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Post by Umbrella on Apr 30, 2012 17:39:13 GMT
I was at area 5 yesterday I asked a person to put an umbrella down as my daughter pony is scared of them and they refused. My daughter is only 11 and is a very nervous jockey so will find another way to our ring! I hate thoughtless people with umbrellas at shows! It's not fair. I know it was wet for safety should come first! It was so thoughtless
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Post by Up or down on Apr 30, 2012 18:14:14 GMT
Try practising at home with umbrellas and parasols and banners and flags etc...You will need to get your pony used to them if you are going to show.
The person obviously had a problem with your request to relinquish her umbrella. I find that generally if you ask kindly, people will be more than happy to put down their umbrellas. On the other hand, I have heard some mothers scream and shout from a distance because they are so nervous themselves that this creates bad feeling and people will refuse to close their brollys! Its all about attitude at the end of the day. Health and safety rules do not stipulate 'No umbrellas'
Safety begins with the pony's training and education at home.
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Post by armada on Apr 30, 2012 19:00:56 GMT
My youngsters start off not liking much, but its just de-sensitising them consistently that is the key, you cant command the showground clear itself of anything your pony does'nt like, you have to persevere and do the work at home.
My boy does'nt like cows, well sorry boy, but we are surrounded by them here so get used to it.
Theres a bloke near us who does bouncy castle hire, at the moment he's got them inflated and bobbing around in the garden whilst he gives them a scrub, compressor going like mad, last week Felix had never seen one, he's going to see plenty of nonsense like that at shows, so best he gets used to it now, cant tell the kids who've paid a pound for a jump around to get off it and deflate it because my horse does'nt like it, so we deal with it effectively before we go anywhere..
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Post by gtr121 on May 2, 2012 20:08:01 GMT
So well said Armada. I couldn't agree more. If one of our ponies doesn't like something it has intensive training until it dam well does.
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Post by B_31 on May 2, 2012 20:11:49 GMT
My youngsters start off not liking much, but its just de-sensitising them consistently that is the key, you cant command the showground clear itself of anything your pony does'nt like, you have to persevere and do the work at home. My boy does'nt like cows, well sorry boy, but we are surrounded by them here so get used to it. Theres a bloke near us who does bouncy castle hire, at the moment he's got them inflated and bobbing around in the garden whilst he gives them a scrub, compressor going like mad, last week Felix had never seen one, he's going to see plenty of nonsense like that at shows, so best he gets used to it now, cant tell the kids who've paid a pound for a jump around to get off it and deflate it because my horse does'nt like it, so we deal with it effectively before we go anywhere.. this ^^ mine is scared of kids (but then again so am i ;D ;D ) so i just force her past them (its when they run around screaming) Tbh tho at dressage the worst we get is kids on ponies which is really unavoidable.... |
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Post by jessandoscar on May 2, 2012 20:16:40 GMT
my pony is scared of umbrellas too.. god help us when we brave taking him to the county shows!
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Post by ilovenatives on May 2, 2012 20:27:05 GMT
My daughter was in the ring at Edenbridge and Oxted when a lady put up a huge umbrella right by the ring just as she was trotting past . Pony wasnt to bothered just had a little look . It was inconsiderate to put the brolly up just then but not everyone is going to be considerate at shows especially at bigger shows where there are lots of non horsey people .
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Post by FF on May 2, 2012 21:02:18 GMT
Mine didin't have a problem with brollies and she was only 3 at the time of the photo. ;D  I think it was a tad rude of the lady not to put the brolly down if you asked nicely BUT it is something you need to work on at home. My friends horse is terrified of buggies but she can't ask everyone with a buggy to leave the show and I wouldn't call it thoughtless it's called life and horses either have to get over it or you have to put up with it. |
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Post by titch on May 2, 2012 21:43:50 GMT
My welsh is scared of them too and can spot one a mile off!!! I feel his heart pounding. I can hold one near him and even jump them but no one else can. I have tried to train him but he wil not get used to them. He has won at county level though so we just avoid!!!!
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Post by choppytrotty on May 2, 2012 22:16:33 GMT
We but brollies up in the yard, by the tack room, stable, bla bla bla. We also put tinsel up.
That lady was very rude. It was understandable she didn't want to put it down, but it was only a second or two while you passed.
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Post by nia2311 on May 2, 2012 22:36:11 GMT
You can desensitise to a point, but I know horses who freak at the sight of tractors, even though they have been on farms with tractors for years and pass it every day. Somethings just seem to provoke a reaction no matter what you do. For what its worth, umbrellas are banned at the BHS riding centre my son goes to, you are not allowed them anywhere on the yard at all, and 99% of the horses/ponies are bombproof
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Post by desktop on May 3, 2012 4:58:57 GMT
Like others have said umbrellas are part of everyday life in the UK so the pony should be trained to get used to them, my wasnt keen on them to start with and I used to be like OP constantly asking people to put them down, now I just get on with it, it is lucky that I stable on a riding school where the general public have no idea about spooky horses and regularly turn up with their kids for lessons happily waving their umbrellas around ;D The people that anoy me are those ones by the side of the ring who purposely put their umbrellas up by the ringside as your riding pass or a child starts swirling one around at the side of the ring  |
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Post by AnnieRoseSplash on May 3, 2012 7:11:05 GMT
Our pony was also scared of them, my daughter who is 6 is now able to put them up and down while sat on her pony, she can hold them above the ponies head and wave them around, she took less than a week of quiet, gentle work to be able to do this, from literally being so petrified the pony would sit on the floor, shaking and snorting!! Practice at home in a very quiet and safe place, headcollar on, wear hat and gloves and just stay very calm, we took every little step very slowly, I now feel so happy that both my daughter and the pony can stay dry at shows!
Now plastic bags being carried near the pony, thats a different matter, we are still working daily on that issue!! I dont think we could ever ask people to stop using bags, we'd never go anywhere, ha ha! Good luck, get practicing!
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Post by lozloz1 on May 3, 2012 7:51:59 GMT
I'm really lucky that my boy's not scared at all and I can actually trot holding one  It's sad that lady wouldn't put it down for you though if you were nice about it.  |
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Post by cayo on May 3, 2012 8:44:52 GMT
My mare is 13 this time and still terrified of then and anything else above her eye level we have tried and tried she will always be the same and while its fine for thiose who have suceeded in getting theirs used to such things it dosent help this ewho have not and i find it very inconsiderate for people to use brollies around horses i would never asume they would be fine and would be mortified if i caused an accident ,and perhaps they should be put in the health and safety rules no brollies please
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Post by carrie17491 on May 3, 2012 10:22:00 GMT
my girl was 2 on this picture, she isn't phased by anything because I intorduced her to scary objects from being a foal.
I agree, desensitising is the way forward
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Post by gtr121 on May 4, 2012 21:31:51 GMT
Mine pretends to be petrified of falling or blowing leaves. Imagine what a life I would have if she were allowed to get away with it.
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Post by sageandonion on May 5, 2012 11:01:32 GMT
An umbrella is an everyday thing and your pony needs to be used to everyday things, particularly a child's pony, otherwise where does it stop. You need to sort this out at home and no, people are not being selfish using an umbrella. I had a pony frightened of men |
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Post by iluvmyponies on May 5, 2012 12:59:19 GMT
I was at Area 5 too & we went in the ring first, then I noticed about 5 people stood along the fence all holding umbrellas that were slightly over the fence & in the ring! I honestly thought with all wind & rain she would cr@p herself & the judge would obviously see as I was the only one in the ring at the time, to my surprise she didn't even look! We de-sensitise ours as soon as we get them & before we do any schooling, hacking etc. My stallion is 4 & is un-phased by anything! The only thing he doesn't like is spraying fly sprays, hair sprays etc on him, but hey, they can't be perfect! |
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Post by Up or down on May 5, 2012 20:40:16 GMT
An umbrella is an everyday thing and your pony needs to be used to everyday things, particularly a child's pony, otherwise where does it stop. You need to sort this out at home and no, people are not being selfish using an umbrella. I had a pony frightened of men You are spot on S&O as always!! You Rock!! |
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Post by hs on May 7, 2012 17:20:25 GMT
umbrellas are everywhere in a country where rain in normal and people don't want to get wet.
s&o is right a pony suitable for a nervous child should not be frightened of everyday items, that they might see out hacking or at shows.
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Post by sparkysunny on May 7, 2012 18:25:53 GMT
We took our pony to a county show two years ago and it was pouring with rain. He's not normally bothered by anything but the umbrellas were an issue - not something we see near us when out hacking as very few hikers take umbrellas with them! You can't account for everything you'll see when you're at a show but, if you come across an 'everyday' item that bothers your pony, try to expose the pony to that item whenever you safely can. Our other pony, who is terrified of invisible monsters but couldn't care less about gigantic tractors, pneumatic drills etc went completely bananas when in the ring in the rain and the photographer approached with her umbrella attached to her head and her camera, complete with enormous lens, stuck to her face - imagine what that must have looked like to a pony!!!!!!
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Post by get over it on May 10, 2012 18:04:19 GMT
Sorry but i think it very rude of you to ask this lady to take umbrella down, what if pony didnt like pushchairs or dogs or something similar, would you expect these to be removed  If your pony and child arent use to these sort of things then they shouldnt be at these sort of shows, maybe you need to put some work in at home in the first instance |
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Post by nia2311 on May 10, 2012 18:45:33 GMT
Get over it, your tone is unnecessarily rude. My main issue with umbrellas is not that horses are scared, but that stupid people wave them all over, stick them up and down without looking, and I wouldn't want a golf umbrella spiked into my horses eye, or my eye. Being at the height you are on horseback, you are in prime eyeball removal territory. The spokes are at horse eye height and they are dangerous when wielded without care and attention to who or what is next to you.
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Post by get over it on May 10, 2012 20:16:38 GMT
I dont find my point rude just sensible, if you have a nervous jockey then get them use to these situations before going to shows, as from other posts this can so easily be done.
And i wouldnt be silly enough to ride my horse so close as to get an umbrella in the eye its not as if you cant see them until the last minute, i just think trial runs at home and common sense is all that is needed
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Post by nia2311 on May 10, 2012 20:26:09 GMT
You cannot plan for those dimwits that shove the umbrella up with no notice, or hang about at the entrance to the ring or the working in area, waving umbrellas around. At a busy county show it is nigh on impossible to ride from parking to arena without coming within prodding distance of an umbrella. People at shows need to be considerate and think even more carefully than normal. The show is for the competitors - spectators should not be interfering or getting in the way
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Post by nia2311 on May 10, 2012 20:28:46 GMT
By the way, I dont advocate banning umbrellas. I advocate banning numpties. Stewards should be ensuring people do not stand in the way of entrances, working in areas etc and any stupidity, such as loose dogs, waving umbrellas, prams pushed into walkways should be addressed immediately, or the numpty asked to leave. Simples.
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Post by get over it on May 10, 2012 20:43:23 GMT
And if the general public didnt pay to go to these shows then there would be no more of these shows for us to compete at, so maybe a bit more tolerant and be aware of whats going on around you at all times. Or shall we ban umbrellas, pushchairs, humans, dogs oh and other competitors then you have nothing to worry about , simply no numptys and you will be happy, didnt reliase this thread was all about you I think we are all entitled to our opinion dont you |
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Post by nia2311 on May 10, 2012 20:56:59 GMT
Sorry, but if spectators cannot see that waving umbrellas, leaving buggies in walkways etc is not dangerous then there is no hope. I am certainly not the only one who thinks this is the case. It is not only dangerous for the competitors, it is dangerous for the spectators too. If a horse is prodded by a waving umbrella, it may kick or spook and injure someone. A child may be stood on, a dog may cause a horse to spook, kick out, a rider to fall, or injure someone else. Safety of everyone is critical, therefore numpties who cannot behave safely with their dogs, umbrellas and buggies should not bother coming. I said I do not advocate banning anything, apart from daft people.
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Post by sensitive on May 11, 2012 6:15:27 GMT
Sometimes it doesn't matter how much you try and desensitize a pony, there are certain things they do not ever "get over"!
One pony at our stables will never get over her fear of umbrellas and that little pony is the most honest, trustworthy 12 hand FR SP that ever walked the earth, she will take 5 year old little girls into the show ring alone and come out with first place rosettes, she is as genuine as they come, her one quirk?
Umbrellas, she hates them. Having owned this pony for almost 9 years there is nothing we haven't done to try and get her over this issue, you name it we have tried it. So it's all good saying they should be doing things at home, before going to shows and how they should be used to things, i'm sorry but if i ask someone to pop their umbrella away for all of 30 seconds, for a good reason i would be mortified if they ignored my request!
It's not much to ask, the pony doesn't do anything horrendous, just backs off a little, it takes a few seconds of human decency to put an umbrella down.
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It's sad that lady wouldn't put it down for you though if you were nice about it.
