Ridecamp: [RC] Known kickers,,,

Kerry kerrydykes@xxxxxxxxx
Please, oh please tell me you don't ride in the western US?

While I certainly keep my horse off others butts 99% of the time, there is that occasion -- particularly at the start of the ride when horses are getting jostled by other horses around them and get close enough to get kicked.  The Tevis start mentioned is a perfect example.

Thinking that just planting a red ribbon on your horses tail completes your responsibility for riding a horse that you know to be a kicker is simply irresponsible.  I've seen horses connect with riders and other horses that were at least 6' away when passing -- the horse was quite good at swiveling his butt quickly and lashing out.  Teach your horse manners or keep it home --

Kat's right, KNOWN kickers that you admit you can't control don't belong out there.  Get prepared for the inevitible lawsuit...

Kerry


"""From: Roby, Diane
Subject: RE: [RC] [RC] "Horses that kick"
Date: Tue, 28 May 2002 12:33:53 -0700

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 I have a 'known kicker' also, well actually when I bought her I didn't know
she kicked and that fact was never relayed to me, probably cause she was
never exposed to the trail ride with stupid people before.  I've been
working diligently on stopping this behaviour but I'll welcome advice from
any one who knows how you can stop this.

I'll have to agree that if a person should disregard my red ribbon and my
verbal warnings that my horse may kick theirs should they ride up her tail
then so be it.  I do everything possible to keep her rear pointed away but
some people just feel compelled to tail gate.

I'm not going to stop riding my horse on trail rides or training for
endurance because she sometimes kicks.  Personally if another horse is close
enough that I can feel it breathing down my neck, then she's within her
rights to defend herself from possible injury.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jennifer Kurtzhall
To: katswig@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: 5/28/2002 2:41 PM
Subject: Re: [RC]   [RC] "Horses that kick"


OK, I have a "known kicker." I am not at all proud of that fact. I have
tried everything with this horse, it is not a matter of control, it is a

matter of competitiveness. He isn't nasty, he doesn't pin his ears, he
will
just kick a horse trying to pass him on either side. He does it with a
"who
me?" look on his face, ears up, happy as can be.
The only thing I can do is put a red ribbon on his tail and keep his
butt as
far away from any other horse as I can.

At a ride, I do not consider myself responsible for the horse behind me
if I
can turn around and touch his nose, (and it's happened.)

If you choose to ignore the red ribbon, then you are responsible.

On the other hand, I keep my horses butt ALWAYS aimed away from whoever
is
passing me, he knows that when leg pressure is applied, it means to
swing
his butt away. He can do it at a walk, trot, and canter.
The one single time he has managed to kick a horse at a ride was at the
start of Tevis and the horses head was almost touching ME! I was furious
at
the other rider, his horse could have stepped on my horses back legs and

ended our ride 2 miles in, and he was yelling at me!

Horses who kick CAN be good endurance horses IF riders take appropriate
precautions. These are big, unpredictable, fast, instinctive, and
dangerous
animals whether their is a red, green,yellow or no ribbon at all.
Just my 1 cent.
Jennifer""""








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