|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:17 pm
I board my horse at the barn where I take lessons.
Today I took my horse into the indoor ring, where my instructor and another boarder had set up an obstacle course which included a tarp.
When I tried to send my horse over the tarp, he flipped out completely, started running off in all directions in a panic. I lost my seat and slipped off, and let go of him, and he made a mad dash to the other end of the ring.
My instructor, who had just gotten on her horse, proceeded to dismount, and disappear. The other boarder was the only one who tried to handle the situation at all.
This doesn't seem to me to be professional for the instructor (who is also the owner of the barn). My mom would like to move my horse to another boarding facility, and I agree with her.
Opinions? Do you think what my instructor did was proper? Do you think I should relocate my horse?
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:16 pm
She was there to see the spook and your fall? Did she ask you about it afterward, or address the incident in any way? If she didn't, then I'd say that is certainly unprofessional behavior on her part.
I would consider discontinuing lessons with her, if this is typical behavior for her, but as far as relocating, it depends on a lot more factors. I tend to base my boarding decisions more on the quality of the care than the politics of the barn, but I'm really good at avoiding and ignoring people.
What you need to figure out is if discontinuing lessons with her, and possibly bringing in an outside instructor, is going to make the situation unlivable. If that's the case, then definitely look for a new facility. If you and your mom both feel uncomfortable there because of this incident, though, I'd at least do some looking around and see if you can find something that might be a better fit.
I'm sorry you took a tumble though. sad Maybe next time, introduce him to something new on the ground first, so that you have a little more control over the situation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:41 pm
The instructor (who's also the owner of the barn) saw the whole thing, and then disappeared without a word. I happened to drop in about three hours later, which she was not expecting, and she kind of looked me up and down and said casually, "By the way, are you okay? Were you hurt?"
As for the quality of the care for my horse, there is a problem with his feeding. Yesterday they flat out forgot to give him lunch, and today they just left the bucket of feed right in front of is stall in the dark. Nobody was around, and I wound up being the one to put it in his bucket. I almost missed it.
I'm beginning to get a really uneasy feeling about this place. It doesn't help that the daughter of the barn is in was seems to be a permanent feud with her horse.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:25 pm
In that case, yes, relocate. Sub-par horse care is ALWAYS a reason to seek another barn. You are paying good money for them to take care of your horse. They need to make sure that they are meeting their needs and fulfilling their end of the contract. When looking for a boarding facility, the quality and value of the care is ALWAYS my first priority. It's why I don't have a horse right now. I've found a few that I could afford, and I could afford cheap-o board at one or two places around here, but I've seen those places, and I wouldn't keep a goat there. The rats seem to be thriving though. rolleyes
Anyway. Move your horse. It's not worth it to stay in a bad environment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 6:26 am
Don't bother with a barn that won't treat you and your horse in any way but the way you want it. There is always another barn that will treat you better, and NEVER forget to feed your horse. You can be nice about it once or twice, people make mistakes, but if it happens more than once or twice I'd be annoyed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 2:27 pm
They seem to have gotten his feeding straightened out.
The two remaining problems now are that the BO doesn't want to deal with me on any level now and they never clean out the paddocks, so they're chock full of old horse poop, and the horses have to step on and around it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 1:43 am
The bottom line is, if you're unsatisfied, leave. Don't stay somewhere that you are unhappy and you can't feel 100% assured that your horse's needs are being taken care of.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 1:25 pm
One wouldn't keep a goat at most of the barns in this area, either, so that's why we haven't moved out yet. The barn he's at now is technically one of the better barns. We're still looking around for a new place.
Thanks a lot for your input!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 10:09 pm
Ah, that makes sense then. Finding a good quality barn can be difficult. Good luck in your search!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 1:40 pm
To be fair it's not up to your yard owner to look after you if you have a fall.
On the other hand if she was there why couldn't she have just checked you were alright at the time,Are you sure she saw you fall off??
It seems your not happy with a number of things though so I suggest that you move.
I'm moving yard this year as I have no trust in my yard owner any more after a series of events that eventually lead to the death of my horse in November of last year (R.I.P Bryer).
Hope the move works out for you x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 5:46 pm
The barn owner was also my instructor... so you'd kind of think she'd take a bit of an interest. And she saw me fall, all right, and she then bailed.
I am really sorry about Bryer — what happened?
Today nobody bothered to muck his stall, and I found hardened horse poop scattered in the bedding of his stall. At this rate, I might as well be self-boarding!
But, as I said, it is hard to find a decent barn in this area, and this is technically one of the better barns (that gives you an idea of the level of the barns in this area).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:06 am
She was brought in with the horses in her field by my (yard owner) to change to a new field. She got her back leg stuck through a gate and panicked.
However I wasn't told about her doing this by the yard owner, I found out 2 weeks later from a friend on the yard.
After 9 months and wrong diagnosis it turns out that she had snapped all the tendons and ligamnets in ehr stifle. The cartilidge ahd become non existent and had to be put down.
Apparently if she had been unfit and an older horse her stifle would have snapped clean in half crying
I don't mind the fact that she was changing field,that's fine. What I object to is not being told my horse had managed to bend a steel gate and rip it off the wall!!!!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 7:17 am
Wow. That sounds horrible gonk
My BO has been training one of the boarder's horses for Western Pleasure. Her training methods rely mostly on hardware — double reins, tie down (really tight), probably some nasty bit, and "keeping his nose to the grindstone". The horse in question is about four years old, and is not at all a mean or stubborn horse. But anytime he does anything that reflects his youth, she calls him "obnoxious" and "dominant", and loads on even more hardware and "putting his nose to the grindstone". She's been working on him for about half a year now, and basically hasn't gotten anywhere with him — his owner has already given up and probably would like to get rid of him and start over. Frankly, I shudder to think what she would have done to my horse, who likes to show off by tossing his head around, and stands up for his rights all the time, if you know what I mean.
I don't want to rant, but I just wanted to know what other trainers or horse owners think of her training methods with this horse? Having had some experience with this horse, I think some TLC would be more effective...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 11:41 am
Get your horse out of there. Don't ever take lessons from someone who employs such training methods. That is not horsemanship. If you can't teach a horse to w/t/c quietly without resorting to gadgets, you do not deserve to call yourself a trainer. scream
Sorry. I have absolutely zero tolerance for a lot of the popular "training" methods used in the WP circuit. There are good trainers who use actual training methods, rather than borderline abusive equipment to leverage young horses into unnatural frames. There are similar trends going on in the dressage world at the moment, with the whole Rollkur debate. I'm vehemently opposed to it, and there is a large international movement working on stopping it.
I do not and will not ever condone such training methods. Most artificial aids have a purpose when used correctly and prudently on a short-term basis, but it does not sound like this is the case in this situation.
Seriously, you have no idea how much stuff like this pisses me off. People like this who call themselves trainers or instructors make it that much harder for those of us with a conscience to practice our profession with a modicum of integrity and ethics.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 9:09 pm
AriaStarSong That is not horsemanship. If you can't teach a horse to w/t/c quietly without resorting to gadgets, you do not deserve to call yourself a trainer. scream
Quote: Sorry. I have absolutely zero tolerance for a lot of the popular "training" methods used in the WP circuit. There are good trainers who use actual training methods, rather than borderline abusive equipment to leverage young horses into unnatural frames. There are similar trends going on in the dressage world at the moment, with the whole Rollkur debate. I'm vehemently opposed to it, and there is a large international movement working on stopping it. I do not and will not ever condone such training methods. Most artificial aids have a purpose when used correctly and prudently on a short-term basis, but it does not sound like this is the case in this situation. Seriously, you have no idea how much stuff like this pisses me off. People like this who call themselves trainers or instructors make it that much harder for those of us with a conscience to practice our profession with a modicum of integrity and ethics.
I am getting my horse out — tomorrow. When I went to ride him today, his ankle was bloody, and the BO couldn't come up with an acceptable reason for it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
