And yes, MOST of our snakes are quite poisonous, but not all. Luckily, most of our snakes are also quite shy, and don't really lie around in wait disguised as sticks. In fact, in the past 8 years I would say I've seen a grand total of 5 snakes on the trails.... and maybe about another 5 dead on the roads too. So don't let our snake population hinder your plans to ride in Australia.... we'd love to show all you snake-phobics our other wildlife as well!
This mare was raised in particularly rough country, and I'd say the 'snake reflex' was something her mother instilled in her as a baby.
Rattlesnakes? Thank goodness we don't have them here!! When I read the suggestion to keep a 6 inch length of garden hose in your saddlebag in order to clear the airways of a horse bitten on the nose by a rattlesnake, I really freaked! WOW!
From: bigcreekranch@xxxxxxxxxxxx To: splendacrest@xxxxxxxxxxx; ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [RC] Snake sticks Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:25:25 -0800
One of our daughters traveled to Australia in the 1980s. She came home with the information that EVERY snake in Australia is poisonous. Your mare is very smart to spook at snakes, a whole lot more informed than a gelding of mine who was bitten on the pastern by a rattlesnake here and has never been the same since. Before that snake bite he was on his way to being an excellent endurance horse.
Barbara
Who met you, Jay, at a "Ridecamp" breakfast at last year's AERC convention
That's hilarious! I have a mare who thinks EVERY stick on the ground is a snake... year round! It's particularly hilarious when I'm not riding her! hahaa
But really, she is so spooked at sticks that one time I actually got nauseous riding her... she was shying and baulking and going sideways so often I got seasick! We have one training trail that travels through a large area of eucalyptus trees (known for their shedding behaviour), and every piece of bark, branch, etc, is a potential horse-eating snake that is sure aiming at her legs.... it makes for an interesting ride.
