Q
SHANNON MAGEE People who let their children run freely around horses they are not familiar with. All it takes is a few seconds, and a small child can be under or behind a horse. No horse is 100% safe. T ey aren’t magical creatures. Wonderful, yes, but not magical.
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CANDACE KUDR HENDRICKSON At a recent organized trail ride, the people camped across from us had a two-horse trailer with two horses. One was at the back with the back trailer door open and the long rope running up inside to tie him down. T e other was tied in through the open escape door on the
side...again, with a long rope! Very unsafe, should the horses try to climb in, or hook a hal- ter on a latch or corner. At one point the horse on the back did play with the open door and got his long rope hooked under the door and jerked it. Fortunately he came away without injury, at least that time.
Q
HILDA COLEMAN-WILKINS I saw a draſt horse being loaded into a trailer and they leſt the side door open. T e horse went into the trailer and at empted to go out the side door, becoming wedged in the small opening. A welder had to be called to cut the draſt horse out of the trailer. Anther thing that drives me crazy is people let ing their horses’ heads hang out of the trailer windows while travel- ing. I had someone throw an apple at one of my horses who had his head over the top of a stock trailer causing it to have many stitches, and he would not ever load again.
Q
JOET A MOORE WEIDENBACH People turning horses out with halters on. While driving one day, I witnessed a horse catch his halter on an 8-foot board. He was then run- ning through the pasture scared with a board bouncing off his face, causing panic among the other horses in the pasture. Luckily my husband was able to jump the fence and get a hold of the horse/board and get it off . But had we not been in the exact moment and time I’m sure it would have been worse.
Q
CONNIE LIT LE REIDE Trail riding last fall with fi ve other girls. My gelding is usually in the rear and this doesn’t bother him at all. We were heading down a trail and rounding a bend and the others were ahead of me and all of a sudden my horse bucked me off . Still don’t know why. I immediately got back on
but no one ahead knew what had happened till we got back to the house. T ank God I wasn’t hurt. Point is ALWAYS keep an eye/ear on the person behind you or at least ride with people that have proper trail etiquet e.
Q
MARYJANE POULIN Camping one year and several folks decided to ride at speed around the campground... between trees… at dusk and getting darker while drinking heavily. Ambulance was called that night. Campground riding is supposed to be slow. Riding at dark at speed is not a particularly good idea. Drinking and riding mix about as well as drinking and driving.
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JULIE HEINZ SHAFFER Releasing a horse into pasture without turning the horse toward you, had a friend get her leſt ear about kicked off her head when her horse just play-kicked running away.
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MARK PANK U People that put the bolts that clamp corral panels together so that the bolt is to the inside of the corral...I have seen so many avoidable scars and vet visits because of such a simple fi x.. or lack of at ention to
detail...so sad.
Q
DAWN BOWMAN As a 12-year-old I would take college “kids” out on trail rides for an outdoor class. I don’t recall my parents checking on anything or even talking to my riders. I also don’t recall giving any kind of short lesson before going out on the trail. T e horses knew where we would canter and no amount of screaming from the unseasoned riders could deter them! I never considered the thought that anyone could be afraid of riding! Very hard to believe in 3 summers no one ever fell off or got hurt!! Now as a grandmother I’m very nervous about the lit le ones being around the horses, but thankful the love still runs in our veins!!
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BECCA HUDSON RUBY I found a nail halfway out of the fence where a human or horse could have cut themselves on it. It’s always a good idea to be aware of your sur- roundings; the barn isn’t always a safe place.
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LYNN BRUNET O A horse tied to a pipe gate... horse liſt ed the gate right off the hinges and proceeded up the road dragging the gate along until the lead rope
broke...not a good scenario!
12 | June 2013 •
WWW.TRAILBLAZERMAGAZINE.US
Q
BRIAN LUMBERT I saw a girl tie her horse to a trailer with the reins. Another trailer started to pull out and spooked the horse. T e horse broke off the trailer and ran to the highway where it was struck by a SUV. T e woman in the SUV received minor injuries; however, it totaled the vehicle. T e horse lived for around four minutes. T e arena has rules of using a halter to tie for a reason. You can never tell what might make your horse spook no mat- ter how well you think you know the crit er.
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BECKY RICHARDSON I watched a young lady tie her horse up with the end of a 15-foot lead rope, not paying at ention and later try- ing to fi gure out how she got rope burns and cuts on her back foot and leg! Just not safe to tie up with that much slack in the lead, and then walk away!
Q
LINDA RUMNEY One of my pet peeves, poor trail etiquet e and a safety concern hap- pens when you’re out trail riding and other riders come galloping up on you, pass and continue at a gallop with no regard to you or your horse’s safety. T is is a good way to get a rider or horse hurt. Please remember trail etiquet e and be respectful when passing other riders on the trail!
Q
STACEY KR FT I was at a trail ride and someone dropped a two-horse bumper pull next to me with two horses tied to it on top of a hill. T ey didn’t have the wheels chocked. One of the horses pulls back and the trailer starts rolling back towards the hill. T e one girl that stayed at the trailer to watch the horses couldn’t untie the pulling horses cause they tied an improper knot and the thing was so tight. I luckily had my knife handy and cut the rope before the horse pulled the trailer over the hill. So let’s add safety knots and proper trailer parking and be sure to always chock wheels.
Q
K THI TACKIT I have seen many people, with lit le sense, ride their horses in the Ozark Mountains barefoot for 12-16 hours. It is a hard, rocky ride anyway and they push their horses when they can barely walk.
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