Not a nice situation - and someone always has to make it worse!

Hullabaloo

Hullabaloo

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We had a bit of a drama on christmas eve. I took one of the kids from the yard out hacking with me. She's a good rider and her pony is very sensible and I rode my friends sensible cob. We had a lovely ride but on the way back, coming down a steep, narrow track her pony fell over and she was caught underneath. When the pony got to her feet the girl couldn't get up and her leg looked to be at a bit of an odd angle. I got off and got hold of her pony but I couldn't deal with 2 horses and look at her injury. Also where the track was narrow she was in danger of being trampled. I had to let the horses go so I could see to her injuries. They both headed off down the track and I felt terrible as it wasn't even my horse. Eventually I managed to get her up and I rang her mum to let her know what had happened. Thankfully nothing was broken, but she has a badly swollen knee. She was very brave and hobbled down the rest of the track, although it must have hurt like hell. All the way down I was trying to be calm and reassuring but panicing like mad about my friend's horse being loose. Thankfully when we got to the bottom her mum was waiting with the pony and the horse had been caught in someone's drive.
My friend who was very understanding and said not to worry as I'd done what I thought was best and he was none the worse for his adventure. I still feel bad about letting him go and still keep going over and over whether I could do anything differently.

Then yesterday one of the other liveries came down. She's notorious for stirring things and had been in the thick of it as she had helped hold my friends horse when he was caught. She told her he'd galloped round the village, (even though he turned up a drive at the bottom of the bridleway), had wrecked someone's lawn, been a nightmare to handle (well he was probably a bit anxious), everyone was saying what a pain he was and her husband and ahis mates were joking about getting their guns for a bit of target practice. Her whole attitude really upset my friend and by the time she's finished she managed to make me feel even worse than I did already. She also commented that the track we were on (which we use regularly) was lethal, and that I seem to have a habit of letting horses loose in the village (my horse got loose once, about 2 years ago when I fell off).
Why do some people just not know when to keep out of things?
Anyway, well done if you've got this far. Think I just had to get it off my chest!
 
I would have done exactly the same, and as it happens, have.
Try to let it go over your head, I don't kw what else you could have done, let the girl lie there in agony? What if she had lost consciousness?
Humans come first surely?
 
Put the story right! If it was me I would write it up and laminate it and stick it up! lol
There is always one stirrer! She must love Chinese whispers! It will all blow over and I think everyone will see that you did the right thing, because you did, and thats what I would have done to. In fact when I fell of Beau and knocked myself out, I woke up, phoned ambulance as I couldn't move, then passed out again, I can honestly say that I was more concerned for me than Beau (plus I was angry with him for bolting etc).

A horse can be replaced human life and limbs cannot! So what isf a stupid lawn did get trampled - that girl could have seriously broken something.

This stirrer will just look petty - she will think everyone agrees with her, but really as they nod they are thinking 'Stupid Biatch' for her spreading poop.
 
I agree. I would just ignore the ignorant cow. My sister hacked out last year with my husband on my advanced event horse. He had a nasty fall and broke ribs, collar bone and had concussion. She had to let both horses go. Was I cross with her? No...I was far more concerned about my husband. At the end of the day, its only a horse. I would put any human before an animal.
 
You did the right thing , I would have done the same xx

Dont let it bother you anymore , Everyone is fine despite a few injuries , Will all blow over .
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Totally agree with all the above!!!!
Let this person make herself look silly....you know the truth and she obviously seems to be jelouse that you are centre of attention and she is not!!!

I have a neighbour who does this all the time!!! she seems to thinl owning a horse is all about one upmonship....Let her bitch and moan she will be the one that will look silly in the end!!!!!!

Glad everyone is safe and well
x
 
You poor thing. What a dreadful situation to have found yourself in, on a horse that wasn't yours and the responsibility of someone else's child and pony on top.

I'd have done the same as you, in that situation, I'm sure of it. Like you, I'd have hated doing it, but there is no way you can keep hold of two horses as well as tend to the needs of the injured girl.

Please don't beat yourself up over it. Hugs to you.
 
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Put the story right! If it was me I would write it up and laminate it and stick it up! lol

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ditto
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at the end of the day u did what you thought was best, everything turned out ok and no1/ horses where affected by u letting them go! u did the right thing, you couldnt just leave the girl on her own! what right does that girl think shes got to go round stirring things up just to make things hard 4 u!
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The people that matter are the girl who fell off, her Mum and your friend who owned the cob. They all know that you did the right thing and they are the only ones that matter in this scenario.
The other livery sounds full of the Xmas spirit...NOT!!
 
How terrible. You could always post a message on the yard message baord stating exactly what happened and that the childs care is always the first priority. Should make the culprit look shamefaced.
 
Thanks guys, deep down I know I did the right thing and if I'd had to let go of my own horse I wouldn't have felt so bad about it.
It did bring it home to me the responsibility of taking out someone else's child. Making a call to say she'd had an accident was horrible, not a task I'd wish on anyone. But at least I could reassure her parents she was ok.
 
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I agree. I would just ignore the ignorant cow.

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Oh I wouldn't! I would wait until she has plenty of people around her then stroll up and say - VERY nicely - "I gather you think I was a fool to let the horses loose the other day - I should have left an injured and frightened child on the ground to look after herself? You're probably quite right - would you like me to take your daughter out hacking for you?" (And if she doesn't have children, add: "Oh silly me - thankfully you haven't bred yet, have you!" (But then I'm a bi**h!
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Your yard sounds like my (ex) yard; full of sh:t-stirrers and envious cretins!

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Actually we've just got the one - she's more than enough!
 
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I agree. I would just ignore the ignorant cow. My sister hacked out last year with my husband on my advanced event horse. He had a nasty fall and broke ribs, collar bone and had concussion. She had to let both horses go. Was I cross with her? No...I was far more concerned about my husband. At the end of the day, its only a horse. I would put any human before an animal.

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sorry, just have to say this....there are some humans out there that i would put ANY animal life priority over!!
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People that know you and anyone with common sense will know you did the right thing. As everyone else has said, people come first, especially a child. Seems like everything has turned out ok. The horses were caught, unharmed, the child wasn't seriously hurt, and there wasn't any serious property damage. So what's to worry about.
 
You did what you felt was right - nothing bad happened as a consequence of the accident so best telling the woman to mind her own business.

I would think that most of us have been in a similar situation to you at some point in our lives. When these things happen, only the person who still has all their faculties about them can make any decisions.

When it happened to me, I tied both horses up to trees and then immediately went to the aid of the other rider. Once up, the other rider managed to get back on her horse and I jumped back on my horse and popped her one on a lead rein and led them both home.

It really does all depend on the situation though - where I lived in England, no there is no way I would just let go of the horses, however where I live now, yes I would either have tied them to trees or just have untacked them and sent them home.
 
I've had that sort of thing before. I was out riding with a friend, when the visability was appauling and we really shouldn't have been out. To cut a long story short, my horse bolted and hers followed. Thankfully the herd of horses were out on the hill we were riding on at the time, so all I had to do was release them and knew they would rejoin the herd. Her horse had tanked off to rejoin the rest of them, so I was faced with having to leave her for a few minutes while I went to check it was ok and remove it's tack. There was absolutely nobody for miles around to help me, I had dodgey phone reception too.

It's not how I would have wanted to handle a situation, but I did what I could to make sure that the horses and my friend would be ok. Thinking back, the only thing I would have done would have been to phone mountain rescue. Unfortunatly at the time I forgot they existed, so did the worst thing I could with someone with a neck injury and moved her. I couldn't see any other way out. I couldn't see how I could let anyone know where we were, without leaving her on her own. All was well in the end though, no harm was done.

Don't eat yourself up over it. Horses are horses and accidents happen. You did what you thought was best, and that's the best you can do really.
 
Sometimes its a choice you have to make; I was out on my wily old mare as confidence-giver for a young friend on her new & rather spooky youngster. She came off- was winded rather than injured; I jumped off to check she was OK & grabbed her horse. Her young horse behaved impeccably whilst my old rogue slowly began to back- part of her repertoire- until the bridle was about to pull over her ears. I held onto the youngster and let the old one go; she was at least traffic wise, though that was the worst thing- the thought that she might meet a car speeding on the lane through our village.

I took a long time to live that down, though; the young friend rode home on a sensible, sober young horse whilst my mare flaunted her empty saddle right through the village and I came home on foot....
 
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I agree. I would just ignore the ignorant cow.

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Oh I wouldn't! I would wait until she has plenty of people around her then stroll up and say - VERY nicely - "I gather you think I was a fool to let the horses loose the other day - I should have left an injured and frightened child on the ground to look after herself? You're probably quite right - would you like me to take your daughter out hacking for you?" (And if she doesn't have children, add: "Oh silly me - thankfully you haven't bred yet, have you!" (But then I'm a bi**h!
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marvolous!
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That's a dreadful situation to be in, it's happened to me so I understand your panic at the time.
I would have probably tied both horses to the nearest fence by their reins rather than let them go, but then it's easy to say that when you aren't there isn't it?
You did what you felt you could which was sort out the casualty and get help.
When I was a trek leader taking out total beginners we had some terrible accidents, from a stirrup leather breaking and the woman smashing her head on the tarmac, to a child wearing a plastic mac which we told his mother to belt to stop it expanding in the wind, when she forgot after lunch the pony bolted and he of course fell off. I was left with 25 people none of whom could ride! (in those days H and Safety didn't exist..)
When things like that happen you often have to make split second decisions and you do your best, no-one can ask more of you.
I would face the moaner out and say you are sorry she doesn't approve of your actions, but at the time you did your best, point out it's easy to criticise until you have faced a smilar problem..
Well done, you got a good result in the end, so ignore them if you can..
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Maybe she would like to describe what she would have done in that situation stupid woman.

Anyway glad she was okay and nothing too serious.

I always tell people I am with when dealing with horses that we humans come first, the animal(s) come second, and trailers cars ect come last, they can be repaired, us and horses maybe not
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To be honest if I was in that situation I wouldn't let go of the horses, simply because doing that could itself cause a accident (when they got onto the road etc.). If possible, Id try to tie them up to something and tend to the kid.

But you did what you felt was right at that exact moment. Nobody should judge you for that. Luckily everything turned out fine. Whatever you did, Im sure that SOMEONE would stir the incident up!
 
what you did was right - if a person is in danger it is better to help the person than to try and deal with both horses and the person in danger/needing help (if you get what i mean)

there will always be people who stir and twist stories, its just one of those things. and so what if she has twisted it - you know what you did was the right thing and you should be proud of yourself for that. well done you!
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