Ginn
Well-Known Member
Thought I would post this as a warning to others, especially younger, less experienced (and by that I mean years in the saddle not ability) riders.
A few nights ago Kiri was out hacking alone with Mickey - nothing new or different.
She went along a bridle path in a wooded area that she regularly rides along and continued on her hack. On the return home she rode along the same bridle path but in reverse and having assessed the ground and checked for holes etc on the way up had her usual canter along it.
Suddenly she became aware of something strangling her, dropped her reins to help free her neck - at which point Mickey immediately stopped - and found that a "vine" that must have been hanging down had become firmly wrapped around her neck. It didn't break off but fortunately had enough give that it didn't seriously hurt her in the 2 or 3 strides it took for Micks to pull up. Upon tugging it she realised it wasn't going to break loose but she was able to untangle herself.
She phoned us (at home) immediately as poor girl was really shaken but we had already left home to go and fetch her as she was only a few mins from the yard and had prearranged for us to come and meet her for that time, so she qietly walked home and promptly dissolved with shock and the sudden realisation of what could have happened upon arriving back at the yard.
She now has some lovely burn marks and bruising around her neck and we are just so grateful that that is the worst of her injuries. We are also very thankful that Mick's knew something was wrong and stopped - another horse and it may have been a different story
Sorry for the waffle but just wanted to warn others - at this time of year things grow very quickly so please be very careful - this was a very familiar route for Kiri - she probably rides along it most days and yet she was still caught out.
A few nights ago Kiri was out hacking alone with Mickey - nothing new or different.
She went along a bridle path in a wooded area that she regularly rides along and continued on her hack. On the return home she rode along the same bridle path but in reverse and having assessed the ground and checked for holes etc on the way up had her usual canter along it.
Suddenly she became aware of something strangling her, dropped her reins to help free her neck - at which point Mickey immediately stopped - and found that a "vine" that must have been hanging down had become firmly wrapped around her neck. It didn't break off but fortunately had enough give that it didn't seriously hurt her in the 2 or 3 strides it took for Micks to pull up. Upon tugging it she realised it wasn't going to break loose but she was able to untangle herself.
She phoned us (at home) immediately as poor girl was really shaken but we had already left home to go and fetch her as she was only a few mins from the yard and had prearranged for us to come and meet her for that time, so she qietly walked home and promptly dissolved with shock and the sudden realisation of what could have happened upon arriving back at the yard.
She now has some lovely burn marks and bruising around her neck and we are just so grateful that that is the worst of her injuries. We are also very thankful that Mick's knew something was wrong and stopped - another horse and it may have been a different story
Sorry for the waffle but just wanted to warn others - at this time of year things grow very quickly so please be very careful - this was a very familiar route for Kiri - she probably rides along it most days and yet she was still caught out.
