Oh 'DEAR'

Kayfm

Kayfm

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 May 2009
Messages
1,423
Location
London
Visit site
I was enjoyning a lovely up hill canter on track amongst the trees yesterday in the sunshine. Dino became a little unsettled all of a sudden, then before I knew what was happening a very large dear jumped out of the woods at quite a speed, straight into my path !!! Dino reacted really good bless him (he can be a bit of a pansy sometimes) and slowed up just enough, just in time to allow it to disapear back into the woods sharpish. He then carried on just like nothing had happended bless him. Ive never had a near miss with a dear before !!! Im proud of my very brave boy as 18.hh is a long way to fall off. Has anybody ever had something jump out on them before if so how did your horse react. This Dear was bloomin big !
 
I encountered a rabbit that hopped out infront of my path whilst i was going rather quickly on a friends heavy cob down a rather narrow briddle path.
It didn't scare the hoss, but poor rabbit didn't get out of the way quick enough :(
 
There were alot of deer where i used to hack in the forest of dean, had a few near misses but nothing too bad.

I remember one afternoon we were riding our ponies through the woods and the ponies stopped dead and planted, literally would not move an inch. Very weird. Wouldn't even turn around and go the other way. After about 30secs of them being stood stock still, about 2 or 3 wild boar stumbled across the track in front of us.... really quite freaky as we'd always been told as children that they were vicious!! Bless them, after another 30secs the ponies moved off like nothing had happened. Secretly believe they were protecting us from the rabid evil wild boar! :)
 
Aww bless him, well i have seen a few deer grazing in the field with our horses before and neither seemed phased by the other. I'v had pheasants and birds fly out suddenly usually with a big jump from both of us lol, and i once had a hare run out in fron of us and carry on up the track we were cantering up and my goodness this thing could go lol horse seemed unbothered i guess they are used to a fair bit of wildlife. x
 
Ah what a good boy! Think I would of been off and my horse away into the sunset if that happened! Sounds like a lovely place to hack though!
 
I have had a horse become very strong and quicken up considerably, when I looked round a deer was running along behind us - must have mistaken the chestnut lump for another deer!!

There is also some evidence that male antlered deer attack horses on occassions, they can cause damage. I think this is confined to grazing animals though!
 
I was out hacking once and a phesant threw itself out infront of us and the horse i was on snorted and kicked it with his front leg. poor thing went flying landed on its backside then got up and walked away. thw people i was out with had to stop coz they were laughing too much lol. poor bird.
 
Mackenzie encountered some baby conifer trees that have been newly planted in this field we pass, it didn't matter about the cow shed, the factory on the other side, the wagons and various noises going off and people jet hosing their drives etc but these two new little green things sitting there in the middle of this field ......scary stuff, he didn't spook but we had some huffing and puffing and he grew few hands taller. :roll eyes:

The mare, spooked at a gardener ferreting around in her plant bed, she bolted forward and I jarred my neck. :rolleyes:
 
Lol at the deer that decided to join you.

I have had a pheasant shoot out from almost underneath us and my pony darted off through the heather!! It took a few seconds to get him back under control.
 
We've seen deer in the woods from a distance - big girl calls to them, bless, she's easily confused.
 
I have fallen of my old pony when a deer was on the path just as we turned a corner and fallen off my bicycle when a deer jumped in front of me, and my husband overturned his car when a deer jumped in front of him on the road.
 
when x-country schooling i came 2 the waterjump at a fast canter 2 b met by a large swan that had hidden in the reeds. Good job horse kept its head up as it stopped dead and i got a mouthfull of mane! same horse also trod on a grass snake.
 
Deer drive B loopy! he desperately wants to follow the deer, bless him - he isnt the smartest! He also gets annoyed when my dog beats us, but she is a whippet and B has no hope!!
 
cuppatea said:
ive had a zebra jump out at me before........
and a warthog jump out the way.......
Click to expand...


What "... by the Irish sea" you must expand more.

When daughter was just off lead rein and cantering up a hill a jogger suddently popped through a hole in the hedge - pony went sideways and daughter flew off. My language was ripe:D
 
i don't like meeting deer, they're so flighty they tend to set horses off.
umm, a pheasant waited till we were on top of it and took off and hit my mare's front once, i'm sure i only stayed on because we both happened to jump in the same direction out of pure luck. nearly got decapitated by racing pigeons flying low over a hedge as i rode beside it, didn't bother horse but i ducked!
the best one was when i was doing canter work and a hare was running straight towards us with its head down, not looking where it was going. it got within about 15 yards, glanced up, skittered sharp left, and big spooky wb git skittered the other way and nearly left me sitting in midair.
our downfall was a semi-animate object... the end of a piece of black plastic wrapped round a silage bale... the wind caught it and snaked it up in the air as i did canter work (same spooky git horse) who immediately removed himself from under me and scarpered in the other direction. oopsy.
 
i haven't had anything jump out on me but where i hack out there is a field with peacocks in it and my mare hates walking past them.god help me then if one was to escape
 
dianeholmes said:
I have had a horse become very strong and quicken up considerably, when I looked round a deer was running along behind us - must have mistaken the chestnut lump for another deer!!

There is also some evidence that male antlered deer attack horses on occassions, they can cause damage. I think this is confined to grazing animals though!
Click to expand...

Im always a bit wary of red deer during the rut,as have heard stories about them attacking.
Our horses are used to deer now,we see them every day whilst out exercising.
 
It happens nearly every hack we go on which is a bit annoying as I am constantly worrying when it's going to happen. My mare is very good but large things jumping out right in front of you when you are moving at speed makes us both jump. We have had badgers, foxes, voles, ferrets, squirrels as well as the usual pheasants and partridges cross our paths too. The things us happy hackers have to contend with!!
 
I nearly ran over a bunny in the school the other week!! My mare missed it by a few cms but didn't seem bothered- I thought it would have been enough to send her into orbit!! Would have been a lot worse if she had of stood on it- can you imagine the sound effects!! :eek:

I saw a picture once in one of the mags (think it was H&H) of an event rider who has a deer literally jump out in front of them whilst going full pelt!! Rider had said the horse remained focused though!!!
:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top