Midlifecrisis
Well-Known Member
Hell no continuing the lesson would be appalling for everyone there and their ponies…
Sense checking something
- Thread starter Ambers Echo
- Start date
Curly_Feather
Well-Known Member
People can be totally weird. A friend of mine worked for a very big gym chain. She has stories of people dying in the gym, and other people just keep wanting to use the exercise equipment right next to the body. Bonkers.
RachelFerd
Well-Known Member
interested to know if said coach is qualified and currently listed with BHS or UKCC quals? feels like this would be against a code of conduct and might be worth flagging with relevant authorities
nutjob
Well-Known Member
Not only would I not ride in an arena with a dead horse in it I'm sure I wouldn't have been in a condition to ride at all. After inquiring if I could help the people involved in any way I would load up my horse and head home. Lack of empathy from the coach would mean I would never use them again.
ihatework
Well-Known Member
Some people really know how to advertise their true colours 
JGC
Well-Known Member
Crikey, but no way. I am not particularly sensitive but no way would I have a lesson in those circumstances (or with someone with such a glaring lack of empathy ...)
Bernster
Well-Known Member
a big nope from me !
MissTyc
Well-Known Member
Based on how violently some horses react to fresh carcasses, I wouldn't want any of my horses anywhere near this situation, let alone myself with my human emotions. I witnessed a nasty rotational at a clinic once. The horse stood up very lame but rider not injured. Everyone jumped off and did what they could to help and walked their horses in hand. The rider asked us to please continue after being provided with a stable on the site to wait for a vet. Well, I rode my worst. I didn't FEEL wibbly, but I RODE wibbly and my horses picked up on that. I can't imagine being any use at all with a dead pony in the middle. I've also seen dead ponies kick out, exhale, make odd noises for a long time after death. That wouldn't be very nice, either. I don't even like to see it when it's a planned/controlled death of a horse on yard.
Wishfilly
Well-Known Member
On some level, I can sort of see this- I'm very focused on things running to time etc, and I can *sort of* understand an initial panic response.
However, being brutal, if I am paying a pro, I would argue part of what I'm paying them for is to be calm if there is some sort of crisis and not put me in what might potentially be a dangerous situation (if e.g. a horse had an extreme reaction to seeing an unknown dead horse in the arena).
I can sort of get an initial comment about carrying on, but it sounds like more than one off hand comment and the pro should really have thought it through.
CanteringCarrot
Well-Known Member
That's weird and totally inappropriate. I get it being "inconvenient" but come on.
At another yard there was a horse euthanised in the covered lunging arena/round pen. The body was to be picked up within 24 hours or so, but someone NEEDED to use that space. Even though the yard had a huge indoor, 2 outdoors, and miles of trails. Even if I had planned to use that space on that day, I would've just done something else or given my horse the day off. I wasn't surprised by those particular people asking for the horse to be moved so that they could lunge (you could do so elsewhere) because they were rather self centered arses. It was just a other example of them making every situation about them. Gross. Everyone else on the yard was thinking "WTF."
At another yard there was a horse euthanised in the covered lunging arena/round pen. The body was to be picked up within 24 hours or so, but someone NEEDED to use that space. Even though the yard had a huge indoor, 2 outdoors, and miles of trails. Even if I had planned to use that space on that day, I would've just done something else or given my horse the day off. I wasn't surprised by those particular people asking for the horse to be moved so that they could lunge (you could do so elsewhere) because they were rather self centered arses. It was just a other example of them making every situation about them. Gross. Everyone else on the yard was thinking "WTF."
GoldenWillow
Well-Known Member
I've been in the position where a horse from "our" yard died in an arena whilst competing. Competition was stopped until horse was removed then any competitors who weren't in the right mindest to want to compete that day were able to have their entry fees refunded. Horse's owner was a super experienced pro but rest of horses were withdrawn and we went home. Venue were superb and handled everything with dignity and respect for everyone. I cannot imagine anyone wanting to ride in an arena with a dead horse in.
Gloi
Too little time, too much to read.
I agree. I would be too worried the same would happen to my pony to get anything from the lesson later in the day. I'd go home and not come back.
dorsetladette
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't want to ride after that either.
Very odd behaviour from the pro. You have thought they would be out in the lorry park explaining with a 'I'll message you all later to sort refunds or alternative date' comment and proactively sending everyone home. Especially with children around.
Very odd behaviour from the pro. You have thought they would be out in the lorry park explaining with a 'I'll message you all later to sort refunds or alternative date' comment and proactively sending everyone home. Especially with children around.
KatieDM
Well-Known Member
That is so blummin’ harsh. Jeez! The pro person running the lessons must be completely desensitised or something. Poor pony and owner
irishdraft
Well-Known Member
No I think this is totally out of order, even as an adult who has had horses pts there is no way I would want a people having lessons whilst my beloved horse lay in the arena, nor would I want a lesson whilst someone else's pony, especially a childs lay there.
Upthecreek
Well-Known Member
Disgusting. And not how children should be taught about ‘where there is livestock there is dead stock’. Respect, compassion and empathy should be the lessons they are learning from that experience, as well as feeling very fortunate on the journey home that their pony is with them. I’d be absolutely horrified as a parent at the suggestion to carry on. I’ve never heard anything like it 
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
That's shocking AE, dreadful behaviour. I'm as hard as you get when it comes to dealing with the animal once it's dead, and I still say shame on them, completely unacceptable.
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Maddie Moo
Well-Known Member
I absolutely wouldn’t ride if there was a dead pony in the arena, I think I’d feel uncomfortable enough if the pony was just outside the arena waiting to be collected, let alone in the same space! If I was a parent, there would be no way I’d let my child ride there either.
Nicnac
Well-Known Member
Very odd behaviour and potentially dangerous. Those poor kids.
Pearlsasinger
Up in the clouds
I used to work with the wife of a supermarket manager. She was always coming into work with stories of the weird things that customers did.
I think the woman asking the 1st Aider who had just stepped back from a patient to allow the Ambulance crew access, to pass a piece of beef over what turned out to be the body of a heart attack victim, surpassed the rest!
Alibear
Well-Known Member
That's a complete no from me as well. I'm also one who has been called highly focused/dedicated and even cold on occasion, but there's no way I would ride in arena with a dead horse in it.
Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
I was taking to my own SJ instructor about it . She taught the child too. In fact we shared a lesson locally a few weeks ago. She couldn’t believe it either. Pro is a ‘name’ so may not have coaching qualifications but goes by reputation from their own competing.
I wondered whether some people would be hyper-focused and just mentally edit out the pony. Like riders held on course after a bad fall, having to seriously compartmentalise to get going again. But even the very competitive riders on this thread have given a hard no on this one, so I don’t know what the pro was thinking!
I wondered whether some people would be hyper-focused and just mentally edit out the pony. Like riders held on course after a bad fall, having to seriously compartmentalise to get going again. But even the very competitive riders on this thread have given a hard no on this one, so I don’t know what the pro was thinking!
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CanteringCarrot
Well-Known Member
I mean, you do get people that just aren't very good with their reactions during unplanned, shocking, or otherwise difficult situations.
I think most people would have the gut instinct combined with the moral compass that would lead them to the conclusion that things need to be put on pause vs carried on though!
I think most people would have the gut instinct combined with the moral compass that would lead them to the conclusion that things need to be put on pause vs carried on though!
Snowfilly
Well-Known Member
I would hope that the coach had gone into ‘shock’ and was trying to do their job on autopilot rather than actually thinking, because that’s an incredibly callous thing to suggest.
I remember as a kid seeing a nasty rotational fall in a pony jumping class, the girl had some broken bones and the pony walked away lame and I still had the shakes going in the ring once the ambulance and vet had been, and couldn’t get my head in the game. The idea of doing a lesson with a body in there and expecting people to focus seems unbelievable to me.
I remember as a kid seeing a nasty rotational fall in a pony jumping class, the girl had some broken bones and the pony walked away lame and I still had the shakes going in the ring once the ambulance and vet had been, and couldn’t get my head in the game. The idea of doing a lesson with a body in there and expecting people to focus seems unbelievable to me.
palo1
Well-Known Member
As well as being utterly lacking in empathy, professional judgement appears to be missing by the pro. They should have cancelled the rest of the sessions and offered instantly to re-schedule/refund. Shit happens, you have to plan for a horse death if you are teaching et c and the judgement call should have been focussed on the child, respectful and supportive actions around the dead pony and clarity about calling it a day etc for the other participants.
No, I certainly would not ride around a dead pony. I would want to go home and re-schedule on a more 'auspicious' day. I can't imagine anyone other than professional jockeys continuing to ride in that situation. No wonder equestrianism has an image problem!
No, I certainly would not ride around a dead pony. I would want to go home and re-schedule on a more 'auspicious' day. I can't imagine anyone other than professional jockeys continuing to ride in that situation. No wonder equestrianism has an image problem!
Patterdale
Well-Known Member
This is horrific, and quite disturbing behaviour.
I’m as tough as anyone but this isn’t about being tough, it’s about a total lack of empathy, respect and compassion.
Would you mind PM-ing me the name please? I would like to make sure I avoid them in future!
Sorry you and those present had to experience this. Poor child and pony.
I’m as tough as anyone but this isn’t about being tough, it’s about a total lack of empathy, respect and compassion.
Would you mind PM-ing me the name please? I would like to make sure I avoid them in future!
Sorry you and those present had to experience this. Poor child and pony.
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
Well I've been on this one, held in a 45 minute wait at Sansaw while the ambulance arrived and removed the competitor in front of me. I had to jump the actual fence they fell at as my first fence on restarting. The only reason I didn't see the victim himself was the flipping great hedge I then had to jump, which to cap it all had a step bounce in front of it. And yes I was pretty focussed on the approach to that fence but I wouldn't have jumped it with a dead horse on the floor beside it, or do a show jumping lesson with a dead pony in the arena.
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Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
Yikes @ycbm that sounds scary.
Peglo
Well-Known Member
No I wouldn’t ride around a dead pony. Seems so unfeeling to expect people to. My head would be all over the place with worry it could happen to mine and I know it transfers to my horse so I wouldn’t put either of us through that lesson. (I’m not a particularly emotional person but when it comes to my horse I know my emotions and stress takes over.)
ycbm
Einstein would be proud of my Insanity...
It was, but I was frankly a bit nuts back then and the fear was a drug and my horse would have jumped off a cliff for me.
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