Strange behaviour of fellow livery

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Smogul

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One of the other liveries keeps telling us that one of our horses has “freaked out” about something. First time was after Guy Fawkes Night – OH’s horse had freaked out at the fireworks. I said I was surprised as he had never bothered before. However, later another livery said that when the horse in the next stable had started getting agitated, our boy had stopped eating briefly, snorted, then returned to his haynet. Hardly freaking out. She has also said he freaked out at digger in next field – horse has a weird obsession with men and machinery and according to farmer practically had his head in the cab when the digger was at the fence line. She told me my pony freaked out when the sheep were being moved. He used to live out with sheep and is quite used to them being moved in or out of his field. I know it sounds a trivial thing but why does she do it? Do you think she wants to make herself look important and caring?
She also goes into other liveries stables and plaits their horses manes. YM has told her she is not to do it but most people are reasonably tolerant. However I caught her once doing my pony and told her firmly and reasonably politely that she was never to touch him and she hasn’t done it since. Would you find this acceptable?
 
Does seem a little odd, but perhaps she is just trying to talk to you?

Bit odd to plait other peoples horses manes, but if she has been told not to, hopefully she will stop. I could think of worse things she could be doing. You do get people who do odd things, but there probably isn't anything sinister behind it.

:)
 
Attention seeking springs to mind !!! It would annoy the hell out of me if someone were to keep saying my horse had "freaked out" but then again I am not the most tolerant person (on own land so dont have to encounter anyone else) !! as for someone going into my stable and plaiting horses mane !! a big huge no no !!! Safety for one thing !

Sounds like the YO needs to have serious words with the girl ! Trouble is things like this can escalate so needs to be nipped in the bud.

Good luck
 
Sarah Sum1 could be right that she is just trying to chat to you and doesnt know what to say - sounds like she could be lonely - but I am not sure she is the kind of person you would want to encourage too much as sounds like she could easily take it on herself to start "helping" you and either get herself in trouble or hurt ! she sounds quite young !
 
My favourite expression at the moment is 'She wants a slap'. Not to be taken literally but sums up how exasperating this type of behaviour is.

You could analyse her behaviour as I'm sure she has some very interesting other traits, but basically doing as you do, firmly but politely telling her whats unacceptable and not giving much attention to her excitable reports of normal equine behaviour is probably the way to diffuse her attention seeking behaviour.
 
She just sounds inexperienced really, bit like people who describe a jogging pony as a nutter & a forward canter bolting.
 
meesha said:
Sarah Sum1 could be right that she is just trying to chat to you and doesnt know what to say - sounds like she could be lonely - but I am not sure she is the kind of person you would want to encourage too much as sounds like she could easily take it on herself to start "helping" you and either get herself in trouble or hurt ! she sounds quite young !
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You're being a nicer person than me today.:D
 
I wouldn't find it acceptable if someone let themselves into my horses stable. When they are in, I make sure to shut both bolts on the door - I know when others have wondered in as they don't do this! If I leave them in a safe manner in the stable then I expect to find them just as I left them!!

Have experienced the 'they went mad' thing too. Just seems kind of odd tbh and I don't get why people do it! I expect them to have a bit of a wally moment on turnout if they feel that way inclined! I have a fairly short fuse when interferring comes in so it just annoys me tbh! I know if they have had a silly gallop as the field gets carved up! Sometimes I think people say it if ours come to the fence to see whats going on, often in response to someone standing next to their field shaking feed - well I'd think it pretty odd if they didn't come flying over to see what's on offer lol!
 
haha horserider, did write something else as well but then edited it as I sounded like a miserable old bat !! do tend to agree with you though about the slap ! not literally of course !! honest !
 
littlelegs said:
She just sounds inexperienced really, bit like people who describe a jogging pony as a nutter & a forward canter bolting.
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Indeed. If she's young, "freaked out" does tend to be used liberally for things which don't really fit the more traditional meaning - "OMG I just like totally freaked out when X said ..." etc...

Plaiting I can only assume she's marking your horses for theft by certain travelling folk :D People are strange. If she stops when she's told, I would just assume she thought people would like their ponies beiing prettied up and was bored / wanted more horse-time.
 
She could be stressed too and the yard is a break from reality. As long as she stops going into peoples stables, then i'd take what she says about your horse with a pinch of salt. I'd even point out it was normal. But knowing me, i'd also probably make us a brew and have a chat with the women and try and make her feel included.
 
When I first read the post Aspergers was the first thing that came to mind. We used to have a livery at a previous yard who had Aspergers, similar sorts of comments would be made, she always thought she was being helpful.

I have worked with children who have Aspergers and are Autistic - and this sort of behaviour can be quite common. Sometimes it comes from not being accepted as being 'different' elsewhere, they're just trying to fit in by being helpful (in their eyes)
 
A firm line needs to be taken here. She has her own horse and therefore can go plait her own mane to her heart's content. It is completely unacceptable to go into another person's stable and interfere with their horse unless the horse was in a pickle.

As for reporting that your horse was getting upset when he wasn't, I would put that down to inexperience as much as anything.

I was going to say she just needs to buck up and grow up but on reflection, SarahSum1's approach with a brew would be much better :)
 
I would say it just someone looking for your attention & something to talk about with you -they probably look up to your experience but feel they have no other way of communicating with you.

I had one on my yard who would follow me & my horse into his stable after I had ridden & started helping me untack him & would be rabbiting on asking me all sorts of questions about what he was like to ride - I had to politely but firmly tell her that I would prefer she didnt do that as I liked to untack him myself & spend a bit of time with him.

She got the message thankfully - but I have to say, people can just be odd! It takes all sorts :)
 
JFTD said:
Plaiting I can only assume she's marking your horses for theft by certain travelling folk :D People are strange. If she stops when she's told, I would just assume she thought people would like their ponies beiing prettied up and was bored / wanted more horse-time.
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Haha...just keep an eye out for the White van hanging around!
 
Sounds a bit like a girl down our lane (30's but going on 12 years old) who lives a very sheltered life with her parents and has nothing but her horse. Everything is a big drama with her as she just doesn't have a handle on the real world.
 
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