New twist on can I ride your horse....

[californianinkansas]

[QUOTE=shiloh;8218080]
Well, these situations don’t all work out so badly. I had a woman come out to my barn and ask my BO to ask me if they could use my large white horse in some of their pre-wedding photos. He was simply supposed to be background - well, guess who didn’t get the memo…:rolleyes: He photobombed every picture. The worst was when the happy couple wa standing side by side and she was holding up her hand to show off the pretty ring. My horse stuck his head in between them and I swear if he had had fingers he would been holding up bunny ears behind both their heads. The worst worst one was when they were seated underneath a large oak tree and he was supposed to be white horse in the background. Oh no, there they were looking soulfully into each others’ eyes and there he was leering around the tree at them like some giant white peeping tom. I was mortified.[/QUOTE]

A link to pictures or it didn’t happen. :winkgrin:

[vxf111]

[QUOTE=californianinkansas;8218778]
A link to pictures or it didn’t happen. :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]

I want to see these photos too!

[shiloh]

[QUOTE=Pat9;8218421]
The stories are hilarious, but Shiloh, there is something that could have been much worse…if your wonderful horse had decided to drop and show off all of his accessories for the camera. Of course the photographer could have fixed that with retouching, but it would have been a nuisance.[/QUOTE]

Holy crap! :eek::eek: you’re right - hadn’t even considered that. Thank god he was not like that.

And to anyone who wants to see pics - well, so would I. I lost contact with the girl and the photographer very shortly afterward. I would kill for those pics now.

[catherines]

[QUOTE=mvp;8218003]
Thank you for posting that. It warms my heart in this thread.[/QUOTE]

mvp I was just thinking the same thing. This kid was obviously taught the correct way to approach an animal and it’s owner … Very nice to see some people have sense and manners.

[PeanutButterPony]

we sometimes park at a local state park and ride their trails. the parking area also serves the rental string concession so oftentimes those coming to rent a horse and ride nose to tail, want to come pet our horses. This has never been an issue, until one particular group about gave me a heart attack. There were 5-6 women with 1-2 kids each, so a good sized group. They asked if they could set the baby up on one of my horses for a photo. I didn’t really want to, but I said yes, but wait for me to saddle him so he’s not so slippery. As soon as I put the saddle on the horse, they plopped that baby up there- from his off side, before the girth was done up! I firmly said I’M NOT READY YET FOLKS TAKE HIM OFF NOW and they grumbled - but did so.

I had to firmly make them back away from me and our two horses, and stay there until I say ok, and then ONLY momma and baby, not all of you. They were like a mob around us, on pavement, I was so uncomfortable. My horses are rocks, but still! It was scary. As soon as that baby was up there here they came again, pressing in, petting on the horses, people and little feet among shod feet everywhere. Without asking or acknowledging us it was child after child on that horse, everyone talking at once, me just GOGGLE EYED at the whole mess. I finally said OK OK THAT’S IT WE’RE DONE SORRY and that sorry bunch walked off without a WORD of thanks. I was shaken and anxious afterward- so many things could have gone wrong.

[Mtn_trails]

I was out riding with a friend on a public trail where you’ll run into the usual gamut of parents with kids. We’ll I like to be a good horse ambassador so usually let the kids pet the horse if they want. Until a couple with a little baby just took the kids and threw him up on the saddle with my friend! No asking, just did it. Thank god her horse stood like a rock while she handed the baby back. Some people have no sense.

[Dreamwalker]

I’ve always been willing share with friend and family and have kept spare horses for this purpose. Currently I only have one horse and I don’t intend to have more than one at a time in the future. My sister keeps bugging me to buy another horse for her 20something daughter to ride or that I should borrow one from somewhere for her. No matter how many times I say no she keeps bringing it up again. It’s getting old sigh
I had an email a couple of days ago telling me about a horse riding program that is running in the school holidays. They want to borrow my boy because they don’t have enough horses for the number of kids involved. Umm nah not happening. They had also listed me on the program as coming down to teach…also not happening. They could have asked first! Instead they enthusiasticly decided to run this program as a fundraiser and over a few wines decided most of the locals would donate their horses and time forgetting that in our farming community this is our busiest,most stressful time of year. I did suggest to my niece though that SHE go down and give a hand and reminded her that these were the people who had spare horses, so fingers crossed this sorts both problems

*although I wouldn’t lend my horse I would have liked to go down to help our community is too small to not support such things. They should have organised the horses and volunteers before they advertised and took the bookings!

[normandy_shores]

[QUOTE=Dreamwalker;8219138]
I’ve always been willing share with friend and family and have kept spare horses for this purpose. Currently I only have one horse and I don’t intend to have more than one at a time in the future. My sister keeps bugging me to buy another horse for her 20something daughter to ride or that I should borrow one from somewhere for her. No matter how many times I say no she keeps bringing it up again. It’s getting old sigh
I had an email a couple of days ago telling me about a horse riding program that is running in the school holidays. They want to borrow my boy because they don’t have enough horses for the number of kids involved. Umm nah not happening. They had also listed me on the program as coming down to teach…also not happening. They could have asked first! Instead they enthusiasticly decided to run this program as a fundraiser and over a few wines decided most of the locals would donate their horses and time forgetting that in our farming community this is our busiest,most stressful time of year. I did suggest to my niece though that SHE go down and give a hand and reminded her that these were the people who had spare horses, so fingers crossed this sorts both problems

*although I wouldn’t lend my horse I would have liked to go down to help our community is too small to not support such things. They should have organised the horses and volunteers before they advertised and took the bookings![/QUOTE]

Who DOES that? Advertises so-and-so doing such-and-such with zero input or knowledge? Brass balls!

[Mtn_trails]

You’d be surprised. My ex DH volunteered me to bake cookies for a community fair or something without asking me first. I refused and said he should but of course he did not. On the day of the sale he asked if I was going to make the cookies and I just gave him my best "go f yourself " look and walked out the door. We split up about 6 months later.

[Ambitious_Kate]

[QUOTE=PeanutButterPony;8218966]
we sometimes park at a local state park and ride their trails. the parking area also serves the rental string concession so oftentimes those coming to rent a horse and ride nose to tail, want to come pet our horses. This has never been an issue, until one particular group about gave me a heart attack. There were 5-6 women with 1-2 kids each, so a good sized group. They asked if they could set the baby up on one of my horses for a photo. I didn’t really want to, but I said yes, but wait for me to saddle him so he’s not so slippery. As soon as I put the saddle on the horse, they plopped that baby up there- from his off side, before the girth was done up! I firmly said I’M NOT READY YET FOLKS TAKE HIM OFF NOW and they grumbled - but did so.

I had to firmly make them back away from me and our two horses, and stay there until I say ok, and then ONLY momma and baby, not all of you. They were like a mob around us, on pavement, I was so uncomfortable. My horses are rocks, but still! It was scary. As soon as that baby was up there here they came again, pressing in, petting on the horses, people and little feet among shod feet everywhere. Without asking or acknowledging us it was child after child on that horse, everyone talking at once, me just GOGGLE EYED at the whole mess. I finally said OK OK THAT’S IT WE’RE DONE SORRY and that sorry bunch walked off without a WORD of thanks. I was shaken and anxious afterward- so many things could have gone wrong.[/QUOTE]

This is why wiser people just say no, to start with. By the way, whatever made you think putting a BABY on your horse, without a helmet, with a stranger, was anything like safe? I do not believe any child who does not have the neck muscles to hold their head during a large spook belongs on a horse. That means age 4 and above. Otherwise, whiplash and ‘shaken baby’ brain.

For real, people, who would anyone let strangers on their horse? Why can’t people just say no?? It would be like me asking some stranger, Oh, can I ride your motorcycle? Here, teach me! How much of an asshat would I be?

[PaintPony]

I think lay people in general just have NO idea how dangerous a horse can be.
It’s not all My Little Pony!

[shiloh]

For the same reason they would run up to my friend"s JRTs and grab them shrieking “Wishbone!” No idea if dog would bite, but hey grab it anyway! Then scream, cry and threaten lawsuits when the dog bites. :rolleyes:

[PeanutButterPony]

[QUOTE=Ambitious Kate;8219903]
This is why wiser people just say no, to start with. By the way, whatever made you think putting a BABY on your horse, without a helmet, with a stranger, was anything like safe? I do not believe any child who does not have the neck muscles to hold their head during a large spook belongs on a horse. That means age 4 and above. Otherwise, whiplash and ‘shaken baby’ brain.

For real, people, who would anyone let strangers on their horse? Why can’t people just say no?? It would be like me asking some stranger, Oh, can I ride your motorcycle? Here, teach me! How much of an asshat would I be?[/QUOTE]
Wait…did I just get my butt chewed by a woman whose own horse broke her nose and punctured her lung the last time she sat on him?

I was uncomfortable. I said yes and I wish I hadn’t. But no one was being injured. .not even me.

[Ambitious_Kate]

[QUOTE=PeanutButterPony;8220778]
Wait…did I just get my butt chewed by a woman whose own horse broke her nose and punctured her lung the last time she sat on him?

I was uncomfortable. I said yes and I wish I hadn’t. But no one was being injured. .not even me.[/QUOTE]

No, you didn’t get your butt chewed. No, actually, yeah, you got your butt chewed. No one got hurt? You are lucky, and that’s all that was. Dumb luck. I objected to the utter foolishness of not saying no to having a baby brought anywhere near your horse long before it could be put up on him. Because I know what horses can suddenly pull.

And I didn’t just ‘sit on him’. I had an entire level 2 dressage ride, and we worked for 40 minutes on his movements.
After, I took him out to the field, and he objected to some crows flying off in the middle of it, and yes, whirled, dropped his shoulder and plunged, an old trick I was actually ready for, but couldn’t sit when he whacked me in the nose. So I wasn’t just ‘sitting’ on my horse.

And I don’t let people put babies on my horse for the very reason I got my nose smashed by mine. If he can pull that on me when I am hyper alert to his sudden movements, how can I justify letting small ones up on him? Really, now.

I just took care of a 2 year old child at my job who was trammelled by a horse escaping from a paddock. The kids were no where near the horses, only on the property and the parents are very careful with the children around horses. The head injuries are shattering; heartbreaking. What happened? No one knows. A bee sting? Horses are dangerous, and unpredicable. Anyone letting a stranger get up on their horse because they can’t think of a reason to say no is foolish. I do hope most people have it somewhere in their repetoire to say no to strangers.

A controlled family gathering where people are wearing helmets and behaved and the owner of the horse isn’t giving in to impulsive behaviour by relatives and friends is another thing entirely. Assuming they know their horse, as we all do. We know which of our horse we would give a beginner ‘lesson’ on and which we wouldn’t. My horse, for example, cannot take a joke. No kids or babies on his back, unfortunately.

Just my take on this whole bizzarre thread. It amazes me the number of people who don’t say “No” and think they have an obligation, or emotional necessity to say Yes to the odd stranger. Just not smart.

[mvp]

[QUOTE=catherines;8218912]
mvp I was just thinking the same thing. This kid was obviously taught the correct way to approach an animal and it’s owner … Very nice to see some people have sense and manners.[/QUOTE]

Cool. I’m doing a spin-off thread so as to counteract the depressing dissing of the great unwashed. Look for it!

[PeanutButterPony]

[QUOTE=Ambitious Kate;8220869]
No, you didn’t get your butt chewed. No, actually, yeah, you got your butt chewed. No one got hurt? You are lucky, and that’s all that was. Dumb luck. I objected to the utter foolishness of not saying no to having a baby brought anywhere near your horse long before it could be put up on him. Because I know what horses can suddenly pull.

And I didn’t just ‘sit on him’. I had an entire level 2 dressage ride, and we worked for 40 minutes on his movements.
After, I took him out to the field, and he objected to some crows flying off in the middle of it, and yes, whirled, dropped his shoulder and plunged, an old trick I was actually ready for, but couldn’t sit when he whacked me in the nose. So I wasn’t just ‘sitting’ on my horse.

And I don’t let people put babies on my horse for the very reason I got my nose smashed by mine. If he can pull that on me when I am hyper alert to his sudden movements, how can I justify letting small ones up on him? Really, now.

I just took care of a 2 year old child at my job who was trammelled by a horse escaping from a paddock. The kids were no where near the horses, only on the property and the parents are very careful with the children around horses. The head injuries are shattering; heartbreaking. What happened? No one knows. A bee sting? Horses are dangerous, and unpredicable. Anyone letting a stranger get up on their horse because they can’t think of a reason to say no is foolish. I do hope most people have it somewhere in their repetoire to say no to strangers.

A controlled family gathering where people are wearing helmets and behaved and the owner of the horse isn’t giving in to impulsive behaviour by relatives and friends is another thing entirely. Assuming they know their horse, as we all do. We know which of our horse we would give a beginner ‘lesson’ on and which we wouldn’t. My horse, for example, cannot take a joke. No kids or babies on his back, unfortunately.

Just my take on this whole bizzarre thread. It amazes me the number of people who don’t say “No” and think they have an obligation, or emotional necessity to say Yes to the odd stranger. Just not smart.[/QUOTE]

You meant Second level. …right?

[vxf111]

PBP, I have known to have sucker tattooed across my forehead and to be WAY generous about my horses… but that was flat out foolhardy and you really should have said “no.” I realize you know that in hindsight-- but even if you’re generous and like to allow beginners you KNOW on your horse-- strangers and babies is a disaster waiting to ruin your life.

[Jumper_Bump]

[QUOTE=Ambitious Kate;8219903]
It would be like me asking some stranger, Oh, can I ride your motorcycle? Here, teach me! How much of an asshat would I be?[/QUOTE]

… Clearly you do not own a motorcycle…

So side bar on this thread, things people have asked/ or done to my bike and my never polite responses (polite responses don’t leave an impression lets be honest).

1 - Can I ride your motorcycle?
No…

2 - Why can’t I ride your motorcycle?
You don’t have the right equipment, you don’t have a license, you don’t know the rules of the road for bikes, you have 0 experience, I pay for it not you, my insurance doesn’t cover stupid, and why would I risk my bike so you could have 5 seconds of fun? You want to try it… go buy one.

3 - Casually come out of the mall to find people sitting on my motorcycle taking pictures… Ummm Get the F OFF:eek:… like excuse me where is your car… let me go sit on the roof and take a picture and give it an ironic hashtag.

4 - This is my favourite… Having a private riding lesson at my old farm that has a beautiful vantage point of the parking lot… and my motorcycle. Local hay guy can be observed checking out the bike, so I have an eye on him. By my next lap around the ring to my horror he on the bike kickstand up, bouncing up and down on the seat hitting the start button trying to get it to turn on… luckily I had taken the keys out of it that day. Hind sight being what it is I wish I had locked the front tire but I wasn’t expecting that to happen at the farm. Proceed to halt my horse mid pattern and give him a piece of my mind including “you don’t see me jumping up and down on the hood of your truck do you?”

So it goes to show… its not just horses that people do this with.

[PeanutButterPony]

[QUOTE=vxf111;8221059]
PBP, I have known to have sucker tattooed across my forehead and to be WAY generous about my horses… but that was flat out foolhardy and you really should have said “no.” I realize you know that in hindsight-- but even if you’re generous and like to allow beginners you KNOW on your horse-- strangers and babies is a disaster waiting to ruin your life.[/QUOTE]

Oh I know, I know. I was unhappy with my actions in saying Yes. Everyone makes mistakes- but only some of us are willing to admit they did, publicly

[AllisonWunderlund]

Mom called me last night and relayed this doozy…

Friend of hers owns a small farm - 4 stall barn on 8 acres. Her house is technically on the same property, but the barn and house have separate driveways. Barn is visible from the main road.

Saturday mom’s friend returns from a trip to the feed store and pulls into the barn area to find 3 mini vans, 6 adults, and about 12 kids unloading tables, coolers, chairs, etc. :eek: These people had decided to have a “pony party” for their kids!!!

The real kicker - when the BO asked them why they thought they could just trespass on her property they said we drive by all the time and don’t normally see anyone here this time of day :eek::eek: