Who's fault is it?
By AnnieOakley1
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
Canada
November 3, 2008 8:03am CST
I'll give you the scenario......
My neighbour and I occasionally go horseback riding together. I own my own horse and she owns 2 horses, 1 for herself (SK) and one for her 12 yr old daugher.
She is not as experienced of a rider as I am. I have broken horses and trained them from scratch for a living at one point in my life. So I can pretty much ride anything. My personal horse, is a feisty girl, still, even at 21 yrs of age. She is like owning a mustang. She is Paint coloured and likes to go fast. She is impatient, but very responsive to commands and will take me ANYWHERE I ASK HER TO GO. She will swim a river for me, climb a mountain, go through the bush, ride on the highway with transports whizzing past us, etc.
Anyway, my neighbour (SK) had a horse before that she couldn't handle. I had got on it for her and done a bit of retraining, but it requires regular riding for a while to reinforce whatever you teach, which she didn't have the time to do. So she traded it in for another.
In the interest of keeping it simple I will give you the precis version of the incident in question.
I went over to my neighbour's house to go for a ride, at her request. I am a more experienced rider than she is and have a more experienced horse too, that will go on the road by herself (without another horse for company) and in unknown territory.
She has never taken this horse off the property yet, but has ridden it.
She ushered me into the field where her 2 horses are kept on a regular basis, as I had been waiting for almost an hour (on my horse) in her yard for her to be ready. She finally had her horses tacked, her daughter was up on her large pony, but she (SK) decided to introduce her mare to mine first before mounting. And she wanted to ride her in her known territory first to get her courage up more before leaving the property with me for our trail ride.
She walked her a few feet to meet my mare nose to nose. (That is how horses introduce themselves.) Not like dogs at the other end. lol. Sometimes they snort and squeal and act up a bit. She is afraid of falling off of a horse since an accident that she had in the past.
Well, instead of just squealing and lifting her front hoofs up a bit, as is the most I have seen an introduction go bad, she spun around in an instant and kicked at me and my horse with both hind hooves! I still don't understand how she was able to do this with the owner holding on to her reins. You have control of the animal that way. There is a bit in their mouth, you know. Similar to having your dog on a leashe, but even more control.
Anyway, when the mare kicked, since we were pretty close, she wasn't able to fully extend her feet to get maximum impact on us. In fact, 1 hoof missed entirely. But the other, well, it impacted my right ankle. I thought it must be broken. So, I walked off away from them to a safer distance to assay the damage.
I could just barely move it, although it hurt terribly and I could almost feel it swelling up. I have had horses now for 15 yrs and I am well versed on the damage they can cause.
Although I admit this was accidental, in no way intentional, on SK's part, I do, however, feel the mistake was hers, not mine. She failed to control her animal and because of it, I was hurt.
What is your opinion? I would like to know, yay or nay? Thanks for responding in advance.
5 people like this
4 responses
@CanadaGal (4304)
• Canada
24 Apr 09
I can see your point in that SK was at fault for not having enough control of her horse, assuming that an action like that CAN be controlled. I don't know much of anything about horses, so can only go by what you've shared here.
It's 6 months later... how is your ankle now?
@fwidman (11514)
• United States
3 Nov 08
While I know absolutely nothing about horses, I must agree that it sounds like your neighbor should have had much better control of her horse. 
I hope the ankle is okay! You'd need good ankles to wear the shoes in my avatar 
Hope you like this avatar, I thought you'd like them because they are red 
I hope the ankle is okay! You'd need good ankles to wear the shoes in my avatar Hope you like this avatar, I thought you'd like them because they are red @AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
3 Nov 08
Yes, I feel that she should have had better control of her animal, just as if it was a dog on a leash. Same thing. I was standing still on my horse.
Nope, my ankle isn't well enough to wear those, but they are very sexy. I like them! They are hot! They are snazzy, too!
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
•
7 Nov 08
Of course it is hard to know the full facts but from what you say, I would think that both of you bear a degree of responsibility for the accident and will explain my reasoning below.
From what you have said about her, she is a novice, therefore it was unwise of you to trust her to introduce the horses in this manner. She is clearly incompetent in controlling the horse on the ground.
Furthermore I would have dismounted had I been waiting an hour, for the sake of the horse, slackening the girth, etc.
Also, I feel you rather overstate the case about the control a bit exerts, it is quite possible for a horse to resist the bit. Having said that I am talking about a snaffle bit, like we use in English Saddle, I don't know how harsh your bits are.
all the best urban
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
•
7 Nov 08
You might try Goddards horse oil embrocation on your ankle, if you can still get it. Soak a crepe bandage in it and wrap in round your ankle, leave it there about a week. May make the skin tend to drop off but sure cures aching joints
all the best urban
2 people like this
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
8 Nov 08
Every horse uses a different bit depending on the horse and the discipline.
I ride western and so does she.
My mare uses a snaffle, but with shanks for more control and I had her well under control.
Her mare uses a Curb Bit, the harshest bit you can use. It is a straight bit, with a bump in the middle. Often a pony bit since they are often so headstrong. She is a big Canadian Mare that I thought was well broken and trained as I have seen the younger part-owner ride her and she was riding well. But this lady seemed to instill a nervousness to the horse because of her own fear. I didn't count on that.
I should have known better than to let her stand on the ground for the introductions, I guess, but she wasn't comfortable yet in mounting and I wanted her to feel secure. She seemed confident about doing it, so I had hoped she could control her. And things would have been fine, had she not panicked and turned away. She thought to retreat when the mares were getting excited. But that is normal behaviour and you usually do this prior to riding together with a new animal. You introduce them while you are in control, so you can be prepared for the pecking order display between them. That way, it doesn't happen during the ride later.
Her error was in suddenly changing her mind and becoming fearful. If she wanted to separate the mares, she should have backed away, keeping the hind end of her mare a safe enough distance from ME and MY MARE prior to TURNING AWAY. In doing so, she inadvertently put me in harms way. Since she removed her mare's ability to socialize with mine, she kicked out in pure anger since that was the only resource left to her.
Yes, I will assume some small amount of blame, simply for being involved and that I was more knowledgable than her. Every time I get on a horse it is a risk. Just like anything else in life.
But what irks me is that she has not assumed ANY blame as of yet. That will change. I will explain to her the error of her ways to prevent further accidents like this one.
And I can walk on the ankle. In fact, I barely limp now, after a full week. I seem to be healing quite quickly. Probably something to do with the active lifestyle I lead. I work hard every day and use my muscles and my bones are strong. I am thankful that her mare had such big feet to spread out the damage instead of concentrating it so no bones were broken.
Thanks anyway for your advice and your opinion.
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
•
8 Nov 08
Well yes, I agree it is good to let horses meet before hand. When I first read your account it seemed her horse spun round but now I understand she started to turn it.
Now I am a little puzzled by her bit, this horse started in a harsh bit or is it a horse that has a hard mouth from previous ill treatment?
all the best urban
2 people like this
@travibabiesgirl (1690)
• United States
6 Nov 08
It sounds like an accident for sure. The girl sounds very inexperienced but her horse sounds like a fast one also. I have though even seen experience riders make simple mistakes that caused harm to themselves, their horses and others horses. I hope your ankle gets better. I know how painful those horse kicks can be even without full power.
1 person likes this
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
6 Nov 08
I think she is just too cheap to buy the proper horse for her experience level. She doesn't want an 'old' horse (that would be cheap and safe), yet she is scared of any horse that EVER exhibits any excitability.
She was so proud when she bought this Beautiful Big Black 9 yr old Canadian Mare, because she negotiated the price down lower because of her imperfections in training. Yet, she is incapable of training it. She owns the horse, half and half, with a much younger girl that is willing to help train it and is not scared of the horse. But I don't know how much the younger girl really knows.
I am capable of training a horse, but have no interest in spending more time doing her favours that will never be returned. She already owes me too much.
My Pinto mare is very excitable, yet doesn't kick, bite or buck and has never harmed me. She was Mennonite trained, so will do anything I ask of her, whether she wants to or not. She will herd animals for me and cut cattle, too. I've owned her for 12 yrs. I told SK, that is what she needs....To own a safe horse she can trust and develop a relationship with. But definitely one that is better for her lack of experience and trust issues. The horse can feel your anxiety, too, and reacts to that.
1 person likes this
@travibabiesgirl (1690)
• United States
6 Nov 08
After reading all the post I had to add more. The right thing to do is for the girl to at least say she is sorry. Now that you went farther saying she turned the horse around that is for sure a no no. She needs to be taught how to handle those stressful situations. I think she also needs to be taught from the ground up before getting back on one.
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