Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [RC] "Horses that kick"

In a message dated 5/28/2002 2:27:36 PM Pacific Standard Time, bludoglady@xxxxxxxx writes:


> IF my mare and I run up on a "kicker" that has been marked with the red
> ribbon, that is MY fault.


I would have agreed with you 100% until last weekend.  I've always thought that if a horse gets kicked its their own rider's fault -- they got too close.  Well, this weekend I was riding with friends and one friend was off her horse opening a gate with the reins looped around her arm.  Harca and I were standing a good horse length behind.  The mare backed up and let loose on us.  Kicked Harca in the face and got my shin a good one before we could get out of the way.  It was totally unprovoked and intentionally witchy behavior on this mare's part.  Earlier in the ride she had kicked another mare in the knee.  Thankfully, in all instances other than a little blood none of us were seriously injured.  I'll tell you though, I'm not so sure about riding with this friend if she's on that mare again!  This is an endurance horse also and there will be a red ribbon in her tail -- for all the good that will do if she hits reverse to go after somebody). My goal is to not be behind that horse ev
er! (unfortunately she's a lot faster than we are, so I may have to settle for being waaaaay behind her).

Sylvia & Harca (we were just standing there, really we were!)