Conference noted::equitation

    Hi Jane.
    
    I have gone through this at public barns.  At the stables on the Marine
    base you have to have liability insurance for your horse in case he
    hurts someone or the property.  Children under the age of 9years must
    be with an adult at all times and are not allowed to ride outside of
    the riding rings or alone in the rings.  An adult or instructer must be
    *in* the ring at all times.  *All* Children under the age of 18 must
    wear a helmet.
    
    When I boarded at a private stable in 29 palms I just had to make sure
    that my son was being watched at all times.  The gal that ran the place
    had us sign a waiver and contract that stated we took all resposibility
    for ourselves and our horses.  We also had to carry liability insurance
    on the horses.  She didn't have any rules about helmets or age. (The
    other people that boarded there surely had an opinion or two.)
    
    The woman at your barn sounds like she has really had a bad time of it. 
    I myself have had a few wrecks on horses and have learned from them but
    I don't think it has ever made me parinoid.  She does sound a bit on
    the extream side.  
    
    Virginia

    
    If you are paying for daily turnout, and your horse is not
    getting it, I suggest you speak up, or consider moving
    your horse.  The woman had a bad accident, and I can sympathize,
    but it has left her unwilling, and maybe even unable to take care 
    of the boarders in the way which she used to.(?)    
    
    In regards to your daughter, I think she was over-reacting due to
    her accident, but she has the right to limit the riders to the
    immediate owner only.  Did you have a helmet on your daughter?  
    
    However, when I lease a horse, part of the wording in the contract 
    says that *only* the leasee can ride the horse.
    This is to keep someone from using the horse as a *pony* for rides,
    and for safety reasons. 

    Could be just the woman's personality and have n othing to do with her
    accident.  Why would a riding accident keep you from turning your horse
    out!!  
    
    Good luck...
    
    Caryl

    I've only boarded at two barns, for short periods of time, beyond that
    I've had my horses at home. But at both the boarding barns, they had
    a rule that allowed anyone to ride the owners horse with the owner
    present. NO one was allowed to even handle the horse (except the barn
    help, of course) without the owner in attendance. In one of the barns,
    a liability release was required by anyone riding, even in the presence
    of the owner, but neither in any way attempted to restrict the owner
    for choosing who rode the horse. One required a helmet for all riders,
    the other didn't require one for anyone at all. Personally, I feel the
    owner has the right to choose who rides, especially your own child!,
    not the barn owner, but that's just my opinion. Perhaps you could have 
    a friendly chat with the woman about your daughter riding?? 
    It seems a shame to restrict a little girl from getting a feel for 
    riding if she enjoys it.
    
    Does your horse not get turned out because of the woman being afraid to
    take him out?? THAT sounds like a dangerous situation...what if
    something happens when you are not around and she is forced to deal
    with him? If she's frightened, and he's frightened by some unforeseen
    situation....sounds like an accident waiting to happen.
    
    

    At my stables I had to sign a contract excepting full liability for any
    damage that my horse does.  Also, the stable people don't do anything
    with the horse.  They feed twice a day and clean daily.  Any turn outs
    are my responsibility, as a result, if I can't get down to the stable,
    I can have someone turn 'CJ' out for me.  We all take turns caring for
    other peoples horses when vacation time comes around.
    
    As for riding, it sounds like this lady is afraid of the horses
    completely.  I feel no one has the right to tell me who can ride my
    horse.  Its like telling me no one else can drive my car but me.
    Horses can sense when someone is afraid of them and that would explain
    why they act funny when around her.  I would have a chat with her and
    if things cannot be resolved I would be looking for a new barn.
    
    linda

    If the horse is in her barn, which it is, she may have the right to
    tell you who can ride it.  I'm not saying that I think some of her
    actions/reactions are correct, but it is her barn, her ring after all.
    An example comes to mind at the barn I ride at.  Someone owns a horse
    there and while it's a nice horse, he's also quite willful, not mean
    but very willful.  He also knows how to drive.  This person told the
    trainer that they want to start driving the horse, and the trainer has
    refused (he's also training it for them) to let them on his property,
    because he told them that someone is going to get hurt.  He drives him,
    but he won't let the owner because they aren't experienced enough. 
    However the owner thinks they are.  Since I'm not involved with this
    horse in anyway and have seen him ride many times - I just don't want
    to be around when they drive it and not the trainer.  In this case, I
    really agree with the trainer.  I'd hate to be in the show ring when
    this horse comes in and decides to do what he wants.  Since he already
    does what he wants when riding!
    
    The point is that if they want to drive their horse, the owner has told
    them what to do - not on his property.  No doubt they and you will have
    to pull your horse out of the stable if you don't see eye to eye with
    the trainer/owner.
                                   

    
    Thanks for the replies.  This is how I feel about the situation
    also.  I am in the process of trying to get him out of there
    before he starts cribbing or wind sucking.  At this time he has
    no vices.  
    I'm actually finding myself not seeing him as much due to the way
    she speaks to me, and treats me.  She watches and follows me
    everywhere I go and do.  It drives me crazy.  I even notice my
    quarter horse acts up when she's around him.  
    Sometimes I feel like she's jealous because I'm doing a lot with
    my 3 year old, and she just has her trainer work her two 3's that
    she has.  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
      

    I guess you ultimate choice is to either move your horse, try to change
    her opinion/fears, or work with your present condition.  You didn't say
    but it sounds like you were not at the barn before she had the
    accident.  If you weren't try to find someone that knew her before the
    accident.  Find out what you can do to work with this person's fears. 
    I have had a few interesting accidents-including I rearing up and over
    incidents (when I thought I was the great rider)-fortunately I survived
    with only a few scrapes/bumps- mostly my ego took the worst beating. 
    
    When I was a teenager-after training in Europe for 3 years- a military
    stables I was riding at asked me how many times I had fallen off- I
    said about 5 times in 3 years.  They told me I needed to learn how to
    fall off, and I said I thought the game was not to fall off.  They said
    yes but you seem to like the crazy horses- I admitted yes.  So they put
    me on ponies- very adept on getting rid of anyone.  So I eventually
    learned (most of the time) to fall.  
    
    I am not sure how we would ever train that today- with all the
    hungry/greedy/corrupt lawyers waiting to sue everyone, but I have to
    thank these people and the ponies for their help.  Fortunately I have
    learned from my falls to respect the horse but haven't developed too
    much a fear of him.
    
    justmy2cents
    bgl

    Thank you for everyones input.  I have to fill you in on what has
    happened since I wrote this note.  I too, have had many spills,
    and very **close** calls.  My last horse was a 3 year old arabian
    mare, who just loved to RUN, buck, rear, out of playfullness.  Then
    she was fine.  Thank God I have never been too afraid to get back
    on and ride.  I have also made many trips to the Chiropractor, however.
    Anyway..... to let you know, I believe this lady, whom I thought
    was nervous due to her accident, I believe is just her **personality**.
    A few of you mentioned that could be it.  
    
    Well, I moved my horse out of there, last wednesday, and guess what?
    Her mother-in-law came out to talk to me, and she had very few "nice"
    things to say about her daughter-in-law.  I got the feeling she wished
    she didn't live with them.  She told me that the night before, her
    daughter-in-law got on one of her older horses (which by the way is
    a baby-doll!!), guess he did something wrong, and she got off of him
    and whipped the living Sh!T out of him.  Later that night, he flipped
    out and rammed down his stall door!!  This is a horse, that would
    practically crawl in your lap, to be petted!!!
    
    I am now in a VERY LOVING and WARM barn.  I am so happy.  And I can't
    tell you what a DIFFERENT horse my 3 year old is now.  He was always
    loving, but he is just so calm and relaxed, it's unreal!!!
    
    So I guess the moral of this story, is that not all "horse-people",
    LOVE horses.... they USE them to control, and feed their own
    egos.  What a shame.  It saddens me to think of all the horses out
    there being whipped and mistreated by **so called** horse lovers.
    
    ...jane