Would you be angry or am I overreacting?

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jumpthemoon

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Went down to the yard earlier and one of the liveries told me something that has made me really angry. Having come home I'm thinking about it now and not sure if I'm overreacting, but I want to complain to YO later.

On Monday my horse twisted a shoe out hacking. Only very slightly, just sticking out at the back to the outside. i was going to leave him in on Tuesday (farrier coming this morning) but the ground was fairly dry and the shoe seemed secure. My horse isn't one for hooning around so I thought he would be ok.

Got to the yard last night to find he had pulled the shoe off. Thought nothing of it except he didn't come to call for the first time in about a year - just stood across the paddock and neighed at me.

This morning I got to the yard to find the farrier had been and done his feet, great, and there was another livery there (B). B asked me if my horse was ok then ummed and arred before telling me that yesterday, before I got to the yard, another livery had turned their horse out in the menage. Now, my horses paddock is right next to the menage. Said horse in the menage is VERY well known for charging around like a lunatic when let into the school loose. Apparently yesterday, she was charging up and down the fence line between the menage and my paddock, while my horse was dong the same. Owner looking on doing nothing (outside the arena). My horse was obviously doing it for a while as he has worn a muddy track along the side of the school and there are long hoof skid marks everywhere in the paddock.

The horse had been out in the field all day, we have a covered horse walker, owner has tack/lunging equipment etc - WHY do that? I'm so annoyed! I noticed this morning my horse has cut his leg. gave him some bute last night as he normally gets sore if he pulls a shoe off (I found it at one end of the 'track' where he has spun round to charge back again), so I couldn't really tell if he was ok or not. Why would you do that? She KNEW the horse would do that as it dose it EVERY TIME it is let off in the school.

Do you think I'm overreacting by complaining to YO? I don't want to say anything to her direct as it will sound like I'm having a go but I don't want it to happen again :(
 
Hmmmm... difficult one really. If it is an ongoing problem and it is the irresponsible use of the school that you are concerned about then I would mention it but if you are just angry because your horse pulled his shoe off that you knew was already loose / twisted before you turned him out then I wouldn't bother. Horses loose shoes, horses get cuts. horses are horses.

IMO schools shouldn't be used as turnout unless it is a VERY small / private yard and users are responsible. but thats another matter.
 
My horses field is next to the sand paddock and if something prats about they just stand and watch, so I guess if your's reacted then it's half your horse being a prat and half her's..so where's the blame? Okay she should maybe have realised they were getting over excited and removed her horse but it's hardly her fault your horse had a loose shoe cos it was coming off anyway? I doubt your YO will do anything, if turn out is allowed in the sand paddock she wasn't doing anything outside of the livery rules, so guess you have to put it down to horses being horses. ;)
 
I think it's a question of whether it still would have been an issue for you if your horse hadn't twisted his shoe beforehand?

I don't like them being 'turned out' in schools either but that's just my opinion;).
 
She could have avoided doing that with her horse, but you also made the decision to turn out. When any horse is in the field you must accept that neighbouring horses can set them off. If you wanted your horse to be sure of not playing around then I'm afraid I think the onus is on you to keep him in, not on other horse owers to alter what they do with theirs.
Fortunatly not too much harm done on this occation, but in future if it were me I would be inclined to keep him in for the day - better to be safe than sorry and all that. (but then I am an uber worrier and the horses at my yard have a funny five mins each day for no reason what so ever!)
 
I'm not bothered about the shoe being loose particularly, I'm more bothered about the fact the the horse was just chucked in there while mine was in the paddock when everyone knows all it does is go berserk. I don't see what benefit it gives anyone - plus the fact the surface of the school is not brilliant along that side of the fence and a horse charging up and down isn't going to help.

People work their horses in the school all the time while my horse is in the paddock and he isn't bothered in the slightest. Even loose schooling would be fine, but this horse was just running up and down his fence line frantically and winding him up. It's not like it's been stuck in a stable all day and needed to get out - its been in the paddock all day! Why not lunge it when they know it's like that, or put it on the walker? Or at least go in the school and get it to go ROUND rather than up and down the fence line being a ****!
 
My horse would have done exactly the same thing in that position so I appreciate how frustrating it must be. I agree with cobgirlie though, I think you just have to put it down to horses being horses
 
I'm afraid it just sounds like horses being horses... not what you wanted to hear maybe. I do think it's strange for her to be turning out in the school when there's grass paddocks and a horsewalker, but if this is allowed at your yard then I suppose she wasn't doing anything wrong. I would be miffed, but I think its just one of those things, and wouldn't complain.
 
I wouldn't complain. You turned your horse out with a slightly twisted shoe, meaning there would be a higher chance of him pulling it off. If you were that worried about losing it you should have kept him in for the day.
It is a pain that they turned out in the school but your horses shoe isn't their problem. We aren't allowed to TO in our school anyway as it ruins the surface.
If you complain you will probably only create bad feeling.
 
I think you probably are over reacting. I used to get annoyed at my old yard at people turning out in the school as we had all year round turnout so it wasn't necessary, and the track to the fields went round two sides of the school so if the horse was hooning around it made it difficult to turn out. Also, the school was levelled once a week but would often have big holes and craters in it after horses had charged about in there. However, the YO never imposed the 'no turning out in the school' rule so couldn't really do anything about it.

It is annoying but one of those things. However, if there is a hard and fast rule not to turn out in the school then maybe a word to YO wouldn't hurt.
 
FestiveNeighs said:
She could have avoided doing that with her horse, but you also made the decision to turn out. When any horse is in the field you must accept that neighbouring horses can set them off. If you wanted your horse to be sure of not playing around then I'm afraid I think the onus is on you to keep him in, not on other horse owers to alter what they do with theirs.
Fortunatly not too much harm done on this occation, but in future if it were me I would be inclined to keep him in for the day - better to be safe than sorry and all that. (but then I am an uber worrier and the horses at my yard have a funny five mins each day for no reason what so ever!)
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This is NOT playing though - it is turned out in the school and will gallop up and down at full pelt for as long as it is in there. As for it being my decision to turn out, this is the only option for turn out I have - I don't think it is really a choice per se - the other option would be to leave my horse stabled 24/7 in case someone decides to turn out their lunatic horse.
 
Yes, it was thoughtless of the livery to ignore the fact that her horse was exciting yours. On a large yard people do need to be extra considerate, but life on a busy yard is never going to be perfect.
Preferably to mention it to the livery in a friendly way asking her to check her horse if she sees yours galloping up and down. ( I'd be a bit put out if someone went straight to the YO without giving me the chance to reach a workable agreement.)
However, if your horse is the type that hoons around when there's a lot going on in the school, I'd try to swop fields to reduce the risk.
BTW, you're very wise not blowing a fuse when you found out. Always better to go away and try and gain another perspective and sort it out later.
 
Can see both sides but yes, I think you are over reacting. From the other POV...you knew your horse might pull his shoe off so why didn't you keep him in, especially as you'd already considered this? Your are furious at the other livery but from her POV, why should she not do something with her horse because of your horse?

Horses do stupid things sometimes. As long as he is sound then there's not really any harm done. I might say something in an off hand way to the YO, try to make it light hearted, but TBH there isn't much you can do. You can't blame the other livery because your horse got upset.
 
jumpthemoon said:
This is NOT playing though - it is turned out in the school and will gallop up and down at full pelt for as long as it is in there. As for it being my decision to turn out, this is the only option for turn out I have - I don't think it is really a choice per se - the other option would be to leave my horse stabled 24/7 in case someone decides to turn out their lunatic horse.
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Def stupid of the owner (and I would be pissed!), but if your yard allows school turnout then unfortunatly I'm not sure there is anything you can do about it. Sadly each yard has at least one village idiot, if they don't break rules though it is just a case of grin and bear it.
 
kirstie said:
I wouldn't complain. You turned your horse out with a slightly twisted shoe, meaning there would be a higher chance of him pulling it off. If you were that worried about losing it you should have kept him in for the day.
It is a pain that they turned out in the school but your horses shoe isn't their problem. We aren't allowed to TO in our school anyway as it ruins the surface.
If you complain you will probably only create bad feeling.
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I'm not bothered about the shoe - don't know why I mentioned that really. I'm bothered about my horse charging around the paddock like an idiot and being wound up unnecessarily. In this instance he seems ok, but if she does it every day he is going to get injured.

I know horses hoon around in the field and things set them off - but IMO that's a different thing. I'm really quite surprised that for a forum of such protective horse owners, most of you would be fine with this.
 
jumpthemoon said:
most of you would be fine with this.
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Not fine with it, but when you have to share with others then unfortunatly these things can happen and you have to deal with idiot owners. Similar things happen at the yard I am on and it really really annoys me, but unless rules are broken then it is tough luck and I know the YO would just ignore any issues and it would go against me in the future.
 
Do you think I'm overreacting by complaining to YO?
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Yep - totally.

I'm bothered about my horse charging around the paddock like an idiot and being wound up unnecessarily
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Horses need little excuse to hoon around - and how many times does it happen and we never know about it? You're bothered, because you know it happened.

I'd be more concerned that the school was being ruined by loose 'schooling' to be honest.
 
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You did ask if you were overreacting but now getting stroppy because people are saying you are!! If you are that bothered then speak to the YO and don't ask opinions if you don't really want them. 'Protective' I may be but I'm also sensitive to other people's rights and aware of my own culpability (sp) in my actions around my horses.
 
Yes you are overreacting and I wouldn't be complaining to the YO in your situation UNLESS turnout in the arena is banned under yard rules.
 
jumpthemoon said:
I'm not bothered about the shoe - don't know why I mentioned that really. I'm bothered about my horse charging around the paddock like an idiot and being wound up unnecessarily. In this instance he seems ok, but if she does it every day he is going to get injured.

I know horses hoon around in the field and things set them off - but IMO that's a different thing. I'm really quite surprised that for a forum of such protective horse owners, most of you would be fine with this.
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I'm not saying I would be delighted with it but horses are horses, they do gallop around. It is annoying that they use the school for turnout, I wouldn't be pleased but I wouldn't complain. I DO understand where you are coming from but wouldn't be creating a fuss about it.

If you really want to say something, perhaps mention to the YO that the school surface is really not great and that turning horses out on it really doesn't help the situation.
 
Don't think anyone is 'fine ' with it, but on a livery yard there is a need to work around others whenever possible and if the issues really bother you or compromise your horse's wellbeing, then looking for a yard where you get the TO your horse needs is the choice you have. Having a temper tantrum usually works against you.
 
Over reacting yes I think so. However what would really tick me off is the fact that I suspect your school now looks like a ploughed field and that affects everyone else.

Persoanlly I wouldnt allow ANYONE to turn out in an arena but thats because they cost a firtune to build and not because of a horse that may be grazing nearby. We have days when one horse loses the plot in its field and sets the whole lot off, shoes do come off, skid marks appear and horses get steamy under the rugs. Im afraid its part and parcel of dealing with animals and it doesnt pay to be too precious about it.
 
amymay said:
Yep - totally.



Horses need little excuse to hoon around - and how many times does it happen and we never know about it? You're bothered, because you know it happened.

I'd be more concerned that the school was being ruined by loose 'schooling' to be honest.
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I agree with this.

When I turn out C she is an angel but I have heard on occasion she has actually fallen over because she has hooned about....! What can you do?

I would be pissed off that someone is going to ruin the school surface that livery charges account to because they would rather turn it out there then in a field. Is there a reason why she turned her horse out there and not in the field? Sorry if I missed that somewhere.
 
I'd be miffed in these circumstances. At this time of year, especially at livery yards, most of us have to put up with less than perfect turnout and exercise arrangements, but if the horses have access to regular turnout, there is no real need for this owner to knowing upset your horse (and it sounds like her own horse, WTF?) by letting it wind itself up in the riding arena.

If she needed to because she couldn't turn out or the surface was too firm to ride, i'd be more on her side and your horse's upset would be an unfortunate consequence, but this sounds like an unnecessary risk and pain in the backside to me.

IIWY, I would speak to the YO, but not as if you want them to come down hard on turning out in the school in particular, but more about considerate use of the school and expecting people to make an effort where they can to keep the peace and prevent injuries. :)
 
jumpthemoon said:
I know horses hoon around in the field and things set them off - but IMO that's a different thing. I'm really quite surprised that for a forum of such protective horse owners, most of you would be fine with this.
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You are on a yard which I presumes allows you to turn horses out in the school, I don't quite see the problem?
Personally, I like to chuck my coloured out to hoon around the sand school before I ride him, despite him being turned out all day.
I think you are completely over reacting, yes.
 
You most certainly are over reacting, listen to what everybody else says and move yards..................then I can move into your stables instead!!!!! YAY!!

I don't think you're over reacting, I think too many people are focusing on the pulled shoe aspect being the reason you're peeved!

Personally I'd be quite annoyed, you have turnout and a horse walker, the fields aren't frozen so surely there is no reason for said horse to be turned out into the school and not it's paddock?? The fact they saw your horse careering around, ignored it and then didn't mention it to you is a bit unfair.

I think it all comes down to consideration on yards, its all about give and take, I tend to look at the other horses on my yard with the respect and consideration I'd expect back? If something I'm doing is causing an issue (within reason!) I'll see if I can change or resolve it?

A horse escaped from it's stable on our yard, I caught it and put it back. The mare I ride untied herself, owner of horse I caught week before chose to stand and gawp! Charming!

Oh, I don't think you're being stroppy either!!
 
jumpthemoon said:
Went down to the yard earlier and one of the liveries told me something that has made me really angry. Having come home I'm thinking about it now and not sure if I'm overreacting, but I want to complain to YO later.

On Monday my horse twisted a shoe out hacking. Only very slightly, just sticking out at the back to the outside. i was going to leave him in on Tuesday (farrier coming this morning) but the ground was fairly dry and the shoe seemed secure. My horse isn't one for hooning around so I thought he would be ok.

Got to the yard last night to find he had pulled the shoe off. Thought nothing of it except he didn't come to call for the first time in about a year - just stood across the paddock and neighed at me.

This morning I got to the yard to find the farrier had been and done his feet, great, and there was another livery there (B). B asked me if my horse was ok then ummed and arred before telling me that yesterday, before I got to the yard, another livery had turned their horse out in the menage. Now, my horses paddock is right next to the menage. Said horse in the menage is VERY well known for charging around like a lunatic when let into the school loose. Apparently yesterday, she was charging up and down the fence line between the menage and my paddock, while my horse was dong the same. Owner looking on doing nothing (outside the arena). My horse was obviously doing it for a while as he has worn a muddy track along the side of the school and there are long hoof skid marks everywhere in the paddock.

The horse had been out in the field all day, we have a covered horse walker, owner has tack/lunging equipment etc - WHY do that? I'm so annoyed! I noticed this morning my horse has cut his leg. gave him some bute last night as he normally gets sore if he pulls a shoe off (I found it at one end of the 'track' where he has spun round to charge back again), so I couldn't really tell if he was ok or not. Why would you do that? She KNEW the horse would do that as it dose it EVERY TIME it is let off in the school.

Do you think I'm overreacting by complaining to YO? I don't want to say anything to her direct as it will sound like I'm having a go but I don't want it to happen again :(
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It seems to me that the key here is your remark that I've highlighted in bold "My horse isn't one for hooning around, so I thought that he would be OK."

Well, you have now learnt that your horse - like any horse, however quiet or placid it may be - will sometimes hoon around.

You now know that if he's turned out and a nearby horse gets excited (as horses often do) and starts hooning about (as horses often do), your horse (like most horses) will join in the fun and gallop about.

You have learnt a valuable lesson about horses.:)
 
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