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slinky
Bronze Member
84 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Apr 2007 : 4:36:36 PM
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hello everyone, I dont post very often on here but I am pretty shaken up and could do with some calming words and advice!
I took my arab mare out hacking this morning, we were on a narrow lane and a car came up behind us so we trotted on to a gateway and what I think happened was that we were stood in the gateway parallel to the lane and then as the car came past (slowly) it flicked up a stone or something that hit chloe so she kicked out and caught it then frightened by the noise she kicked out again!
The car has two dents/scratches in it, one of the front passenger door panel and the other near the side of the back bumper.
Luckily the woman driver was very good about it and it should be sorted fairly easily but its going to be expensive for me as my insurance excess for third party stuff is quite high and I am a poor student!
Luckily my mare was ok, a little shaken (like me!) but she calmed down very quickly.
Now though I am very worried as hacking out is my favourite thing and the thing I do most on Chloe and I dont want her to start thinking that its ok to kick out at cars, I know/think this time it was because it hurt her first but even still I dont like that her reaction was to kick! I have noticed in the two years that I have owned her that it she feels threatened her instictive reaction is to kick out - she has twice kicked out at other horses whilst ridden but both times the horses bit her on the bum first so I felt that was sort of justified? I am nervous of traffic at the best of times so now I am really very concerned! I do have a school at my yard so hacking is really the only chance I get to ride.
I hope I am over reacting and that it was jsut a one off freak accident but I cant stop thinking 'what if?' What if she does it again but this time really hurts herself or breaks a leg?
I keep thanking my lucky stars that no one was hurt and that the car driver was so kind and understanding.
Not the best start to the weekend! 
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jaj
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4324 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2007 : 4:46:51 PM
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Slinky I wouldn't worry too much if I were you as I'm sure it was probably a one off incident. A horse will naturally kick out if threatened as they don't have horns or anything else (barr teeth) to defend themselves with. If your little mare thought she were being attacked from behind then that is her natural reaction along with kicking out previously at any horse that may have bitten her on the bottom! Hope it doesn't put you off hacking even though it must have been a frightening experience for you (sure she will have forgotten all about it by now though, just leaving you to do the worrying  ).
Jen
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Kuraishiya (Maleik el Kheil/Kazra el Saghira) and Sahara Bey (Kuraishiya/WSA Charismma) |
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Grey Girl
Platinum Member
England
1554 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2007 : 4:52:51 PM
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Oh dear, what a nasty experience. Thank God the driver was understanding. I wouldn't worry too much if I was you (yes, Iknow, easier said than done); after all Chloe kicked because she had been 'bitten' by the car so it's not likely that she'll try going for a car first! I expect she kicked too because she had just been 'bitten' and the car was (I presume) very close to her. Understandably frightened, and 'trapped', she kicked. In some ways that was safer than if she had tried to take off.
I am surprised you have an excess on Third Party damage - that is pretty unusual (as in I've never heard of that and I worked in Commercial insurance for over ten years) as the whole point of Third Party is to ensure that damage done gets paid for.
If you are feeling really anxious about this then I would see if someone can come with you, on foot, or bike, for the next hack or two, just to help you feel a bit more confident again. Make sure you are wearing florescent stuff whenever you ride out: it all helps your cause.
Have a nice bath and a little drink of something, and try and relax.
Best wishes,
Grey Girl |
 Said the little eohippus, "I´m going to be a HORSE"  |
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slinky
Bronze Member
84 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2007 : 6:51:18 PM
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thank you both! I think your both right and I just need to put it down as I one off!
Jaj - I think your right, once she had calmed down she was as happy as larry again and wasnt bothered by anything we met on our way home. Its just me who will be paranoid for ever more! 
Greygirl - I was suprised about the excess too - I took the policy out when I got her and I dont think I realised at the time that the excess was over a £100 more than the excess for vets bills  I got my dad to look at it too so I think I read it correctly but I will triple check just in case!
No worries about the hi-viz stuff we were (and always are) covered in it! Leg bands for her, martingale/neck band, tabbard and hat cover for me! 
We are going out again tomorrow so I am just going to try and forget all about it and enjoy the ride - easier said than done though! I will try and keep what you have both said in my mind - as far as she was concerned the car attacked her so she will be ok with other cars. She will, she will, she will!
thanks again! Feeling better about things tonight - I couldnt stop shaking this morning! |
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barbie
Bronze Member
England
74 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2007 : 7:07:24 PM
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| Tie a big red ribbon to her tail, other riders will know it means beware horse kicks and even motorists should recognise it as a sign of danger, it may help you feel you are warning people to keep clear and allow you to enjoy your ride a little more. |
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Grey Girl
Platinum Member
England
1554 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2007 : 7:12:46 PM
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I sewed L Plates onto my tabard - you could try that too, even though neither of you are learners: every driver knows what they mean, and they do take extra care...
Good luck with the ride tomorrow, I'm sure you will both be fine...
Grey Girl |
Said the little eohippus, "I´m going to be a HORSE" |
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jaj
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4324 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2007 : 7:37:29 PM
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The quicker you get back out there and do the same route again the better you will feel as it gets harder the longer you leave it. Could you go out with someone else tomorrow? Perhaps if you were with company you might be a bit distracted by them and not so intent on your ride going ok .
Jen
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Kuraishiya (Maleik el Kheil/Kazra el Saghira) and Sahara Bey (Kuraishiya/WSA Charismma) |
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Jingo
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3632 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2007 : 8:25:19 PM
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Slinky if you are a member of the AHS perhaps you could claim on the insurance provided for members by South Essex Insurance.
Has anyone actually ever claimed and what are their experiences? |
Jude
www.auchmillanarabians.org.uk
      
photos:Anthony Reynolds,Sweet,Deano,Real Time Imaging |
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natntaz
Platinum Member
England
2919 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2007 : 08:39:28 AM
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I agree with others the only way to deal with it is to get back out there. A lot of horses would of done the same in her position
bless her. My old mare used to do things like that. Good luck with your next ride out i am sure you will be fine. |
   
Natalie Pix. Essex. Tariq ibn Radfan and Taroub |
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Goldenmane
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4964 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2007 : 08:48:23 AM
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A similar situation has happened to me in the past. My insurance company would not pay out as they said the car was too close if a horse could kick it, that legally there should be another cars distance in between.
Regarding my horse and cars afterwards there was no problem at all (I was the problem because I worried so much!) Have a lovely ride! |
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Ryans_gem
Silver Member
England
262 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2007 : 10:43:42 AM
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This has happened to me in the past in a very narrow lane when a rather large Merc tried to squeeze past me on my cob mare at the time I asked him to stop he did not so Donny kicked out she scratched whole length of car and missed his drivers window by an inch god knows what would of happened if she had aimed any higher my insurance company would not pay him out as they said he got too close and ignored my pleas for him to stop as he tried to sue me  I did have a phobia of it happening again thinking what if she always tried to kick out at cars after this incident it actually knocked my confidence a bit as well so you need to let yourself calm down a bit first she never did it again though as fortunately we didn't get any more silly drivers getting far too close. |
  
My horse is my very best friend. Nothing in the world can separate us. When he dies I know he'll be waiting for me at the gate... just like always.
A horse doesn't care how much you know, untill he knows how much you care.
~ Pat Parelli ~ |
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slinky
Bronze Member
84 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2007 : 11:59:13 AM
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thank you all for your replies!
We went out this morning with my friend on my other pony who is like a little police horse he is so good about the 'scaries'! I actually felt ok and wasnt too nervous!
Chloe was superb - when any cars needed to come past on a narrow bit I just tucked her bum into the hedge more than usual to be on the safe side but she was fine - even when a group of about 15 motorcyclists came past She even went past the horse-eating 'road closed' signs without too much bother!
I felt like she was trying to show me that she IS a good girl and that I can trust her! 
So very pleased today and feeling much better about it all as I really do believe now that she only did it because she felt threatened.
thanks again! |
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baymops
Gold Member
United Kingdom
1108 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2007 : 1:46:56 PM
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| I always try to turn my boy to face things that are coming passed so it doesn't surprise him, so maybe try slotting into the gateway but turning her round to face the cars? |
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bexr
Gold Member
England
818 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2007 : 4:20:15 PM
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A girl that rides 1 of my mares has the local pub, and she stopped off to get a drink. She was holding barrel when a jag parked rather near to her. becky said she though he would be better parking further away, and got don't be stupid, kind of response, when barrel took a step backwards, touched her hocks on the bumper of the car lost her balance and ended up sat slap bang in the middle of the bonnet. Barrel was totally fine, but the car had a huge horse bum shaped dent in it.The bloke couldn't really say anything because he'd been asked to move.
I'm sure it was just one of those things, and she didn't bother the rest of the way home. |
Bex |
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