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Post by Mariaana on Dec 15, 2005 14:21:29 GMT 1
Hey ho, I think I must admit I am an insane person as well! ;D ;D ;D I learned to ride in Finland, and at the riding school, it was perfectly OK and even advocated you can go under the horses belly to the other side. We were also taught that if you fall off a horse, they will never step on you on purpose. We also sometimes rode the horses bareback in the riding school, and the most insane thing we did was to sit on a horse, bareback and no bridle, holding on for dear life when the stable doors were opened and the 20-30 horses all galloped into the field a few hundred yards away (I must have nine lives!). Now, every rider in Finland must be insane! And I have carried that bad habit with me over to England. In all the 30-40 years of crawling under horses' tummies have I never been injured, or even been close to being injured, whereas I have been kicked quite a few times and bitten numerous times... So, there is some more food for the thought!
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laura
Grand Prix Poster
going for a splash
Posts: 3,867
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Post by laura on Dec 15, 2005 14:28:24 GMT 1
ROFL Mariaana ;D ;D
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Post by smudge on Dec 15, 2005 15:14:49 GMT 1
I have 6 horses and I handle them according to their place in the herd if I have more than one out together. I stay firmly away from back ends if they are tied close by each other, because although we haven't had an incident YET, the more dominant one is quite likely to invade the space of the lesser mortal and send me flying accidentally they don't kick each other because its an established herd and there are no scraps or fights any more. I tend to stay close by and talk and run a hand as I go when I go round the back. I have to exercise caution because I have no stables and only a limited space really to tie them up in pairs. I do duck under the neck, and under the lead rein - but I am more wary of an accident happening than an intentional kick or shove
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Post by lucitania on Dec 15, 2005 16:52:28 GMT 1
"holding on for dear life when the stable doors were opened and the 20-30 horses all galloped into the field a few hundred yards away" Now I am no fan of the over-zealous health&safety regulations in this country, but I suppose they are in place to stop idiotic behaviour like that! First of all, how safe is that for the horses? (If my horse was on working livery in a place where such behaviour was advocated....well, would not stay there for long!) Secondly, how safe is that for the riders? (not very!) Sorry, but don't find this amusing.
I used to have the sweetest pony ever when I was a kid. I was never taught by anyone that it is a good idea to go under his belly, but I did it anyway....I suppose I never even thought that he might move the moment I am under there! In hindsight, I very much doubt that he would have even kicked on purpose, but he might have felt a bug on his tummy the moment I was under there and decided to fend it off. The results might not have been pretty....
The reason we have governing bodies for riding schools is to try and keep the sport as safe as it can be , and to give children a good and safe example in horsemanship. (whether that always happens or not, I don't know....) This also includes teaching kids and novices how to stay safe, and I don't think going under the horse is ever safe. Mariiana, if you have never been kicked, I guess you have been vert lucky. As much as we love our horses and think that we can trust them with our lives.... well they still have their natural insticts and no matter how kind and respectful they are to us humans, if the horse has an itch, he has an itch! ;D (which must be scratched, human or no human under the belly....)
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Post by jor on Dec 15, 2005 17:07:54 GMT 1
Just had to butt in again. I cant believe, wildrover, the way you have spoken to a couple of people.
People know smoking causes cancer and still smoke People also know XC can be dangerous and continue to do it People know riding in general can be dangerous and still do it. People know handgliding may be dangerous ans still do that too!
Now, personally i would not go under a horses belly (though Im tempted to go and do it several times now) I also avoid jumping very large solid fences. I also avoid handgliding and smoking. What people do 'behind closed doors' so to speak with thier horse, as long as it causes no distress or harm to the horse, is copmpletely up to them and sorry but I think its out of order for you to call people insane etc for doing so.
As long as they are not telling anyone else its a good idea, where is the fault?
Just because you do not agree with something doesnt give you the right to speak to people like they are stupid or call them names.
In YOUR OPINION it is wrong to go under the horses belly, it is these peoples opinion its not wrong, so dont try to force your ideals down thier throats.
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lovelylace
Grand Prix Poster
Always remember to ride with your soul, not your hands.
Posts: 4,541
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Post by lovelylace on Dec 15, 2005 17:36:52 GMT 1
I love eventing and also have gone under the belly of my horses several times, mainly beco I do trust them and also beco I want them to be used to as many weird things going on around them as possible, however i have broken many bones through eventing, but never got hurt under a horses belly....so does that make one safer than the other? I think everything you do with horses can be dangerous, a woman I knew fell of a horse that slipped in walk and was left paralyzed for the rest of her life, but I think it is apropriate to try to desensitize your horse as much as possible to try to avoid danger.
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Post by wildrover on Dec 15, 2005 18:50:00 GMT 1
Ya know what - I'm gonna kick my computer and then come back on here and see it this thread still reads the same.
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Post by wildrover on Dec 15, 2005 19:03:08 GMT 1
Nope - the kick did not work - it still reads the same Ok Frances - I dont really think Eventing is safe. Crawling under a horses belly is a whole lot less safe. Mariaanna - dont know much about Finnis peeps - but got to go with Lucitania on this one. Sure, doing the bare back thing is cool - have we not all done something similar at one time or another. Would I hop up bare back and ride out with 20-30 horses to a field? erm .... let me think ............. nope, dont believe I would. Jo R - I aint spoken to nobody on here about this ...... I just typed a few replies and have not opened my mouth! As for calling people insane, I dont believe I have done that either - I have said crawling under a horse's belly is an insane thing to do - do pay attention dear girl. Btw - I have not changed my mind on that - crawling under a horses belly is an insane thing to do in my opinion. Think about it, a horse just lifting its foot can do irreperable damage to a persons head if it comes in contact with any degree of force. Marianna and others say they have done it many times and have not got injured. Does this mean they will stop doing it when the get injured? The trick is to stop doing it before you get injured ............... or am I missing a trick here?
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Post by jor on Dec 15, 2005 19:11:44 GMT 1
wildrover, why how does it read? I think everyone promotes safety and realises its not wise to teach a child to go under a horses belly. Many people on this thread would not do so (including myself, though im tempted to go sit under my highland and take a picture for you...)
I still think that what the individual does with thier horse with regards going under its belly or not is up to them and maybe you should accept that some people will do this. I have less problem with people doing this than something such as tying a horse up outside a stable for 1hour+ with no access to hay or water....
Wildrover you arent any better or more intelligent than anyone else on this thread and you are coming across as rather arrogant which is a shame as on other threads you have made a good contribution.
Your opinion is just that and if you cant move on after you have voiced your opinion then dont reply to the thread anymore.
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Post by jor on Dec 15, 2005 19:17:00 GMT 1
In that case I have one word jerk.
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Post by wildrover on Dec 15, 2005 19:30:43 GMT 1
Jo R - it reads like I cant believe!
Dont sit under the highland and take a pic for me - I dont need to see the results! Sure, everybody will do as they please with their horses - they aint gonna do no different just cos I say so. The problem is, people try to justify the relative safety of crawling under the belly by using other examples that are less/more safe. It is an activity in its own right - a foolish one at that.
As for being more intelligent than anyone else - hmmm .. ok ...lets debate that on another thread... what is intelligence?
As for my knowledge of horses, riding, horsemanship etc., I have already made the presumption that most people on here are more erudite than I on these aspects. I dont know if its true or not, but I have also said I am possibly more reflective than many others and keen to enhance my current level of knowlege and skills re horsemanship/riding etc.
I say, Jo R, do be a darling and keep up .........
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Post by wildrover on Dec 15, 2005 19:31:57 GMT 1
Jerk? ... do, please, elaborate ........
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Post by jor on Dec 15, 2005 19:40:19 GMT 1
Sadly you sound like the bloke from the yard next door to me and no its not a compliment as hes a jerk too.
Id suggest you tone down your arrogant and aloof style of typing and do stop patronising people by calling them 'love' and 'dear'
i do pity others on the yard where you keep your horse (if you have one that is)
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Post by wildrover on Dec 15, 2005 19:42:42 GMT 1
Perhaps I need lessons in modesty and politeness from you?
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Post by lucitania on Dec 15, 2005 19:43:10 GMT 1
I used to ride my pony (as a kid) bareback to and from the big turnout field, some 20 minutes away. I didn't use a bridle either! However, I put a blanket on him to protect his spine and my skinny bottom. I haven't got a problem with riding bareback as such, but nowadays would use a bridle! This is however, very different from sitting on a horse in the stable, then opening the doors and letting the whole herd gallop out. (I don'tt even think that teaching horses to gallop out of the stable is wise, let alone with kids/people on board). If this is what people wish to 'behind closed doors' ,then fine, but this sort of dangerous activity in a riding school is simply not acceptable. Thank goodness in this country we can make a complaint to someone if acceptable standards of practice in an approved riding centre are not met. "comparison between eventing and crawling under a belly is not really a valid one. One is a regulated sport with rules etc, though some agree it is not a safe sport. The other is a perfectly avoidable situation where, should there be an accident or spook, someone underneath that belly could get very seriously injured." I am quoting wildrover here and could not have put it better myself! Mind you, I failed to find the sentence where wildrover is calling people insane- just their actions. I must be a real wimp then ( I do admit to being rather safety conscious, always checking and re-checking...) as I would not go under a horse....ever.....a lot of people say that it is useful thing to teach your horse to be cool with the unexpected....but not one of you have explained how you can teach your horse to ignore his basic and natural instinct to flee when scared: i.e. how do you teach him that whille there is a human underneath him, he is to ignore his flight instinct when that tractor engine makes a loud noise, and stand still and quietly until the human is safe....and THEN have a little spook. I haven't got a problem with people doing this at home, I do have a problem with people thinnking that it is safe to do so. (unless you can tell me how you teach your horses to ignore their flight instinct when you are underneath them)
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