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I agree that it was partially the OPs fault for not being totally aware after the owner warned her but I think the major thing you forgot to address is that the owner of the biting mare did nothing to reprimand the mare. This is probably a good indication that the owner also does nothing to fix the biting issue at home or anywhere else for that matter. That alone is good reason to disallow that horse from returning to rides until the owner takes action to improve the horse's behavior.

Yes, all horses can be dangerous but most horses just don't lunge at people because they feel like it. There are many natural behaviors in horses that we train out of them because they're just not acceptable for social situations. The OP probably wasn't expecting to meet a horse that was allowed to attend an event with such bad manners because it's just not something that most people would deem appropriate or safe. I know wouldn't expect such a thing either.

Any horse can become dangerous in certain rare situations but there's nothing anyone can do about that. It's going to happen no matter how well-behaved your horse is. However, a horse that exhibits dangerous behavior on a regular basis IS something that can be helped and should be to prevent as many incidents as possible.

On Jan 28, 2008 1:04 PM, <recklessheartranch@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I'm afraid I disagree somewhat with the majority on this matter.

When I'm trying to visualize the picture, I see the (soon to be)biting horse on one side, another horse/rider (the OP's friends)on the other side. All are eating. Right there is a red flag -- horses are EATING.

Then the OP and her horse came up and put herself in the middle. The owner said "Be careful, she bites," but the OP still put herself in the middle. Then she turns herself away (exposing her side)...basically turning her back on a strange horse who she has just been told BITES AND is eating.

Gosh, guys...

Bites means...BITES! Rather than mull over exactly what the mare bites and when, I would have simply taken my horse on the other side or to another location entirely.

Of course, the owner of the mare should have taken HER mare away when someone ignored her warning, and I suspect she will do so in the future.

But, in terms of education, people need to be educated about how to conduct themselves around strange horses (this includes children), just like they should be taught how to conduct themselves around strange dogs. Unless I know the horse well, I give wide berth to ALL strange horses -- both the front end and the back end. And I keep my horse away from them as well.

As several people have pointed out, horses are inherently dangerous, and we must never, EVER forget that. You can get hurt by even "well-socialized" equines.

The OP says "we weren't crowded," but what people consider "crowded" and what horses consider crowded can differ. What is acceptable "horse space" is generally bigger than people space. A smart horseman knows this.

The owner told the OP the horse bites -- why in heaven's name did the OP continue to put herself in such close quarters (close quarters defined as "the horse can reach me from here")? AND there was food involved (horse food)-- always a potenial for conflict.

Horses are large, powerful creatures. They are not toy poodles. You should ALWAYS be on guard when around them. And you can get hurt. Don't trust the horse to take care of you -- the HUMAN is suppose to be the smarter of the two.

And when the owner tells you to beware, BEWARE!

Something similar happened to me afew years ago. I had to board a broodmare and her foal at a local stable while I went away for 3 weeks because the foal needed regular attention. I told the owner, a man who fancied himself as quite a horse whisperer, that the mare was rather aloof and to just leave her be -- someone constantly trying to "mess" with her and be her friend just seemed to annoy her. I'd had this mare for several years and we had done fine together.

When I came back I noticed a large scrape on the man's face, right on his cheekbone. You guessed it -- he insisted on petting and fussing with the mare while she was eating her grain and she turned and whacked him one with her teeth.  I had zero sympathy for him. (for the record, she had never done that with me -- the worst she'd ever done was pin her ears).

Why not just consider this a lesson learned (by the OP)? No permanent damage was done, and if this is the only time she suffers a horse-related ouchy she should consider herself pretty lucky, or if there is an informal way to let the owner know that she simply needs to keep her mare away from everyone, especially those that do not heed her warnings, then that might be an option.

I think the safety of other riders at rides can best be served by paying attention when the owner of a horse warns you away...

Katrina




Katrina O'Neal
Reckless Heart Ranch
822 Estates Loop
Priest River, ID 83856
(208)265-4837
recklessheartranch@xxxxxxxxxxx

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