RE: bikes and kids

["Kerry Dykes" <KDykes@cpes.com>]

That (kids and bikes) was the ONLY fly in the ointment at last weekends Mt.
Laguna ride.  Dogs were not a problem.  Mine was tied to a tree approx. 8
feet from the door to the trailer.  She's an Aussie and absolutely
protective of her "space".  The truck was parked about 4 feet the other side
of the tree, so her territory was about 12' x 30', it was our "sitting
room".  Even though there was plenty of open space on the back side of the
trailer and the back side of the truck, kids would race through between
where we were sitting (under the tree) and the trailer repeatedly, coming
less than 3' from one of our horses that is "somewhat" excitable and hadn't
been on a ride in over a year.  Talk about an accident waiting to happen,
the dog was growling and barking and understandably upset every time the
kids raced through between her and "her" trailer, riding over her tie rope.
The horse was bouncing around and kicking out from nerves......

Other times people just walked through right next to her ignoring her growl
and bark, right into our "living room".  One time I had to ask a woman who
was carrying a small child to wait until I got hold of the dog.  She just
looked at me without saying a word and kept walking into the dogs "space",
and I had to make a lunge for the dog as the dog went for her toes.  She
didn't say a word, just kept walking by right up to and past the front door
of the trailer -- behind the very upset arabs back legs.  Duh!

Kerry



-----Original Message-----
From: Paddi [mailto:seamstob@telusplanet.net]
Sent: Friday, June 16, 2000 11:57 AM
To: ridecamp
Subject: RC: bikes and kids


In answer to Teddy
We haven't had a bike problem at the rides. The horses up here don't
seem to mind them.
I put on a 100 mile no other distance race so there was not many kids
arround.
At the Pan ams we did not allow bikes any where near the vet area ect.
In fact management talked to the parents and told them to keep the kids
at their camp unless they were with them.
Since we meet bikes on trails all the time I think for safety find a
friend to ride a bike and get your horse used to them. My mare used to
want to kill them after riding with my son as a partner she now calls to
bikes and wants to catch up to them.
At home in a safe situation introduce your horse to everything you might
encounter at a ride.
 ( I still haven't figured out how to get a bear in the yard)
If the kids are under control of an adult at all times they aren't
riding all over the place spooking horses.
Ride management just needs to be firm with insisting the rules be
followed.
I have found that the parents of kids are great if approached and asked
to keep kids , dogs , bikes and mother in laws under control. :-D
The kids are  used to horses and will do as asked if you take the time
to talk to them. If they don't then talk to the parents. If they don't
then give them a refund and show them the way out.
You will only have to do it once.
There are those who always figure you mean everyone but them.
Paddi








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