Who else commits the cardinal sin?

I do with the currrent horse, but many years ago (when the Vikings were here :) ) I bent down behind a known kicker and ended up being double barrelled into a nice fresh moist muckheap - I had to be hosed down before the ambulancemen would let me into their nice clean ambulance - :( :( :( Once they had stopped laughing of course. I think my pride was the most injured part of me.
 
I was taught by my slightly non-pc but (I think) very good instructor that with horses and in life one must always obey a rule until one fully understands why it is in place then one can make an informed decision about breaking it.

i.e. Never stand behind a horse.
Why? You might get kicked,
Therefore once you know a horse well enough and also know enough about horse body language to tell if it is upset or not you can decide to take the risk to stand behind it. If you don't then you should not.
 
I remember the lady at my riding school saying either stand far away enough that the horse can't kick you or stand right up close so that they can't get the momentum up to kick hard. How true this is I don't know though I have been kicked when stood inbetween these two and have the hoofprint 4 years later to prove it.

My boy's backside doubles for bongo drums too and my last project pony was frequently subjected to me sliding of her bum and generally being a bit daft. Afterall she was sold as a kids pony and thats what kids do isn't it?!
 
I always stand behind my horse, good lord I'm surprised I've never been booted as if my horse is being a pain to catch I grab her tail! (Usually as she trots or canters past!) - I'm aware it's risky, ESP as she's a known bucker! I also run up to her in the field /stable and hug her bum!

I'm more wary of those I don't know though, but they always say horse owners are more likely to get hurt by our own as we're more complacent than with an unknown horse.
 
i do it with my own horses and ones i know well but i dont just sneak up on them :o but i do tell my 9 year old nefew for doing it as he is a lot shorter than me and when stood directly behind the horse has no chance of seeing him and he has a bad habbit of startling the horses and even the most trusted horses (taz and rio) would kick out if startled although taz doesnt startle easily as hes used to me now :o but i would hate to think what could happen if he did scare them :( luckily he wont go near rio as his mum has got it in his head that stallions are this kind of untamed, evil devil horse that will take every opportunity to kill him :o so thats fine but because he has groomed taz and ridden him he thinks that hes fine for anything the only thing he wont go near is his head as he thinks hes going to get bitten :o never been told off by anyone else for standing behind them though, guess its because i should know better or its my choice :)
 
as a kid, I used to leapfrog onto my pony over his bum. He used to kick me now and then, so it was pretty risky. I've been careful with the current horse (many years later) and do tend to stand at his side to brush his tail. Now I've got more used to him I do stand right behind him adjusting his rug/doing legstraps and so on.
 
Stand behind? Well, if any of you lot saw the trimming position I have when trimming my ponies' hind feet, you'd think standing behind was positively elves and safe tea! I hold the hind foot like the front foot, because they're too short to hold it high up in the groin like bigger horses. I then lean back onto their bum, so I'm supported, they get to hold their hoof lower and until one of them farts, it's all good. :D

"one must always obey a rule until one fully understands why it is in place then one can make an informed decision about breaking it."
Fantastic mantra! Stolen!
 
I have no problem standing behind my boy and have also been known to scoot under his belly whilst doing his boots up :o However I never (okay..rarely!) walk behind an unknown horse, as I was taught a very good and valuable lesson when I was about 9 years old.

We had a new TB on the yard who was a biter, and as it turns out - a kicker too. Being so young I didn't really think about the safety aspect. I went to walk behind him (wasn't even that close) and he tried to full on double barrel me. One of the other liveries saw what happened and said he was about 3 inches from my head.

There is nothing better than a practical lesson!!
 
Stroppy Mare said:
I always stand behind my horse, good lord I'm surprised I've never been booted as if my horse is being a pain to catch I grab her tail! (Usually as she trots or canters past!) - I'm aware it's risky, ESP as she's a known bucker!
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Lol, brilliant! :D I would not dare to this to my horse, I would most definitely be in the ground and under some dirt by now.
 
I will stand directly behind mine, mainly doing his tail walking behind him in the stable and when tail bandaging (not sure how easy it would be to do this stood at the side???). However I won't with an unknown horse and give them a wide berth; I suppose we get complacent with horses we know well?
 
I hug my pony's bum from behind and kiss his quarters :o

My brother regulary slides down his pony's bum and after dismounting to do gates etc on hacks, he runs up behind her and leapfrogs into the saddle. :eek:
 
Me I'm afraid, I think my boys bum is great for a hug (luckily he is very patient!)
My son is 2 and just starting to copy everything we do so I am trying to be good while he's around as I think it's right to learn the correct way and when you understand enough ignore the correct way and do what is right for you!
 
I think most experienced horse people are rather un-BHS. One horse I used to work with was FAR safer behind than in front - he's a Lusitano stallion and quite handy with his front feet so I would NEVER recommend anyone to stand in front of him, but I never got a kicking vibe from him so I'd quite happily pass close behind him. I rarely actually stand directly behind anything, but I do walk close behind them. There are definitely certain horses I wouldn't do it with though, just as I wouldn't walk under the Luso's neck as I'd get eaten or kicked like a football.
 
Our littluns have a terrible habit of reversing up for bum scratches and then leaning on me.

Most horses I don't but my own, all bar one I will... OH and family know that if I ever get booted it's my own bloody fault :)
 
Silmarillion said:
I think most experienced horse people are rather un-BHS. One horse I used to work with was FAR safer behind than in front - he's a Lusitano stallion and quite handy with his front feet so I would NEVER recommend anyone to stand in front of him, but I never got a kicking vibe from him so I'd quite happily pass close behind him. I rarely actually stand directly behind anything, but I do walk close behind them. There are definitely certain horses I wouldn't do it with though, just as I wouldn't walk under the Luso's neck as I'd get eaten or kicked like a football.
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Funnily enough there are very few horses I'll stand in front of.

I'd rather a boot, than trampled. Probably not overly logical but I prefer tail end to teeth end!
 
just to add, i do tend to give a verbal warning before i pass by , especially if the grumpy big one is busy stuffing her face, 'make way,coming though' seems to adequately alert her that it's me and not an interloper trying to steal her hay;)
 
I was always told never stand behind a horse, stand away.

Then at uni I got told horses can cow kick and if you need to be at the back end, make sure you stand close enough to them that they can't use their full force :p

I stand behind my girl - she's a known kicker, she's a bloody devil she'll threaten a lot, but very rarely strikes out unless a horse is going past - then I won't stand beside her but I will stand at her side with an arm across her tail to warn her.

Otherwise, I love giving bum scratchies to both our horses. I too have been kicked by front legs and that hurt me a LOT more than any time I've been booted by back legs!
K x
 
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