Rant!

ann-jen

ann-jen

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We have a woman on our yard that practices the dreaded P word! This isn't a parelli rant by the way - each to their own IMO.
Our yard has a policy that there can be no school bookings at the most popular time to ride between 5 and 7. We are also not allowed to lunge when there are people riding in the school.
Most people adhere to these rules. Except this woman. She brings the horse in the school on a pressure halter and chases him about with the carrot stick while others are riding (in fact while someone was attempting to practice their dressage test last week!!!). I've ignored the fact she's breaking the rules largely because other than being in the way she doesn't really cause any problems to me personally and my horse is used to having horses lunged nearby etc and she does always seem in control of it and unlikely to let it go - but then you never can tell with horses.
Last night, I noticed she tacked the horse up so thought we'd be ok to share the school as we were both riding but when she came in it was for yet another in hand session with the horse tacked up.
Now usually she's quite good for keeping out of the way but last night she kept circling the horse very close to the outside track. My horse isn't beyond a kick out as she really doesn't like other horses in her personal space - especially geldings. Most people on the yard know this - I can't remember if I've mentioned it to this lady or not - so I suppose its partially my fault if she was unaware - although I wouldn't approach a strange horse that closely unless I knew one way or another anyway. Anyway she got a bit close on a few ocassions so I started riding with my stick in my inside hand to try to keep the horse a bit more distant to me. The first time it passed it took the absolute horrors at the sight of the stick and started bucking and plunging and it then lashed out towards me and my horse. It didn't actually strike either of us but it came close enough to worry me and my horse certainly thought she was about to be kicked and was fenced in against the wall of the school so felt like she couldn't get out of the way. There was absolutely no response from this woman although she did go back to keeping her distance again.
Now I'll take partial responsibility for what happened as I frightened her horse by riding with my stick sticking out and I should probably have reiterated that my horse might kick but am I the only one who thinks this is an accident waiting to happen?
At the end of the day now we have dark nights I do appreciate we all need to compromise a little to exercise our horses in the school but she is first of all flounting the yard rules regarding lunging when others are riding. And I also feel that for us not to ride when she is doing in hand work is effectively like she has booked the school at the peak time.
I'm considering talking to the YM about it but think I might shoot myself in the foot because she may then book the school after 7 which is often exactly when I want to ride and TBH if she keeps her distance I really don't mind her being there.
She's not the most approachable woman - I don't know her that well so might be doing her an injustice here! She comes across a bit "holier than thou" but I'm sure she's still basically a nice woman, I just don't know whether to get the YM involved. I'm not sure how the other liveries feel about what she does or whether its just me that has a bit of an issue about it. I don't want to cause any bad feeling if I don't handle it in the right way. Any advice?
 
sounds like a tricky situation... i wouldn't get you YM involved before speaking to the woman first as that seems a bit unfair... she may not be aware of the rule or at least not aware that she is bothering you and others. I agree she is being inconsiderate and lunging her horse so close to yours is really dangerous...

good luck with whatever you decide...
smile.gif
 
First of all can I just say I feel for you!! Ive had a similar situation and its B***y annoying!

This woman sounds a bit of a pain in the fact that she appears holier than thou and not very approachable. If I were you I would have a quiet word with the woman first and give her a week or maybe two if your very generous to sort it out. If she doesnt I would go and speak to the yard owner pointing out from their point of view that it is unsafe and against the rules.

In the meantime go to tescos buy some wine and chocolate and ride through it. I hope this had helped a teeny bit.

Best of luck x
 
Ugh some people are so inconsiderate and don't realize rules are there for a good reason and DO apply to them as well
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When you book the school do/can you book it for sole use of it for that time? Could you possibly book the school for 7 so you can ride but also have a word with your YM - so that she is aware of the situation? Others may have not spoken to her about this for the same reason you have given so she continues to be unaware and this woman continues doing as she pleases.
 
This is my pet hate. Lunging, loose schooling, ground work, whatever should always fit around riding. Many people can ride together, one person pratting about about totally restricts use of the school.

I like the rule about no bookings at peak times, but the YO needs to enforce a rule about no ground work at peak times interfering with riding. I think, fair enough if the woman books the school at quiet times, but if people are still regularly riding their horses at 7.00pm, the peak times rule needs extending to 8.00pm.
smile.gif
 
To be honest I don't see the problem - Just say to her, shall we do our best to keep fairly far away when working or something.

I have come from a yard with a huge school, 30 by 70 and never rode with anyone else possibly bar one and am now ride in a smaller on of 30 by 50 (although there are three others to ride in) and there are people lunging, jumping and others doing this or that and you just have to watch where you going.

It's good for my mare, as being used to one empty school she is getting better prepared when we warm up at a comp or something.

Just say to her, mine kicks so please beaware!
x
 
Thanks for the replies - especially for the wine and chocolate LOL!
I guess there is a possibility that she doesn't know the no lunging rule so you are right maybe I need to speak to her first and also make it clear that my horse isn't beyond having a kick and to keep her distance.
My horse regularly competes and is used to other horses whizzing by jumping and like I said is used to horses being lunged etc its just she came SOO close - TBH it was so close and repeated that I did wonder if it was deliberate to train her horse to pass other horses....but if it was she would be better doing it with a different horse to mine! Like I say I'm not sure how the other liveries find the situation but other horses may react differently/worse in the same scenario.
Maybe I'll ignore the rule breaking issue at the moment and just reiterate my horse may kick and if that doesn't back her off .... speak to her re the school booking issue....and then if that doesn't work last resort speak to the YM.
 
I'd just warn her everytime that your horse kicks and she needs to keep a full horse length distance away.

Or if it is just the two of you, could you suggest that you have half the school each? We sometimes do this for private lessons, we stick a couple of poles or block on the E-B line and stay on one side or the other. It works fine as long as you don't want to jump a course or practice a full dressage test.
 
I will definitely keep reminding her about the kicking issue.
Unfortunately the indoor school is only 20x40m and there are jumps/poles etc stored at one end to it so it rides a little smaller. If we divide the school we'd end up on a 20m circle - which while it isn't the end of the world isn't ideal on a regular basis either. There is an outdoor arena too but its not floodlit and there is also a round pen specifically for in hand work. I know the nights are closing in but the frustrating thing is she often arrives before dark when she could go in the roundpen/outdoor but sits in the kitchen and has a coffee etc and then once its too dark to go outdoors then exercises her horse.
She is a little difficult to talk to. I had a lesson booked in the outdoor a couple of months ago. I booked the school for exclusive use. All the other liveries rode indoors/went for a hack etc but blow me she went straight in the outdoor at my alloted lesson time! My instructor was running late so I went to tell her it was basically ok for her to stay in there until my instructor arrived and she pretty much told me if she hadn't finished she wouldn't get out! Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on how you look at it) my instructor was SO late that she had finished before she arrived and so it wasn't an issue but she is tricky to talk to.
 
Well yeah OK , that's pretty annoying and actually quite rude. Does she know the yard policy? I would get YO to get reaffirm it to her or you. She may of come from somewhere where you can all share any time (as is my yard) so possibly just remind her of these facts. Sharing the school is one thing, as she has as much right but going against the rules and acting as though it is hers is another - just speak to her.

(that or play dirty and get in her way.. lol)x
 
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