Rude and alpha-mare; or just an accident?

[now_loves_mares]

I was down at the field this evening feeding my two girls, when something fell/crashed/banged/exploded the other side of a thicket of trees, followed by some kind of alarm going off. My two both bolted for the hills. Unfortunately, I was kind of in the way. I was between them, so one missed me completely, but my youngster (5yo, maybe I have to stop calling her a youngster) ran, quite literally, straight over me. I was about a horses length behind her when it happened, she whipped round and just rammed me, knocking me my full length. I *think* she had enough time to see me, but didn't let my presence stop her flight.

I'm basically unhurt, a couple of grazes, and I have hurt my knee again which is just recovering from being bucked off by the same little darling 2 months ago; but I think it's just a knock so I'll live!

I can't decide though if this is just one of those freaky wrong--place-at-the-wrong-time things, or if she really should have made more effort to go round me. I'm quite skinny really so it's not like she'd have had to make much of a detour

What do you think? Does an adrenaline-fuelled flight excuse her for the otherwise unforgiveable sin of trampling over me

 

[milliepops]

Blimey, poor you

I'm usually one for insisting that horses go round me, not over me

, but I think I'd put this one down to bad luck if you were really close, and they were spooked very suddenly. She probably didn't see you in time to alter trajectory!

Is she usually fairly careful about personal space?

Hope you heal quickly

 

[now_loves_mares]

She's usually fairly ok - she would definitely like to be head of the herd if she was allowed, so she is kept to some strict guidelines with regard to "her time" and "my time".

Mind you, the other day, she wanted to get past my other mare to get to her favourite cribbing spot, so she just head-butted her out of the way!

And my lovely other horse just shuffles out of the way, doffing her cap. Hence why I have to keep asserting my authority on a regular basis

I think this one was probably just an accident though. Didn't stop me using language not really suited to a lady though

 

[milliepops]

Don't blame you! Owwwww!

I got galloped over a couple of years ago after a particularly inept SJ round. Not something I wish to repeat. You'll have some funky coloured bruises tomorrow

 

[Dobby]

Ouch! I'd put this one down to her in a panic and just not thinking where she was going.

 

[kerilli]

ouch, poor you. if it's the first few seconds/yards of blind panic, i think it's totally excusable. at that stage they are running on pure instinct and adrenalin and quite capable of running headlong into anything. if she'd run across half a field and then hit you, i would be worried!
one of my foals did this a few years back and totally flattened me, so i really sympathise. she got a bit panicky in a gateway, dodged round her mum and straight over me as i was in the way. i was very battered and she was a little stick of a thing then, so poor you...
arnica and sympathy!

 

[Booboos]

Eeeek poor you!!! I am glad you were not seriously hurt, sounds scary!

I would agree with the others that she was probably running in panic and may not have registered you were there. She is relatively young as well and I do think they learn more that humans are fragile as they get older.

 

[ironhorse]

Yes, just need to put it behind you. Unfortunately we all tend to get hurt by horses from time to time, while you take as many precautions as possible with good training and handling, at the end of the day they are a flight animal.
I worked on a stud a few years ago and they had a mare who was lovely in every way except she was scared of narrow doorways and you had to get yourself thru and then get out of the way while she dived thru. I wasn't quick enough one day (had my leg in plaster, nothing to do with her

and she went straight over the top of me. Theplaster cast squashed my good leg and I had some seriously impressive bruises!

 

[now_loves_mares]

Thanks everyone - she earns a reprieve then

Bruises are surprising mild, so perhaps she did a better job of avoiding me than I thought! I have a tiny bruise on my heel though, which has been a nightmare as I hobbled around the office on my high-heels today

. I have to be careful how many times I come in sporting a new collection of horse-related injuries; soon they will figure out that it's quite dangerous and decide I don't qualify for sick leave