anskatey
New User
Yesterday we went to Hillside Farm for the first time with 2 kids and their pony. I am their Mum and 7 months pregnant. Great morning lots of little jumps all had fun. Pony had loaded easily on way to show.
Once the kids had riden in a couple of rounds we tried to load her on the way back and she refused to go in our lorry. Several hours later tired, frustrated and lots of helpful people the owners of the show came along with their "expert" help.
Usual story- lots of jabbing in the mouth, tying down with lead reins, lunge lines round the back. Now furious pony rearing and trying to strike out at everyone. When the "expert" help decided to start beating the pony to get her on. I said stop - thats enough I don't want her lashing out behind as well; she will be unsafe in the future around the kids. This is not a pony you can get angry and aggressive with she just fights back harder.
They actually told me to shut up! They knew what they were doing they were the experts. When I asked them to get their hands off the pony I was told to leave the grounds and never come back.
We had to leave with child riding pony along the busy A272, me driving horsebox for several miles before we found a quite farmlane to call for backup. I had phoned for my friends (who know the pony well and are very good handlers to help). They drove behind my daughter with their hazards on but it was not a place I would normally let her ride along. We were miles from home and in an extremely dangerous situation.
I am absolutely furious they can advertise as friendly competition place for novice riders and think nothing of behaving in this way just because I didn't agree with their decisions or bow down to their "expert" opinions.
In the end we got our vet to sedate the pony and I am having Richard Maxwell out next week to help. He is an "expert" that I am sure won't make things a million times worse or beat the pony.
Once the kids had riden in a couple of rounds we tried to load her on the way back and she refused to go in our lorry. Several hours later tired, frustrated and lots of helpful people the owners of the show came along with their "expert" help.
Usual story- lots of jabbing in the mouth, tying down with lead reins, lunge lines round the back. Now furious pony rearing and trying to strike out at everyone. When the "expert" help decided to start beating the pony to get her on. I said stop - thats enough I don't want her lashing out behind as well; she will be unsafe in the future around the kids. This is not a pony you can get angry and aggressive with she just fights back harder.
They actually told me to shut up! They knew what they were doing they were the experts. When I asked them to get their hands off the pony I was told to leave the grounds and never come back.
We had to leave with child riding pony along the busy A272, me driving horsebox for several miles before we found a quite farmlane to call for backup. I had phoned for my friends (who know the pony well and are very good handlers to help). They drove behind my daughter with their hazards on but it was not a place I would normally let her ride along. We were miles from home and in an extremely dangerous situation.
I am absolutely furious they can advertise as friendly competition place for novice riders and think nothing of behaving in this way just because I didn't agree with their decisions or bow down to their "expert" opinions.
In the end we got our vet to sedate the pony and I am having Richard Maxwell out next week to help. He is an "expert" that I am sure won't make things a million times worse or beat the pony.
