Moan - owner thinking dangerous behaviour is funny

[Dobby]

Just a moan really...

If you've got a difficult horse and are too scared to ride him so you pawn him off to anyone who'll have a go, don't *****ing stand there with your mate whispering and laughing while the poor rider is getting bolted with and it's doing it's best rocking horse impression.

Rode a horse who I used to share today (stopped sharing him because his owner told me my riding was awfu - she was looking for a sharer because she's too nervous to ride him) and although he'd always been well behaved with me, I've ridden him twice over the past 2 months and both times his behaviour has been bordering on dangerous. His owner was riding her other pony and her mate was watching, we put up a little jump and went to go over it. He always gets a bit excited when jumping anyway but this time, he jumped this 2'3 pole like it was 4 foot and then TANKED off across the field, I absolutly shat myself I tell you. I'm a confident rider but this horse is 16.2h and built like a brick *****house and there was not a damn thing I could do to stop him. He stopped dead at a hedge, I turned him round and he set off doing mini rears/bucks like a rocking horse. The whole time, each time, neither of them shouted any support or suggestions and when he'd stopped neither of them said ANYTHING to me. When I looked over at them midway across the field they were looking at me and leaning in and grinning, clearly talking about it but obviously not prepared to share their thoughts. Nice.

So he did this 3/4 times, and on the next go he was MUCH better, I managed to catch him and get his head up before he could get that first canter stride in and tank off. I wanted to leave it there but the owner insisted I try again because he was improving - they then put the pole up a couple of inches!? So I said, half jokingly, do either of you want to "just pop him over that one" !? Both declined! I am not the best rider in the world nor do I pretend to be. BUT I have been riding since I was a kid and am confident, still have lessons and I'm especialy willing to take criticism from owners of the horses I ride. Not that my riding ability matters - I could have been a ten year old or Mary King on that horse and I'd've expected something more constructive than that.

But I am just so annoyed that in a situation that was frankly dangerous - and there is NOTHING fun or funny about being genuinely bolted with across a muddy field on a slope - that they thought it was ok to stand there, ignoring me and obviously slating my riding while this was going on, and THEN to try and put the jump up and suggest just popping over it again. And then to admit they wouldn't do it themselves!

Grrr! Sorry for droning on. It's got to me so much because now I'm in two minds whether to ride him again - his behaviour is dangerous and I don't want to ruin my confidence by forcing myself to ride a horse I don't enjoy riding, but then, by not riding him - am I admitting I've lost some confidence? I'm not relishing the thought of getting back on board tbh...

 

[narkymare]

i wouldnt - horse sounds dangerous, cant be much for you and the owners sound terrible!
I would be mortified if my horse behaved like that with anyone i let ride him, in fact i would put a stop to it fearing for your safety!!!!
Find something safer with decent owners as quick as you can!xxx

 

[fidleyspromise]

I would say that if he's that dangerous and they're letting him get away with it because its "fun", your going to end up putting yourself in danger.
Far better to say enough's enough, before it goes too far. You've proved you can ride him but it's better to stop now, before you actually do lose any confidence.
I feel sorry for the horse but it sounds like if you continue to ride him, your confidence will drop fast unless they stop letting him away with this.

 

[Muchadoaboutnothing]

i wouldnt - horse sounds dangerous, cant be much for you and the owners sound terrible!
I would be mortified if my horse behaved like that with anyone i let ride him, in fact i would put a stop to it fearing for your safety!!!!
Find something safer with decent owners as quick as you can!xxx

Agree with this.

 

[Dobby]

Yeah - if he'd behaved like this before I wouldn't have carried on riding him. But he was generally fine before. Turns out my limits don't extend to this on a regular basis!
Think I might have to call it a day - admitting you're not comfortable riding a horse like this isn't failing or wimpy - repeat x 10!

 

[Ella19]

no don't get back on. It's better to walk away with your confidence and life in tact! Ignore these silly people, if they aren't willing to get on the horse, why should you risk your life for their thrill? Don't think you've lost confidence or face by walking away - that's the sensible thing to do.

 

[angelish]

you haven't slept with any of there boyfriends/husbands have you ?

sounds like they have had a right load of fun with you today and either horse has had no turn out for a while or has a problem somewhere (back/teeth/saddle etc)

TBH i'd tell them to get someone else to ride it after they have had the above checked if the freshness/naughty behavior wasn't just due to being shut in for a few days
your not being defeated by not riding this horse ,you will be being sensible.
find something else to ride ,these people are obviously not your friends anyway

 

[Dancing Queen]

if i was in that position i would get back on him, i am a person that foolishly doesnt give in to any animal.

However i would (if you havent already got one on) get a martingale on him and perhaps a drop noseband, then take him for a quiet ride in the school if you arent sure about taking him out, just walk on both reins, figure of eights, serpentines etc, if he is responding try a trot, 20m circles both reins, then perhaps 3/4 of school in canter (if he is responding and coming back to you) on both reins. The back to walk and call it a day.

He sounds like he is worked up in the school, but i suggest the school because i dont know how confident you feel about taking him out hacking now. I am not sure that you would get to the canter bit (as suggested). I have had a fair few nutters in my time that no one else would ride, i have generally found the behaviour due to bad previous riding, treatment of the horse.

I would however do the above on my own without the sharer and her friend present.

 

[Quartz]

I agree with some of the other posts that say don't get on him again. Its not worth risking your confidence or getting hurt to prove a point. These people aren't worth the time of day, and just because they can't ride the horse doesn't mean you should just in some ways to prove a point. You know you can ride and are confident. Ride something you enjoy riding and with people who are nice to be around. You did and good job, and showed them you can stay on and ride well, leave it at that with your head held high.

 

[angelish]

sorry me again
just read some other replies and it sounds like there may be a small amount of bullying going on and if you do say your not riding this horse anymore you are going to get a back lash of "your a whimp" "your scared to get back on" or similar ,please don't take any notice of these obviously stupid people and don't get back on that horse

your coming across as sensible in your posts so don't let them bully you and you are not failing or being whimpy

do not get back on that horse as there may well be something wrong with his back/saddle/teeth etc making him behave this way and no matter how good a rider anyone is ,it is a very dangerous thing to do riding something that behaves like this

it is not your horse ,you have no obligation to sort it out so walk away before you end up getting hurt

 

[JanetGeorge]

if i was in that position i would get back on him, i am a person that foolishly doesnt give in to any animal.

I'd take him on - at MY yard - minimum stay 4 weeks @ £140 a week!

Owners are taking the pi** - and your neck is on the line! Tell them to ride it trhemselves - or send it to a professional!

 

[Dobby]

Thank you everyone, even just typing it out made me realise it isn't worth it. And all your replies make alot of sense. Thank you

mollylolly - see, that's what I was thinking, I don't want to give up as it feels like some kind of failure. But then I don't really know what I'm trying to actually achieve - I seldom ride him so it's not likely i'll be able to reschool him, he's not even mine so I've got nothing to win or lose.

 

[Dancing Queen]

there maybe nothing physically wrong with the horse. It maybe that he has behaved in this way before, the rider has freaked got off, been thrown off and the horse put away or back in the field. The horse then associates this behaviour with getting his own way hence he continues to play up as thats what he knows works.

 

[Dancing Queen]

Thank you everyone, even just typing it out made me realise it isn't worth it. And all your replies make alot of sense. Thank you

mollylolly - see, that's what I was thinking, I don't want to give up as it feels like some kind of failure. But then I don't really know what I'm trying to actually achieve - I seldom ride him so it's not likely i'll be able to reschool him, he's not even mine so I've got nothing to win or lose.

Dont feel like you are a failure and i certainly dont believe that you are. You may not be able to ride him all that often right now, but you could be the person to bring him round and to show him that riding is fun for both horse and rider. Big hugs - just be careful whatever you decide xxx

 

[angelish]

there maybe nothing physically wrong with the horse. It maybe that he has behaved in this way before, the rider has freaked got off, been thrown off and the horse put away or back in the field. The horse then associates this behaviour with getting his own way hence he continues to play up as thats what he knows works.

you may well be right and there may be nothing physically wrong with the horse and you are quite right most of the time it is bad riding of this type that ruins horses

but when you get a bit older and find you do not bounce as well as you used to do and there is possibly another reason for the behavior, you get wise and either like janetG says get paid for the pleasure and who seems also wise enough to get everything checked before rehab begins or leave well alone

i too used to have this attitude and would not be beat by any horse but you live and learn, i still do play with the odd problem horse as i sometimes simply can't help myself when i see someone struggling or a horse being hugely misunderstood & i really enjoy it but i charge a lot more than £140 a week now

i'm not having a go at anyone i'm just saying learn from the old and wise and be very careful as one day you will bite of more than you can chew as i have done and it could turn into a very dangerous situation

 

[Cadfael&Coffee]

I'd take him on - at MY yard - minimum stay 4 weeks @ £140 a week!

Owners are taking the pi** - and your neck is on the line! Tell them to ride it trhemselves - or send it to a professional!

Completely agree!!!

Or alternatively i'd offer to Reschool on their property, for £30odd an hour

Tho if you're riskin your confidence, it's really not worth sortin out someones horse, especially considerin their attitude

 

[Dancing Queen]

thanks angelish - im not exactly a spring chicken!! and yes as i have got older the falls are harder and bruises last longer but still my determination does not fade.

but the op needs to be well informed xxx

 

[angelish]

thanks angelish - im not exactly a spring chicken!! and yes as i have got older the falls are harder and bruises last longer but still my determination does not fade.

but the op needs to be well informed xxx

 

[mystiandsunny]

If they ask again, you're busy, and if pressed, didn't really enjoy riding him - would love to come and watch owner though! Or something like that. Not worth it, no fun and you're not getting anything out of it!

 

[LaurenM]

As above; if she contacts you, you're busy!

As you've said, you have nothing to gain from such a situation and it's honestly not worth the heartache.

 

[bigboyrocky]

Is it just me thinking "how on earth did you manage to ride in a field in these conditions? At the mo, the fields are either still frozen or absoloutly boggy as h**l?" And i'd imagine the horse hasnt been ridden in a while due to snow, so maybe part of the reasoning behind the bahviour?

 

[Serenity087]

Horse riding is supposed to be fun! This isn't fun! So stay well away!

And IF she calls you a chicken, tell her to ride her own damn horse, as she's such an awesome rider!

 

[Dobby]

angelish - that's the other thing as well, if the owner is ganging up with her mates and slating my riding and backstabbing when I'm trying to help her out that's even more reason not to do it. Thank you

mollylolly - i do agree with you, I don't want to give in, and that's what i'm trying to fight against haha! I haven't been bolted with for a long, long time and it does really shake you up!

bigboyrocky - luckily we've missed most of the really awful weather and the past couple of days have been just about right, if a little bit soft. But there's no ice, nothings frozen and it's not a mud pit down where we are

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. And having read all this, if anyones in a similar situation, I'm beginning to realise that just because you CAN stick on a spinning horse or a bucking fit or whatever, doesn't mean you have to on a daily basis to prove yourself to anyone/prove anything to yourself.

 

[Joya]

Don't get back on, we need you on the team! We can't have you losing your confidence

 

[Dobby]

Hi Dani
It's ok, I'm too horribly competitive to have a little thing like not wanting to do it put me off Not that that will ever happen!

 

[cbmcts]

Dobby,

Look at it this way - what do YOU gain from riding this horse?
If he was yours, it might be worth dicing with death to sort him out or even if you had a real chance of keeping the ride but she has already jocked you off once and is behaving like a cow now!

Wave bye bye JMHO

 

[flyingfeet]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. And having read all this, if anyones in a similar situation, I'm beginning to realise that just because you CAN stick on a spinning horse or a bucking fit or whatever, doesn't mean you have to on a daily basis to prove yourself to anyone/prove anything to yourself.

Or at least if you are going to do this sort of thing, you should be paid well for it!!

One of my "friends" always wanted me to ride her horse, but it was a ***** and even though I am breaking youngsters and doing a lot of riding, err no I didn't want to sit on hers for free.....

 

[TequilaMist]

Dobby,

Look at it this way - what do YOU gain from riding this horse?
If he was yours, it might be worth dicing with death to sort him out or even if you had a real chance of keeping the ride but she has already jocked you off once and is behaving like a cow now!

Wave bye bye JMHO

Agree with this

One thing getting hurt sorting out your own horse totally not worth it for someone elses-unless getting paid