Who else commits the cardinal sin?

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claribella

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As a child I was always told never to stand behind a horse! I tell my boys the same thing but I do it quite a bit. My YO told me off the other day for doing it. I think she already thinks Im a totally imcompetant horse person so when she saw me do that, all hope for me when down her drain I think. So do you do it?
 
claribella said:
As a child I was always told never to stand behind a horse! I tell my boys the same thing but I do it quite a bit. My YO told me off the other day for doing it. I think she already thinks Im a totally imcompetant horse person so when she saw me do that, all hope for me when down her drain I think. So do you do it?
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I do it with mine and if I am sure of another horse then I will with them but I was taught the same thing never to stand behind a horse. Suppose it depends. I would never just randomly stand a couple of foot away but I lean against my boys bum and chat away and I go around the back when putting rugs on etc. If nieces/nephews come down i tell them to never go behind. I guess if you do it with your own horse then if anything happens its your own fault. Thats the way i see it anyway! but then i pretty much know my boy is extremely unlikely to kick (was going to say would never kick but then id get some brigade tell me "all horses can kick" lol).
 
Yeah I know, hypocrite alert!!!! Phew! Im glad Im not the only one. I was waiting to get slated! Lol! Bit nervous about putting this up but my curiosity got the better of me in the end:0)
 
I was also taught this from an early age aswell however I soon learnt that horses can also kick out very hard with front legs too!!! :eek: (not my boy though :) )
 
LoL Sam, I know what you mean about kicking. The only time Ive witnessed my girl kick is when she was kicked herself by another horse. Admittedly I wasnt stood behind my horse when YO was concerned but the horse I was stood behind is an old lady who struggles on her feet so Id be very surprised if she had it in her to kick. I suppose you never know!
 
My 10 year old nephew told me off for standing behind my girl to brush her tail. He told me that I should stand to the side and pull the tail round to brush it. :o
 
claribella said:
LoL Sam, I know what you mean about kicking. The only time Ive witnessed my girl kick is when she was kicked herself by another horse. Admittedly I wasnt stood behind my horse when YO was concerned but the horse I was stood behind is an old lady who struggles on her feet so Id be very surprised if she had it in her to kick. I suppose you never know!
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Mine gets excited and throws a leg out whilst working in the school on the lunge (hes only 3 and i dont think he can be bothered to properly buck) but normally he's an angel. I just remember my old instructor telling me "be careful, all horses kick and all horses bite". The things you remember! In fact, im safer standing behind my boy as he is very mouthy and if he is in a bad mood or i dont do something quick enough he takes it out on me with his teeth! As for the old lady horse, doubt you would have had any problems! I stand behind a friends arab, thats only because she swings and backs up to you for a bum scratch!
 
I always do it. Provided you exercise a bit of common sense I don't see the issue. I don't run up to unknown horses & grab their bums in massive hugs. But even if you adhere strictly to bhs standards, you have to stand behind for lots of routine stuff anyway, plaiting, tail washing, grooming etc. Standing to the side is pointless, because if it wants to kick you it can cow kick you anyway. And I allow my daughter to stand behind well trusted ponies too. Imo well mannered horses are by far the most important safety consideration.
 
I used to stand behind Smokey's bum and rest my head on her back end! I trusted her completely though. Wouldn't do that with Star now but because she does everything soooo slooooowly I have ample warning if a leg was going to come up! So guess I'm probably guilty of doing it :o
 
I often stand right behind Kal with my head on his bum and one hand between his back legs tickling his soft bits (yes, I'm a bit of a perve) . . . but I wouldn't do that . . . or stand too close . . . to the back end of a horse I didn't know really well. I also make sure if I'm having to walk behind a horse that isn't mine, that I speak to it before I go past so that I don't startle them into kicking out.

Lastly, I have learned from experience (and from countless vets and farriers) that you're much better off standing really, really close than a foot or two behind or off to the side . . . much harder for the horse to actually kick you if you're right there with them - most you'll get is a nasty shove.

P
 
claribella said:
As a child I was always told never to stand behind a horse! I tell my boys the same thing but I do it quite a bit. My YO told me off the other day for doing it. I think she already thinks Im a totally imcompetant horse person so when she saw me do that, all hope for me when down her drain I think. So do you do it?
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Your YO told you off? Does she think s/he's your mum or boss? There's nothing better than playing bongos on a bum or hugging a big fat one from behind!!!!!
 
PolarSkye said:
Lastly, I have learned from experience (and from countless vets and farriers) that you're much better off standing really, really close than a foot or two behind or off to the side . . . much harder for the horse to actually kick you if you're right there with them - most you'll get is a nasty shove.
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Oh yes, having a youngster who was tricky with her feet taught me that too!
 
Actually, I very, very rarely stand behind a horse. Unless I'm actually doing something to its back end. (Or leaning on its backside.....)
 
Well she didnt tell me off, i guess I didnt word that very well. It was just a concerned 'ohhhhh dont stand behind a horse, never stand behind a horse'. She was kicked once so admittedly she has cause for concern.
 
Yes i do as well, I also go under my horse between his legs to do his girth if he's stood where i can't go round without moving him!

Tbh, if you plait a tail from the side it ends up wonky and as long as you trust the horse I guess it cant hurt :D:eek: You can stand at the side and be cow kicked so you're not really 'safe' anywhere if your horse wanted to kick! x Although, I go wider around horses i dont know x
 
I stand behind to compare the symmetry of his spots, and poke and prod him bum to compare how fat he's got to the week before.

This entails dirty looks, but I don't think he knows HOW to kick tbh...
 
I do with my boy. I have no issues walking behind him or touching his bum.

I am weary however of leaning under to grab the girth. My friend was kicked under her horse and so was my vet with my old pony and although its never happened to me, I do worry! xx
 
SarahThomas said:
I used to stand behind Smokey's bum and rest my head on her back end! I trusted her completely though. Wouldn't do that with Star now but because she does everything soooo slooooowly I have ample warning if a leg was going to come up! So guess I'm probably guilty of doing it :o
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It's all lies, I don't know this woman! :D. If she tried it with me, I would definitely kick! ;)
 
Yes I do stand behind/walk behind ours, but I always make sure that they know I'm there by putting a hand on the bum. They are all too well mannered to kick out unless taken by surprise -and even then, I doubt very much that they would kick someone they know well. Always best to be on the safe side with a horse you don't know well, though.
 
I have been known to sit behind mine on an upturned feed bin whilst clipping. But, I figure seen as I don't tie her up, she could just walk off if she wanted me to stop!
Ps smokey, Pmsl!
 
with a horse i don't know i play it safe but with my own I'm probably far too complacent:D
I've been told it's 'better' to be kicked up close rather than at the end of the reach of the kick, more power in it by the time it reaches it's furthest point or something like that.
 
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