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Post by brt on Jun 9, 2010 15:11:39 GMT
Ok, i don't often have a moan but a real bug bear of mine at the moment is prams and pushchairs at events. I think this is really dangerous, you have horses everywhere that are unpredictable and pushchairs shoved right up to the ropes around the ring! Surely parents can see the dangers?? You can't walk up the walkways as they are 2 abreast, and then you get slated when your horse gets too close!! At sales they block the alleyways, you have loose horses running up the isles and baby and pram in the way!! Personally i think some people are oblivious and think everyone and thing should move out of the way for their tot! Well sorry, but i think it'd far too dangerous, leave your prams at home or have the courtesy to give way to the animals before they end up sitting on your kid!!  Ah...rant over...... ;D |
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Post by mandmgirl0164 on Jun 9, 2010 15:23:57 GMT
On one occasion, I had a mum push her pram through the dressage arena I was competing in!
Fortunately, my chestnut mare decided to ignore it.....don't know what the lady thought the little white criss cross fencing and letters were there for - teaching her child the alphabet perhaps, or pram slalom?!
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Post by dawnie on Jun 9, 2010 15:53:02 GMT
I was at Bolton Horse Show many years ago when the annual show was held in Leverhulme Park as part of the towns annual show and hence far more public that usually I was only little but I can still hear the scream of a mother. A horse bolted and reins hooked on the push chair and pushchair along with child were taken with the bolting horse, the push chair dragging between its legs made the horse even more terrified. As I recall it was one of those stripey light weight fold away buggies if you undertand the sort I mean???
I know years on the story of it all was in one of these gossip readers stories mags, dont know if anyone else from this area remembers it happening? I am sure the little one was okay somehow, but I wouldnt swear to it as the grey matter is a bit gloopy on that one. I feel a pitted freak out feeling in the my stomach when I see prams stuck round the rings.
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Post by brt on Jun 9, 2010 16:35:45 GMT
I do remember something about it, the papers reported on it.
This is what i mean, i was at a show a couple of weeks ago where a stallion broke free and chased a mare. some people who had chairs round the ring were lucky as they weren't sat in them at the time but they were demolished. lucky it wasn't a pushchair as they wouldn't have got out of the way!
A couple of months ago i was showing a section A for a friennd, she's only a yearling and it was her first time out.
We went in the ring and she started to misbehave, just excited and on the way out she started rodoeing on the end of the rope. we had to go down a walkway where people were stood tutting at her and telling me i should have a red ribbon in her tail!!
None moved out of the way, including 2 mums with pushchairs even though i shouted down i was coming through!
In the end the judge and the steward lifted the rope so i could go into the next empty ring and get out that way.
It's a horse event, not kindergarten!!
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Post by flair1 on Jun 9, 2010 18:36:30 GMT
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Post by Julie(luke3) on Jun 9, 2010 18:49:12 GMT
I can see both sides to this one. I do think there are some people with pushchairs that don't give a dam but, I agree with Fair, most people are responsible parents! I also think that shows should be more careful about walkways! Or have separate area's for pushchairs and disabled. I took my boys out when they were very young, but chose a place well away from the ring and collecting rings. At the end of the day there are many irresponsible horse owners too.  |
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Post by brt on Jun 9, 2010 20:09:09 GMT
I'm not saying that ALL parents are like this, i'm targeting the stupid ones!!
If you are aware of the risks and ignore the dangers, little Johnny IS going to get injured.
Don't turn and blame the horses, if you take your babies out to an event and feel the facilities are inadequate turn round and go home!
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Jun 9, 2010 21:06:36 GMT
It's not just at horse shows. I was driving through a local small town today to find a posse of mothers pushing their pushchairs out in front of them having walked through parked cars to cross the road. I had to swerve round at least three, luckily I wasn't going fast and also there was nothing coming on the other side of the road. Gave me the heebie-jeebies at the thought of what could have happened in different circumstances.
The stripey foldup pushchairs were McLarens, first of the new generation - I had one. I have now gone full circle and walk round with a folding chair version myself at shows to sit in myself!
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Post by chiefgroom on Jun 9, 2010 22:17:16 GMT
Digressing slightly from horse shows, what really irritates me is when you see parents strapping in or removing their precious child from their car seats in the middle of the road rather than on the pavement!
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Post by dawnie on Jun 9, 2010 23:20:00 GMT
Absoultely not, myself and sisters were all taken to shows by our mother, but even at 12 I was not allowed to push baby sis round it was left to an adult to take on that duty. I have brought up 2 boys round horses and my 3 sisters all have children who have been brought up round horses, but we take care. Some people just dont think, and yes I know what you mean about parents pushing their prams into the road while looking to see if the road is clear. One did it to me the other day, I saw her steaming up to the curb and see went straigh off it and didnt stop still reached the curb ... I swerved thinking she just hadnt seen me, I am glad there nothing coming the other way. It was obviously her intentions to do that as I looked in my mirror and the woman still had the pram in the road. It stuck out a fair way too as it was one of these 3 wheeled ones. |
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Post by amumwithapony on Jun 10, 2010 7:19:10 GMT
Well I am a mum who took baby to shows in pushchair. pushchair with baby in it was found a safe place at the side of the ring with Nan to look after while we were in the ring.
We didnt ever go up horse walkways with pram or nan.
we didnt wander round the lorry park in a dream with a nan and pram as nans legs werent good enough.
accidents do happen, horses do get loose and children in prams are pretty vulnerable. BUT safer strapped in a pram methinks than wandering around.
If any horse or pony had been close enough to the ropes and competitors to kick out at them I would question why the horse or pony was so close to the ropes in the first place, as anyone could get kicked out at not just babes in prams or elderly nans on picnic chairs.
My point of view is that if a horse in normal circumstances is too naughty to be trusted not to kick out at spectators sat at the side of the ring then it should be kept at home!
People in horse walkways with prams or taking unnecessary risks on the other hand should be sent home.
Most shows are very much family occasions and if we didnt have grans, grandads, mums and kids to help show or to show for then many more shows would be unable to run.
My personal pet hate at shows is slightly older children running riot unsupervised in the lorry park. More at risk of injury than any carefully supervised toddler in a pram if you ask me!
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Post by brt on Jun 10, 2010 7:52:21 GMT
I find the replies very interesting, i am getting at those that are non horsey more than those who have horses.
People who have horses and kids are more aware of the dangers, it's when you go to the bigger shows where it's a day out looking at "GG's" that i'm aiming at.
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Post by viking on Jun 10, 2010 8:11:26 GMT
I find the replies very interesting, i am getting at those that are non horsey more than those who have horses. People who have horses and kids are more aware of the dangers, it's when you go to the bigger shows where it's a day out looking at "GG's" that i'm aiming at. That's it exactly. Those than know, know, and those that don't are a liability! Big agricultural shows that draw spectators from the town are fraught with difficulty, and it's not unusual to find the horse walk way cluttered up with pushchairs, kids and families. |
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Post by brt on Jun 10, 2010 10:58:14 GMT
I find the replies very interesting, i am getting at those that are non horsey more than those who have horses. People who have horses and kids are more aware of the dangers, it's when you go to the bigger shows where it's a day out looking at "GG's" that i'm aiming at. That's it exactly. Those than know, know, and those that don't are a liability! Big agricultural shows that draw spectators from the town are fraught with difficulty, and it's not unusual to find the horse walk way cluttered up with pushchairs, kids and families. Exactly!!!!!!! Thats my bug bear!!!!!! |
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Post by thecremellosociety on Jun 10, 2010 12:09:11 GMT
We ask for no pushchairs or walking children in horse walks, do we get listened to NOOOOOOOO someone had left a standing buggy in the middle of horse walks the other year and took toddler to pat the nice horsey ( welsh cob stallion !!! ) DOHHHH asked 3 times to move it didnt so popped it into the ditch (without Child in of course)
We have adequate pedestrian only viewing areas, and will have people policing the walk ways hopefully this year, we aim to be a family day out which involves children and babies but when we give you the space to view safeley and you choose not to use it what are we expected to do !!!!!
We are an agricultural show not a petting zoo, with highly strung horses, please use common sense in 2010, risk assesments are already stupid enough without making us more health and safety concious, also we as organisers can only do so much to stop stupidity !! If you see something bad, say something or come find me !!!!!
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Post by seth398 on Jun 10, 2010 21:22:58 GMT
in my experience of larger shows it is the horsey folk and their entourages who are the biggest culprits often with pushchairs dogs grandama and even a kid on a bike block entrances exits horsewalks etc. if the Paying public see this then they will assume it is ok maybe the horse world should lead by example and the idea of policing the horse walks by stewards is long overdue well done derby county
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Post by thecremellosociety on Jun 11, 2010 5:45:30 GMT
Thans Seth will try though you do get ignorant people who will ignore, bit like those who leave litter and dog Pooh, though do have a mega phone and whistle at my disposal !!!!!!!!! LOL xxxxxx
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Post by seth398 on Jun 11, 2010 15:15:24 GMT
aaaagh dont get me onto litter , bins stand empty showground like a corporation tip does it really take that much effort to take it home. if my kids so much as drop a apple core i make them pick it up sorry for going off thread |
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Post by thekays on Jun 11, 2010 17:28:47 GMT
I find all your replies very interesting, i,ve come to the conclusion that if you can,t do anything about it, deal with it in your own way , so I teach my youngsters to ignore stuff by desensitising them . From foals, they,ve had push chairs rolled up to them, brollies over head, dogs running through their legs, kids (of various ages) mauling them and I find whilst the danger is always going to be there I,ve done all I can to help, I do think non horsey people are the worst offenders though and don,t even get me started on LITTER
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Post by bumblebeexx on Jun 12, 2010 15:54:20 GMT
Well I am a mum who took baby to shows in pushchair. pushchair with baby in it was found a safe place at the side of the ring with Nan to look after while we were in the ring. We didnt ever go up horse walkways with pram or nan. we didnt wander round the lorry park in a dream with a nan and pram as nans legs werent good enough. accidents do happen, horses do get loose and children in prams are pretty vulnerable. BUT safer strapped in a pram methinks than wandering around. If any horse or pony had been close enough to the ropes and competitors to kick out at them I would question why the horse or pony was so close to the ropes in the first place, as anyone could get kicked out at not just babes in prams or elderly nans on picnic chairs. My point of view is that if a horse in normal circumstances is too naughty to be trusted not to kick out at spectators sat at the side of the ring then it should be kept at home! People in horse walkways with prams or taking unnecessary risks on the other hand should be sent home. Most shows are very much family occasions and if we didnt have grans, grandads, mums and kids to help show or to show for then many more shows would be unable to run. My personal pet hate at shows is slightly older children running riot unsupervised in the lorry park. More at risk of injury than any carefully supervised toddler in a pram if you ask me! Well said totally agree xx |
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Post by ellieraga on Jun 20, 2010 13:30:29 GMT
I have a new baby now 3 months old, does that mean i should stay at home until she is walking and miss out on my daughter competing  I am responsible and very careful as to where i do and don't take pram, i think some horse owners moan at anything there horses dont like, ie prams umbrellas , picnic baskets , spectators in general At the end of the day whether you are a spectator, mum with a buggy or a horse owner you have to use your common sense and be aware what is going on around you |
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Post by eskvalleystud on Jun 20, 2010 14:34:31 GMT
I had a mother push her pram into my mare years ago as I was riding her from the lorry park to warm up area at RHS, I had tried to show proof her at home with doing all sorts but a pram rammed into her was taking it too far! I took my daughter to lots of shows as a baby/toddler but if I wanted to be ringside she came out the pram and was held by me as couldn't risk it, seen so many accidents make so many more up in my head too-bit paranoid as far as daughters concerned!
however as said its not just horse shows, ever seen those mothers who cross the road pushing the pram out first - makes me cringe at the sight!
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Post by bessieboo on Jun 20, 2010 20:51:32 GMT
Alot of the time if I took my daughter to shows when she was little I used a sling when she was a tiny baby then when she got bigger had a backpack carrier that she went in. At least then I knew where she was!!
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Post by eskvalleystud on Jun 22, 2010 18:08:06 GMT
I used to use one of those until I tried to climb a dry stoned d**e and the weight on my back I went backwards with her in it! luckily someone was behind me and caught us before I squashed her! def the safest and less stressful option for shows, my one gave me the option of putting her down too in a kind of solid swing seat too
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Post by network on Jun 29, 2010 10:40:43 GMT
I was at a show on SUnday where the horse walkways and pedestrian walkways were clearly marked, my horse is not bothered by prams etc, but on walking down to the ring, on the horsewalk where horses were going both ways, there was a lady stood with her pushchair having a conversation with a friend, her daughter was competing at the show so was obviously aware of horses etc, I politely advised her that she was stood in the middle of the horse walkway (which was quite narrow) and that she maybe safer standing in the pedestrian area, to which I got a mouthfull of abuse basically telling me to mind my own business  Amwithapony I disagree with your comment about the horse not being too close to the rope to kick out, they dont have to be that close to hit someone, and its not always that they will kick out, what about if the horse slips and comes down, or as they are cantering round mud flies out of their hooves (seen this happen a lot), I have also known young children sat in the pushchairs on the side of the rings that will suddenly grab out at the rope or throw something out of their pushchair, I dont care how bomb proof your horse/pony is surely something like this could spook them  I dont think pushchairs etc should be banned from shows but I do think that the rules of using pedestrian walkways should be enforced and that isnt just pushchair users, young children running around out of control are another problem  |
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Post by Ziggy on Jun 29, 2010 12:27:53 GMT
I think at big agricultural shows the majority of people going to watch are non horsey and have no idea of how to behave around horses. I know at the Suffolk show last year that people seemed to be in such a rush to get past the horse walk ways before they were blocked off for the equines to get through to thier ring. Remember thining at the time how dangerous it was but as someone else said it all boils down to commen sense, whether you are 'horsey' or not.
Small babies/children need pushchairs. (I have ahd three so I can vouch for this, honest) A lot of these baby slings are not advised now as the baby gets too hot, so parents don't have much choice.
Accidents will always probably always happen regardeless but totally agree with what someone else said best option is to try to, as much as possible, desentisise your show animal at home to things it may encounter at big shows. This of course, I accept , is within reason. I am sure the red devils might be quite expensive to hire for your yard to do such desentising!
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Post by thecremellosociety on Jun 29, 2010 13:51:15 GMT
We have plenty of viewing areas for pedestroans THOUGH we cant play big brother 24/7, we can write as many rules etc down but people STILL dont listen or look where they are going or think they know better and as usual the few that ruin it for the many xxx
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