Had a little wreck last night

soft rider · 08-12-2008, 10:47 AM

I was leading my horse Apache into the barn last night it was just about dark. 1st mistake i made was I still had his fly mask on, so I am sure his sight was not good. Just so you know, I have owned Apache 2 years, and I have always considered him Safe as Safe can be, Never had any problems with him.

Well I am walking up between the barn and a car, which we have done every day for the past 8 months, because the car has been there that long. Well yesterday the Hood was up on the car, and It suddenly became a horse eating machine. Apache jumped up right behind me to get as close to the barn and as far away from the car as he could, but that wasnt enough, he tried to jump over me

All I remember is sliding across the driveway about 5 feet and the hole time covering my head, afraid i was going to get stepped on..

I am ok other than a sore shoulder and hip and a lot of bruses.

What I am wondering is, should I consider this My fault, A freak accident of sorts, or do you think I should go back to some ground work with this guy?

dproaps · 08-12-2008, 10:56 AM

Freak accident. I don't think he needs ground work, I think he just panicked. With a fly mask on, and dark, he likely couldn't even see where you were.

alliebath · 08-12-2008, 10:57 AM

If it were me, I would say all three

. But some more desensitation is never a bad thing and that is what I would do.

**taelesean** · 08-12-2008, 10:57 AM

It's really hard to do too much groundwork with a horse...respect is like money, you can never have too much

breburtch · 08-12-2008, 10:58 AM

Not your fault horses spook and often times there at stupid things.
Do somemore ground work with him and expose him to all kinda of scary things use stuff that you would most likely run into at some point and use stuff that chances are the horse will never see. Walk him around cars with hoods and trunks open. Use a long line so he has room to move and you can also have room to move out of his way with out having to let him go also teach him to walk shoulder to shoulder and away from you so hopefully next time he does spook he'll go forward backwards or sideways rather then over you

Carri · 08-12-2008, 11:43 AM

How scary, I am so glad you are OK! Sometimes freak accidents just happen, thank goodness you weren't hurt.

soft rider · 08-12-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dproaps

Freak accident. I don't think he needs ground work, I think he just panicked. With a fly mask on, and dark, he likely couldn't even see where you were.

That was my initial thought, he couldnt see very well, and he new something was not as it usually is.

Crookedblaze · 08-12-2008, 11:54 AM

I'm glad your okay!

It was a freak accident, but as allibath said, desensitize to everything that you possibly can. It may seem tedious and silly when your doing it, but sometime later on you'll be going "Gosh, I'm glad I waved around a shoe for 2 hours!"

GreyDot · 08-12-2008, 12:00 PM

Wow, thank goodness you're OK! That would have been scary. I wouldn't worry about him losing respet, though, more of him having a bit of a startle. It was just a combination of factors, from the sound of it.

Personally, I avoid leading a horse between things, especially if one of those things happens to be a car. I wouldn't want to be trapped in there with them if something does go wrong. Also, once daylight decreases, it truly IS hard for them to see with a fly mask on - so that's something to consider.

I would not discipline him for this, since it really was just a freak accident, but would definitely keep an eye on my surroundings in the future, to stay mentally one step ahead of the horse, for safety's sake.

**gbarmranch** · 08-12-2008, 12:02 PM

I am so glad you weren't hurt

..

I bet he caught a shadow through his face mask.. you may need to take them off next time in the evening so he can see better.. silly boy..

soft rider · 08-12-2008, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreyDot

Wow, thank goodness you're OK! That would have been scary. I wouldn't worry about him losing respet, though, more of him having a bit of a startle. It was just a combination of factors, from the sound of it.

Personally, I avoid leading a horse between things, especially if one of those things happens to be a car. I wouldn't want to be trapped in there with them if something does go wrong. Also, once daylight decreases, it truly IS hard for them to see with a fly mask on - so that's something to consider.

I would not discipline him for this, since it really was just a freak accident, but would definitely keep an eye on my surroundings in the future, to stay mentally one step ahead of the horse, for safety's sake.

Thank You, I am a little concerned about my shoulder, its just doesnt feel right and it is doing a lot of popping when I move it. But it is very swollen, so I will let the swelling go down and see if problem persists.

Yes My husband has moved the junk car off to the side of the property, that is one good thing that came from this. And no I didnt disicipline him, He didnt even run off, once he got past the horse eating car, he just turned around and waited for me to take him in the barn.

wheresmysanity · 08-12-2008, 06:26 PM

Poor boy, i think it was just a freak accident, he tried to jump over you instead of run straight thru you so he did try not to hurt you
Hope your shoulder is ok

ahlihaff · 08-13-2008, 10:24 AM

I thought horses see much better in the dark than we do, however, maybe with the fly mask on, it impaired his vision.

There are always going to be unforeseen horse eating objects we come across or environmental things they might spook at that we aren't even aware of. With that in mind, the safest thing to do may be to adjust where you stand when walking your horse. Do you walk with your horse (next to his withers) or in front of? I think the safest place to be is with your shoulder in line with where his mane begins. Some of the worst injuries occur from the horse's head and/or shoulder. If you are next to him, he can jump forward without getting you or even if he moved to the side, you are less likely to be hurt.

Gotta Love Duns · 08-13-2008, 10:49 AM

I'm glad your not hurt too bad. I think it was a bit of not being able to see, a big ol spook and not knowing where you are.

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08-12-2008, 10:47 AM
soft rider Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: IL Posts: 657	Had a little wreck last night I was leading my horse Apache into the barn last night it was just about dark. 1st mistake i made was I still had his fly mask on, so I am sure his sight was not good. Just so you know, I have owned Apache 2 years, and I have always considered him Safe as Safe can be, Never had any problems with him. Well I am walking up between the barn and a car, which we have done every day for the past 8 months, because the car has been there that long. Well yesterday the Hood was up on the car, and It suddenly became a horse eating machine. Apache jumped up right behind me to get as close to the barn and as far away from the car as he could, but that wasnt enough, he tried to jump over me All I remember is sliding across the driveway about 5 feet and the hole time covering my head, afraid i was going to get stepped on.. I am ok other than a sore shoulder and hip and a lot of bruses. What I am wondering is, should I consider this My fault, A freak accident of sorts, or do you think I should go back to some ground work with this guy?

08-12-2008, 10:56 AM
dproaps Coming two Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dickson, Tennessee Posts: 1,511	Freak accident. I don't think he needs ground work, I think he just panicked. With a fly mask on, and dark, he likely couldn't even see where you were. __________________ Those who suffer with the suffering are dancing to the rhythm of God.

08-12-2008, 10:57 AM
alliebath Yearling Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Leavenworth, Kansas Posts: 580	If it were me, I would say all three . But some more desensitation is never a bad thing and that is what I would do.

08-12-2008, 10:57 AM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 5,675	It's really hard to do too much groundwork with a horse...respect is like money, you can never have too much __________________

08-12-2008, 10:58 AM
breburtch Coming two Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ennismore, Ontario Posts: 1,905	Not your fault horses spook and often times there at stupid things. Do somemore ground work with him and expose him to all kinda of scary things use stuff that you would most likely run into at some point and use stuff that chances are the horse will never see. Walk him around cars with hoods and trunks open. Use a long line so he has room to move and you can also have room to move out of his way with out having to let him go also teach him to walk shoulder to shoulder and away from you so hopefully next time he does spook he'll go forward backwards or sideways rather then over you

08-12-2008, 11:43 AM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 10,086	How scary, I am so glad you are OK! Sometimes freak accidents just happen, thank goodness you weren't hurt. __________________

08-12-2008, 11:54 AM
Crookedblaze Started Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,447	I'm glad your okay! It was a freak accident, but as allibath said, desensitize to everything that you possibly can. It may seem tedious and silly when your doing it, but sometime later on you'll be going "Gosh, I'm glad I waved around a shoe for 2 hours!" __________________ Owned by Rocketman, a 17 year old AQHA and Stormy, a 10 year old Peruvian Paso x Arab

08-12-2008, 12:00 PM
GreyDot Started Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Between AZ and OH Posts: 2,295	Wow, thank goodness you're OK! That would have been scary. I wouldn't worry about him losing respet, though, more of him having a bit of a startle. It was just a combination of factors, from the sound of it. Personally, I avoid leading a horse between things, especially if one of those things happens to be a car. I wouldn't want to be trapped in there with them if something does go wrong. Also, once daylight decreases, it truly IS hard for them to see with a fly mask on - so that's something to consider. I would not discipline him for this, since it really was just a freak accident, but would definitely keep an eye on my surroundings in the future, to stay mentally one step ahead of the horse, for safety's sake. __________________ ...There is nothing to be done till a horse's head is settled. ~William Cavendish Stuipid CAN be fixed... you just have to hit it hard enough! ~A rare moment of inspiration

08-12-2008, 12:02 PM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 29,233	I am so glad you weren't hurt .. I bet he caught a shadow through his face mask.. you may need to take them off next time in the evening so he can see better.. silly boy.. __________________ Quality FoundationQuarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann Minds are like parachutes – they only function when open – Thomas Dewar

08-12-2008, 06:26 PM
wheresmysanity Halter broke Join Date: May 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 138	Poor boy, i think it was just a freak accident, he tried to jump over you instead of run straight thru you so he did try not to hurt you Hope your shoulder is ok

08-13-2008, 10:24 AM
ahlihaff Greenbroke Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Western MA Posts: 3,635	I thought horses see much better in the dark than we do, however, maybe with the fly mask on, it impaired his vision. There are always going to be unforeseen horse eating objects we come across or environmental things they might spook at that we aren't even aware of. With that in mind, the safest thing to do may be to adjust where you stand when walking your horse. Do you walk with your horse (next to his withers) or in front of? I think the safest place to be is with your shoulder in line with where his mane begins. Some of the worst injuries occur from the horse's head and/or shoulder. If you are next to him, he can jump forward without getting you or even if he moved to the side, you are less likely to be hurt.

08-13-2008, 10:49 AM
Gotta Love Duns Bombproof Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dixonville, Alberta Posts: 7,945	I'm glad your not hurt too bad. I think it was a bit of not being able to see, a big ol spook and not knowing where you are. __________________ A penny saved is a penny you can spend on your next horse.