Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [RC] "Horses that kick"

There are a couple issues here. An analogy is in some states if your car 
hit someone else's car from the rear end - no matter what the reason - 
you are at fault and given a ticket. The person you rear end could be 
the worlds worst driver and it would not make a bit of difference - you 
get the ticket. I actually think that's a good law and good common sense 
riding.

On the other hand know kickers need to be kept under strict control at 
all times by their riders and the rider should be taking measures to 
cure the kicking.  There is a shared responsibility in this whole thing. 
We are sharing the trail and we should all try to make it as good an 
experience as possible for everyone. That means all riders should 
respect the space of other horses (and riders) and that riders with 
horses that might kick should take extra steps to minimize the possible 
confrontation. With a kicking incident there is usually enough screw ups 
on both sides of  the kick that the issue is not black and white.

Mike Sofen wrote:

> Wow.  Kind of like saying, "My brother's a known ax murderer, but as long as
> you don't actually shake hands with him, he probably won't kill you".  I
> think we need to take a little more responsibility for our behavior
> (including our horse's behavior) than that.  I specifically train my horses
> to maintain a certain distance behind the horse in front of us, but there is
> no way to avoid getting "too close" if that horse stops on a dime at a
> spooky tree limb.  So then, who's "fault" is it?  I  agree with Kat on this
> one - a horse that kicks, if not curable, should perhaps find another
> career.




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