red ribbon or not ?

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maree t

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We were at a low grade little show today where we had taken two ponies for a bit of fun and experience. I was helping my son onn board the youngest while a friends daughter held the other pony on a corner out of the way. I didnt hear till just after what had gone on but a horse from a riding school with a young child on went up tp the back of my mare and let her horse sniff her bottom. My mare that is in season squealed and struck back. The other horse had a minor nick on it. The people from the stables where the other horse was based then proceeded to scream and shout at me (still didnt know what had gone on )that the pony shouldnt be at shows at all and def not without a red ribbon. She went like a dream in the two classes (winning them both ) but kept well away from other horses. This mare is on the games team etc so never worried before. She can be mareish but was out of the way. The other people carried on the rest of the day shouting to everyone watch out that pony kicks. I did get fed up but chose to stay out of the way. I dont want to mark her with a red ribbon as she doesnt desvere it in my feeling but want some other opinions. We always give space to other horses at shows and try and stay out of the way
 
They shouldn't have got that close, but then again your pony did kick them, so perhaps should have had a ribbon. Lots of ponies get too close at shows for diddies...
 
well don't then. most mares would react like that when in season. I would call the riding school and complain about them behaving in an unprofessional manner. If the child couldn't control the pony then she should have been on a lead rein. In my mind it is them in the wrong. It isn't sensible to let your horse get that close to a horses bum at a show.
 
Yes to the red ribbon. Your pony is not going to be at all concerned about whether she deserves to wear one or not. But it will hopefully stop that sort of thing happening again (someone allowing their pony to sniff her back end).
 
Anyone that lets their horse walk up to a strange pony and sniff it is asking for trouble imo, the people at fault today were the ones with the out of control horse not you.
I would not put a red ribbon on her but would keep an eye on her as it maybe that todays scare will upset her in the future, she is more likely to be damaged by the actions of irresponsible people than they were by a minor kick.
 
personally I'd say no if the only reason for kicking was somebody letting their horse have physical contact with yours.

I'd recommend a green ribbon for their rider but might get kicked myself for the suggestion ;)
 
Why on earth do people think that it is ok to allow their horses to touch other horses when out and about?
I see silly things like this happening at shows all the time and as for the numpties who allow their horses to sniff horses over the fence when hacking!!
I can remember my RI, many years ago getting very cross with riders who allowed her horses to 'talk' over stable doors - and they all knew each other very well. Mrs B. knew how dangerous it could be. And of course there is always the possibility of passing on disease.

No, I don't think your pony needs a red ribbon - any horse could kick in that situation. IMO red ribbons are for those who kick without provocation.
 
thanks for your responses , I was quite intimidated and very outnumbered by the people from a certain yard locally but didnt feel that we could have done anything differently, the child riding the horse didnt even have legs past the saddle so probably wouldnt have known what a red ribon was for anyway, I dont think contacting the yard would help as when somebody I knew asked me what the fuss was about I explained nit realising they were behind me. She didnt say a word.
Just dont like the feeling I got from today, very upsetting especially for my kids.
 
in reply to spruce
We took another pony to area showjumping last year after we were cleared of strangles, I put a red ribbon in his tail just to stop people getting too close but it was a waste of time, the people who knew him just laughed at the idea and then when a shower hit we were swamped by people trying to shelter . they were quite happy to let our pony snuggle up to theirs nose to nose, we moved out and stood in the rain , they were all pony club kids who took no notice of the ribbon.
 
People shouldn't be close enough to get kicked in the first place, but it does happen. Annoying as it is I would stick a ribbon in at anything like that again. Think of it as being a precaution to keep people who don't think at a safe distance. That said, at a hunt meet the horses are regularly within kicking distance of each other, with the onus being on the kicker to keep clear.
 
My daughters old pony used to kick very very occasionally. I used to put a red ribbon on him for shows but it didn't make a blind bit of difference, people would still walk right behind him, let their ponies go up his bottom and even worse, push their babies in buggies up his backside! Thankfully he never actually kicked anyone at a show, I just wanted to cover my back in case he did and warn people. Doesn't help with kids or non horsey people though as they don't know what it means!
 
Your mare was in season you knew this .
You mare kicked another and marked it .
Yes the child should not have got to close but it was a child and they do these things I am very much in the these things happen camp but understand why you where told the mare should wear a ribbon.
The behaviour of some at shows amazes me they seem to be obvious to the risk of a horse kicking and I am not just talking about children.
 
This thread has actually really annoyed me. It's all a bit over PC!
If I was at a show and someone let their horse come up behind mine like that, especially if he didn't know them I am sure he would kick out and I believe most horses would too.
My horse doesn't wear a red ribbon because he doesn't kick, and is fine in a warm up when people get too close etc. and when we go to a show as yard, we all bumble together hacking with each other and stand in a little group where the horses often nuzzle and pick at each other, which doesn't cause them any issues.
Instead I think the parents of the child should be red ribboned for being so ignorant and naive.
I think people need to remember that they are animals, and even the most docile horse can decide its own mind that it doesn't like something and react to it. Maybe all of our horses shold wear red ribbons, just incase they spook and land on someone, or kick out at fly, and some silly person is standing behind them.

There is a different between horses that kick, and a horse that kicked in a situation.
 
I agree any horse is likely to kick in that situation and it's so frustrating at shows how close people get. I learnt from a young age about distance as when riding in the school one of the teenagers got right up the back of one of the other liverys back, horse who was not a kicker usually kicked out. As the horse kicked the teenager had turned her pony and took the kick in her knee causing significant damage.
When I used to teach riding school clients I used that story time and time again to try to install the importance of a safe distance.
I also ended up putting a red ribbon in one of my horses tails not because she was a kicker but at a certain show I was just getting fed up of other horses sitting on her backside. I must admit it did help somewhat
 
We have one who has kicked once. But I always always put a red ribbon in his tail at shows or rallies. We get marked down for it by judges, and no-one outside the ring takes any notice anyway, so it's pointless really, but I know if he DID kick someone at least I'd warned them. Mind you, I still spend half my time at shows telling parents of young children that quarter of a tonne of kick will damage their darling who is standing behind pony pulling his tail, but they just carry on with their picnics. Yes, picnics... in the collecting ring.

I think I'd be inclined to ring the local council and ask re this riding school's insurance and explain the situation, ie them letting young children loose at shows on ponies they can't control, how the child almost had an accident due to their negligence. A visit from an official might just make them think twice in future.
 
lucky-lady said:
We have one who has kicked once. But I always always put a red ribbon in his tail at shows or rallies. We get marked down for it by judges, and no-one outside the ring takes any notice anyway, so it's pointless really, but I know if he DID kick someone at least I'd warned them. Mind you, I still spend half my time at shows telling parents of young children that quarter of a tonne of kick will damage their darling who is standing behind pony pulling his tail, but they just carry on with their picnics. Yes, picnics... in the collecting ring.

I think I'd be inclined to ring the local council and ask re this riding school's insurance and explain the situation, ie them letting young children loose at shows on ponies they can't control, how the child almost had an accident due to their negligence. A visit from an official might just make them think twice in future.
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That's going to make op very popular.
One of the issues with ribbons is that they are an admission of liability and I understand why OP does not what to use one.
Ie you are flagging up the issue if you put one on .
Personally I would not expect a good kids pony to kick if touched by another and the mare was in season and should have been kept out of the way just as its in the nature of ponies to kick its in the nature of children to be careless as adults it's up to us to manage that as much as possible .
I understand OP had a bad day it's ruins the day if your horse kicks someone but let's hope the child that got to close learnt that lesson and OP and her son have learnt to keep the mare well out of the way when in season
 
lucky-lady said:
I think I'd be inclined to ring the local council and ask re this riding school's insurance and explain the situation, ie them letting young children loose at shows on ponies they can't control, how the child almost had an accident due to their negligence. A visit from an official might just make them think twice in future.
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Seriously??? You'd ring the council and try and get the riding school in trouble - possibly affecting their business and the fun/lessons had by lots of children simply because they complained when their horse was kicked!!!

Yes a child on their pony wandered into the back of another pony - it happens at nearly every pc rally and show there is - its almost something you should expect at a children's show. In an ideal world every pony and child would be under control and supervised every minute of the show, but the real world is not like that.
 
Honey08 said:
Seriously??? You'd ring the council and try and get the riding school in trouble - possibly affecting their business and the fun/lessons had by lots of children simply because they complained when their horse was kicked!!!

Yes a child on their pony wandered into the back of another pony - it happens at nearly every pc rally and show there is - its almost something you should expect at a children's show. In an ideal world every pony and child would be under control and supervised every minute of the show, but the real world is not like that.
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Actually it was not quite like that. If you read the post you will see that said child was on a LEADING rein so what on earth was the person leading the pony thinking of? It happens if horses get too close. I would put a ribbon on a horse that had a habit but not for a one off. I would however go back and point out that the school should talk more severely to the person in charge of the pony who didnot focus and do their job...hence allowing the pony to sniff your mare.
 
Slightly off topic - under what circumstances would you wear a green ribbon?

Interesting to hear you can get marked down for wearing a red ribbon...
 
Something similar happened to us. My daughter led a pony in to a prizegiving and another child rode her Shetland right up behind our pony so that they were touching and ours kicked out. I have never seen her do that before or since. I was taught as a child to keep my pony's hindquarters away from others and also to assume that any pony might kick and to keep away. But i am constantly amazed at the careless attitude of children and adults who seem oblivious to any danger. OP you have my sympathy, my daughter was so upset and it was not at all her fault.
 
annaellie said:
I agree any horse is likely to kick in that situation and it's so frustrating at shows how close people get. ......
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I agree - I'm new to pony shows and having been a "riding school rider" for most of my riding career, and having had it drummed in to me about leaving space behind the horse in front... I'm a bit flummoxed by what I've seen at shows.

We were at a show recently and my two kids were waiting to go in for one class, there were various ponies milling around by the entrance (far too close to each other) and in between all that, parents and prams. I couldnt' believe what I was seeing. How nobody got hurt I have no idea.

But in answer to the original question, I don't think a red ribbon is required. Surely even the saintliest, non-hormonal pony might be tempted to kick out if its bum gets sniffed?
 
Gwena- a green ribbon means literally that the horse is green, originally used for first hunts rather than showing.
 
Luci07 said:
Actually it was not quite like that. If you read the post you will see that said child was on a LEADING rein so what on earth was the person leading the pony thinking of? It happens if horses get too close. I would put a ribbon on a horse that had a habit but not for a one off. I would however go back and point out that the school should talk more severely to the person in charge of the pony who didnot focus and do their job...hence allowing the pony to sniff your mare.
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In a collecting ring most horses are within sniffing/kicking distance... even when on a leading rein. The OP says she didn't actually see what happened. All the ponies I had for my stepson could have had the whole show herd into their rumps without kicking, whether in season or not. Accidents do happen, but I personally would be mortified and so apoligetic if it did, not blaming the conduct of the other person.
 
Thanks - LL, interesting reading this stuff! I knew about the red, am taking a green 5yo Section A to a show this w/e and did think that a green ribbon might be in order. Just like to get my facts straight before I act!
 
Gwena- I wouldn't bother for a show, most people don't know what they mean anyway & if its a low key one you can tell the judge yourself if he gets a bit overwhelmed by it all.
I agree in an ideal world people wouldn't allow their horses to sniff each others bums, it isn't on. But to say most horses kick out, especially mares in season isn't true. If that were the case there would be far more incidences of it at local kids shows, when in actual fact the majority don't.
 
littlelegs said:
Gwena- I wouldn't bother for a show, most people don't know what they mean anyway & if its a low key one you can tell the judge yourself if he gets a bit overwhelmed by it all.
I agree in an ideal world people wouldn't allow their horses to sniff each others bums, it isn't on. But to say most horses kick out, especially mares in season isn't true. If that were the case there would be far more incidences of it at local kids shows, when in actual fact the majority don't.
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I agree, I probably didn't word myself well.

I don't think every horse that gets its bum sniffed will kick but my view is that if my kids' pony got kicked becuase it sniffed another's bum, I'd think it was our fault for being too damn close.
 
Honey08 said:
In a collecting ring most horses are within sniffing/kicking distance... even when on a leading rein. The OP says she didn't actually see what happened. All the ponies I had for my stepson could have had the whole show herd into their rumps without kicking, whether in season or not. Accidents do happen, but I personally would be mortified and so apoligetic if it did, not blaming the conduct of the other person.
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Collecting rein, small person on a pony, whose " legs didn't reach the end of the saddle" actually I was far more concerned that the person who was supposed to be looking after a small child was not paying attention! THAT was the point I was trying to make. I would never assume, even on a saint that my horse would be guaranteed not to kick out. Actually in my many years of competing, from RC to affiliated I really do not see many people not paying attention!
 
maree t said:
We were at a low grade little show today where we had taken two ponies for a bit of fun and experience. I was helping my son onn board the youngest while a friends daughter held the other pony on a corner out of the way. I didnt hear till just after what had gone on but a horse from a riding school with a young child on went up tp the back of my mare and let her horse sniff her bottom. My mare that is in season squealed and struck back. The other horse had a minor nick on it. The people from the stables where the other horse was based then proceeded to scream and shout at me (still didnt know what had gone on )that the pony shouldnt be at shows at all and def not without a red ribbon. She went like a dream in the two classes (winning them both ) but kept well away from other horses. This mare is on the games team etc so never worried before. She can be mareish but was out of the way. The other people carried on the rest of the day shouting to everyone watch out that pony kicks. I did get fed up but chose to stay out of the way. I dont want to mark her with a red ribbon as she doesnt desvere it in my feeling but want some other opinions. We always give space to other horses at shows and try and stay out of the way
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:eek: well it doesn't say much for the 'riding school' allowing their horses to be put in a dangerous situation while being ridden by someone that isn't able to control it, they are the ones really to blame not your mare !
 
Old nag, I would blame myself/ daughter if her pony went round sniffing bums too.
Luci07, competing normally is a world away from what happens at very local level shows aimed mainly at kids & novices.
 
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