[horseluver2435]

So Rainy is so not a lesson horse. I was at the barn tonight, cleaning stalls. The basic lesson instructor (there's one instructor who does show team lessons and the other teaches the basic lesson- they're sisters, BTW) arrives a little late, and I said hello, continued on my mucking, etc. Well, she and one of the students, who is in college, very advanced in riding, but chose not to ride on show team (not interested in showing) started talking, along with another 'helper' (somewhat instructor, teaches the younger students). They brought up the lesson from the night before, and Sarah, the instructor, calls me over.
Her: "Hey, just wanted to say that I used Rainy in lessons last night."
Me: "Oh, okay."
Her: "Yeah, she was in a really fiery mood."
Me: (nodding, I know my horse.) "Yeah, she gets like that."
Her: "I had [insert child's name here] on her, since she owns [insert rambuncious horse's name here]. I thought she'd be okay."
Me: (gulp)
Her: "Rainy was so fired up though! She wasn't listening, or doing what she wanted- when she went over the ground poles she was going crazy!"
Me: "Um...yeah. She gets that way over poles, she loves them..."
Her: "Yeah, she even started cantering! I was like, 'Okay, bring her down, bring her down!'
Me: (gulp 2)
Her: "And then she did a little buck...[insert child's name here] rode it out though, I was like, 'Yeah...that was a buck!'
Me: hehehehehe....(dying inside) she's a hyper horse... (awkward shuffle back to the stall I was cleaning)

Anyway, that's my embaressing story. She's really fine for lessons, just not the level she was used in. *sigh* And she was in a bad mood, obviously.
Cookies for anyone who got through that, and any embaressing stories from you all?

 

[LIKKERMERCHANT]

if shes not a lesson horse why can they use her without asking,i wouldnt be embarrassed I would be mad

 

[RadHenry09]

I dont think I would be happy if someone used my horse for a lesson without my say so. Is this something that is common among barns?

 

[Painted Hotrod]

I would be angry that they used my horse without my permission!
Rainy could have been injured, the child could have been injured.
The parents could have tried to sue you if their child was injured on your horse, and it wouldn't have even been your fault, or once again caused Rainy to get injured!

This isn't your fault at all, I wouldn't be embarrassed at all.
I would be pretty irrate about this.

Oh!
Also, I would be swelled up with pride within myself, because I can handle this horse while some people can't.. hahahaha:twisted:

 

[AlmostThere]

I would be angry that they used my horse without my permission!

I got the impression from the original post that since she was working at the barn there was some sort of agreement in place that they could use Rainy for lessons if they needed/wanted to.

OP - Sorry the lesson did not go well. Try not to be embarrassed; if that's how your horse is, that's how your horse is. Maybe you should have a talk with the instructors to ensure they use Rainy with more appropriate levels of lessons in the future (assuming they have your consent to use her at all).

 

[Allison Finch]

Geeeze!! How is the potential liability issues worked out? I would be terrified to have my horse used like that just due to the liability. YOU may be held responsible for injuries done by your horse.

 

[HorsePride]

*Speechless* lots of emotions...

 

[LoveStory10]

I think it is really not good she used your horse, no matter if the girl was a good rider, even she could have gotten hurt, then the parents would blame YOU.

Dont be embarresed though, your horse is like that, thats how she is. If the other people cant handle her, they shouldnt ride her. =)

 

[wintec]

At my old barn loads of people let the instructer use there horse for lessons. I cut down on board and saves you some cash. I am sure thats what this situation was all about. As long as the child signed the release papers there probably wouldn't have been to big of a problem, you need to know the risks before hoping on any horse.

Anyways, sorry to hear that you were embarrassed. I would just laugh it off seeing that the instructer and you should know how your horse behaves and she was just being her "excited" self. She sounds like a fun ride to me. Good luck with her in the future.

 

[horseluver2435]

Wintec's got it right. Rainy's used for lessons and it takes out a portion of our board. I work off more of it by mucking. It's totally up to them which lessons to use her in, but seeing as she's 4, and very green, I assumed they would only use her for much more advanced lessons.

 

[AlmostThere]

It sounds like the instructor is the one who should be embarrassed for doing such a poor job of matching student to horse.

 

[farmpony84]

When one of my horses was in training my instructor used him for lessons here and there. I didn't care. The liabilty would have fallen under her at that point as she had charge of him for training purposes. My mare was boarded there for $150 per month discount but was used for lessons a couple times a month (I didn't have room for her yet when we bought her). I didn't mind. I think it's good for a horse to be ridden by more then one person. Especially under the watchful eye of an experienced instructor.

Sorry your horse was naughty! It's times like these they make you... *gulp* proudest!

 

[iridehorses]

I agree with AlmostThere. Do you have any kind of contract with the barn spelling out how your horse is to be used, when and how much he is being used, whose tack is used, and how your horse is warmed up before being ridden?

 

[horseluver2435]

Not exactly- she has a lesson saddle that fits her, and a bridle that does as well which both belong to the barn. I really don't mind as far as the other stuff goes- the instructor wouldn't let anyone be irresponsible on her, and the only reason she did so badly was because she was in a crap mood, one where she needs someone like me (someone who's used to dealing with her), not a kid.

 

[farmpony84]

Not exactly- she has a lesson saddle that fits her, and a bridle that does as well which both belong to the barn. I really don't mind as far as the other stuff goes- the instructor wouldn't let anyone be irresponsible on her, and the only reason she did so badly was because she was in a crap mood, one where she needs someone like me (someone who's used to dealing with her), not a kid.

.....Mares.....

 

[horseluver2435]

Exactly. *eyeroll* They're all in heat right now, which contributed to her crap mood, no doubt. Mares, so moody, yet we love them anyway.