What's the scariest thing you've ever seen at a show?

[TheEliteGoldfish]

The man who owned the horse that I rode for a while was in a horse accident that caused him to break the same vertabre that C. Reeves did. He and his twin sister were warming up in the ring and “riding mad”. Their horses collided and one of their horses landed on him. He still has horses even though he can’t ride. He can get around pretty well by himself, but has limited mobility.

The scariest things that have happened to me involve that same horse above. Crazy thing he was. The first time we were our riding when it got darker faster then I had planned. We were riding in the ditch and he took off. I don’t think he bucked, but at that point in time he was cantering sideways instead of that front to back motion and I fell off. I remember seeing his body silhouetted against the headlights of an oncoming car. He moved, thankfully, but a few months later I saw a dead horse at that same spot. Turns out the horse freaked out when his girl got off him to fix a sign or something and stepped into traffic. The girl was ok, but the horse had to be put down.

The other is similar to something someone else posted. This chestnut overo gelding occasionally had a mind of his own. I turned him out into the pasture, and as I took off his halter over the electric fence “gate” he turned around and I saw hooves flying at me. I moved left just in time. Otherwise I would no longer have a face. :-\ Darn horse.

[steelerino]

Hands down worst accident for me was @ WEF show grounds a women riding a horse in the schooling ring horse was acting stupid & backing up. He backed into the fence, stopped when his hocks touched the fence boards and reared. He flipped over the short fencing at the grounds and the women landed back first on the fence snapping her back. She never had time to think about trying to get off, it happened so fast. It was awful.

[system]

I was at a show at Madeira in the early 80’s. Was schooling indoors and was heading to a 3’9 or so oxer–girl and her horse cut in the back side of said fence (even AFTER I shouted "Head’s up over the oxer) just as My horse and I were in mid-flight.:eek: Well…my horse’s chest came in direct contact with other horses shoulder upon landing. Heard a lound crack, girl fell off and her horse received a broken shoulder. Can’t remember the outcome, but it scared the crap out of me. Scary schooling areas.

[La_Gringa]

@Chef Jade;2925493

uhhh, why am I still reading this thread? :dead::dead:

I know it’s kind of grim, some of these stories… but really I think it’s good for people to tell them. We often get complacent about our horses, and forget that in an instant they can freak out, and cause considerable harm to themselves and those around them.

We always need to be conscious of this. They are so strong and so big in comparison to a human. Even a foal can throw a person around… or a small pony.

I have a draft mare… and every time I lead her I think to myself… if she were to take off, I would have no prayer. She’s so strong.

So, even though some may be hard to read… and upset even… it’s important to know about these incidents… and think twice before tying a horse to a stall door, or dope a horse, or use unsafe equipment.

Some of the incidents granted are pure accidents, and they happen… but educated horsepeople are smarter horsepeople, and hopefully will cause less accidents.

Ok off my soapbox now.

:winkgrin:

[Showjumper28]

One of my very good friends had taken a few students to a local rated show. The one girls horse (she was a new student and bought this horse under the previous trainer) was balking and giving the girl a rough time. So my friend hops up on the horse decides to ride it in the first class in order to get the horse used to the course. Horse comes up and takes off over the 3rd fence, has heart attck mid jump, dies instantly and flips over in the air. My friend landed face down in the mud, with the dead horse on top of her. They did manage to pull the horse off of her pretty quickly but she was in a coma for 2 weeks, and although she is ok, she is not the same person. It was extremely terrifying, and the poor girl was devastated.

[Donkaloosa]

Way back when, the barn owner where I boarded and I were friends, and we’d gone out to lunch together. On the way back to her barn, we passed by another boarding facility’s gelding pasture board area, and we were commenting on how terrible the conditions there were — it was a huge area, but the fencing was terrible, and out in the middle, the posts (some wood and some t-posts) from an old arena were still standing, although the rails were long gone. I said something about how easy it would be for a horse to get hung on those posts, and just then, an Appy gelding and another horse got into a “discussion,” the Appy kicked out and was impaled on one of the fence posts. The post went up through his groin, and left him hanging there, his front end on the ground, his hind legs not touching the ground, and tremendous amounts of blood. We turned the truck around and raced to the barn office and ran in on the barn owner having his lunch with the workers. When we told them what had happened, there first comment was “Not one of the rent string horses, was it???” Of course, the horse was dead and nothing could be done. We reported the situation to the Humane Society and surprise, surprise, the barn owner was out in that field the next day repairing his fences and removing the old arena posts.

Strangely enough, I met the poor Appy’s owner a few years later. She was glad to hear the story from me because the barn owners wouldn’t tell her what had really happened, and had not let her see the remains, so she’d always wondered what was the truth. She hadn’t had the horse for a long time, she’d gotten him from an older man who had become to ill to keep the horse. Turns out the original owner, who had had the horse for 18 years, died the same day as the horse.

I’ve seen a Grand Prix horse break his leg in the arena, and that was horrifying, but not as bad as watching the poor gelding be impaled…

Donk

[LuvMyTB]

Not at a show, but…

I was a working student in the mid-90s, probably 13 or 14 yrs old, and I was sitting in the ring watching an advanced beginner lesson–probably 10 students total (too many!). One pony spooks, bucks, the rider comes off and the pony is galloping around the ring. Like a chain reaction, horses start spooking/bucking and students are flying off all over the place. The instructor and I were yelling for anyone who was still on a horse to bail off…we eventually ended up witn several hysterical kids and a herd of school horses galloping like crazy around the ring with reins flailing everywhere. Our head trainer heard the commotion and came down to help. We finally got everyone caught and the riders were okay–a little bruised and scraped–but a couple of them were really hysterical and didn’t come back for lessons for weeks. We were really lucky that we didn’t have any broken kids or broken horses.

Second one: I was the director of the riding program at a girl scout camp, and my “head wrangler” and I were pulling horses of out the field to feed. This was an EXTREMELY rudimentary set up–1 big field, 1 run in, and a big L-shaped “hitching” post to tie the horses to. These were all rented horses and we’d been told they tied, but I didn’t trust that and asked for breakaway trailer ties to use for tying the horses. I didn’t have them yet, so we were using lead ropes and quick-release knots to tie the horses to the big rings on the hitching post.

We had about 10 horses tied and were started to bring out buckets when…the tornado siren went off (just a test). The siren on the campsite was, oh, about 30 feet from where the horses were tied. They went ballistic, pulling back and getting loose and smashing up against the fence, trying to get back in the field with the rest of the herd. One of the quick-release knots didn’t release and the poor pony was stuck to the fence, thrashing like crazy. Longest 2 minutes of my entire life.

[Kenike]

@Donkaloosa;2926879

Turns out the original owner, who had had the horse for 18 years, died the same day as the horse.

Well, if that didn’t break my heart…almost in a good way, though :sadsmile:

[argyle1]

The most horrible thing I ever witnessed was back in 1975, when I was eight years old. It happened at a schooling show in Colorado. My dad was holding my school horse that I was showing that day, and we walked past a woman that had tied her horse to a steel railing. The horse had a nylon halter on, and was apparantely not tied with any kind of saftey release knot. The horse was spooky and acting up, and the woman was trying to calm him down, she was standing in front of him when he reared up, caught himself on the lead rope, and came down right on top of her, flipping her over the steel rail, breaking her neck. A helicopter came and took her to the hospital, but I believe she died later that day. Very sad…I always blamed myself a little bit… When I walked past her I wanted to tell her not to tie her horse in such a manner, that it was not safe, but I was only eight, and she was a grown woman:( It was very sad, and I still think about it to this day.

[veebug22]

I went to the fairgrounds with a group of friends in high school – we were watching a Friesian pulling a cart. He was obviously nervous entering the outside ring, and completely panicked when there was static on the loudspeaker. Went over/through the arena wall. By this time his driver is out, and the cart has flipped. That horse ran all over the fairgrounds, pulled down part of a chain link fence, and eventually got stuck between two buildings and a fence. We were in the grandstands, and could see everything. Amazingly I don’t think he was seriously injured, but it was terrifying to watch and see all the possibilities for him and others to get hurt.

I have a number of other scary stories which unfortunately did result in serious injury and death, but they’re not at shows. Mostly due to sheer stupidity on the part of an owner, but some were just flukes. It reminds me of what a dangerous sport we’re involved in.

[beeblebrox]

people over 40 wearing tons of bling and low rise anything meant for teen daughters

Seriously though

1. Kids and adults who should be in 3 foot jumpers riding in 3’3 and above clinging for lifer scared to death with instructors having to yell every turn, half halt and fence number as clients are numb with fear. I am not referring to the occasional input but every turn, every jump and what have you!!!

2. A husband in flip flops at A show last year leading wifey’s horse and it stepped on his heel (OF COURSE) and he freaked out and horse ran backwards in gold cart with the end result being a groom next to gold cart was kicked in injured!

3. Jack ass gold cart drivers who zip by babies (horses) and even when they see the horses being naughty they smile and keep driving.

[theoldgreymare]

A junior I knew was having a tough time with one of his horses in the jr. jumpers. Instead of calling it a day, trainer (who was also his mom) wanted to work the problems out after classes to “end on a good note”. Horse hesitated on a long spot, hung a leg in an oxer and flipped onto the boy, killing him instantly. I am so glad my classes were over and we were on our way home when it happened. He was my first crush and I still think about him to this day. Can’t even begin to imagine the tremendous guilt the mother must have felt.

Non horse show story…trainers wife schooled one of my horses then went to turn her out. Mare spun and bucked and left a perfect shoe print shaped flap cut open on wife’s face.

Another horse show story…horse was hard tied to dee ring on side of trailer in a nylon halter. Dee on POS trailer came off and horse ran through show grounds with the metal plate and dee hanging. Eventually it was impaled in chest by the jagged edges of the plate (actually a piece of the trailer that came off) and bled out before it could be caught.

[ktm2007]

[QUOTE=beeblebrox;2927051]
Seriously though

3. Jack ass gold cart drivers who zip by babies (horses) and even when they see the horses being naughty they smile and keep driving.[/QUOTE]

People on dirt bikes and four wheelers do this also…drives me nuts!

[SBT]

Since we’re not just talking shows anymore…

…I used to work at a Standardbred track. It was quiet, with only a few race weeks, and even those were small meets. One morning I was giving a tour to a group of Girl Scouts, and as we stood there watching from the clubhouse, one of the jogging horses COMPLETELY freaked out. :eek: He bolted, nearly flipping the trainer off the back of the cart. They went around the half-mile track once at full speed with the trainer hauling on the lines with all his weight, but there were simply no breaks. :uhoh: Finally the horse veered into the infield (no inner rail), and on the grass the cart started to bounce, bounce, bounce…higher and higher until finally, the trainer was basically sling-shotted off. :eek: He didn’t move for a minute, then sat up slowly.

The horse continued across to the other side of the track, at which point the cart tipped sideways and he was dragging it on the side of one wheel. :o This REALLY spooked him, and a couple of kids/parents in my group began to get upset. I said, “Actually, that’s a good thing, because it will slow him down,” all while praying the horse wouldn’t make a liar out of me. Fortunately, he didn’t…less than a quarter-mile later, he came to a stop by the exit where someone was waiting to grab him. I think after the cart tipped, he realized the only way out of his predicament was human help…so he slowed down and found one to get him unhitched/untangled. Ya gotta love Standardbreds. :winkgrin:

Both horse and driver were shaken up, but luckily uninjured. Of course I was left with a bunch of worried Girl Scouts, and had to play down the whole thing by saying, “Well, sometimes horses get scared and these things happen, but not very often…” :rolleyes:

[Darkstar]

I think everyone here has at least one horrible story involving the warm up rings at shows - I think thats why we all hate them so much.

Anyways, I have seen a lot of things - but what takes the cake was a junior who wasn’t looking where she was going in a very crowded warm up ring. She was “trying” to get ready for her next class by galloping around the ring, even after being told by her trainer to slow down. She decided she was getting out of control and wanted to use the fence as a stopping block. However, that doesn’t work when you have a trained and very sweet jumper on your hands. Horse thinks he is meant to jump the fence, jumps the five foot high railing, catches his back feet on the top rail, flips over, girl falls off, and horse miracliously stumbles up - dead lame, but otherwise ok. Girl doesn’t even have a scratch on here, and later brags about how her horse can jump 5 feet.

I don’t know what makes me madder - that she thought it was ok to gallop around a crowded ring and use a fence to stop, or that she had the gall to talk about the event like it was no big deal.

Unlike some stories, this one turned out ok - but in so many ways it shouldn’t have. She was lucky. I know that watching this happen before my eyes placed the fear of god in me for warm up rings. Anything can happen. I’ve seen horses flip, riders crash, and people disregarding “called” fences. So yes, be careful at shows.

[dezeq85]

[QUOTE=theoldgreymare;2927060]
A junior I knew was having a tough time with one of his horses in the jr. jumpers. Instead of calling it a day, trainer (who was also his mom) wanted to work the problems out after classes to “end on a good note”. Horse hesitated on a long spot, hung a leg in an oxer and flipped onto the boy, killing him instantly. I am so glad my classes were over and we were on our way home when it happened. He was my first crush and I still think about him to this day. Can’t even begin to imagine the tremendous guilt the mother must have felt.[/QUOTE]

That is so sad.:no:

[arena_run]

I read a story of a roping trainer who had FINALLY worked out a problem w/one of his young horses. Some aquaintances came up and he worked the horse One More Time.

Can anyone guess the ending of this story?

Yes, the trainer was killed in the ensuing fit/wreck.

I ALWAYS keep this in mind when I’m working w/my daughter and ‘her’ horse but — I sadly do not have the same fortitude when it comes to me working ‘me’ and my horse. Result. Broken ankle.

Stories like this one w/the mom/trainer and son should always be kept in the forefront of our minds when we want to say, “Just one more time.” sylvia

[PlatosGurl]

At a barn I used to board at…I guess I was about 12, and was just finishing riding in a lesson at the time. Next lesson, tacking up in the barn. Very talented, grey fleabitten mare, sour as all get out, being tacked up by her owner in the crossties… Owner went to tighten the girth, with her stirrup already down from where she I think had been checking it, and mare turned to bite her. The mare got her muzzle stuck through the stirrup, panicked, fell over, popped something, and next thing any of us knew (I was coming around the corner with my horse when the mare went to bite her owner) there was blood everywhere, and the mare was gone. Something burst (she came down and the first thing to hit was her neck and head, particularly at the point where the two join), and she bled out from her ear. Horrific day at the barn. I never do anything with my stirrups until the girth is tightened and I am ready to get on.

[aurorag16]

I remember when my school was holding a western and saddleseat schooling show, a friend of mine had entered a driving class with a saddlebred. She was in the ring and an announcement was made that one of the horses had to be hitched up to his cart in the ring because he was bad about being hitched up outside, and as this was a schooling show, it was allowed. A palomino ASB cross STUD entered the ring and he was in very high spirits. Well, just as they were about to get into the cart, the horse bolted, cart hitched up and all. He took off and ran right past my friend and the horse she was driving, which made her horse bolt. My friend’s horse bucked a few times, got a leg over the shaft of the cart, broke the shaft and flipped the cart with my friend in it. She spilled out of the cart, and the horses still kept running. Well there was one other horse in the ring that promptly joined in the bolting, and threw his rider out of the cart. So there were three horses running like made around this ring, with carts or pieces of carts behind them. Eventually the ties to the shafts of the rest of the carts broke, and the horses got loose from the carts. It took several minutes to get the horses to stop, but eventually they did, and they were all okay. The palomino stud was fine, and the others had a couple of bruises and superficial wounds, and all of the people were fine, but it was a scary couple of minutes.

[_WithStyle]

Last summer I was at a show, just watching the jumpers in between classes. This one girl went out, and they looked real good! Until he started to go around one corner, he started to flip his head, then he fell down (rider stayed on), got up, then fell down again and finally died of an aneurysm. They stopped all competition, and had to drag the horse out of the ring. The barn she rode for was stabled right next to ours, it was really sad. I had to go compete in a class about 1/2 hour after it happened…not fun.

I honestly hate watching “C” shows; those are truly terrifying. The turnout always leaves something to be desired. And I can’t believe how some of the kids treat their horses, yanking on their mouths, cowboy kicking, hitting/slapping, and how the trainers just stand there and let it happen. If a kid I was training ever did that to a horse (who did nothing wrong), I wouldn’t let them compete!