Shot gun/gas gun/flare/bird scarer??

Troggy

Troggy

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Whilst on hack tonight I hadn't got very far along this field (headlands left by farmer for horses etc) when I heard this "SSSSSHHHH" noise which sounded just like a fire work followed by a very loud bang (shot gun sound), luckily Toffee froze.... I looked around to see what it could be when I spotted a Land Rover in the middle of the field (It looked like the farmer’s LR). I then heard the “SSSHHHH” again followed by another bang and this time I noticed a large cloud of smoke directly above the LR quite high up. By this point Toff was so tense I could feel her heart thumping!! Luckily it then drove off but it took me a good 10-15 mins to get Toff to walk forwards, which is a real shame as her nappiness was improving and it’s taken her a good 6 months to get over a plastic swinging pigeon thing in that same field!
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(Although very lucky she did freeze as had "summer" hacking bit of a french link loose ring rather than "winter"hacking bit of a full cheek waterford!!
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)
Anyway, any ideas what it was? I haven’t heard the “SSSHHH” noise before or seen so much smoke with a shot gun but doesn’t mean it wasn’t? It also seemed much louder than usual as our neighbours quite often shoot. Also there wasn’t really anything to shoot, unless it was a few random pigeons?
Anyhoo, it really frustrated me as it will mean another long argument next time I try and hack that way
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That would make sense, thanks! Yeah she could have been worse, was a bit of a turnip for the rest of the hack though! lol!
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I am really suprised she didn't run, she will usually bolt ( metal windmill bird scarers are a dead cert!) but I am feeling quite proud of her now! lol!
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Many of you may have read my letters recently in Horse and Hounds regarding gas gun bird scarers. They are proving to be a real danger. The police consider these devices to be explosive devices and therefore they must not be discharged close to a public highway.

However, without wishing to put a dampner on matters - if you where on private land then this is another matter. Most the headlands around farms are not provided for horse riders but are there for environmental reasons (birds etc.) so it is just possible that you should not have been there unless with the express permission of the land owner or farmer!

Hope this helps.
 
The farmer in question does allow horses to ride there, he even owns a livery yard in the village and has made it clear where we can and can't ride! I wasn't criticising the fact they were shooting, just disappointed at my bad timing and the future napping it will cause!
My main post was enquiring as to what it was they were firing as I hadn’t come across it before.
 
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