Next to our barn is another boarding barn. The barn is a bit rundown, doesn't have as many amenities as ours, but the board is cheaper. You can see where this is going, right? I've been at my barn for almost 8yrs, and while I don't know every boarder next door, I think the longest one there was maybe 3yrs? They have a high turnover rate, either boarders getting fed up with care/management/lack of amenities or the BO getting fed up with the boarders and asking them to leave.
Our outdoor arena is along side some small paddocks at the other barn. Over the years I've had countless horses come charging at the fence when I've ridden past. Buddy and Phoenix didn't care but McKenna sure does. Currently there is a buckskin half Arab in one of the paddocks that likes to charge us, ears flat back and teeth bared, then turn around and kicks at us with both hind feet. Last week we were riding around and the owner of the horse was out bringing them in. I was trotting past, and the Arab came flying at us, spun and kicked, and McKenna shot forward like she was coming out of the starting gate. The owner just laughed. McKenna was so worried every time we went past that part of the ring, even after the horse was gone, she would tense up and spring forward. If I thought McKenna wouldn't freak out, I'd take a dressage whip and smack the crap out of the other horse if she charged us when no one was around.
I think the other horse is jealous of McKenna's cuteness |
Mom gets her horse stopped then yells at her daughter to stop her horse and get off. Daughter does and Mom tells her to take the reins of both horses while she tries to get the son off, because the horse was going to buck. Mom starts yelling at the son to get off, but he's little and can't. She reaches around and pulls him sideways, telling him to jump, and he ends up falling to the ground and rolled out of the way. Cue immediate crying/screaming. At this point McKenna shoots her head up and starts getting tense. Mom starts yelling louder for the son not to cry and to get off the ground because the horse was going to step on him. Horse hadn't moved an inch, and didn't look likely to but what do I know? Mom gets off the horse and while continuing to yell "Would you rather fall off or get bucked off," tries to get the son to stop crying. They walked away and I tried to get McKenna's brain back online but she started spinning and running sideways, so we lunged instead.
Thanks neighbors for ruining my ride. But at least all three of them had helmets on.
Wow, I'm stunned they had helmets on. They sound super klassy.
ReplyDeletehuh. sounds bizarre and super frustrating.
ReplyDelete