This is an honest question, and one to make us think.
Should we as horse owners/riders consider making a bubble for our horses and us to safeguard against EVERY conceivable accident, injury, scary situation?
I'm not against helmets, or those vest things you eventers wear, or support boots, head bumpers, etc. (I think they're a good idea!!) But at what point do you personally say "It's a horse for crying out loud, they'll find some way of doing something. Or we'll (riders) find some way to get stuck in the middle" At what point did we lose the first understood rule of horses: They are their own animal, with their own minds and adgendas, and they're bigger than we are.
Has it really come to the point that we need to consider wearing a helmet when on the ground brushing or showing showmanship? Or that there is no "perfectly safe" place to tie a horse? Some of us have these rules w/o exceptions that we feel we must make sure others follow. But maybe the events that caused you to have that rule are different from someone else.
For example: I've seen ppl on here say that you should ALWAYS have your horse tied in the trailer. But is that honestly the case, or is that just your experience? Can you back that rule up with hard scientific evidence that not tying your horse in the trailer will cause harm EVERY single time, or will it depend on variables. Another example: Someone made the comment that tying a horse to a round pen panel (or a potentially moveable panel) should NEVER be done. And I can understand where they are coming from, BUT what about tying your horse to a hitching post? I've seen more of those things entirely ripped out (from rot at the ground) than I've seen a horse pull down a round pen. Yet, I will still use a hitching post, or a round pen panel.
What I am getting at is that there are very few 100% rules with horses. Yes, there are rules that have fewer variables than most, but those too are few. There seems to be an ever increasing group that feels "you should never do this", or "always have that on", "only do this with this when horse is...", I've been seeing a lot of "never", "must not", "this is how it must be done".
While it's great that we get to share our experiences, maybe we can all remember that our way is not the only way and it's impossible to "bubble wrap". Your way of staying safe is definately a good one!! but it's not 100% and neither is mine.
So I'm going to do my best to only say "this is what I do in these situations..." or "I noticed you did ...., is there a reason?" Instead of "you should never..." or "you have to do this..." Because I really don't want to bubble wrap my horses or me.
Should we as horse owners/riders consider making a bubble for our horses and us to safeguard against EVERY conceivable accident, injury, scary situation?
I'm not against helmets, or those vest things you eventers wear, or support boots, head bumpers, etc. (I think they're a good idea!!) But at what point do you personally say "It's a horse for crying out loud, they'll find some way of doing something. Or we'll (riders) find some way to get stuck in the middle" At what point did we lose the first understood rule of horses: They are their own animal, with their own minds and adgendas, and they're bigger than we are.
Has it really come to the point that we need to consider wearing a helmet when on the ground brushing or showing showmanship? Or that there is no "perfectly safe" place to tie a horse? Some of us have these rules w/o exceptions that we feel we must make sure others follow. But maybe the events that caused you to have that rule are different from someone else.
For example: I've seen ppl on here say that you should ALWAYS have your horse tied in the trailer. But is that honestly the case, or is that just your experience? Can you back that rule up with hard scientific evidence that not tying your horse in the trailer will cause harm EVERY single time, or will it depend on variables. Another example: Someone made the comment that tying a horse to a round pen panel (or a potentially moveable panel) should NEVER be done. And I can understand where they are coming from, BUT what about tying your horse to a hitching post? I've seen more of those things entirely ripped out (from rot at the ground) than I've seen a horse pull down a round pen. Yet, I will still use a hitching post, or a round pen panel.
What I am getting at is that there are very few 100% rules with horses. Yes, there are rules that have fewer variables than most, but those too are few. There seems to be an ever increasing group that feels "you should never do this", or "always have that on", "only do this with this when horse is...", I've been seeing a lot of "never", "must not", "this is how it must be done".
While it's great that we get to share our experiences, maybe we can all remember that our way is not the only way and it's impossible to "bubble wrap". Your way of staying safe is definately a good one!! but it's not 100% and neither is mine.
So I'm going to do my best to only say "this is what I do in these situations..." or "I noticed you did ...., is there a reason?" Instead of "you should never..." or "you have to do this..." Because I really don't want to bubble wrap my horses or me.