Well, that could have been nasty...

FoxTrotx

FoxTrotx

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I've been practicing opening and closing gates with my mare (her 17hh - me 5'3") recently for no real reason, just thought it would be a useful skill to learn. We've become rather good at it actually :) but today it was a bit windy. Opening the gate to come out of the field after riding wasn't a problem, she was perfect, but as we went to walk through a gust of wind took the gate which smacked her straight in the chest! It all happened so fast, luckily she just took a step back but it could have been so much worse if she had panicked.

Bless her, she clearly trusts me and I feel like I've let her down even though she wasn't hurt and didn't actually seem very bothered about the whole incident. I just feel bad :/
 
To be honest it is no bad thing for them to learn not to panic if the gate does accidentally hit them. I have taught my pony and she is very good but her novice rider managed to let the gate go too soon and it touched her quarters. She didn't react at all, when I first got her she would have had a nervous breakdown at that.

No one is going to let a gate hit them on purpose but accidents happen.

No point feeling bad, it was an accident, you will be even more careful in future, and she wasn't worried.
 
Aah thank you guys, I didn't think of it that way. She has gone from being a complete fidget a*** and quickly jumping back as soon as I got a grip on the handle to moving far enough over to be actually touching the gate and standing rock still while I fiddle with the (slightly awkward) handle. We're even better at the main yard gate as the handle is on top :D
 
Mr Arnie will push a gate closed with his chest when asked if I am mounted so maybe this was an extension activity :) Accidents happen, this was one with little consequence so pat your self on the back for the good training and play another day :D
 
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