I’ll turn one loose in a large fenced area (right now, 30 acres and previously up to 300) while I ride. I wouldn’t do it on a public trail, not because I think it would go badly, but because it’s not fair for me to make that choice for anyone else who might be using the trails.
People do a lot of stupid things and this is one of them.
If you are riding on your own securely fenced property go for it if that’s what you want to do but don’t do it on other’s property or public land. I would personally be really poed if you came up on me on the trail with a loose horse.
Once a friend said when we rode she’d like to bring her yearling and let him run loose with us. Told her not with me she wasn’t. Dummy.
Right or wrong I do it all the time. The right answer is that it’s a risk. Depending on what risk you are willing to take,
fine but if you’re riding on public land you’re forcing risk onto other people.
Thank you all so much.
My relative knows I am the over-worrier type, so I think her reaction to that in me is a factor. Usually when we try something I say is a “bad idea” we get about two seconds into it, and she says “OK, you’re right, bad idea”. In this case I don’t want to get two seconds into loose because who knows how long it takes to get him back under lead. I don’t even like walking into a herd without a dressage whip because I think that’s pretty dangerous. Horses fooling around in horse language (bite, kick, ram or gallop into) is fine for horses but not for the human caught between the horses.
Thanks for pointing out the consideration of others as a factor. I think that will be a better selling point (to her) then the car/bike/human collision scenarios I conjured up.
You folks just don’t grasp the openess of western states. I often ride in places where I won’t see another individual outside my group all day.
I did say that if there was a possibility of meeting other riders or hikers that I collect my horses and put them on a lead. You will never run into one of my horses loose as you ride.
In all the years of letting a horse run loose, I’ve never had one hurt another horse or hurt a rider. I can’t say that for other horses that were under saddle and supposedly controlled by their riders. As I said there are risk in everything we do, You access the risk and if you can control, then you might decide it’s anceptable risk to take. If you can’t control it. Don’t do it. If the original poster rides in the east on heavily used trails, then it’s not appropriate.
Where I ride, I will see you coming a mile away.
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/Painted-Horse/Sheep%20Hunt/Sinbad.jpg
As some one who grew up in the east and who now has lived in the west for over 1/2 my life, I have to agree w/Painted Horse - the risk is pretty low in a lot of places out here. As in I’d be more likely to be bitten by a rattlesnake than have a loose horse cause a problem (although people don’t believe it it is very rare to get bitten). Not that I let all of my horses go as some I don’t trust to stick close.
I know this wasn’t what you were asking, but I have a problem with horses that are so herd-bound that you can’t separate them. 
As for your specific questions, I would give a resounding “No.” It sounds like your horse wouldn’t cause too many problems, because she’s not just ‘tagging along,’ she’s there because she doesn’t dare leave her buddy. However, as someone else mentioned, horses seem to have suicide wishes, and a loose, uncontrollable horse does NOT sound like a good way to have a safe, enjoyable ride. ESPECIALLY not if that horse is going to be running around loose and free and wild. Foals with their mothers are, I suppose, an entirely different matter.
If you are on private, safe land, I suppose it would be ok, but I personally wouldn’t want to take part in it. I have ridden in fields with other loose horses, even as many as 30 loose horses, but I had a leadrope to twirl at them and make them back off, and I knew every single one of those 30 horses (ok, except for one or two), and I knew EXACTLY what I was getting into when I rode into the same field as the herd.
My issue with it isn’t so much the open land, it’s the control factor. When ponying, you can pull the horse’s head towards you and not get kicked. If the horse is loose and tears off and gives an exhuberant kick, you can get hurt or the horse you are on can get hurt or spooked. The loose horse can also come tearing by you and cause the same issues by throwing a kick or startling your horse. Yes, these things can happen when riding in a group too, but at least in that case most people can control thier horses.
I love both these things and now I’m just not shore which one should I choose …
Actually, I do since I ride in your neighborhood.
To be sure, there are spots out in the desert where what you say is true. And sure, in such places you can see folks coming and get leads on in plenty of time. On the other hand, I’ve encountered loose horses in Dimple Dell, Corner Canyon, and up at Bench Creek. With owners denying requests to put their horses on leads. Totally unacceptable. Not to mention illegal- just like dogs running loose.
[QUOTE=witherbee;5549060]
My issue with it isn’t so much the open land, it’s the control factor. When ponying, you can pull the horse’s head towards you and not get kicked. If the horse is loose and tears off and gives an exhuberant kick, you can get hurt or the horse you are on can get hurt or spooked. The loose horse can also come tearing by you and cause the same issues by throwing a kick or startling your horse. Yes, these things can happen when riding in a group too, but at least in that case most people can control thier horses.[/QUOTE]
You obviously need to be able to control the horse you are riding. My son, eight at the time, rode his pony with our younger mare loose on a regular basis (with me on my mare as well). The horses being ridden were use to the youngster’s antics, and the youngster knew to stay out of our space with her antics. It was a non-issue. It might not be a great idea on a green or spooky horse, but that doesn’t mean it is a problem with most good horses.
When both were rideable, yeah the first thing the stable did was separate them. I agree with you but they are now both older gentlemen retired for 16 years together (the one I used to ride in an arena 10 feet away the other), have been living in each other’s pockets for 16 years, grabbing the remote, eating the last bite of the others creme donut, arguing and flipping their nose under the other’s tails (!). Don’t mess with the seniors - they older and more cunning and they’ve got my number down pat.:lol:
" On the other hand, I’ve encountered loose horses in Dimple Dell, Corner Canyon, and up at Bench Creek. "
Bev, as I mentioned, “if there is the possibility of running into other horses or hikers” I put a lead on my horses. Dimple Dell, Bonneville shore line trail, Antelope island are all high use trails. I would never have a loose horse on those or similair trails.
Just like most things in life, There are idiots out there who don’t know when something is or is not appropriate. Their stupid actions Dimple Dell doesn’t mean that action is wrong at all times in all places.
I’m with Painted Horse. It is so common out here that it doesn’t even make me raise an eyebrow. We’re very open and don’t really have proper trails so the few times I have “run into” people with loose horses it’s usually a couple of miles away and we avoid each other or they catch them. It’s really only been 2-3 times that I’ve even come across that, even though I know many of my friends do it regularly. And I do a ton of trail riding, I’m typically out for a minimum of 2-3 hours a day so it’s not like I’m just not out there to see it.
OTOH, I would never ever do it in a situation like yours, OP. That’s just asking for trouble. Not to mention you shouldn’t do something you’re uncomfortable with anyway. So tell your relatives that even those of us who don’t have a problem with the idea of it think it is too dangerous in your situation. 
Whoa, easy there now! I was not being critical of you or anyone else. Simply responding to the OP’s question. We both know we have spots where there isn’t a soul for miles. But as a practical matter most folks don’t have the same luxury. And I do ‘in general’ feel pretty strongly about it as a result for reasons stated.
As someone else noted, it’s more the
‘my horse is well behaved’ justification (or maybe syndrome), like folks who let their ‘well behaved’ dogs loose. A friend of mine got dumped a few weeks ago when one of those ‘well behaved’ dogs attacked his horse. Happily no major injuries to him or his horse.
Another issue out here in the wild and wooly west, for me, is the nearby location (as in my front yard on occasion) of mustang herds including a bachelor stallion herd. It is hard enough to ride out on a saddled horse under control when these guys are around. Letting a loose horse out too would be asking for major problems…if a mare they will try to run her off into their own herd (if they have one) or to gather her up to MAKE a herd for themselves… and they are not adverse to challenging a stallion if I try to ride one of the boys out. Riding an in-season mare can be a nightmare. Fortunately I can usually spot them far enough away to keep out of range but this isn’t always the case and having to fend off a loose, amorous mustang while riding is NOT fun.
Probably not a problem in the eastern 2/3 of the country.
Colored, I was going to mention that and it slip my train of thought. I had to help a lady once who’s mare got stolen by a mustang and added to his band. She had pulled off the interstate to take a short nap because she got tired and had had gotten her mare out of the trailer to stretch.
Trying to chase down and cut your mare out of band of wild horses is a serious challenge, Not to mention trying to explain to the BLM why you were harassing protected wild mustangs.
I would only say go for it if you have the space like PaintedHorse. Otherwise, I agree with the other posters. Too many variables and too many opportunities for disaster. It’s great that your two horses have bonded so closely, but I definitely agree that there’s nothing wrong with ponying the tag-along. The horses will enjoy the outing just as much because ultimately what they care about is being together.
One of my special memories is taking my mare and her suckling riding for several days on a large ranch. I have an inner cowboy… We were a few friends and the little one came along learning all there is to learn how to manage steep terraine, be cheeky to cows and to stop in front of her mama under the reins so she could have a drink. She was black and had this adorable milk moustachio.
Nobody minded, nobody got hurt, nobody paniced.
As usual it depends. Use your head and common sense.
Funily enough, in our riding park, there are signs to tell you to leash your dog, but not your horse…go figure.
Ah, the voice of reason. Nice to hear.
I sometimes wonder where people get their ‘all or nothing’ mentalities. I’ve ridden in arenas with a loose horse. My choice. No one else was there and my mare’s best buddy would be spending a day in the stall if I didn’t get him out. I didn’t always have time to work my mare and get him out afterwards, especially at night in the winter when they couldn’t go outside. It was a pain having him in there, but I’d rather do that than leave him standing in his stall. It was a judgement call on my part and it worked well the few times I did it.
I think it would be awesome to be able to ride and take the loose herd with me :yes:. I just don’t live in a part of the country where that is feasible.
As far as our trails are concerned, once in a while a loose foal follows mama down trail. Everyone gets a kick out of it and we all move off the trail and wait in the trees till they pass. No one minds because the owner is caring for the mare and the foal. We also move off the trail when the city folks on the rental horses ride by. We don’t want any accidents. The most dangerous thing in our park? Newbies on horses, owned or rented. We all cringe at the thought of a beginner out by themselves and usually solve the problem by offering to ride with them and teach them the ropes.
Common sense and common courtesy. It solves a whole lot of problems.
