Ride or not ride would you?

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elsielouise

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Sooo a beautiful sunny morning. Had planned to go for a lovely long hack in the woods. OH was going to watch 4 yr old at home. All sorted.

Then the shooting began. All sides of our field and some really close. My dippy mare was leaping round the stable at every shot, took me five minutes to get a bridle on her.

Then my OH turned up and said 'OH NO you don't'. He said was far to dangerous to ride out amongst the bullets (put like that he might have had a point
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).

But she was sooooooooo unsettled I became more determined to get on her ( I hate that sometimes she makes me feel like I can't ride so vow to always ride her no matter what daftness she throws at me). So me and OH had mini row with me agreeing to school in the field with him watching in case she had me off.

So we rode through the gunshots. I kept he rin walk and trot and really listening to me and even when the guns went off she didn't appear to mind.

Minute I turned he rout though she went belting round the field at every bang.

Was I bonkers to get on or have a gained a bit more trust in our partnership? I go for the latter now but felt bonkers at the time!
 
It depends on the horse, I rode Lance yesterday with someone shooting in the same field, because I trust him, if I was worried for my safety I wouldnt have.
 
You know your horse, and how far you can push her before it gets dangerous, I would probably have done the same. My mare was really spooky when I 1st got her, now she is fab as I just kept conforting her fears.
 
I would have done the same as you tbh!

Put it this way, those guns are neighbours of yours to a certain extent and she will just have to get used to it; if you pander to her now she'll always try to play up when they start shooting again but this time she learnt she had to work through it so no favours granted; hopefully she'll learn you mean what you say is THE LAW, no excuses. Can understand OH though, hopefully it's put his mind at rest that you can cope.
 
No I wouldn't have ridden in it. One Boxing Day I took my horse for a hack, ended up going through these woods (alone) where I had no idea there was a shoot going on. He got himself in such a state, I ended up being boxed between trees in the woods, so I had to dismount. I lost him from the floor that day and he run home on the road and lamed himself. (Luckily he didn't hit a car). And BTW my horse is normally very bold.
 
urrrmmm, no it was not a controlled environment!
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But I didn't know there was a shoot until I got well into the woods. There should really have been some warning signs outside the wood.

I suppose riding in your own field is a little different but OP did say she was pretty much riding through gunshots. At the end of the day it is a matter of personal choice (if you have prior warning it is going on that is!!!!)
 
No I meant OP had the perfect opportunity to get her horse used to shot in a relatively control environment, thus getting her horse used to it there, would give her more of a chance if she ended up in the position you found yourself in. Sorry guess my post wasn't that clear.
 
Hi

That's kind of what I was thinking - getting her used to it . The guns weren't shooting across my field although it felt like it (!) but I figured if Royal Artillary horses can get used to it so can mine.

I think taking her out ,on reflection, would've been potentially dangerous as she's incredibly strong and 'turns off' a bit while hacking in a snaffle.

Your boxing day shooting hack was what I think my OH was worried about. Particularly since she can run right through the bridle if particularly worried. Ho hum we'll try again tomorrow!
 
thinking about my last horse he was a bit of a fruit loop and i lost total trust in doing anything new or that he was unsure of, so id get him confident with me on the ground then long reining him so i wernt always by his side then id get on and do it.

i found getting on and doing it sometimes made the situation worse.
if shes uncomfotable in the stable with the gunshots maybe you should work with helping her feel safe in her own enviroment, before trying to tackle another problem where you and her may be in danger of getting hurt.
but it does depend on your relationship and trust in the horse
 
Sensible point thanks. If I hadn't had her since she was a weanling (she's 8 now) I wouldn't have got on. I've done ground work with her for years though and sometimes, regardless of what I do she will still get antsy with new things. Typical big WBX mare I reckon.
 
i would have deffo wanted to ride i hate letting the horse get its own way but that was my mistake for months- riding when i was stressed or upset and or the horse was- never got anything done when the situation was really bad... just un-did what i'd done already previously


but if its not as hectic as that i'd be like ''right u listen here lol''...
 
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