Re: RE: Re: Castle Rock Ride/dogs

["Tracey" <tracey@tbt.co.za>]

You try and explain to a biker why it is better for his bike to be moving
than simply lying in the grass!  For some reason, Toc doesn't mind anything
moving (not ANYTHING), but if something is just lying there, lurking, it
must be about to pounce on him.  His instinctive reaction is to stomp on it,
which can be very embarrassing : me trying to hold back a rearing, stomping
horse, yelling to a biker, "Pick up your bike, before he kills it!"

>I take it upon myself to talk to the bikers and get
>their attention and explain to them that it can be
>hard for us to control our horse's instincts, when
>something silent and fast comes our way and that
>simply talking to us lets our mounts know that they
>are people and not to worry.  This helps.  Don't be
>shy.  Horse related accidents, as a result of bikers
>ignorance, are not pretty and there is a liability
>involved.
>