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Bad behavior - what would you do?

2K views 18 replies 15 participants last post by  BlueSpark 
#1 ·
Just curious to see what people think -

A similar situation to this happened last summer at a very popular trail ride event - we're talking literally more than 100 horses and riders, raffle, lunch, etc. The trail opens and closes at a certain time and people are welcome to start whenever they want to, so everyone's fairly spread out.

What if you were riding at a trail event (not necessarily competition - just an "organized trail ride" and you come upon a parent and child each riding their horse. The child's horse is acting up, including kicking and biting at other riders' horses. The child is obviously very upset and uncomfortable with the situation and cannot handle the horse, yet the parent keeps trying to "coach" the child for what they should do. All the while, they are coming up behind other riders as well as having other riders come up behind them, constantly making the situation worse and putting other people and their horses at risk. They are creating a sort of road block with this stop-act up-go thing, and when you try to go around, the horse acts up and kicks out, but when you're ahead and want to slow down, they catch up and you're still in the mess (not to mention the issues going on with the parent and child as well). Unfortunately, since it's a trail ride, there are no "officiators" to step in and do something - so what do you do?

In my case, I just did my best to get out ahead of them and my horse has a big trot so I put quite a bit of distance between myself and this situation. I didn't necessarily want to be trotting the whole ride, but I couldn't slow down even if I got a decent distance ahead of them because they would catch up again. Of course, this horse didn't have a ribbon in its tail. Is there ever a point to step in? Does it make a difference that there are other riders in danger? Or do you just watch out for yourself and hope everyone else does the same?? And pray that kid somehow doesn't get thrown in the process?
 
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#3 ·
Mind your own business. There is always that ONE person on a large trail ride that goofs things up the whole time. The parent should know better than to give their child a horse like that, especially in a crowded area. Nothing you say will help or change that decision. If they're daft enough to give their child that horse and put everyone at risk and sour the trail ride, they won't listen to what you have to say.

Either head out before they do or give them an hour's head start so you don't have to try and outrun them. If you do say something, mention that maybe they need to go back to the trailers since the horse is acting dangerously, or parent and child should switch horses. Offering parenting advice is a big no-no.
 
#6 ·
True, you never know who's going to blow up and get ugly bout things. I was at a small local show and a little girl had just run poles and leaving the arena her horse kicked out at a horse near the gate. Her horse did have a ribbon in the tail and the other mother and daughter shouldn't have been standing around at the exit way. Nevertheless the mom who's childs horse was kicked at went to yelling and cussing at the other child then that childs grandma jumped in and the grandpa had to pull her away and the child was just horrified at it all. The kind of people that do such stuff aren't willing to listen to reason and apparently aren't aware of other peoples rights or privileges, it's all about them.
 
#7 ·
I was the one on all the group trail rides that had the kicker..if anyone who didn't know the horse was going to be riding with us, she had a ribbon in her tail and I told everyone that she still kicks and we're working on it.

There would be the occasional rider who wanted to work on their horse staying back and not nose to tail, they brought up the rear behind me. If no one wanted to, I brought up the rear so no one would get kicked.

Every show we went to, when I walked into the arena I let everyone know that she was a kicker and to stay off her butt and give ample space when passing..but there was always that oneperson that never listened. Yes, my horse kicks, but shows and trails were the only place it happened. Thus, to fix her issue and retrain the kicking, we had to attend trails and shows.
It was fixed relatively quickly..but only because I took her out and schooled her. She hasn't kicked with me since, but she will kick with someone else riding her. It's a confidence issue she has when out with unfamiliar horses.

If I see a red ribbon, I don't care that they brought a kicker, I have enough respect and self preservation for both myself and my horse to stay a safe distance away.
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#9 ·
OK, I read about 2 paragraphs into the original post and skimmed the others, and all I can say is that I avoid those large trail rides because of these kinds of situations. There are trail rides for charity that I would love to participate in, but there is always the stallion that "has NEVER done that before" or the other upstart (horse and/or human) that ruins everybody's day.
Who was the sponsor/head organizer of this ride? Are there any policies in place? Or is this a big free-for-all? "Trail riding" has so many different meanings. There needs to be some accountability for appropriate horsemanship somewhere, or else there will be issues.
So... ride with a group that values good horsemanship, or learn to deal with the unnerving situations that come up, such as this one. As others have stated, GET FAR AWAY from the problem riders is the best that you can do when you realize that there is an issue. Ugh, I just ride with trusted and seasoned riders. Period.
 
#10 ·
...but there is always the stallion that "has NEVER done that before" ...

^^That right there is one of the reasons why I prefer geldings to mares for kid horses. I can only imagine the horror of having your 7 year old child riding around on their mare (who happens to be in heat) and having some asshat's uncontrollable stud mount the mare and squash the kid.
 
#11 ·
I would have asked the parent if there was any way I could be of help, such as ponying the horse or taking the child behind me and letting mom pony the horse. Not sure, but at least offer help. If they were too far out to turn back, then there's nothing they can do but continue onward.
 
#12 ·
Maybe the mom did not think the child's horse was going to act up like it did. I would have switched horses with my child if possible. Unfortunately, that horse is getting away with bad behavior, needed a more experienced rider. Hopefully the mom won't put the child on that horse around large groups of riders again, at least not until the child gets more experience. It does interrupt my riding experience when I encounter this type of issue. I stay away, move up or stay back. One thing, when you choose to bring a child on a ride, large or small, you cannot expect other riders to be responsible for your child, babysit. Try and find out if it is going to be a family type ride or more of an adult ride.
 
#13 ·
I agree with cantering up ahead. I have seen lots of idiots on the trail with horses they cant handle, or kicky horses without ribbons. Equally I have ridden kicky horses with their tails covered in ribbons and had people ride right up my horses butt and get kicked.

if you have to, say something or offer to help, but staying ahead of them is the best route for sure.
 
#15 ·
I would def. NOT canter off ahead. If you are well away from them , ok. but if you pass them, then canter off you could REALLY upset this already emotional horse and rider. If I am dealng with some kind of naughtiness, and another rider canters off in front of me, my horse will try to follow and it makes things that much more difficult. It could make the child's horse buck and toss the child.
 
#14 ·
Anyone can have problems at one time or another.
I am both experienced enough and bold enough to offer sound advice.

Many times I have been fox hunting on a young green horse which has behaved impeccably and others, when riding an older horse who should know better, has behaved like a hooligan!

as you ride more you will realise that things do not always go to plan, as with mother and daughter in this instance, sympathy and constructive help is needed rather than being down on them.
 
#16 ·
Reminds me of the only big ride I've been on... or will ever go on

It was my first year of college. My gelding was leased out and I had to borrow a horse.

This event was the Ride for Life. 200+ horses and riders from back yard owners to well known horse trainers, breeders, etc... It was to raise money for cancer research. The event was created by 2 girls for their 4-h program and was a great idea.

The horse I borrowed was 4yrs old, just home from 60 days with the trainer. I wasnt told this until I was in the saddle and she freaked. I got her into the arena, worked her out, and we did over half the ride. Thank god I have always been thrown on green horses or it could have ended badly.

A few incidents:
I had won a raffle prize and went to collect it on horseback when the celophane still 5 ft away spooked her and she reared with people coming up all around "trying to help" but only freaking her out more. She was suppose to be sacked out and "never" spooks. Every noise made her jump and she would kick out at any horse who came up behind us. She also thought a childs pony was a calf that she could chase and again THANK GOD I got that horse under control before the pony even had a chance to notice this horse about to try and corral it. After the pony instance I decided we were done. There was no way I was putting kids at risk (there was a lot of ponys). I could stay to the back, tied a ribbon on her tail, handle the spooks but the bolting after ponys was my last straw.

Before the event even started an ambulance had to be called. A kids horse reared and the kid fell, hitting his head on a metal electrical box. Sliced him WIDE open. Very horrifying. All through the event people were getting hurt, horses too. It was mostly chaos. Never again for me!
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#17 ·
HAHA countrylove...that reminded me of a time when my girl pepper was SOOO infatuated with a mini donkey (he had a little boy riding him- it was cute) on a ride... she had her eye on them the whole time and I think she would have worked them if I had given her the chance!

This is why I now only attend "chaperoned" rides.. where there is SOMEONE that can give orders to people like this. Its amazing to me how many people with show up on a ride and not be aware of any etiquette (tail gating, running past other's horses ect... By all means my mare can and has been a ding bat on some trail rides (she is trained to the hilt- just has her days), But I ALWAYS get her away from anyone else when she chooses to act that way.

IMO I wouldn't be giving any parenting advice to these people.. that has a way of causing fights.. If you have the knowlege to help out the situation, I think that is a better way to go.. or just try to get past as quickly and unobtrusively as possible..
 
#18 ·
HAHA countrylove...that reminded me of a time when my girl pepper was SOOO infatuated with a mini donkey (he had a little boy riding him- it was cute) on a ride... she had her eye on them the whole time and I think she would have worked them if I had given her the chance!
Now I can look back and laugh my *** off about it but at the time I was fuming LoL I hadn't ridden in nearly a year except a few hours maybe once a month and was expecting this calm experienced horse. Nope, she had never been to an event let alone one of this size. I was out of shape and all I could think is this horse is gonna be the death of me LoL Of course being in college and young I was determined to make it work :)

Once she got the cow thoughts we were done. I had lost all control and one of those ponies would have been corralled if I didn't get her out when I did. In retrospect its quite hilarious especially cause the one she was set on was a black and white paint with no tail and a roached mane... it looked like a cow LoL I can't blame her there LoL

And on the plus side we also discovered her passion in cattle work. Before they wanted to do Eventing, trails, and endurance. Now she is working cows all over the west coast :)

Alls well that ends well...

Definitely soured me to large rides especially because the horse I described were 80% of the type of horses there. Most people couldn't finish the ride. And I'm honestly surprised the ambulance only came once but thankful too
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#19 ·
By canter ahead I did not mean 'run by' the horse with issues. I don't think anyone should ever run by anyone else.

I've had horses misbehave, but honestly, horses should be trained and tested out before you take them to a major public event. If you can't control your horse enough to at least do a one rein stop and get off, or steer them out of the way of other riders, you should not be on that horse. If your horse is prone to bolting, bucking or rearing, you should try working through the issues beforehand.

I rode a green Ottb on one ride that pranced, crow hopped and cantered side ways at one point. I was able to keep him away from other horses. He was a handful, but no one got rammed, run over, kicked or held up by him, because regardless of his other faults, he could stop, go and turn when asked.
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