WWYD? if you thought someone was hitting your horse

showpony said:
If I personally saw ANYONE raising their hand to my horse I would report to local SPCA! however if you havent' seen it happen its hard to prove!! One of the horses my Mare is turned out with knows I bring treats up with me to catch her & she is about 17hh & has at times tried to barge my mare out of the way to get to my pockets!!! Would never tream of touching her though - the fecker gets an apple launched at high speed across field so she goes running after it!
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Haha! Love it!
 
Batgirl said:
I find it quite bemusing that so many people are hanging this woman for carrying a stick when bringing in, you said yourself you haven't seen her hit him. Maybe she is carrying it for her own horse? Maybe your horse is being a git and she needs it for safety? Maybe maybe maybe. All because your horse has been sweaty when coming in, a horse who has been rugged when it has been unseasonably warm and you said yourself that it could be that.

Find out for sure before you accuse someone, or as I am sure you will say you haven't directly accused her, infer that she might be hitting your horse.

If you do find out for sure THEN hang her.
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I think that too. Unless you've actually SEEN this happen how can you accuse..
 
This is a difficult one.

Its easy to jump to the wrong conclusion here; and as someone else has said just because the OP has seen the girl carrying a whip doesn't mean that she's used it on her horse!

I've been in a very similar position - a few years ago now my old boy was sharing a field with a very aggressive and dominant horse and whenever I tried to get mine out, the other horse would come at me with his ears back & snapping at me, and then as I was trying to catch mine would start biting his rump and chasing him away from me.

So I (with the owner's consent) took a lunging whip out to the field with me: result - problem sorted. The other horse was just being a bully, thinking he could get away with it, and just having a whip in my hand just nipped the problem in the bud.

IF this girl is taking a whip out to the field; she's obviously feeling the need for it. Perhaps she is a bit of a novice, but it has to be said that sometimes people don't like to face the fact that their beloved horse CAN be aggressive to other people - and that this behaviour really needs checking before it worsens and gets out of hand.

If I was the owner in this case, I'd be inclined to maybe have a quiet word along the lines of "I thought I saw you carrying a whip out to the field the other day, I do hope my horse isn't being a nuisance when you need to bring yours in"...... or similar - and see what she says.

I would tend to try and sort the problem out amicably - flying off the handle about it isn't going to solve anything; I think OP you need to actually be there to SEE what your horse does when this girl tries to get hers out. Maybe there IS a problem - and it maybe that with the YO's help there may be another solution for you both.

However if she is being heavy-handed - this is probably because she's maybe feeling a bit threatened and/or lacks the experience at using stuff like body language etc to tell other horses to back-off. Perhaps if she needs to tell yours to back off she could try circling a headcollar rope or something instead of carrying a whip. Perhaps the YO could help her?

But I do think you and she need to discuss this, plus YO, and find out exactly what's happening rather than jump to conclusions.
 
Maybe try sneaking up to the yard at a different time and standing where she can't see to watch what's happening. Like others have said, there could be lots of reasons why she was carrying a whip. A few times I have carried one as my horse was being a pain going through the gate to the next field, especially as the others would block the gateway. We also have one horse who is dominant and can be aggressive - but whenever I have carried a whip, I get the desired effect from the horses just simply knowing that its there. At the most I may tap my boot with it but that's about it.

Try and catch her in the act and then confront her.
 
Depends. If it was completely uncalled for, then they would feel YO's wrath (I am not scary enough and it's her horse anyway!)
However, if he was being an absolute tool, then I would be fine with it.

Though, there's a difference between a good telling off and a beating.


EDIT: It could be that she was waving your horse away with the whip? The horses at my yard would move away from that.
 
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I think before youd o anything, you have got to have proof. See if you can go to the yard at slightly different times to actually see what she is doing with this whip, and then go from there.
 
The woman doesn't dabble in Parelli does she? It sounds to me like some who has watched half a Parelli DVD, not got the point and decided that your horse is in her space and must be made to move out of it.

I'm not a Parelli person by my two yard mates are so I do understand the principles.
 
She's probably one of the posters on here who, when relating the other side of the story, has been told to go out into the field with a schooling whip. Nothing to do with Parelli, that advice is given out regularly when people ask how to deal with a horse that is crowding theirs at the gate, or chasing theirs off etc.
Maybe she's only waving it about? If someone's worried though it can easily end up in actual contact, so I agree with others, you should just be up front and calm with her and ask if she's having a problem with your horse.
Maybe your horse has started to get upset when she takes hers away, that can happen as well, even if the horse in question hasn't minded in the past, they can change. That would produce a hot and sweaty horse.
Maybe the new fencing arrangement doesn't stop her horse getting hassled by yours as she brings hers in. In which case, you'd be able to take some avoiding action by changing the fencing. You won't know unless you ask, and if you go in all guns blazing assuming that she's hitting your horse it probably won't end well.
 
I think you really need to speak to her to diplomatically to find out why she is carrying the whip. One of my old horses who was a nightmare so had a rep once settled he only had to hear the gate go or someone shout and he would come galloping over to anyone.
I knew him and that he was coming to say hello but I understood why people were scared he was near to 17:2, he also didnt stop to nearly on top of you.
It could also be for her own pony maybe that's why but there are a number of reasons.
 
benson21 said:
I think before youd o anything, you have got to have proof. See if you can go to the yard at slightly different times to actually see what she is doing with this whip, and then go from there.
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I agree, you need to find out with your own eyes what exactly she is using the whip for. I wouldn't "sneak" around as such, but perhaps keep out of sight until she goes to bring her pony in then watch her - I would also be tempted to video her (if it was me) and if you catch her in the act then take straight to YO.

If I was to ever find out that someone had hit my horse for no reason (fair enough if he was being a plonker!) I would be furious. Would definitely stand up to them and perhaps give them a taste of their own medicine :rolleyes:
 
showpony said:
If I personally saw ANYONE raising their hand to my horse I would report to local SPCA! however if you havent' seen it happen its hard to prove!! One of the horses my Mare is turned out with knows I bring treats up with me to catch her & she is about 17hh & has at times tried to barge my mare out of the way to get to my pockets!!! Would never tream of touching her though - the fecker gets an apple launched at high speed across field so she goes running after it!
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Showpony, this made me giggle! :D
 
I have hit a horse without the owner being presant and told said onwer that they are causing there horse to be a darn right danger to anyone else - newbie owners have continued to do nothing but encourage this habit - albiet unwittingly. They let their alpha mare think she owns the alley way between stables - she is fed with the door open and one of those ropes accross and give her her lickit their - so she now thinks this is her feed zone. Each time you walk past she does a full lunge at you, she has bit one of mine at least 3 times now, caused an old horse to fall over. Now I manged to get one good relevant smack on her nose - so a loud growl sufices just as i am going past- but each day the mare is getting things waved in her face, shouted at and screamed at. And it is the owners fault but they think its cute to have a 16hh mareish mare have a "dinner table"

I feel sorry for the poor mare - but what can you do ?

And to be honest if she has hit your horse - he would have enough sence to keep away from then on - and i am not condonining it.

other thought is he getting worried as he is being left?
 
I would challenge her about this. I don't like causing unnecessary friction on the yard but blooming hell God help anyone if I EVER caught them laying a finger on my boy. For whatever reason. A firm word and waving your arm at him to send him away would be fine but what you have described is downright abuse!! :mad:
 
spottypony said:
I would challenge her about this. I don't like causing unnecessary friction on the yard but blooming hell God help anyone if I EVER caught them laying a finger on my boy. For whatever reason. A firm word and waving your arm at him to send him away would be fine but what you have described is downright abuse!! :mad:
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Been seen carrying a schooling whip downright abuse ?
It's not abuse to carry a schooling whip that's all OP has seen the rest is pure speculation.
 
Thank you for the latest responses. It's good to know a few of you are along the same lines as me but obviously can't do anything until there's proof. I am off the next couple of days so could perhaps plan my evening around it-not that I don't anyway! Hmm
 
showpony said:
If I personally saw ANYONE raising their hand to my horse I would report to local SPCA! however if you havent' seen it happen its hard to prove!! One of the horses my Mare is turned out with knows I bring treats up with me to catch her & she is about 17hh & has at times tried to barge my mare out of the way to get to my pockets!!! Would never tream of touching her though - the fecker gets an apple launched at high speed across field so she goes running after it!
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Surely feeding them is just encouraging them to become bargy???
 
Why would she even need to hit your horse if she does not even go through his bit of field? It doesn't make sense. I think it's more likely that your boy is getting wound up by her removing her pony and him being left out alone. Even if next to others, some horses will gallop around and stress badly if a horse that they are bonded to is removed. I think this is far more likely the cause of him sweating up.
 
You need to find out why she has the whip.

It might not even be for your boy, in could actually be needed for hers, EG if her Horse were playing up being brought in. You need to turn up at different times and watch what is happening. If she is using it on your Horse, then I would confront her.

I would not however be saying anything until I had facts and proof to back it up.
 
A livery once took a schooling whip to one of my horses faces, also landed a few punches..... let's just say they are no longer at the yard or even own horses ;)

OP in all honesty unless you catch her actually hitting your horse there isnt much you can do.
 
First you need to establish if she has hit your horse, carrying a schooling stick is just that, many carry them, doesnt mean theyre hiting others horses with it:confused: why do you think she would need to hit your horse, is there a behaviour he displays that would make you think this ?
Ask her and take it from there ...... Personally if someone was hitting my horse having never discussed any problem with me, id have their head on a plate.
 
I was in my Trakehner's box....he was very sweet. The yard manager and his wife were French...he was great, she was a cow. Anyway, I was in my horse's box bending down checking his leg and she wandered by and slapped my horse in the face.

I popped up and started yelling at her. I called her every sexist and insulting thing I could think of...weaving a lovely tapestry of profanity. By now other boarders and the manager/husband showed up. She lied and said, "He tried to bite me"....which got me swearing even more. He had to support his wife (he did have to live with the nasty $%@#$) and I left soon afterwards.

I had a Shire mare, very sweet and obedient horse...a man came up, grabbed some of her feather and yanked her foot up. He hurt my mare, I knocked him down and got to swear again. Nobody hurts my horses.
 
What a violent lot many of you are :o If I caught someone hitting one of my horses then it would depend on what my horse was doing. If the horse was being a pain in the backside and causing the person problems getting in and out of the field then I have no problem with anyone giving a flick of a whip/lead rope to move my horse away from the gate. If they hit the horse for no reason then I would ask them to kindly refrain from hitting my horse without cause. TBF the situation the OP describes sounds like her horse is getting all sweated up due to the other owner taking her horse out of her part of the field. Also sounds like the OPs horse is being a nuisance if the lady has resorted to carrying a whip with her just to get her horse along the walkway. OR it could be she's taking it for her own horse who may be being a nuisance. Way too many variables here for anyone to start lynching the woman!
 
I would like to be informed if there was a problem and discuss it with the other person.

If I found that whips had been carried out with my horse I'd want to know why and I'd like to be warned in advance.

Ours are out with someone elses and if any horses are up in someones face they get told loudly to back up, reiterated with a hand (not a smack) if necessary. This is discussed and no problem. Equally if one was being dangerous or bolshy we've discussed carrying a whip as a hand extension, no problem.

However on last yard littlun was hit and went from a horse who was going to be backed less than a week after attack, now a year later starting to change on not being terrified if there is more than one human in sight. I moved her as soon as possible (3 weeks to load) as she wouldn't come within 10m of a human.
I wouldn't hesitate to move if their safety was compromised and would not tolerate someone touching my horse without prior discussion.

I'd get a fence up separating the two or move field/yard if possible.
 
I can't quote as on my phone. Girl is a bit of a devious cow to be honest. I have stated in my first post why it crossed my mind and given a reason as to why I thought she *could* be doing it. Her horse is retired and she doesn't even own a whip. She also seen I had arrived last night and quickly put the stick away before I got out the car. I'm certainly not moving yards which suits me down to the ground for this! I'm going to access the fence tomorrow and ill take it right back across the field if need be.
 
OOO my old yard looked after my horse when i went on holiday. I got back and was told he was a horrible horse with no manners. Turned out he just didnt like the guy and yes my horse kicked off but I was astonished when the YO hit him across the nose with half a broom handle! Luckily for him I had just got back and was tired for I left it and then moved yards five days later. Had it been a normal day.....he would still be trying to get that broom handle out of somewhere very uncomfortable.
 
Happened to my old horse. I moved to a full livery yard as needed help time wise. Turned up one afternoon and walked past my boys stable and just put my hand out to stroke him nose as I walked past and he nearly hit the floor. It was his normal grooms day off and had my concerns about the head girl having seen her pull a gag bit through a horses mouth the day before because it happened to look left instead of standing like a statue :mad:

Saw YO and said Boxer seems a bit jumpy today and she said 'if he doesn't stand still whilst having his rug done up he will be told off' :eek: so was obviously prepared for me coming to speak to her.

I gave her my notice there and then and was there for 3 weeks in all. I never found out what he'd done whilst having his rug done up to deserve a smack round the head but made sure everyone in the area knew about the groom and the yards management.

Btw - he stood like an angel to have his rugs changed before and it took a bit of time but eventually he was good again.
 
There is never a valid reason to hit a horse like this. If she is nervous of him coming near her in the field she should have discussed how to deal with him with you, or if that was not possible carried a rope or lunge line to send him away, never a whip. Those schooling whips in partiular are nasty as can cut if used hard enough.

I would be making a formal complaint to the YO, in writing even and would not stop bothering him or her about it until this situation had been resolved.
 
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