Trail Riding Hazard
Jorene Downs
Bill Kambic <wka...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>To the Gaggle:
>
>Picked this up off "runningwalk," a list server for people who support
>the use of natural horsemanship methods for training the Tennessee
>Walking Horse (as opposed to the pad/chains/chemical approach of
>mainstream TWH training).
>
><snipped>
>
>I am quoting directly from the Ionia (MI) Sentinel-Standard, 9/22/97:
>BERLIN TOWNSHIP-A 52 year old Nashville man drowned in Sessions Lake
>Saturday evening while horseback riding.
> Clarence Russell Hawkins and his wife, Sandra, 49, were watering
>their horses at the shore of the lake at approximately 6:30 p.m.
>Saturday. According to a press release from the Ionia post of the
>Michigan State Police, the horses became spooked and lunged into the
>water.
[...]
> The horses were outfitted with tie-downs which prevented them from
>lifting their heads above the water, according to the press release.
[...]
>The article went on to say that resuscitation attempts, especially in
>cold water drownings should be attempted during a 90 minute window
>period and that the wife was treated for shock.... it is my derstanding
>that this couple were seasoned trail riders. From time to time during
>our posts regarding NH, we have to remember certain safety safety
>issues.
>There are certainly newcomers here that don't have to learn the hard
>way.
Thanks for sharing, Bill. But I question the "seasoned trail riders"
comment. It makes little sense to restrict the movement of a horse's
head by using a tie-down when on the trail. I suppose it depends on
the terrain, but there are plenty of trail situations where the
horse *must* use his head movement for balance or you could end up
with a wreck..
- - -
Jorene
just moseyin' down the California trails ... :)
Meet other rec.eq posters on:
http://www.psnw.com/~jcdowns/RecEq/RecEq.html
Bill Kambic
To the Gaggle:
Picked this up off "runningwalk," a list server for people who support
the use of natural horsemanship methods for training the Tennessee
Walking Horse (as opposed to the pad/chains/chemical approach of
mainstream TWH training).
<snipped>
I am quoting directly from the Ionia (MI) Sentinel-Standard, 9/22/97:
BERLIN TOWNSHIP-A 52 year old Nashville man drowned in Sessions Lake
Saturday evening while horseback riding.
Clarence Russell Hawkins and his wife, Sandra, 49, were watering
their horses at the shore of the lake at approximately 6:30 p.m.
Saturday. According to a press release from the Ionia post of the
Michigan State Police, the horses became spooked and lunged into the
water.
Sandra Hawkins was able to swim to shore but Clarence Hawkins and
both horses drowned. According to the release, several other riders
heard the commotion and attempted to rescue Clarence Hawkins but were
forced back to shore by a current.
The horses were outfitted with tie-downs which prevented them from
lifting their heads above the water, according to the press release.
Divers from the Ionia County Sheriff Department Recovery Team were
in the water by 7:27 p.m. according to Roger Gren, a dive team member.
The first horse's body was recovered at approximately 7:37 p.m. and
Clarence Hawkins was found and brought to the surface at approximately
7:58 p.m. An attempt to revive him proved unsucessful. Gren said all
divers cleared the water at 8:20 p.m.
The second horse floated to the surface Sunday morning........
The article went on to say that resuscitation attempts, especially in
cold water drownings should be attempted during a 90 minute window
period and that the wife was treated for shock.... it is my derstanding
that this couple were seasoned trail riders. From time to time during
our posts regarding NH, we have to remember certain safety safety
issues.
There are certainly newcomers here that don't have to learn the hard
way.
<end>
Bill Kambic, Bright Star Farm, Kingston, TN
http://www.geocities.com/heartland/hills/1816
Believer in the Great Ambiguous Blessing:
"Dear Lord, for what we are about to receive, may we be truly thankful."
L A Neff
I also question the "seasoned" trail rider comment. I have ridden the
trails for years and carry a crushable bucket to water my horses. The
edges of ponds and creeks are often soft and can easily suck a horse
in. When on unfamiliar trails never take chances with your ride home.
vicki
Jorene Downs wrote:
>
> Bill Kambic <wka...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
> >To the Gaggle:
> >
> >Picked this up off "runningwalk," a list server for people who support
> >the use of natural horsemanship methods for training the Tennessee
> >Walking Horse (as opposed to the pad/chains/chemical approach of
> >mainstream TWH training).
> >
> ><snipped>
> >
> >I am quoting directly from the Ionia (MI) Sentinel-Standard, 9/22/97:
> >BERLIN TOWNSHIP-A 52 year old Nashville man drowned in Sessions Lake
> >Saturday evening while horseback riding.
> > Clarence Russell Hawkins and his wife, Sandra, 49, were watering
> >their horses at the shore of the lake at approximately 6:30 p.m.
> >Saturday. According to a press release from the Ionia post of the
> >Michigan State Police, the horses became spooked and lunged into the
> >water.
> [...]
> > The horses were outfitted with tie-downs which prevented them from
> >lifting their heads above the water, according to the press release.
> [...]
> >The article went on to say that resuscitation attempts, especially in
> >cold water drownings should be attempted during a 90 minute window
> >period and that the wife was treated for shock.... it is my derstanding
> >that this couple were seasoned trail riders. From time to time during
> >our posts regarding NH, we have to remember certain safety safety
> >issues.
> >There are certainly newcomers here that don't have to learn the hard
> >way.
>
Choicy Kid
>It makes little sense to restrict the movement of a horse's
>head by using a tie-down when on the trail.
Which brings up the larger issue that if your horse is so ill behaved that
it needs a tie down to control its actions, then it is too ill behaved to
be on the trail .
Lynn Tucker
Where do you get a collapsable or crushable water bucket? I would like to get
one small enough to fit into my saddle bag.
.......Lynn
Donna Guyton
Tie downs are good when used correctly. I had a Welsh/Arabian horse one
time that I felt it was necessary to use a tie down on.....after several
rearing attempts that resulted in some hard hits to my head. His reaction
time was so quick and unpredictable that I could not get my head moved to
the side quick enough. Tie downs should be UNHOOKED when watering horses
and crossing streams. They should be UNHOOKED when traveling up and down
steep terrain. They should be **loose enough** to allow the horse to have
*lots* of free head movement but tight enough that if he/she rears their
head will not come back far enough to pop you in your head.
The tie down I used was custom made with a quick release under the chin
area. When the quick release was pulled (It had a 1 ft piece of extra rope
hanging which wasn't very eye appealing) the rope from the girth
disconnected with the headstall piece so that the part around the horses
head looked like one of those rope halters. I was scared of getting into a
situation where the horse needed his head and I was not able to give it to
him. I also carried a very sharp knife to cut the tie down away in a
situation where I could not get to the quick release. Considering my
careful use of the tie down.....I never had to use the quick release or the
knife.
What I don't understand is I see alot of people riding with the tie down
*SO* tight that it looks as if the horse is kissing his chest. **That's
using the tie-down for the wrong reasons.** I am happy to say that I now
have a herd of horses in which NONE of them require as much as a halter
under their bridle when out riding.
Donna Guyton
Guyton Stables, SC
L A Neff
Lynn Tucker wrote:
>
> Where do you get a collapsable or crushable water bucket? I would like to get
> one small enough to fit into my saddle bag.
>
> .......Lynn
State Line Tack has them for $13 1-800-228-9208
Karen Sturtevant
Hi Donna,
I'm afraid you're wasting your breath on this newsgroup, I already got
flamed bigtime for even suggesting I've ever used a tie-down. But I
agree with you, they have their place, when used *properly*. They also
aren't functionally different from the martingales many english
riders/trainers use.
Karen
Seabrook, NH
CATHERINE ALEXANDRA PAFORT
Karen Sturtevant wrote:
> I already got
> flamed bigtime for even suggesting I've ever used a tie-down. But I
> agree with you, they have their place, when used *properly*. They also
> aren't functionally different from the martingales many english
> riders/trainers use.
First: if you have to resort to gadgets, than you have to review your
training of the horse. It's YOU that's doing something wrong if you need
strong bits and various bits and pieces. A horse that opens his mouths
doesn't tell me he needs a flash noseband, or something stronger, he
tells me to keep my hands still. For that reason, I encourage the
feedback. I don't want to supress the symptom, I want to cure the cause.
I'd like to know the 'proper' place for something that restricts the
horse. A tie-down may not be vastly different from a standing martingale
(exept that it's stronger), but that's no excuse. I've never met a horse
that I wanted to ride in a standing martingale yet. In a situation where
my horse needs the freedom of his head and neck to balance himself, I
want him to have it. I'm not crazy enough to ride a horse in sidereins,
standing martingales and whatnot *anywhere* outside a closed arena, with
someone else to put it on AFTER I'm mounted - IF I resort to these things
at all. I rarely do. And if so, never for long. But thanks, I value my
hide. Over jumps, on tarmac, and out on the trail you'd be risking your
life.
Catja
And no, this isn't a flame. I've just seen too many avoidable accidents
happen not to comment.