Rabbit Holes

[Shantara]

A few days ago, one of the horses at the yard put his foot down a rabbit hole, stumbled, landed sprawled on the ground, but was over all fine. (YO, who was riding him sat the fall, but really hurt her leg...sending her healing vibes!)

I always assumed that a hoof down a rabbit hole meant a broken leg...have you guys had any experience with rabbit holes, where your horse has lived to tell the tale?

 

[mutley75]

tends to be alot worse when it happens at speed!

 

[Shantara]

tends to be alot worse when it happens at speed!

They were cantering :O That's why I'm so surprised it ended as well as it did. We're always on the look out for holes, it must have been well hidden (I wasn't there, but I heard the story today)

 

[mutley75]

lucky your pony! goes both ways, have had a broken leg before on a flat mown piece of grass with no hole. if we new the answer accidents would never happen!

 

[midi]

no but I fell down one today, really twists your leg in a funny way.

I do worry when Im out riding at speed, really you should check the ground before galloping/riding over it but I guess isn't always pratical, can't really say I've done it often.

 

[Shantara]

no but I fell down one today, really twists your leg in a funny way.

I do worry when Im out riding at speed, really you should check the ground before galloping/riding over it but I guess isn't always pratical, can't really say I've done it often.

I always worry too, we have our cantering spots and this accident happened on one of our usual places, we're not sure if they broke through an old one, or it had been covered with grass and we've just been lucky.

On one of our rides, we're allowed to go on the verge and we always ride along it. We knew there was a drain cover somewhere but we were unsure where. One day, someone happened to spot just in time that the cover had been stolen and covered over with grass :O :O one of the girls got off and uncovered it to make it as obvious as possible. It's horrible and massive, a child could easily fall down!!

Someone told the council, but guess what? Nothing has been done! I may give them another call myself, I rode past it today and it always scares me.

 

[JFTDWS]

Not rabbit holes, but my horse has crashed through the top of a badger hole before - he just carried on like nothing happened, essentially jumping out of it. Obviously, crashing through a shallow, wide hole like that isn't nearly as hazardous as a rabbit hole where the twisting action can result in serious injuries...

Regarding drain covers, I knew a horse that had gone through one in canter and really screwed up his leg (obviously) though he lived to tell the tale, and since he was only a light hack beforehand, it didn't really affect his workload long term. But it has made me hesitant on verges since.

 

[ebonyallen]

~They seem to spring up all over the bloody fields soon as they are filled the buggers dig the ground up again !! Not had or seen a horse down one but had the pleasure of going down one myself, quite entertaining when it was the false leg and thought it was going to be pulled off lol, hope you had a great Christmas, have a Happy New Year all the best for you and Ned for 2012 x

 

[Shantara]

~They seem to spring up all over the bloody fields soon as they are filled the buggers dig the ground up again !! Not had or seen a horse down one but had the pleasure of going down one myself, quite entertaining when it was the false leg and thought it was going to be pulled off lol, hope you had a great Christmas, have a Happy New Year all the best for you and Ned for 2012 x

Thank you Same to you and Ebony!! x

I should imagine it's quite a sight seeing a horse go down :O Never seen it myself! Though silly old Charlie nearly fell on a corner, he did all sorts of acrobatics to stay up right He managed it! haha!