Stallion on bridleway

[HashRouge]

Has anyone seen the video doing the rounds on Facebook of the stallion loose in a field with a bridleway through it?

It's blooming terrifying, I'm in awe of how the two women dealt with it!
I'll see if I can link to it here for anyone who's not seen it: https://www.facebook.com/groups/passwideandslow/permalink/1162893760725436/

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Yes, saw that yesterday, how bloody awful!

 

[Jayzee]

I saw that! Horrific!!

 

[milliepops]

Yup they were so lucky that their horses coped so well ?

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Jesus! That is terrifying. The ridden horses seemed to keep it reasonably together. I imagine that could have gone a lot worse.

 

[Meredith]

I saw it this morning. It is frightening. I was concerned as it was sent on Facebook from people reasonably close to me. Does anyone know where it was?

It also reminded me of 20 or more years ago when, with 3 friends, I went on a 2 day ride using bridleways. As we crossed an open hill we were attacked by a pony stallion who left his mares and tried to mount my pony. She was the only mare. 2 of the other riders herded the mares away and the third, riding a horse that had done polocrosse, rode the stallion off. We immediately high tailed it as far away as possible and fortunately the stallion lost interest. It wasn’t nice with front legs almost around my ears.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I understand it was Bristol area?

 

[Shilasdair]

My God, that's incredibly dangerous - I hope they reported it to the police.

 

[Moobli]

It’s terrifying! Imagine if either rider had been alone!

 

[Ownedby4horses]

OMG that is absolutely terrifying. My heart was racing just watching it. Thank god they got out ok and thank god the horses coped as well as they did.

 

[ihatework]

Very scary indeed. Thank god no one was seriously hurt.

 

[PapaverFollis]

Christ that was terrifying.

 

[shortstuff99]

Very scary! Once at a show someone lost control of 2 stallions she was walking to the stables and they charged in to me in the warm up and tried to get at my mare who I was riding. My mare was also well behaved which really surprised me, maybe they just know when to keep calm? Or maybe it's just luck!

 

[ester]

Cricklade, wiltshire, the original post
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Wessexgoldrc/permalink/4089163217775537/

essentially same stallion has caused issues elsewhere previously and was moved recently (hence them not expecting it) field owned by old lady who rents/lets travellers use it.
Reported to 101 didn't care.
Reported to highways.
reported to BHS

Think all the salient points

I have only once ridden through a herd of horses in a field, I was in there before I realised they were and heading towards us at speed. Thankfully it wasn't that long a track and with my good pony + stick we managed to extricate ourselves but it was a bit scary, this is definitely worse.

 

[Lintel]

Holy sh***t.
Terrifying.

Reminds me of a time me and my hacking chum were met by a escapee stallion on a country road.
Thankfully myself and hacking partner were both on geldings and carrying sticks. Rallied him up and into a farmers field and left him there before phoning who we suspected may know who's he was.

Thank god they were OK!

 

[Caol Ila]

I would have sh*t a brick.

 

[neddy man]

If this or similar happens and there are 2 or more of you split up, the one who doesn't have the problem horse following them canters to the gate opens it gets their horse out and is prepared ready to open the gate when their friend comes back to it.

 

[tatty_v]

I’ve never come across a stallion thank goodness but there is a lovely bridleway local to us where the owner always keeps loose horses in the fields and seems to deliberately make the gates difficult to open and shut. I can’t help but think it’s a tactic to get us all to stop crossing her land ?

I’ve also been pinned up between a blackthorn hedge and a barbed wire fence by horses in a field with a bridleway alongside it. Don’t know how my boy kept it together as they kept circling back and cantering at us. I was bloody terrified and avoid that route now!

 

[Meredith]

If a bridleway is obstructed I think you can report it to the Council Bridleways Officer.

 

[ester]

Their local ROW person had taken it up as an issue

 

[AmyMay]

Their local ROW person had taken it up as an issue

That’s good to hear. Can’t believe that they were dismissed by 101 ?

 

[sky1000]

That was really horrible. I am so glad the ridden horses were so good - and the riders. I have noted that it has been reported and do hope something will be done.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

A mate put it on her fb earlier. Honest to god, that stallion didn’t bloody stop! He was trying to mount what must be a mare. I would have died of fright. The rider who opened the gate was so calm! Massive kudos to her and the girl who just stayed on board. Insane.

 

[MrsMozart]

Literally just saw it on FB. Blinking scary indeed! The humans and ridden horses did so very well.

I had my car (big thing) squidged by loose young cattle the other day and that was scary enough and I was well protected.

 

[KEK]

OMG!! That was so scary to watch, the riders did amazingly well, as did their horses.

 

[fredflop]

I saw it. It did look like at the end it may have been easier if the lady on the other horse had opened the gate rather than the one that was being pestered. Glad it wasn’t me

 

[SEL]

I would have been splatted. My mare isn't fond of strange horses at the best of times and I can only imagine how she would have reacted with a stallion.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

What annoyed me with all the comments on the post were people saying the stallion was evil and dangerous. No the stallion was being a stallion. Not only did he have his herd to protect one of the horses was clearly a mare. He was after the mare, he didn't savage the gelding just for being there as some stallions would. As with most travellers ponies they are chucked out in fields with mares and never taught manners around others.

These guys went into his territory (all be it unknowingly) and he was just being a brash young lad out on the pull!

 

[Gloi]

That’s good to hear. Can’t believe that they were dismissed by 101 ?

I wonder if they showed the police the video. Worth sending it to the local mounted branch, they'd understand.

 

[HappyHorses:)]

No responsible stallion owner would of put their stallion or a fellow equestrian in that situation. Unfortunately it’s a coloured hairy who the majority of the time are owned by those who do as they likey .....
riders coped amazingly.