other boarder's behavior endangering us!

Hello everyone,
Kinda a rant, but I really need advice here. I love the farm I am boarding at, but recently ran into a rather dangerous and scary issue. There is a family here that has 4 horses boarded, 1 one which is an Egyptian Arab, and in my opinion, not suited to the woman who owns her. She is very timid and inexperienced and walks with a cane, and this horse is HOT HOT HOT. Anyway, they bought a cute little filly (I think she is a year old and a quarter Andalusion mix.) Yes, she is cute. Yes, it is fun to own a baby. But you have to have the knowledge to do so. And they DO NOT.
Long story short, since I am 8 months pregnant I am sticking to the sand ring and nice calm quiet riding. I was in the ring with my 2 year old riding in front of me, and this lady comes in with the filly. She has her on a lunge line. I assume she is going to lunge, and I have no issue with it, my horse is accustomed to other horses. Then all of a sudden the filly starts acting out a little, pulling at the line and such. What does the owner do? She LETS GO of the line and suddenly the filly is careening around the ring, her legs getting hopelessly tangled in the line, causing more panic. Instantly my horse is excited, and the foals along the fence start running and bucking frantically. Thank god my husband was there and I was able to hand him our daughter, but good god. I decided it was no longer safe and exited the ring. I lead my horse to the barn and began untacking, suddenly I hear yelling and screaming. The filly was caught, broke away again and ran towards the barn where I was standing. I was able to grab her lunge line and stop her (she was blowing pretty hard by then.)
Things like this happen with this family all the time. They allow thier horses bad behviours to endanger other boarders. They cannot control 2 of them which results in regular break aways, my poor gelding is terrified of the arab because she is so damned cranky and mareish. I want to talk to my BO about it but I don[t want to ruffle and feathers. The biggest issue is my 2 year old rides here, and the their inabilities to control thier animals make me so nervous.....
Sorry for the novel, but any advice? I hate picking fights and starting sh*t, but I am really scared for us.

I would definitely talk to your BO. When you're paying to board, I believe there is a obligation to provide a reasonably safe environment for you and your horse. I would think that it is your BOs responsiblity to have a sit down with the family and set some guidelines. If they are going to have a filly at the farm, they need to be working with a trainer. If they want to work on their own, the must be considerate of other riders and wait until the ring is clear. They're endangering themselves, other boarders, horses and property. Not cool.

Indeed. On top of endangering you, the other horses, their horses, themselves, your young daughter, any neighbors if the horses eventually escape.......the list goes on...the fact that you say that you're truly scared for your safety should ring an alarm. Who cares if you start something, the worst thing that could happen is you move to a safer facility.

Why do they even own a boarding facility if they don't have the knowledge to know the difference between a princessy filly (that sounds to me like she was just fighting the tension on the line) and a real fear response? IMO (and under my assumptions) you have to know a little bit about horses to own your own facility.....

I do agree with you there. At one point I had a horse there who was behaving really badly despite being with a trainer, and I was asked to move him off the property (I actually sold him, too many horses.) Aside from my daughter there are SO many kids at this farm, it just makes me so nervous!

I am sorry you had a bad day.

Horses are unpredictable at best. There is no truly safe way to have horses.
Yeah, some people sure do make it much scarier than others. But I will say that even the best horses can cause problems at times. My dead quiet I would trust with your 98 year old grandmother horse decided to act silly the other day and he got loose. Horses are always horses.

I see nothing wrong with you bringing up to the BO/BM the issues you are having with this other boarder. I would not get upset if the BO/BM did not make this boarding barn like it would be if your horses were home in your own backyard.

One of the joys/frustrations of boarding is having to deal with the other boarders.

Oh, they don't own the facility. They just board their horses there. They are very inexperienced horse people, have never started a filly before and it shows. I was a little miffed the BO would even allow them to bring the filly on site, knowing how little horse experience they actually have.

One of the joys/frustrations of boarding is having to deal with the other boarders.[/quote]
Other ignorant boarders lol. I totally understand the dangers of owning horses and the occasional acting out. I guess my biggest frustration would be why would you not have used the round pen, why come into the sand ring where I am riding with my 2 year old?
After the horse was caught, she even had the nerve to laugh and say "well actually that was what I wanted her to do anyway, just run around in the sand ring and blow off steam." Are you stupid???? I am 8 months pregnant and riding with my kid and you have the nerve to say that?

Some people are truly just clueless of riding etiquette. You say they are green owners. Next time take it as an opportunity to politely teach them something.

I had actually asked if she would like me to lunge her for her. She said, "oh no, I am just trying to get her used to it."
Get her used to what? The lunge line? Seriously, a horse that age should have no problem leading and being polite. Nothing was being asked but to walk along side her owner and it turned into such a dangerous situation so fast.

But you don't find this dangerous?


I'm sorry you do not approve of your fellow boarders behavior. You can certainly mention something to the BO/BM.

Even the most well behaved horses - are still horses.