramp shut but I have one of them 'Horse in Distress?' Magnetic signs with my telephone number on just in case.
However, hAving heard about a lot of people having stuff stolen from lorries, I don't like to leave it unlocked, however it's a 3.5T and I don't like locking the back doors in case someone needs to get in there quickly, so I often do leave it open, but this frightens me too!
 
We witnessed a similar case to this at the weekend. We went jumping with my horse, and after my first class we went back to the trailer for lunch. I tied my horse to the back, and stood with him whilst I ate lunch. I wouldn't leave my horse tied to the trailer, I take him with me if I want to go watch!
But both wagons next to us and behind us had horses in on their own and were kicking the hell out of the wagons! One was at least 16.2hh and he was stood in the first section nearest the ramp with only 2 small wooden gates stopping him from coming down the ramp. He was kicking and scraping the floor and it looked as though he could easily get over! You almost feel you should stay there to keep an eye on them but obviously their owners aren't bothered so why should we!
 
I was really worried about one at Hambleton, he was on the wagon though and up on the tack locker hammering away. I and several other people were trying to calm him down, without going on the wagon and getting injured. The owners were called over the tannoy (a couple of times actually!) and eventually came strolling back and said yes, he always does that. If he always does that when he's left you'd think it wouldn't be rocket science to not leave him, wouldnt you.

I feel so blessed with mine that they will stand where I leave them for hours, on or off the box. My yearling just tends to go to sleep and the 2 yo takes it as an eating haylage opportunity. I don't tend to go too far for too long though, just the essentials.
 
Try living in New Zealand! Everything is tied to the end of an incredibly long lead rope to a home made trailer, eating from a hay net on the ground! I miss bs shows, just keeping horses on the lorry. I think all local shows are like this though, full of people with no clue.
 
leave mine in trailer where i know she is safe and secure. I am on my own so dont have to worry while i am booking in and collecting numbers etc.
 
I also leave my boy on the trailer, tied and with the back ramp up. This summer I witnessed a horse trying to reverse out, he got his back under the bum bar and got stuck. Someone, luckily, had an Allen key so they could release the breach bars from the outside! Poor pony did have a sore back and was very shaken!

Or I take him with me, although he does not fit in the toilets or get through the door of the canteen!
 
It's standard practice at all the shows I go to here in North America to have horses tied to the side of our large trailers. I haven't ever seen any incidents at any shows I've been to and all horses just stand quietly either munching on their hay bags or dozing inbetween classes. My own horses either stand tied to the side of my trailer or I leave them loose in it (Mine has boxstalls so my horses always travel loose unless I'm taking 4 or 5 horses, then they are tied on the slant). My guys will all stand for hours tied; they don't know anything else I'm afraid. I will wander off and register or go and speak to friends or watch the classes, just like everyone else who competes where we do. It's just how it's done where I live and that's what's expected of all horses. Different from what's usual in the UK granted but it's usual/normal here to do this.
 
Last edited:
I would never leave tied up to the side of the lorry, but more than happy to leave standing in the lorry whilst I go and do other things. If he can stand on the lorry for 3hrs+ to get to the show I don't see why he can't stand there between classes/whilst I compete of groom for others, or take a well deserved rest and walk around county shows :-)
 
I never tie mine to the horsebox and hate to see horses left unattended tied to them, I would much rather leave them on board or take them with me, have seen quite a few get loose over the years.
 
Spring Feather said:
It's standard practice at all the shows I go to here in North America to have horses tied to the side of our large trailers. I haven't ever seen any incidents at any shows I've been to and all horses just stand quietly either munching on their hay bags or dozing inbetween classes. My own horses either stand tied to the side of my trailer or I leave them loose in it (Mine has boxstalls so my horses always travel loose unless I'm taking 4 or 5 horses, then they are tied on the slant). My guys will all stand for hours tied; they don't know anything else I'm afraid. I will wander off and register or go and speak to friends or watch the classes, just like everyone else who competes where we do. It's just how it's done where I live and that's what's expected of all horses. Different from what's usual in the UK granted but it's usual/normal here to do this.
Click to expand...

See I'm not sure that it is that unusual to do here either, I have mostly only competed unaffiliated where trailers outnumber lorries (and if you have 2 on you have to get them out to untack) and pretty much everything will be left tied up to the trailer/lorry - a few left in but definitely not so many as say affiliated SJ. For the numbers there are very few accidents, and anything that is loose just tends to stop and eat some grass (and we usually just have extra gate stewarding if near the road).
 
I always leave mine unsupervised with a net tied very high. I check up on him and usually try to leave him somewhere visible from the canteen or ring where I am sat watching the classes.

I go back every half hour or so to give him water/check on him.
 
I complained at a pleasure ride a couple of years ago. Hunting family who had blatted round course, then left unwashed very sweaty horses tied to trailer & disappeared for an hour. In that time we had to repeatedly catch them (5 catches in total), & had 2 incidents of itchy horses getting down to roll, one nearly geting stuck under trailer. When they returned, told them what had gone on, not even a thanks for keeping an eye on them, just a load of abuse.

Another incident, 3 years ago now, lady turned up to ride. Was summer so she put down only (back) ramp to let more air into trailer whilst she went off to register etc. She was only gone 20 mins tops, & came back to pandamonium round her trailer (no-one knew whose it was, about 500 competitors that day). Horse (very experienced traveller) had managed to get its rump slightly under the rear bar, & in trying to get free had bashed itself. Result, one damaged spine, horse was PTS there & then (vets in attendence at event). It hadn't tried to get under, barely moved (we were parked near the back so had clear view). Consienscious owner, hadn't left horse tied unattended, had just tried to be considerate. Truly tragic accident.

Pet hate is seeing horses tied to ramps. Have also seen on 3 occasions horses bolting in panic round parking areas with ramps hanging from their heads.
 
LaurenDobson said:
We witnessed a similar case to this at the weekend. We went jumping with my horse, and after my first class we went back to the trailer for lunch. I tied my horse to the back, and stood with him whilst I ate lunch. I wouldn't leave my horse tied to the trailer, I take him with me if I want to go watch!
But both wagons next to us and behind us had horses in on their own and were kicking the hell out of the wagons! One was at least 16.2hh and he was stood in the first section nearest the ramp with only 2 small wooden gates stopping him from coming down the ramp. He was kicking and scraping the floor and it looked as though he could easily get over! You almost feel you should stay there to keep an eye on them but obviously their owners aren't bothered so why should we!
Click to expand...

But maybe the Owners ARE bothered but may be on their own and had gone to the loo, enter, get number etc etc......

My mare stands like a dream either inside or out but there may come a time when she is maybe stung by something and as I go alone and can't very well take her to the portaloo with me I would be horrified if other horsey people just left her because I couldn't leave a horse in distress whether I knew the owners or not!

It's all very well berating people for leaving horses but seriously I should think it is a very small number that don't actually care.........
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top