Would you stop?

WOULD YOU STOP

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I think it's a nice thing to do if the place and horse allows it .
When Fattys at the pub it's lovely to see its a big thing for some of the children to be near him the bar staff give them carrots to give frank ( bad for this feet but once now and again is ok ) .
It's easy for us who have horses to be blasé about them but some children it's a special thing.
I would also stop if I could if it helped a person with a young dog .
 
I will stop if the road is a quiet one and it is safe to do so. I remember very clearly when I was that child and how much of a thrill it gave me, and reinforced my determination to learn to ride and have a horse one day.
 
In 12 years of owning, I have never been asked this!

I suppose that's because for 11 of those years, I kept my ponies at home in a small hamlet and hacked out on rural lanes with only the odd house here and there.

If it was safe to do so then I would let them.

Tarte Au Citron said:
I think it's a nice thing to do if you're able as not all kids have the opportunity to ever meet a horse and it can make a kids day. If it's safe and the horse is sensible why not let them have a quick pat, does no harm :)
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Agree with this. Even those of us who ride but don't own a horse are very fortunate to be able to do so. There are plenty of kids out there who dream of even having lessons who know they have no chance of doing so. Patting a horse could be a dream come true for them.
 
Absolutely. Quietly standing whilst I talk to people is an essential part of their education. Accepting contact with 'muggles', who of course don't quite behave right, is also part of pony's job.

The exception would be when it wasn't safe, or would be perceived by other road users as inconsiderate. Even then I would attempt to pull aside to allow if it was safe.
 
I tend not to because my mare doesn't like been touched and isn't good at standing still. However if there's a safe place she can move if she wants to I will let them have a little go but always say it's not really her thing. I usually ride with a friend who has a much more friendly cob who is happy to step in and do the honours so between us we rarely disappoint a child.
 
pennyturner said:
Absolutely. Quietly standing whilst I talk to people is an essential part of their education. Accepting contact with 'muggles', who of course don't quite behave right, is also part of pony's job.

The exception would be when it wasn't safe, or would be perceived by other road users as inconsiderate. Even then I would attempt to pull aside to allow if it was safe.
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I like this answer :)

It works both ways as being nice for the child and good for the horse. I stop with the pony and also with the dog if a child shows interest - its amazing how many mums in the village ask how Milo is or how Otis is... they often say that the child mentions the pony/dog by name often - I think thats nice expecially for children who arent able to have a pet

It links in some way to AA's post about horses having manners, I would like to think that even the averagely schooled horse should be able to stand still for a short amount of time.
 
WelshD said:
- its amazing how many mums in the village ask how Milo is or how Otis is... they often say that the child mentions the pony/dog by name often - I think thats nice expecially for children who arent able to have a pet
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And of course it helps when your horse escapes / does something antisocial, if you're known locally as 'that frendly pony lady who stops to say hello and gives rides at the local fete', rather than 'the arrogant cow with the horse'!
 
I will always stop if i dont think i will be a nusicance to cars on the road. I remember as a small child always running to the front door when a horse hacked past hopeing the rider would let me stroke it 99% never happened so i always make an effort to let kids stroke mine just to see the pleasure on their faces makes it worth while. i have even crossed over the road to let kids say hello, although i do ask to approach him sensibly never had a problem yet. wouldnt do it unless parents where present though!
 
When I first moved to the village a kid came running across the (quiet) road saying 'can I pat your horse?' as she went. I honestly didn't have time to stop her, she ran at him, he cowkicked her in the kidney and put her in hospital for the night. So no, after that incident I never stopped with him again! I obviously set my reputation in stone at that point as no one has ever asked since, even though I have a different horse now ;)
 
Nope mare can be a spooky little sod and I wouldn't want her breaking any small people toes should she decided to do a tap dance at a monster when stopping.
 
I would never stop on a busy public highway. I probably would on a quiet side road depending on the child/ren. Those screaming "horsey" and jumping up and down having just necked a tube of blue Smarties would be passed quickly, but the quiet ones are likely to be offered.
 
I remember being that child. I have two pictures from a holiday where I had my first camera - one is of a girl posing with her horse and one is of a girl trotting of into the distance. One stopped and was polite and one totally ignored me and I still remember it like it was today and it was over 25 years ago.
I dont stop if there is traffic or if its in a difficult spot - on the road your attention needs to be on traffic.
But I do stop where I can - partly because its good PR. Parents are less likely to complain about droppings or you holding up the traffic if their kids know your horse by name. And also its good training for the horses.
 
If the situation is safe to do so than yes every time I would stop and let anyone fuss the ponies as it is good for the pony and good for the person but I wouldnt do it unless it was safe to do so. Might invite them along to the field if it was close or to a nearby car park but I like to encourage people to find horsey people open a friendly there is a definite tendency for joe public to assume if you ride a horse you a stuck up snot who thinks they are better than every one else
 
Yes I have my WB loves attention and laps it up. As long as he is in chilled mode.

In the summer when riding through the woods two little girls of about 6 & 8 saw him and both their faces lit up in such excitement so I stopped to chat to them and their mother and said would you like to stroke him. I told them where to stand to do it safely. The older girl said with a child's wonderment "He is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen" It made me smile for the rest of the day and still warms my heart to think of it.

Not everyone is lucky enough to have a horse or access to one and it really made their day plus it means people are more likely to like and respect horses and riders :)
 
I stop because it's usually in the woods and it's safe. My boy is big (17.2) and like Sussex, the look on a child's face is wonderful when they can stroke him (usually his upper leg - they rarely can reach any higher!) He loves an excuse to stop and do nothing anyway. I don't let anyone give treats though as he's one of those horses who somehow sucks all your fingers into his mouth, and think that would freak them out.
 
I always stop in the village. The horses have to lean to be social, especially as a lot of our meets are in busy places with lots of children. The grey one did actually pick a small child up by their hoody on boxing day a couple of years ago, luckily he let go!
 
I try not to, a challenge when Mr Sociable tries to stop and talk to everyone, people (whether they want to talk to him or not), dogs, cats, you name it! He is mightily offended when I make him walk past.
 
Yes I always stop if someone asks to pat my horse. If I can be a party to helping out relations between horse owners and members of the public then that can only be a good thing. I have had people in cars ask to take photos/videos of our horses riding along the lanes. They've also put down their windows and asked if they can get out to stroke the horses. All perfectly fine by me :smile3:
 
I'm another who will stop if it's safe to do so. If it's not safe I will say why nicely, rather than just saying a stern no.

CM and the grey are used to small children due to being on a livery yard with lots of children a while back. When I took the grey to our local show this summer, she was surrounded by children at one point. I'm glad to say that the parents were with them and kept them calm and under control, so a nice time was had by all, including my mare who loves the attention.
 
I have to ride through a nearby pit village to get up onto the pit top and every kid I pass wants to stroke myhorse. I always pull in and let them stroke his shoulder. The amount of kids who say I've never touched a horse before is unbelievable and makes me feel quite privileged to have had the opportunity to be around horses as a kid. I don't particularly like children but the look on their faces is lovely - I've even had a couple of mums come out with a camera so they can get a picture of their daughters stood with us. Normally have to answer 101 questions about - what's he called/how old is he/ what does he have for his breakfast/what does he have for his tea/is he a police horse/is he a racehorse/how do I get on/does it hurt if I fall off etc etc so can get a bit time consuming.

I ride through fairly regularly and it's nice to hear little kiddies shouting 'hello Judgey' and anyway it's nice being nice!
 
I've stopped my horse in the highstreet, outside the town hall whilst a wedding fair was on, to let a family and their kids see my horse. It all depends on the situation and mine is happy to stand and be patient. I wouldn't have done it on my old mare as she was a fidget and not too fond of strangers.
 
Indy said:
Normally have to answer 101 questions about - what's he called/how old is he/ what does he have for his breakfast/what does he have for his tea/is he a police horse/is he a racehorse/how do I get on/does it hurt if I fall off etc etc so can get a bit time consuming.
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I was once asked by a small boy why my mare didn't have a winky? I just explained that it was because she was a girl horse, but the boy's Dad went so red with embarrassment. He really wanted the ground to open up and swallow him. :p
 
At shows I will even let the small ones have a sit on the old girl and even maybe a little walk round. She loves kids and I am all for encouraging the next generation so sorry mums and dads who may have been pestered for lessons after a sit on the fat hairy one
 
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