Running directly behind a Horse 😱😱!

[StephieSlade]

AIBU to think that even non horsey people should know not to run up directly behind a horse? I came off on Sunday after my mare spooked and stumbled after a small child, and her dog ran up behind her. Child's parents were slightly further back along the bridle path. Thankfully my horse doesn't kick, and I'm not blaming the child for my fall, as I'd have sat the scuttle forward, if she hadn't tripped. However, I'm cringing at the thought of that, or another child running up behind another horse on the street that possibly might kick😣😣😣.

Judging by the current thread about maintaining appearances, I reckon I spend less keeping my horses a month that other folk do on hair / nails / make up

But that's really because patrolling the borders of my vast country estate is a full time occupation, but how else am I to keep the peasants out?!

But that's really because patrolling the borders of my vast country estate is a full time occupation, but how else am I to keep the peasants out?!

I know @CaptainThe95thRifles it’s getting harder and harder, isn’t it? Especially since the damn’ police don’t like us giving the peasants a bit of a blast from the shotgun any more.

@CaptainThe95thRifles

Judging by the current thread about maintaining appearances, I reckon I spend less keeping my horses a month that other folk do on hair / nails / make up

But that's really because patrolling the borders of my vast country estate is a full time occupation, but how else am I to keep the peasants out?!

Children do run about the place. You need to keep an eye out for them. Your horse can't be kicking them.

I have had this with people who decided to climb over into our fields and have a picnic . With the horses . One of which was a small welsh pony who, although she looks sweet and cuddly , is a mumsnet viper in equine form with a kick like a kangaroo and a full set of working teeth. I heard the dog go nuts , and went out to find a tiny two year old toddler using her front leg to pull himself up. I’ve never been so frightened in my life, and had to desperately resist the temptation to scream at them because she would have flipped.

And when I tried to explain to them why I was so upset , I got a mouthful of abuse , called a rich cunt , and told to go fuck myself.

All I wanted was not to repeat history . When I got my first pony , a family did something similar in our livery yards fields - they went in to feed the horses with a bag of apples , and let their toddler in as well . Horses being horses, started to fight over the titbits , and one lashed out at another . The toddler in between them , got kicked in the head and killed . Will never forget it .

@Middlesboroughgirl depends where. Not on a stable yard. A lot ban children under 16 and most have certain rules like not running, wearing a hat, children to be supervised, no dogs etc

Ah, @ShortBacknSides, I had the local bobby round last week, complaining about how I charged down some ghastly peasant family while they were picnicking in my forest. A lot of fuss about nothing really - the children were only lightly trampled and a little slashed about by my sabre.

He's a dreadful little man, too. Didn't tug his forelock once! I left him to the butler in the end...

@CaptainThe95thRifles

Ah, *@ShortBacknSides*, I had the local bobby round last week, complaining about how I charged down some ghastly peasant family while they were picnicking in my forest. A lot of fuss about nothing really - the children were only lightly trampled and a little slashed about by my sabre.

He's a dreadful little man, too. Didn't tug his forelock once! I left him to the butler in the end...

You left him with the butler ?

Dear me, he wouldn’t have got as far as the second footman on my country estate.

I’d have had the valet kick him to the end of the back drive …

@plominoagain, only my butler is allowed to "dispatch" unwanted guests. Can't have the downstairs staff carrying the tools of that trade. It would be a bloodbath!

He's a dreadful little man, too. Didn't tug his forelock once! I left him to the butler in the end

My butler’s a splendid chap - he has a way with him... quiet, yet deadly. Like you @CaptainThe95thRifles I can safely leave him to deal with the lower orders, while I supervise my 10 stable lads in polishing my horses’ hooves.

Whether or not horses are just for posh people, there are a lot of people on this thread who seem to not understand that many people's lives are incredibly removed from horses and bridleways. There is a class element to this (yes NAHPALT etc) but mainly i think it's about geography.

Where I grew up (and am raising my children) is a very urban bit of London where there is no countryside and where it is not at all a 'thing' for families to go to the countryside. Most families don't even go to the local parks FFS. I reckon fewer than 50% of the parents of DS' primary school class would know what a bridle was. 'Horses are spooked when you suddenly appear behind them' is just not going to be common knowledge somewhere like here. I have learned the countryside code deliberately, as an adult, because as an adult I discovered the outdoors and the National Trust and all that sort of thing - and I'm an overthinker who over-researches and typically starts with the working assumption "I/my children probably aren't allowed to do that", so it was fairly inevitable i would seek out guidance and be cautious around all animals etc. I can absolutely see how families with a similar background to me but who are more confident in their right to be in different environments can make stupid decisions like picnicking in a random field or running up behind a horse.

I'm not saying it's on the rider to prevent this, not at all - that doesn't seem feasible. But I honestly don't think people being ignorant of horse behaviour is just sheer stupidity, and some of the sneering in this thread is off IMO. It's inexperience and unknown unknowns, is all.

I don't know what we'd do without them, @ShortBacknSides. Why, some poor chaps have to make their way through life without a butler to shimmer in with their morning tea just at the ideal point of wakefulness. Why, some fellows even have to press their own elephant ear breeches and dust off their own Pateys!

(As an aside, 10 stable lads to one horse seems excess - unless it's a 10-footed mutant?! )

(and I know your apostrophe placement implies multiple horses, but I like the idea of a 10-legged Sleipnir-esque steed)

Can I jump on this to ask a question? I was running recently along a country lane, ahead were two horses side by side and the riders were chatting. They were going slowly so I was catching them up. I wanted to pass but my only option was the narrow gap between them (maybe 2-3 feet). The riders didn't notice me, I thought about saying excuse me but was worried I'd spook the horses. I just turned on my heel and ran back but it was annoying as it messed with my route. DH said I was ridiculous and should have ran through them. Horsey people, what should I have done please?

@NellWilsonsWhiteHair I don't think anyone minds as such if people aren't aware - the issue is that
Rider worries horse will kick so shouts (because it needs to be done before they're behind the horse) "don't do that!" or similar
Person then strops off that horses are out of control/rider is entitled/posh etc
I've always asked politely and explained, some boys were playing dens in a hedge and I asked if they could come out to show my horse they weren't monsters and they laughed and came to see her
It's trying to get the message across without either side being offended

For a laugh I live in an area now where horses are not common, and my cat saw one for the first time. I have never seen his eyes so huge as he tried to work out what it was and why a human was sat on it

@thatllberight just shout! "Mind if I come past/morning" or something. Sometimes you can't hear if people are running/cycling

Christ, don't run between them, @thatllberight, you'd be right in the zone for a stray hoof. Definitely sing out and let them know you'd like to pass. If it spooks the horse (or rider!), that's tough luck to them really.

And, of course, they should've been paying more attention and seen / heard you coming so they could move into single file to let you pass.

Thanks @PawsQueen I'll do that next time. I was worried that in itself would spook the horses by the time I got close enough for them to hear me- they were chatting loudly!

@CaptainThe95thRifles That's what I thought! I know nothing about horses but I didn't think just appearing between them from nowhere would have been a bright idea.

@thatllberight yeah silently appearing tends to make you look like a scary alien. I nearly went splat when someone popped up from a garden wallwith a strimmer
Horse "WTAF is THAT?!"

Excellent common sense there, @thatllberight But honestly, you shouldn't have to re-route for horse riders. I'd be mortified if someone had because of me - sometimes runners creep up on me, but if my horse spooks*, I apologise to the runner because it's my responsibility to be aware of my surroundings.

(*99% of the time it's me that jumps out of my skin and my horses roll their eyes at me!)

I mean horses are just a bit dim sometimes. Mine once farted, spooked at her own fart and then tripped over her own hooves and spooked at that

I agree that not everyone knows what a bridleway is or how to act around horses.
I do think if you are on the road or somewhere with others, you have to have control of your horse. I know they are not robots, but neither are big dogs and owners are expected to have control of them.

YANBU.
I'm a horsey person, not afraid at all but even your description made my stomach turn. It's just so dangerous

It honestly never occurred to me. I thought horses were trained not to kick. If they are so big strong and uncontrollable surely it's way to dangerous for everyone including the rider to be out in public with them.