Is putting a red ribbon on a horse’s head and / or tail indication for a horse who is horses shy?
Had a horse get run into at the last competition which has made him horse shy. After being run into on Friday dressage schooling, he Spun me off in xc warmup when a horse gallop by him to close, so want to out something on him to loudly display not to come too close. As fun as getting spun off in warmup is, I’d rather not have to deal with that again 
In foxhunting a red ribbon in the tail indicates he may kick. I have a fox hunter that 4 years ago got run into several times on consecutive hunts and then he kicked. Then last year he bucked when someone ran up his butt and I ended up with a dislocated finger. After that I put a red ribbon in his tail. I feel like its unfair to his reputation because even an MFH says he wasn’t at fault but it does keep people at a distance.
I would suggest, if you could, work with another horse at a walk, then trot and then canter at home. That way yours can get used to the close quarters at home.
Poor guy. Being body checked like that would have me looking around too. We would place red ribbons in the tail so we could have a little more space if needed for the time being, and then work at home with the horse getting comfortable again being in company.
See it frequently in jumper warm ups. Red ribbon in tail for a kicker or to say back off, red bow or pompom on browband to indicate horse shy.
So most riders understand what it means as well?
I’ve noticed lately on some warmups, riders forget it’s left on left unless called out differently by rider
It appears to me that lots of trainers don’t know this or teach it.
I was sometimes guilty of that. One of the perks of being a polo groom was that you got to play in a practice chukker if they were short a player. In polo, it’s ALWAYS right to right, even if you’re left handed, for safety reasons. When I’d be stressed in eventing warmup, I’d sometimes default to that. Didn’t help that I have trouble knowing left from right anyway. I’m really good at near and off side though!
And I’ve had someone ram their horse into mine in the hunt field when they had no brakes. Good news was that my mare didn’t hold a grudge and wasn’t hurt but she was awfully surprised! (Me too.)
You have my sympathy. I had a similar thing happen in a chaotic warmup and the horse carried it with him for a long time. I found the red ribbon didn’t really deter yahoos, but using my adult voice did (ie. “Rider 67 please do not get that close to my horse! He had a crash last show and needs space.” People will overhear you and give you more space. I ended up doing a hybrid warmup where I’d hack around the outside rail in a busy warm up and then warm up somewhere private like on the side of a hill or near the trailers - provided it was allowable to do so.
It’s hard to pass left to left in really chaotic warm ups, and there’s also etiquette about slower or walking horses to ride to the inside or outside depending on discipline; it’s just easier to use your voice and call where you’re going if you see people coming towards you.
Yes here in Europe red ribbon on the front of the bonnet or forelock indicates horse shy, I have one petrified of horses coming towards her, red on tail also just to be safe.
I use a browband ribbon and let people know verbally before we start cantering/jumping (eg “please give her space!”)
Yes, in the forelock it is. However, many riders don’t know the meaning.
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