Most cringe worthy moments from times gone by...

[diluteherd]

Mine arent generally falling off or a misbehaving pony, mine are from when I was young, naive and dumb and really they just make me think to myself.. what a k**b I was!

I will start with the time I was at a Juniors BSJA (BS as they have now renamed it!) My pony had been such a good lad we had been placed novice and newcomers and was jumping like he had legs made of springs.. so we decided to give foxhunters a go, I usually schooled over Foxhunters height at home no problems, but we got half way through a class demolished 4 out of 5 jumps and on the 6th completely broke the wing into fire wood.. I was told by the announced 'think its best you retire now dont you?' oh it was terrible, spoilt a good day really!

My other time I would like to forget was when I out hacking on my pony and was having a nice canter along my usual cantering track when I saw a couple of horses plodding along a head. Back then when I was young I was honestly so so shy, so I gave them a wide birth seeing as there was a large stubble field to the side of the track and carried on my way... thinking back now I cringe as to what they probably thought of me not giving them a vocal warning or even slowing down to trot - plus also the danger risk.

I possibly beat myself up too much but I still do shudder when I think of those times!! lol

Anyone else want to admit to anything?

 

[WelshRuby]

I used to ride a pony owned by a friend of my Dads. Me being young and inexperienced didn't realise that she had laminitis (never even heard of it). A few times she was really slow, mentioned it to owner and he said " oh, she's got laminitis, just ride her through it"
So I did.
Poor Sheba, I've never foregiven myself for that.

 

[Wizzkid]

Jumped before the bell.... First jump then got kicked out! D'oh!!

 

[diluteherd]

Jumped before the bell.... First jump then got kicked out! D'oh!!

Oh no bums!!

That remind me of another time when I was doing a clear round class and was riding my stubborn mare, it was my very first show and I had a very quick showjumping lesson from the lady in charge of clear round as she attempted to get me to finish the course!! haha! Ah well... I tried lol

 

[JFTDWS]

That remind me of another time when I was doing a clear round class and was riding my stubborn mare, it was my very first show and I had a very quick showjumping lesson from the lady in charge of clear round as she attempted to get me to finish the course!! haha! Ah well... I tried lol

lol I got a pep talk from the steward on the door at NHEC's CR the other week as I was having a wobble about whether the pony could make it round a bigger course

Many years ago I was up there with an instructor on my old pony who was being a total knob about it - I must've done half a dozen clear rounds and ended up with my instructor in the ring yelling instructions at me like an sj lesson I did get a rosette eventually

 

[Shantara]

Jumped before the bell.... First jump then got kicked out! D'oh!!

I've done that too my first show and no one told me there was a bell!!

I'm sure I've done some other silly things, I'll post again if I remember them

 

[Marydoll]

Many years ago on a riding school nutty pony who had no brakes, i think i was about 10, was given said pony to jump in a wee show as i could usually manage him, well with it being an open show there was so much going on, and different ponies around, i bounced ( literally ) into the indoor school, jumped the first jump, then was promptly carted, doing wall of death speed round the arena and back out the door to the strains of ELIMINATED even at that early age i was mortified

 

[Carefreegirl]

100 years ago (almost) when feed came in hessian sacks we cut the bottom off and put it round my ponies neck, attched lunge lines - or may of been baler twine tied together and off we tootled up the snowy drive with me bareback and towing 3 girls on a sledge. This was fine until we got to the end of the long straight drive and turned onto the road. Said pony saw the 'passengers' out the corner of her eye and bolted, this was a miracle in itself as she never went faster than a slow walk ! After about 10 strides she stopped only to be hit in the back legs by the now passenger-less sledge.
What did we do ? Yep thats right, all got back on and carried on......

Ah, the innocence (or is that ignorance ) of youth..

Another time we went carol singing with the ponies, tramping up peoples paths with the ponies destroying the gardens. We only knew a couple of verses of Good king Wenslas and soon got bored. I think people paid us to shut up and go away. We raised about £40 for the ILPH from what I remember though

 

[Sparkles]

My first time showjumping when I was younger! On the complete schoolmaster pro too, obviously.

One of three that round.

LOL

 

[Spyda]

Mine must be riding my 13.1 nutty welsh pony along the slow lane of the A40, just off the Hillingdon Ski Slope roundabout near Uxbridge towards the Grand Union Canal - which my friend (riding her push-bike along the hardsholder beside me) had assured me was, 'Just down here a little way'. Said pony was a little nutter, pulling and crabbing sideways as I tried to keep her controlled in trot. My friend and I were about 12 years old at the time and thought about nothing more than taking a short cut to get to ride along the tow path.

Thinking back, I also remember I was always riding my 14.2 Arab across the pedestrian walkway over the A40 at Hillingdon around that time. And of all the old ladies with their shopping trollies having to pin themselves in terror against the railings as I jogged past (on yet another nutty pony who could never walk anywhere.)

Oh, the joys of being young [and quite thoughtless!] back in the late 70's. These days we'd probably get an ASBO or something

 

[FreddiesGal]

100 years ago (almost) when feed came in hessian sacks we cut the bottom off and put it round my ponies neck, attched lunge lines - or may of been baler twine tied together and off we tootled up the snowy drive with me bareback and towing 3 girls on a sledge. This was fine until we got to the end of the long straight drive and turned onto the road. Said pony saw the 'passengers' out the corner of her eye and bolted, this was a miracle in itself as she never went faster than a slow walk ! After about 10 strides she stopped only to be hit in the back legs by the now passenger-less sledge.
What did we do ? Yep thats right, all got back on and carried on......

Ah, the innocence (or is that ignorance ) of youth..

Another time we went carol singing with the ponies, tramping up peoples paths with the ponies destroying the gardens. We only knew a couple of verses of Good king Wenslas and soon got bored. I think people paid us to shut up and go away. We raised about £40 for the ILPH from what I remember though

These are such funny stories - had me chuckling away for a good 5 minutes, especially the first one!

 

[Marydoll]

Mine must be riding my 13.1 nutty welsh pony along the slow lane of the A40, just off the Hillingdon Ski Slope roundabout near Uxbridge towards the Grand Union Canal - which my friend (riding her push-bike along the hardsholder beside me) had assured me was, 'Just down here a little way'. Said pony was a little nutter, pulling and crabbing sideways as I tried to keep her controlled in trot. My friend and I were about 12 years old at the time and thought about nothing more than taking a short cut to get to ride along the tow path.

Thinking back, I also remember I was always riding my 14.2 Arab across the pedestrian walkway over the A40 at Hillingdon around that time. And of all the old ladies with their shopping trollies having to pin themselves in terror against the railings as I jogged past (on yet another nutty pony who could never walk anywhere.)

Oh, the joys of being young [and quite thoughtless!] back in the late 70's. These days we'd probably get an ASBO or something

Pushes like button

 

[Equilibrium Ireland]

I did the jump before the be

 

[StormyMoments]

mine and taz's first jumping comp 17.2 over 2'3ft jumps no problem... he refused the secound part of a double as the striding was pony and he tried to do 1 stride in a 3 pony stride and he realised he needed more like 1 and 1/2 strides so ducked out. me being the idiot i was forgot that a double is classed as 1 jump and was trying to get him to jump just the second part of the double! what an idiot the judges called out and said what to do and let me carry on my round but i was so embarraced i cried! everyone was watching, and he frightend the life out of me and nerves got the best of me... havent been to a show since

 

[Equilibrium Ireland]

Boy do I hate that!

I jumped before the bell too. Stupid Yank!

I also tried to climb on a NH horse at my first galloping job because I couldn't jump up like everyone else and they left me! I came whizzing past the string hanging off the side. Sorry, we only get leg ups back home.

Going on my first CC school over here, watching my lead disappear from view and went hurtling off what felt like a cliff! I may have pee'd a little. My 17 YO lead was like, um ponies and 8 yo's do that! Burn.

And finally when teaching my last baby, 2 years ago, to lead she stepped on my foot for the third day in a row whilst being cradled and knocked me down. I went to the house and cried that I was the most useless person in the world. I'd galloped downright scary and bad behaved horses, galloped breeders cup winner, ect and yet I came to Ireland and became a loser!

Terri

 

[Carefreegirl]

I fractured my ankle at a show once, I'd jumped the course (prob 1ft 6 knowing me) and was walking out the arena and just fell off out the side door ! The organisers didn't want the St.Johns to take me to hospital incase they needed the ambulance for a serious accident so a mates mum took me in her car and got my foot stuck under the front seat (they put me in the back so I could put my foot up but she wouldn't let me as still had my rubber stylo boots on )
Took ages to get me out when we got to Stoke Mandeville then as we got into A&E it was like being back at the show as a few other show victims were already there !

Another time horse bolted after being scared by a landing hot air balloon and ran straight into a pond, he sank to his knees, catapulted me over his head sending me head first body surfing across said mud pit. It was in our eyes, ears nose etc etc. Got back to the yard and called my friend who thought I was a new African livery as she recognise me or my horse.
I'm surprised I'm still alive really

 

[Littlelegs]

These are so funny.
Remember two friends going out hacking, getting lost on some dubious short cut & then realising it was getting dark. With no hi viz or lights we decided it was best to stick to well lit roads, using the pavements. Which also happened to be the main road through a town centre. With the confidence of youth we just trotted along in a hurry with people diving into shop doorways or off the kerb.
One occasion we came across a football pitch with a barrier about 3' round it. As you do, we proceeded to pop back & forth over it. Wouldn't have been an issue except there was actually a match on at the time, between what we later found out were local pub teams. Very angry ref came over to shout, at which point we decided cantering around the pitch was fun, scattering the players. Wasn't me who first decided shouting tally ho & giving chase to individuals was a good plan, but I did join in fully.

 

[Spyda]

These are so funny.
Remember two friends going out hacking, getting lost on some dubious short cut & then realising it was getting dark. With no hi viz or lights we decided it was best to stick to well lit roads, using the pavements. Which also happened to be the main road through a town centre. With the confidence of youth we just trotted along in a hurry with people diving into shop doorways or off the kerb.
One occasion we came across a football pitch with a barrier about 3' round it. As you do, we proceeded to pop back & forth over it. Wouldn't have been an issue except there was actually a match on at the time, between what we later found out were local pub teams. Very angry ref came over to shout, at which point we decided cantering around the pitch was fun, scattering the players. Wasn't me who first decided shouting tally ho & giving chase to individuals was a good plan, but I did join in fully.

Brilliant!!! Spot on! Just the sort of mischief I was getting up to in my neck of the woods! We must be kindred spirits!!

 

[tallyho!]

Shell suit rubs. Nuff said.

 

[xspiralx]

One occasion we came across a football pitch with a barrier about 3' round it. As you do, we proceeded to pop back & forth over it. Wouldn't have been an issue except there was actually a match on at the time, between what we later found out were local pub teams. Very angry ref came over to shout, at which point we decided cantering around the pitch was fun, scattering the players. Wasn't me who first decided shouting tally ho & giving chase to individuals was a good plan, but I did join in fully.

That may be the best thing I've ever heard - absolutely HILARIOUS!

 

[Littlelegs]

I know that especially in my early to mid teens, how sensible or thoughtful things were to others weren't a high priority! Park benches etc were obviously put there as jumps. We did have local bowling greens that tempted us a lot, but in all honesty the 5' fence from a concrete take off was what put us off, rather than how rude it was.

 

[Sparkles]

That may be the best thing I've ever heard - absolutely HILARIOUS!

That was actually incredible hahahaha.

I'm guilty of jumping the concrete poled fencing around grass areas also....I got told off too for 'churning up the ground where the kids like to play football'.
It was actually hard ground [well not soft enough to leave marks] so wasn't really doing anything wrong. Apart from when when said **** head horse accidently ran out once at speed and we ended up almost halfway over someone's back garden fence where they were having a BBQ....oops!

 

[Jackson]

Chuckle Chucke.

Last year a livery offered me a ride on her complete and utter 14hh plodder and I accepted. There was dressage on on our yard so I thought no problem, I'll just pop in the school before the classes start and have a quick trot around before going elsewhere. Before I even had my feet in the stirrups, she had shot off and was hurtling around the school, genuinely leaping over the dressage boards, and another horse's lunge line eek We literally didn't stop until both of us were dripping in sweat and could move no further, with all of the (extremely) delayed competitors staring in horror I came very close to bailing out!

To make matters worse, later on in the week she went mysteriously lame and I'm sure that I was probably the cause

Oh and then another time, the first time I ever rode alone, I genuinely couldn't get on! The man who came to rake the school surface offered to give me a leg up but kept looking at me strangely. I was a bit like wtf until I walked past a mirror and realised I had put a baseball cap on instead of my riding hat So I had to jump off, get it and start all over again...

 

[Wizzkid]

I'm so happy that other ppl have gone before the bell!! I've always felt like such a wally for doing that!!

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

One of mine I didnt even have the "excuse" of being on a horse:

Me & friend (quite a long time ago) were helping at the stables & we went out to feed the ducks at the stables, the pond was quite far out as it had been dry, we thought we would go to the water to put the feed in so the horses didnt get it. Unfortunately the mud was bog like and we both got stuck

People had to come and lift us out- one of my boots came off and i think it is still in said pond. Was very embarassing but fortunately it was when i was younger!

Im sure there have been various horse ones will try and think of them...

 

[cazrider]

Not as long ago as i'd like, I entered my first Novice indoor ridden showing class, Ridden Mountain and Moorland, on my 15hh welsh section d. In my utter nervousness I didn't notice they'd split the class into small and large breeds, and just went in when the class was called.

For some reason no one said anything. I did wonder why all the novices were on small ponies.

Light dawned when I was in the line up, at least a hand higher than anything else there, caught sight of the "large breeds" waiting in the warm up arena, and saw my friend doubled up laughing.

Another belter was when I took him to a small local show, and was persuaded for my sins to have a go at the clear round jumping...one foot high, to give my lad some experience. He was having none of it... until my friend (same one) ran round in front of me and jumped them all first. He followed he round the jumps and cleared the lot. This time we had the whole crowd falling about laughing... but we did get a rosette.

 

[dreamcometrue]

Me and my friend were pleased to find a lovely big grassy circle just off the track from one of our hacks. Since we had no school at our yard we decided it was an ideal location for cantering circles.

I had pulled up when I noticed two workmen had appeared and were busy fixing a gate onto the entrance to this impromptu arena. My friend was still obliviously cantering around on her TB.

I went over to the men and they told me that our "school" was the landing pad for the Air Ambulance helicopter for the nearby hospital. Ooops.

I had to smile sweetly and ask if they would please let us out before they put the gate on.

I actually had to call my friend several times as she was lost in her own little dressage world.

 

[FinalFurlong]

These are so funny.
Remember two friends going out hacking, getting lost on some dubious short cut & then realising it was getting dark. With no hi viz or lights we decided it was best to stick to well lit roads, using the pavements. Which also happened to be the main road through a town centre. With the confidence of youth we just trotted along in a hurry with people diving into shop doorways or off the kerb.
One occasion we came across a football pitch with a barrier about 3' round it. As you do, we proceeded to pop back & forth over it. Wouldn't have been an issue except there was actually a match on at the time, between what we later found out were local pub teams. Very angry ref came over to shout, at which point we decided cantering around the pitch was fun, scattering the players. Wasn't me who first decided shouting tally ho & giving chase to individuals was a good plan, but I did join in fully.

i bow down to you for that, hilarious!

 

[Taffyhorse]

Oh God so many...

I was a horribly precocious child, always stopping random people and asking to ride their horse or even worse telling them how to ride it - I still blush thinking about it...

My (non-horsey!) Mum asking the shop assistant in the saddlers if the rolled up poster of a Percheron I wanted to buy was a horse...

First day working on a National Hunt yard managed to let a horse out of its box which then bogged off down the (luckily v quiet!) road before getting bogged off with on the same horse at the gallops... oh the shame...

First day working at a dealers forgot to tighten the girth meaning me and the saddle ended up under the horses belly - even worse, once I'd repositioned it and got on, I still obviously hadn't tightened the girth enough as we were cantering around and it slipped again - with the same result!!

Oddly enough, it took some time to convince both my above employers that I wasn't a complete muppet and did actually know what I was doing...

Got eliminated for taking the wrong course in the shortest working hunter course ever...

Oh and possibly the worst (and definately one for the ladies...), returned from hunting and went to the loo only to discover my 'time of the month' had appeared and I had a v large red stain on my breeches - which I must have flashed at everybody during the day...!!

 

[fidleyspromise]

mine and taz's first jumping comp 17.2 over 2'3ft jumps no problem... he refused the secound part of a double as the striding was pony and he tried to do 1 stride in a 3 pony stride and he realised he needed more like 1 and 1/2 strides so ducked out. me being the idiot i was forgot that a double is classed as 1 jump and was trying to get him to jump just the second part of the double! what an idiot the judges called out and said what to do and let me carry on my round but i was so embarraced i cried! everyone was watching, and he frightend the life out of me and nerves got the best of me... havent been to a show since

I did this at my first Working Hunter. Pony ducked out the side of the 2nd part of double and I popped over only the second part. I did come out beaming however, as it was fence 5 and I had been crapping myself over 4 as neither of us had jumped anything like it before.

Its so sad that it gave you a bad experience though and you haven't gone out competing again

Not as long ago as i'd like, I entered my first Novice indoor ridden showing class, Ridden Mountain and Moorland, on my 15hh welsh section d. In my utter nervousness I didn't notice they'd split the class into small and large breeds, and just went in when the class was called.

For some reason no one said anything. I did wonder why all the novices were on small ponies.

Light dawned when I was in the line up, at least a hand higher than anything else there, caught sight of the "large breeds" waiting in the warm up arena, and saw my friend doubled up laughing.

Another belter was when I took him to a small local show, and was persuaded for my sins to have a go at the clear round jumping...one foot high, to give my lad some experience. He was having none of it... until my friend (same one) ran round in front of me and jumped them all first. He followed he round the jumps and cleared the lot. This time we had the whole crowd falling about laughing... but we did get a rosette.

Lol at these. The first sounds like something I'd do and the second just sounds hilarious