The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Was I just lucky? I did something dumb, but walked away unscathed

2K views 20 replies 13 participants last post by  egrogan 
#1 ·
So, I learned several good lessons that I won't forget. (I've only owned horses for 18 months and have learned so much about equine behavior - I knew better, and this was probably the reminder I needed). Basically I dropped my guard in a group of horses... food, tight quarters, and herd hierarchy were involved. I was knocked down and ended up under my mare. I looked up, saw her back hoof lift then go back down and she stood still while I stood up and the skirmish separated. I wasn't scared (happened too fast I guess), but apparently it was pretty dramatic from the outside looking in.

But I keep wondering - it seems like the odds were definitely that I should have been hurt in some way, yet other than at the very beginning no horse made contact w/ me. Was that just dumb luck (or the grace of God) - or do they really watch their feet that well?
 
#2 ·
Glad you're ok!

It's hard to say without having been there, but I do think they know where their feet are and most of them genuinely don't want to hurt us if they can help it.

My earliest memory of being around horses is from when I was ~8 years old. I was out on a group "trail ride" (i.e., riding around the barn at the end of a lesson). We were going up a grassy hill. I had only ever trotted, but the momentum of going up a hill sent my pony into a short canter. I completely lost my balance, went over her head, and ended up on my back. Looking up, I saw her little hoof on her front leg hovering in the air over my chest. She wouldn't put the foot down until I rolled out of the way. I do believe she knew what would have happened and didn't want to do that.

And- we all do stupid things around horses sometimes even though we know better. ;) Luckily most of them time we can simply reflect on what "could have been" and reset ourselves to an appropriate level of caution around them.
 
#3 ·
I know two people who lost their spleens because they walked up behind horses that didn't know they were coming, they were pure accidents but both said afterwards that they should have known better. Sometimes we just end up in the wrong place at the wrong time but quite often we get blasé around horses and put ourselves at risk simply because 'its never gone wrong before'
 
#4 ·
They were probably vert surprised to find you there on the ground, having no concept that bumping into you would knock you over.
Did you just get between two horse fighting over food or one who swiung and attacked the others, who then wheeled and fled right into and over you ?
 
#5 ·
Phew, that sounds pretty scary. It's worth always being careful when food is involved in a group of horses. Although they probably won't try to hurt you deliberately, it's very easy to get hurt inadvertently if you get in the middle of a tiff.

We recently introduced a third member to our small herd, and the first group feeding time was pretty hairy! The existing relaxed routines have been disrupted, and it'll take a while for a new routine to evolve. In the meantime, I'm going to be on my guard.

I remember coming off my mare jumping cross country as a teenager; I landed under her belly when she refused a jump and had a vivid flash of her hooves flailing above me. She didn't make contact and I was fine, although I guess I had a sore back afterwards. I think they do try to keep us safe as far as possible.
 
#6 ·
Was that just dumb luck (or the grace of God) - or do they really watch their feet that well?
Having been in that position a few times, all I can say is, "God looks after fools and little children.". It hasn't been that long ago that I did something dumb and had to look up to Heaven and say, "And God, we all know I'm not a child. Thank you.".
 
#7 ·
But I keep wondering - it seems like the odds were definitely that I should have been hurt in some way, yet other than at the very beginning no horse made contact w/ me. Was that just dumb luck (or the grace of God) - or do they really watch their feet that well?
Horses in general are pretty good at not stepping on squishy stuff, like prone humans....cattle on the other hand have no such qualms and will pound you into the ground. So it is a combination of luck, they do try and avoid you but in a crush accidents happen, and teh right choice of big animal to be prone under.
 
#9 ·
Glad you're ok! In my opinion, it is less an effort to avoid hurting people than a preference not to walk on soft, uneven things that keeps them from stepping on us! Think about it, if you're running and there's a ball in front of you, you'll want to avoid stepping on it! This is also why we work horses over poles - they tend to avoid stepping on objects on the ground.

Being fairly new to horses too (a re-born mature horse lover!), I totally understand what you're saying about these close calls being good reminders to remain on alert at all times around our horses!
 
#10 · (Edited)
Thank you all - yes, I'm grateful I'm OK

@golden horse Yes I'm glad they are averse to 'squishy stuff'!
@tinyliny - I think they were indeed surprised to find that I landed on the ground...
@egrogan - 'And- we all do stupid things around horses sometimes even though we know better. ;) Luckily most of them time we can simply reflect on what "could have been" and reset ourselves to an appropriate level of caution around them.' --------- Thank you - I needed that. It helps to know everyone does things (though not an excuse to make it a habit....). I've definitely done a 'reset'
@Dreamcatcher Arabians "Having been in that position a few times, all I can say is, "God looks after fools and little children.". It hasn't been that long ago that I did something dumb and had to look up to Heaven and say, "And God, we all know I'm not a child. Thank you."." -------- Indeed...... I said a sincere 'thank you' as well

My mare wasn't an innocent bystander here. She and I went immediately to the round pen, where she said "yes ma'am, no ma'am, right away ma'am" and was a perfect lady. Had a good long trail ride the next morning, and we did great together as usual. Just a lousy mix of my bad judgement, plus a dose of horse bad judgement. My confidence isn't really shaken, because I know I could have avoided it (when I replay it back in my mind... it's like one of those documentaries that lays out a series of errors and coincidences and innocent-seeming decisions that lead up to a disaster). If I'd seen this happen to someone 2 years ago I would have concluded that horses are truly unpredictable creatures. As it is, I see that it was actually very predictable behavior (albeit, not acceptable).
 
#11 ·
I think luck was on your side that day, horses will try very hard not to step on people but when herd dynamics are present the timid ones can do you damage just trying to get away.
I usually try to be beside the dominant horse when I am in a group like that as my reasoning is, no one is going to run over or push at the boss.

They don't like stepping on squishy stuff tho'. One time we had a neighbour who had a herd of half broke horses and very poor fences, and I saw them galloping down the road, they turned in our lane, raced past the house and out buildings and back through my garden with squash, melons and gourds. I thought with 20 or so horses going through, turning and coming right back through again and out the lane and home that my garden would be a write off, but there was not one single vegetable stepped on or damaged. Hard to believe but true.
 
#13 ·
some horses will take great care not to walk/step on a fallen rider, plus horses that are taught they can never act aggressive towards each other, during feeding time , when a human is out there, will chose any other escape route, when bossed by a dominant horse, then over a human, if they even think of exercising their herd position
Other then that, no. A horse not taught this, will often consider the human as the herd 'member' he can run over, versus the horse further up in the pecking order of that herd.
I also know where a women was killed, accidentally kicked by a horse, during feeding time
She was a young mother, left to look after the horses, while hubby was away in Europe, on a horse selling trip. One horse kicked at another, as she was feeding them, and got her instead. She bled out, before getting tot he hospital
Yes, you were lucky this time.
 
#15 ·
I know how dangerous feed time can be in a group. i often throw out a couple of flakes of hay to the horses in the pasture when I bring X back from a ride. the grass is nearly gone, so they want something in their tummies and there is nothing left to grze on. I step out from the feed shed with hay in one hand, and my rope, or my hat or a stick in the other. I start the whole thing by studiously driving each and every one of them off. If they just come even one step toward me, I am on them very firmly driving them off. so, I take the initiative and do not act in defense, but rather in offense. it sets the tone of "stay off! now!". I put down some and drive the hrose off for a sec, then move to next location to drop a handful of hay. bhowever, you can never be totally sure how a group that is food mad will act.
 
#16 ·
Food and crowding are never allowed with my horses. Even though I only have two now, they know they have to stand back and wait until I give the okay and step away. I learned - back when I had 10 or more - that the only safe way is "WAIT!"

And funny thing is, I learned my lesson feeding one pushy horse when I was around 12. I didn't get knocked down or hurt badly; the horse just stepped on my foot, but after that.... Uhn-uh. Food is mine unless I say otherwise.
 
#18 ·
All these things are things I thought I knew to do... yup, dropped my guard.

I can successfully feed the herd by myself (and do so when my friend is out of town), and I always carry a crop (except this time.... mistake #1). We had pulled the 2 top horses away and gave them their snack first - so that left the 3 horses with me who are lower down in the herd... so the 'order' came out in a way that surprised us all. Add to that, one of the three was a the 'baby' (18 month old) who is just learning her manners, and who blocked my exit path suddenly and left me standing in a very narrow open gate (36" wide). Nowhere to go. My moment of hesitation was enough to get me in trouble. The horse behind me probably saw my momentum and expected me to keep moving out of the way. But I stopped. Thankfully there was no kicking, or big aggression. Just herd silliness that wouldn't have been worth comment if I hadn't been in the midst. Ugh.
 
#19 ·
That's how we learn lessons that become muscle memory. We can talk and talk and talk, and tell and tell and tell, and have brain memory, but when it hits the fan we tend to forget that we really do know what to do and we freeze. One "Oh Holy Mother Mary" moment will set up muscle memory and when it hits the fan, the muscles will take over. Not necessarily recommending that way of learning, but it works.
 
#20 ·
i find that going through gates with a horse is one of THE most dangerous times. the other day I was leading a hrose through, a gelding that is so-so on his ground manners, when suddenly he lunged forward and barged into me, nearly knocking me off my feet. I was quick, like instantly quick, to apply a snap-snap to the line to bring him back. poor thing, he was caught between his instinct to flee the large piece of paper that the wind had brought cartwheeling toward his rear feet, and his training that says do not go past the pull on your halter.

I kept my feet and he only grazed me down the back of my leg with his foot, and jostled my bad back a bit, and reminded me to keep looking back over my shoulder all the time. you really have to have eyes in teh back of your head to work with horses! (I WISH!)
 
#21 ·
Yes, gates are tricky. I will often go ride after work, about 30 minutes before everyone is coming in for dinner, and some of the mares my horse is turned out with are all hanging at the gate begging to come in. I obviously push them off the gate when I go in, but by the time I've walked across the field to get my horse, they're back to hanging on the gate. So now I'm in a vulnerable position, coming up behind them with a haltered horse while they're loose, taking her where they want to go and making them stay behind. We have definitely been in some of those "this is not safe or smart" situations shimmying out of there.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top